Some Time To Myself

Hello All,

This week I actually managed to get some time to myself to do some Journaling and other bits and pieces I have been meaning to do for a while which was fab!

I love making collage papers, it is great to just play with mediums and tools without really thinking too much about the outcome, just enjoying the process. I am really pleased with how this turned out. Once I have created a collage paper I put it aside and use it chopped up in my journals. Also I clean my stencils on top of paper towels with a baby wipe and the paper towels often come out looking great, so again I save these for later!

I also created this spread which is inspired by a Fiona Apple song that I have always sung to my daughter. I particularly like the line I have used here from the song.

I even had enough time to do more on my commission which is going well. It is so great to get that time on my own without any distractions to really get stuck in with some art work. It is quite a rare thing!

Bye for now xxx

Monthly Challenge

Hello All,

The monthly challenge on journalworkshops.ning.com  for August is 'Windows and doors' I didn't start the page as the challenge but it must have been on my mind cause it just kinda happened.

I initially thought about cutting windows into my page for the challenge but as I worked on the background for this page I was really enjoying the colours which inspired me to add my new stained glass window stamp and then as I was sorting through some old magazines I found the quote and it all just fit! I really like how it turned out :)

Bye for now!

Holiday page

Hello All!

Just got back from a lovely family hol in Angelsey. Lots of beach combing, making sandcastles and paddling, walking and visiting castles and cafes. It was Lovely :) This is the reason I haven't posted for a week but I did manage to take some art stuff with me and get some journaling done. Here is a piece I managed to do in my altered book.

I was inspired by all the beachy colours and the all the flotsam and jetsam washed up. The painting is my daughter and brother in law having a paddle. I am pleased with how it turned out. It has loads of texture to it and for me really expresses the seaside.

Now back to work, loads to do! I also have a new vid that I will be posting up hopefully later today.

Bye for now! xx

Workshop Session 25th July 2015

Hello All,

On Saturday I delivered the last of four workshops at Sharrow Vale School of Art in Sheffield. The theme for this session was 'Horizon' and I demonstrated a scratch technique with oil pastels and black acrylic paint. Here is my sample page.

We painted a layer of gesso then split the page with masking tape and painted a sky in the top half. The bottom half we drew block shapes in oil pastels, using many colours and then painted over the top with black acrylic. Once dry we scratched into the black to reveal the colour underneath.

Here are some photos from the workshop.

The session went really well. I will be arranging some more workshops in the Autumn.

Bye for now xx

Inside Journal

Hello All,

Just a very quick post as I have had a few people asking to see inside the new journal I made and posted up the other day. Here are a few shots

I am really pleased with this one! Can't wait to start filling it!

Bye for now! xx

Journals!

Hello All,

Whilst busying myself making journals for my craft stall in August I decided to make another for myself using the woven paper background I used in my last workshop for the cover.

The cover is made from a cereal box and the signatures are make up of plain and coloured paper, graph paper, old book pages and some pages prepared with some colour. I have also sewn some pages toger to both strengthen them and add texture. It is just a tad smaller than A4. I love it, it is really tactile, can't wait to start using it! I am now working on a blue one the same to add to the stall stock.

I also yesterday joined July's art swap on Journalworkshops.ning.com. This month the challenge is to create three tags, one with bright colours, one in pastels and one tonal. Not yet got my swap partner but can't wait to get started!

Bye for now!

Experimenting

Hi All,

Last night I decided to put my planning aside and just have some time to myself experimenting with some mark making and having a play with some new stamps and pens that I bought recently. I am really pleased with how it turned out! Sometimes it just feels good to play around with the materials without anything in mind. I find it very theraputic aswell, I can feel myself relaxing as I work.

Earlier this week I received my parcel from Reeah and it's lovely! It was a real pleasure to swap with Reeah and we had a nice time, emailing and chatting about things. She also included a bundle of extra stuff, stickers, postits, pens etc which was a really lovely surprise! I felt like a kid at Christmas.

Now back to planning and commission work! xx