Textured Journal/Sketchbook Pages

I posted yesterday about adding texture to cheap canvas fabric to jazz it up a bit.

Today I'd like to address paper as a different substrate to use with your molding paste.

I almost always use the Exact Vellum Bristol paper (67 pound) paper from Wausau. I also use a 110 pound paper from the same company. I am constantly amazed at just how much abuse the 67 weight paper can take! I wet it, emboss it (thank you Nancy!), texturize it, paint it, write on it, sew on it and just generally love the heck out of it - and it still holds up!

Today this is what I have done so far.

I added a layer of light molding paste, using my fingertips and palate knife to add texture to it.

Let this dry completely.

I noticed that, on a couple of areas of the page I had added more molding paste than others areas, causing the page to become wavy. This doesn't always bother me in my sketchbooks/journals but this day it did.

So I grabbed another page of the same paper and stitched them together. I also stitched around each indiviual section of the folded page to add more interest. This would later prove to be a great design bonus.

I used my Golden Fluid Acrylic Paints to make a wash. I applied the first color in a very random manner. It really doesn't matter with the color combo that I used which one goes on first, as I went over the entire page a couple of times. In this example, I used Phthalo Blue(Green Shade) and Phthalo Green(Blue Shade). There are a couple of areas that you may be able to see a shimmery sheen on the front of the page. These areas have a little bit of a pearlescent liquid acrylic ink. The color is "waterfall green". Like I said, I like to use whatever is within reach on my studio table...

You can see the machine stitching on the page as well. I use the stitch as a drawing tool. It's not necessarily about the actual sewing process but the texture that the stitch provides for me.

Here is where the bonus of adding the stitch BEFORE painting comes in -

Look at how the paint has seeped through the holes made by the needle and thread! Isn't that a great look for the back of that page?!  I like it. 

I hope that I can remember this in the future and use it in a more conscious manner instead of accidently benefiting from it...

Although that is nice too!

The Vulture At Our Door

I have always hesitated to share the negative emotions that I journal about.
This past weekend when I was at the Inspired Retreat in NC, I had my journal there, sharing some of the pages with my friends. One page in particular seemed to strike a cord with almost everyone...
It was about insecurities.
I decided to share with everyone.
To show the vulture that sits on my fence from time to time.
It may be difficult to read so I am writing it below...

"There are days that the old insecurities just claim a presence in my head...
they scream for attention...
and stand in the doorway - patting their foot...
impatient with my ignoring them...
sometimes I give them the floor and watch them nip and bite at my heels.
They exhaust and fuel me at the same time.
Experience says to ignore them -
emotion demands that I hold and caress each one -
show my undying love and devotion to each and every issue -
my emotions are not reliable when it comes to my insecurities and doubts.
I must walk away...
I must Fly..."

So, go...
fly...

Art Journal

Those of you that read my blog regularly(or know me personally) probably know that my (awesome) husband is a college baseball umpire -in addition to being a sales engineer during the day.
Since I love to be with him, I often travel with him to his games. One of the things that I have learned is to carry projects with me that I can work on while riding in the car, sitting at a ball game or occupying myself while waiting on his return. Working on my Art Journal is one of those perfect projects!

I have put together what I call "my drawing/art journal case". It is basically one of those "Art Bin" type cases - except I went to Hobby Lobby to the scrapbook section, armed with a 40% off coupon (you DO know that you can get one of these coupons online, usually every other week, don't you...?

What?!
You didn't know that?

O!M!G!

Listen up dog...
Go to their website - they have wonderful sales every week but usually every other week they have a 40% off coupon on any one item. One coupon per person. I usually make my husband and my son go with me if there is more than one item I want..I mean need.

whoops...

Anyway, I purchased a nice, heavy plastic bin that I can slide the little closure things over in order to lock it closed (since I have so many little things in there). All I have to do now, when it's time to go (since I usually wait until the last minute to get ready...) is grab my handy dandy art case and head out the door.
I've got everything I could need to draw, shade, color and paint an art journal page.
A couple of my favorite things are Pitt Pens. The four pack that has xs, s, f and m sizes in it. I also love the Windsor Newton compact watercolor paints. That is really an awesome little set that has bold, bright colors in it.
The page that I posted was drawn with the above mentioned pens then colored with the watercolor paints.
Hopefully you'll be able to zoom in and see the tiny shading details on it.
I've been doing some more painting it the studio.
I'll try to get pictures of all that as well. Did some really nice background textures and started painting a girl I drew earlier for Paulette Insall's "Faces" class.
Gotta run right now, I'm traveling with my handsome hubby this evening to Western Carolina College in Cullowee NC. It's a nice ride and I'll plenty of time to draw, paint and nap - I mean write - on the way.

Art Journal Pages

I've added a few pages from my art journal.
A couple of them have no journaling at the moment
but I'll add some later as the notion hits me.
I bought a Winsor Newton Travel Set of watercolors.
I LOVE them!
All the pages with color on them are watercolors
from the new set.
It is really easy to maneuver while sitting outside
or even traveling in the car.
I'm going to make a journal cover as soon as I can focus long
enough to spend time in my studio.

I continue to recover (is that the word to use
for what I'm going through?), maybe I should say
I continue to go through the stages of grieving,
realizing too late that several
days have passed and I don't even know what I did
during those days...
have any of you ever felt that way?
I have a few more journal pages that I have done
but because they deal with some issues
that I am having with anger...at a family
member, I will not post them.
I'd rather handle that anger personally -
with the one that I feel the anger towards.

Emerging...

I am slowly beginning to emerge from the fog of my mom's passing.
The past two weeks seem to have surrounded me,
enveloped me and drew me away from the rest of the world.
I have been hanging out with my husband and son...
reading some...
journaling and drawing some.

You know, when I first tried to journal about my mom,
I couldn't find the words.
I suppose that I was just overwhelmed with grief at the time.
So instead of writing, I just drew in my journal.
I doodled and made marks.
Healing Marks.

I'm feeling better now but that
grief is still clinging to my skin...
and I suppose that it will be my constant companion for a while yet.

Thank you to all of my wonderful friends that
sent me condolences, virtual hugs
and said a prayer for my family.
There are no words worthy of the thanks that I feel in my heart.
So I just say a simple

"Thank you so much for being there for me"

Art Journaling

I was at my step daughters dance competition

this past weekend

and did a little art journaling

where I was there.

My husband and I had a lot of fun,

laughing and being silly.

We were not supposed to sit in the balcony

but did anyway...

needless to say, there were not many

people there

and we laughed

and joked

until it was time to go.

His daughter did a great job

but her team did not win.

Very unusual, as they

usually do.

Maybe next time...

This is in the handmade quilted journal that I made.

The paper is marker paper,

which takes a bit of

watercolor paint pretty well.

And oh, how I love my

Pitt Pens.

Go ahead, grab a 40% off coupon

from Hobby Lobby and buy yourself

a variety pack.

You'll be so glad that you did.

Enjoy my silly art antics!