Therapy....

The bills are piling up. My pain is through the roof. Things are looking bleak. So what's the cure? BUY ART BOOKS!!! Yes, a little retail therapy in the form of art books or art supplies is always a wise cure. I don't understand the logic, but do know it always works. Happy, happy again!

Monday Musings

  The journal I started making during the power outage last weekend is all painted, collaged and bound. I don't usually fully collage one before working in it, but I wanted to spiral bind it with the Zutter so having it filled with images before hand was the way to go. I wanted the collage to come all the way to the left edge on many of the pages and there was simply no way to do that if I bound it first!  It is rather nice to have a full journal all set for pen work and writing that I can grab any time I'm walking out the door.
  The entire time I was working on creating this journal the words "personal and potent" kept running through my head. now I'm referring to this as my personal and potent journal. I tend not to name a journal because then it feels like I need to stick with a theme, but this one obviously demanded naming!
  This is a skinny journal, only 4.5" wide by 8.5" long. I find skinny pages more challenging to work on, but am always up for a challenge as I feel it causes us to be more creative. It's the same reason I limit the amount of images and supplies I have near me at any given time. If I work with a smaller a mount of images, say a decent sized Ziploc full, it forces me to dip deeper into my creative pool. Plus, I find too many supplies, be it collage fodder, stamps, tools, whatever to be creatively stifling. If you have too much around you it can be overwhelming. Better to push the creativity by working with less than sit there going "Where do I start? What do I use?"

The front cover. the back cover has the same paper on it. I've had this wrapping paper for a while now and wanted to use it for something just right.  For whatever reason, this journal was that "just right" piece.

The inside front cover. I haven't added my contact info yet, something I always do just in case a journal goes missing! I'm also going to add the words "Personal and Potent". Or maybe that will go on the outside cover. Not sure yet on that one.

I've been thinking a lot about Thanksgiving and planning my menu. This page has a bit of Giving Thanks in it. It also has a 60's psychedelic feel for whatever reason. I don't question what I do, I just do it!

The cool and slightly odd snail lady got me thinking about how slow moving I am thanks to pain. It also got me thinking how moving slow is often a blessing. You tend to notice a lot more when you go slow. As for the skull, well I just like skulls and add them in as much as possible!

Missing Post & Mini Book

  Hmmmm, I have no idea what happened to my Friday post! It seems to have gone off into the ether and never found its way here. Ah well. It happens. 

  My niece was married yesterday and I've made her a mini book\photo album as part of her gift. I hope she enjoys it as much as I enjoyed making it. 

  This was the first time I used my Zutter binding system and am quite pleased with the results! I'm planning to make a bunch of spiral bound books to give as holiday gifts. To me, a gift of creativity is the best of all. 

I had this paper for ages now and thought a wedding book was the perfect use for it.
Not to mention my niece is quite the Princess. But in a good way...

The cover and a tag I clipped to the side telling them to fill the book with photos and memories. Just in case they have no clue what it's for!

Top view of the book. I used all different papers, added some distressing and inking to the edges and then bound it with the Zutter.

Favorite Friday's

It's been a busy week, full of inspiration and fun moments. Seems like every time I turned around there was something new to discover or something old to see in a new way. A few of my favorites I share with you.


1) By far my favorite moment of the week was my son and I getting to meet Steven Cotler, author of the delightful children's book, 'Cheesie Mack is not a Genius or Anything' . Mr Cotler spent a few days in our town, meeting with the middle school kids and taping a segment of the town's Celebrity Readers program for our local access channel. My son's class spent one class period with him on Monday, which thrilled him to no end. On Tuesday we attended the show taping at the library and I had a chance to meet Mr Cotler. He is a really nice guy, easy to talk to and has lead quite the interesting life. He also had some very nice things to say about my boy which obviously made me like him even more!

2) Tuesday nights I usually take my art journal and go sit at this out of the way, hole in the wall bar called  Vincent's. From the location, a seedy part of Worcester, and the exterior you'd never guess what lurks inside. One of the funkiest, feel right at home places with the best acoustic music in town. This past Tuesday I was at my usual table (And yes. It IS mine. People move away from it when they see me walk in, art bag in hand.) listening to the acoustic duo of Scott Ricciuti (who happens to be a good friend) and John Donovan. Scott and John are two thirds of The Friday Farewells. The other third, Michael Thibodeau, was missing that night. They did some great classics by the Beatles and Who along with a bunch of originals. Between the atmosphere, the music and the eclectic photographs and various weird decorations (giant tarantula under glass anyone?) this is definitely an inspiring place for any artist.

3)  The art of Niki de Saint Phalle has always intrigued me. Especially her Tarot garden. It inspired me yet again this week when I stumbled upon her web site while looking for something else entirely. Alas, she passed in 2002 so no more unbelievable sculptural works in the future. But at least I have those from the past to continue to inspire and intrigue. If you aren't familiar with her work do check it out! It's amazing!!!

New Books!

I've been wanting this book for ages, but have been cash poor. Lucky for me interweave just had a huge sale! Bagged this book for the bargain price of $13.77 and also got the new,  e~mag Collage in Color, which is FABULOUS! Love having eye~candy inspiration.  The video vault is simply great, and the articles are inspiring. Art at the Speed of Life offers loads of inspiration for organizing your creative time, project ideas, and lush color photos.  I especially like the ideas for organizing supplies, a never ending battle with my limited space, and keeping focused to produce more art.

Who out there has organizational tips they'd like to share? I'd love to hear how you manage to find time & space to create while juggling"real life" responsibilities.

Assorted Journal Pages

I was all tucked into bed, but unable to fall asleep as usual, so decided to scan in a few more journal pages to share. Two in the morning seems to be my "ideal" time to blog. I'm usually awake anyway so why not take a few moments to scan a few journal pages, write a paragraph or two and post? Maybe I've hit on my blogging routine at last. but I wouldn't count on it. I admit routine is not something I am good with! 


Today's Movie: Charlotte Gray   A WWII story about the French Resistance. Not bad, but not great either.
Today's reading: Town In a Blueberry Jam  A light, cozy mystery. takes place in coastal Maine, an area I'm quite familiar with. A fast, easy read to keep my mind off the pain.

Journal Page Jan. 10 2011

I have a serious addiction to books. My "library", which is essentially every nook & cranny in the house, had over 2500 books at last count. This page reflects my love for those delightful tomes, in all their many shapes & guises.

Mini Book Number 4

Book #4 close up. Clasp is a safety pin with beads wrapped around the book and through the pin. Quick, easy and far prettier than an elastic or ribbon closure.

Mini Books 2-4

Mini Books #2 #3 and #4 No. 4 has a simple clasp closure made from a safety pin. The cover is painted & stamped Tyvek from a mailing envelope.

365 Mini Books....

Over night I decided to abandon the journal card project. It was boring & I have no need for them seeing as I never have problems deciding on design or journaling! Now it's going to be 365 Mini Books instead. This is the first one.

Journal Pages 5.7.10 and 5.8.10

I've been dreadfully neglectful of my blogging these past months. REAL LIFE decided it would interfere with the Virtual World in which I romp.  It happens to all of us from time to time. The things we must do get in the way of the things we want to do. 


However, no matter what twists and turns come at me the one thing I won't neglect is my art or my art journaling. For without those I would have no soul....


I'm trying to get back in the blogging groove so hopefully you'll all be hearing a lot more from me. Whether you want to or not!  


For your perusing pleasure, two recent journal pages. The first is on Censorship and how people try to censor me but just can't do it.  The second is on what I need in life to be happy. There's really very little I NEED.  Want and need are two very different things therefore, my needs are simple. My WANTS, well that's a different story....

Currently Reading: The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato 

(reviewing for Library Thing)

Currently Creating to: Stone Temple Pilots: Purple

Blog Love: 

Paris Daily Photo

The Altered Page

Kelly Kilmer (HI KELLY!!!!!!  HUGS!!!!)

April 3 & 4 Journal Pages

I'm finally getting around to scanning in my pages for the past week. Some weeks I do it daily and other weeks I let it slide until I have quite a few to do. Obviously, this is one of those letting it slide weeks!

I finished 'The Sixteen Pleasures' by Robert Hellenga What started out as a great book, full of unexpected wisdom turned into a rather muddled, convoluted story that dragged on too long. Pity as the first half of the book was above par.

It's dreary here, with high winds and biting cold. We even had a bit of a snow squall earlier. I'm getting tired of being cooped up in the house and long for warmer weather to be the norm!!!

April 4, 2009 Journal Page

I haven't been feeling very happy lately. This bothered me for a while. I kept thinking 'What is WRONG with me? Why can't I be happy????' This morning it came to me, like a slap upside the head from the Powers That Be. There is NOTHING wrong with not feeling happy every moment of every day. In fact, it would be even stranger if I, we, YOU, did all experience happiness like that. We're human beings and our emotional state is not static. Our emotions ebb and flow like the tides of the ocean. Sometimes the flow is gentle, caressing, like a kiss from a lover in our youths. Sometimes it is tumultuous, raging, like the waves during a hurricane. And that's OK.

In fact, it is more than OK. It's the way it suppose to be. Which makes me wonder: Why do so many people spend their lives trying to convince themselves and others how happy they are? How totally and absolutely wonderful their lives are with nothing getting in the way of their joyous overflowing of happiness????? I know a lot of people like this. They spend so much time talking about how great their lives are, how they have happiness beyond measure, etc. etc. but you know what? I'm not buying it. No one can be that totally happy at all times. No one's life is so great that they never have a moment of sadness or a moment where they wish things were slightly better. Unless of course they're on mood altering drugs and even then I don't think they'd be totally happy.

Right now I say to you: Admit that you are not always happy. Give yourself permission to be sad once in a while. I'm not talking depressive, taking over your life sadness. I'm talking sadness that comes to you once in a while. The cyclic kind that's caused by stress, illness, a rotten job, LIFE in general. It's OK to be unhappy. The unhappy moments in our lives show us what happiness truly is. It makes us step back and look for the blessings in our lives, no matter how small. It's a necessary emotion that we, as humans, need. If we didn't have that then we wouldn't be here. We'd have ascended to a higher plane of existence where happiness and perfect balance are the norm. In other words, we'd cease to be human and become a Higher Being. Angel, Spirit, Light-Bearer, whatever you want to call it or believe in. A fine goal to be sure, but right now, at this very moment, I prefer to be human. To jump into the Void of my sadness and see what happens. Embrace the emotion and learn from it. And by doing so, I know that happiness will return.

I'm reading 'The Sixteen Pleasures' by Robert Hellenga right now. I have to say it is totally captivating! I've only read 59 pages so far, but in those 59 pages there have been many Wow moments that have made me stop and think. I highly recommend picking up a copy, reading it slowly and taking the time to mull over what has been revealed. And don't let the description of the book fool you. It is far more than a novel dealing with art treasures that were almost lost in a flood. There's life wisdom there. Deep, raw, personal and zen-like wisdom that makes you want to roll the words around in your mouth, tasting them to their fullest.

Journal Pages March 4 & 5

Two of the pages I did for March 4 & 5. They're side by side in the journal, so the colors flow into each other, complementing each other and creating a larger whole.



What I'm reading for inspiration:
The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait (I've read through it countless times and it still captures me every time!)

Sticker City: Paper Graffiti Art (Street Graphics / Street Art)

Today's Movies:

The Red Violin (I've seen it about a dozen times and still it enthralls me)

Girl With a Pearl Earring (I read the book when it first came out & have always loved Vermeer, so thought I'd give the movie a shot.)

I've been enjoying my time alone. I stayed up until about 3 AM this morning watching movies that I love. I slept late, until 10:30, which I wish I could do every day. After walking the dogs in the biting cold I had a nice cup of coffee on the back porch. I was snuggled in my chair, watching the birds, petting the cats and warming my bones by the pellet stove.

After a second cup of coffee and I was ready to get creative!!!!! I spent the better part of the day painting journal pages and a few journal covers. The music was cranked up obscenely loud. So loud in fact that if someone had walked in they would've been right next to me before I would notice. Which of course would make me jump, throw my hand over my heart and scream. Lucky for me no one walked in because I hate it when I have to jump and scream.

I was totally in the painting groove and ended up doing 17 pages. Tonight I started adding focal images and text so I'll have a nice batch of pages to show off soon.

I'm having another movie night, Young Frankenstein followed by Monty Python & the Holy Grail. Can you tell I love the comic classics????

My choice of music today:
Yngwie Malmsteen

Led Zeppelin-Mothership

Michael Schenker

Kick Ass Country--A compilation CD I made from my i-pod. No laid back country tunes allowed!!!!

A Few More Books I want:
Revolucion!: Cuban Poster Art

Soviet Posters: The Sergo Grigorian Collection

Random Art Drop II

I had to go out late this afternoon so brought a painting along with me to do another random art drop. You'd think people would notice a woman getting out of her truck at the pharmacy with a BIG painting in her hands, but amazingly enough they don't. I suppose the key is to act like it's perfectly natural for you to be grabbing a painting out of your truck, carrying it a few feet and plunking it against a wall before going on your way.

The other thing I have going is that to me it is natural because I've been doing this sort of thing for so long. I've left over 300 books in public for people to find. I've left over 100 pieces of art too. My favorite is the curb drop. Drop it while you're walking and just keep on going. Very rarely does anyone notice what you've just done.

Tonight there's another free painting out there somewhere. Hopefully picked up and brought to a good home.

Book Lust

A few of the books I'm currently drooling over. I'm doing my drooling online so no need to worry about yucky, wet books in stores...

The Book as Art: Artists' Books from the National Museum of Women in the Arts

Marc Chagall: The Lost Jewish World

Chagall: The Lithographs

Political Posters in Central and Eastern Europe 1945-1995: Signs of the Times

Graffiti Women: Street Art from Five Continents

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"May Day! Why, that's the Russian New Year. We can have a parade and serve hot hors d'oeuvres... "

Past Few Days

The past few days have been a bit rough. The pain has been out of control, something that's always a problem in winter. But, I've managed to keep myself busy by working on my art journals while laying in bed. Over the years I've learned that no matter the situation you can always make things better. Or worse, if that's what you choose. I'm not one for having a Pity Party so I choose to make things better. I've learned how to arrange my art supplies so they're within easy reach. Having them arranged this way keeps me from having to move my body too much when I'm having one of THOSE days.

Yesterday I completed 5 journal pages, painted another 10 or so, re-read most of 'What It Is' by Lynda Barry (I highly recommend it!!!), watched a movie with my boy and spent some time laughing over re-runs of Frasier. Not a bad day considering.

The downer of the day is that ALL of the new GellyRoll Glaze pens I bought leak like sieves! I went to use them last night and each and every one of them is drippy, leaking and a total mess. Totally annoying!!!

I tried to get a decent photo of the mixed-media painting I recently finished, but no matter what I did I kept getting a bit of glare. I'll have to get out my trusty Minolta and snap a real photo. But for now, this one will have to do. It's done on a wood panel using acrylic paint, collage, stencils and texturing techniques. The heart image is surrounded by carpet tacks adding another dimension to it.

January 26 Journal Page

Just one today, so far and it was done very early this morning (about 1:00 AM in fact). If it had been much earlier I could've counted it for yesterday!

I received another batch of early reviewers books in the mail today. I adore being a book reviewer!!!! It's a great way to feed my addiction to books and helps me keep my writing skills in shape. Sometimes I miss being a columnist, but then I remember the pressure of deadlines and realize I'm much happier without dealing with that!

I added another item to my ArtFire store. I wanted to get some more photographed today but it hasn't happened yet. Today was focused on updating my library catalog and rearranging books, again! Tomorrow will have to be photography day.

More snow in the forecast, as if we don't have enough already. My sister, who moved to Florida last October, texts me her beach report almost every day. And now our folks are down there visiting her so I get a beach report from them too! I am so jealous.

Books

I picked up a couple of new art books today & have been visually devouring them all afternoon. I love seeing how other artists work, finding out what inspires them & being inspired by their creations. Both books focus on collage, painting & mixed-media, but offer two totally different styles and a whole bunch of varied techniques.

The first, which I've wanted since it first came out, is Collage Unleashed by Traci Bautista I've admired Traci's work for quite a while now so am thrilled to get an insider's view of how she works. I love the way the book is set up. Lots of eye-candy, cool fonts used throughout and enough techniques & project ideas to spark anyone's creativity.

The other is Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts. I've been seeing a lot of Kelly's work in Cloth, Paper, Scissors the past few months and found it full of lighthearted spirit. when I saw she had an inspirational book out I had to have it! It's as good as it looks and definitely worth picking up.