Self Esteem

Hello All,

Sometimes I go through periods of low self esteem as I am sure most people do. I have put on a little weight, not enough that would be noticeable to anyone but me but it knocks you a bit. I have to kick myself and be grateful for what I have. Everyone is a different shape and size. Wouldn't it be boring to all be the same! I am active and healthy and that is what should matter. I felt I had to do a art journal spread to give me that kick I needed to snap out of it:

This spread really has many many layers and I just kept adding to it. I started by sticking torn paper towels soaked in ink down then used a pallet knife and acrylic over that. then stencils, doodles, more paint, more stencils  more doodles etc. Finally decided I wanted to do a portrait to represent my self esteem and how I ought to feel about myself. She doesn't look like me she just expresses the confidence I need.

It did help and I do feel much better. That's the beauty of art journaling! 

Bye for now xxxx

Time for a spot of art journaling

Hello All,

There is nothing like finding time for some art journaling. Art journaling is something I love, it really helps to get things into perspective. I use it as a diary or just a place to play with my creativity freely.

Here are a few pages from this last week:

This was definitely a page for experimenting. I found a lovely bright pink acrylic paint that I couldn't wait to use and had carved a little handmade tear drop stamp. I also had made some collage pieces earlier in the week and decided to use one to create a little embellishment with a quote I found that seemed to suit the page perfectly.

This one is in my altered book journal and it was the original background image of a girl looking out of the window that decided where the page was going. I was enjoying playing with texture. My mother in law had given me some old torn lace which I wanted to try out and I also used modelling paste through a stencil. I kept adding colour with acrylics, inks sprays and mica pigment powders but it wasn't quite right. My husband liked the stencil pattern and suggested I add the flowers. It worked brilliantly and reflects my mood at the time, which was happy and peaceful. I finished it with the text 'take a look outside' to express my excitement that spring is finally here!

I hope you like them as much as I enjoyed doing them.

Bye for now! xxx

March Art Swap

Hello All,

Apologies for not posting for a while, it has been the Easter hols and have been busy busy busy with the kids at home.

I did manage to get quite a bit of creating done over the holiday and this included the March art swap. I was partnered with the lovely Lyndsay from Truro and the challenge was to create mixed media bookmarks based on our favorite books. Here is what I made:

The first is one of my favorite quotes from Dr Seuss, the second is Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier and the third is Pride and Prejudice. It was difficult to choose my favorites as I do love books but these are ones I have read several times and always come back to when I want a nice read. Lyndsay received them the other day and was very pleased with them.

Here is what she sent me:

Lyndsay chose Pride and Prejudice as well and the other is based on fairy tales. I also got a lovely little bundle of goodies. I really love these, they are full of colour and texture and I especially like the paper beads.

The swap is always good fun, I love getting a surprise parcel each month and trying to create something special for someone else! I look forward to what this month will bring.

Bye for now xxxx

 

Weekend work

Hello All,

What a fantastic weekend it was. So sunny and warm it really feels like spring has arrived and I love that feeling! It is one of my favourite moments of the year when you feel spring in the air; trees and shrubs are budding, daffodils, crocus and snowdrops are everywhere and everyone has a happy rejuvinated feel to them. Yesterday me and by gorgeous family were out digging in the garden and then went of to the park for an ice cream. Bliss!

My new painting also seemed to by going the same happy colourful way. Here it is so far:

Still a way to go on it but I am liking where it is going so far! 

I also this weekend was asked by a local band if I would consider working with them to produce some art work for their demo cover; an exciting possible project! I am just waiting for them to get back to me but I will keep you posted!

Lastly for today I had confirmation from my swap partner she had received the parcel I sent. This time we had to produce recycled hearts, this is what I sent her:

A little recycled heart journal made with a coptic stitch. :) This month we are making bookmarks based around our favourite books which should be fun!

Bye for now xxx

Time to paint!

Hello All,

Last night I managed to find time to do some painting. I have a commission for one big and two small abstract mixed media canvasses and really need to get on with them and get them done. As usual life gets busy and I struggle to find the time. I was therefore pleased to make a start on the big canvas. Here is a detail from last nights work:

The hardest thing to do is get started but once I do I get into the groove and then I can't wait to get back to it. My brief for this commission is quite open. The lady in question specified the sizes and that they were to be abstract but otherwise gave my free rein on colours/textures/patterns etc It is nice to be able to do as I like but I just hope she will like it!

Bye for now! xx

New art journaling page.

Hello all,

What a busy weekend. It was my nephews 3rd birthday so we all went to the Yorkshire sculpture park for the day. Luckily it seemed to be the first real day of spring and was lovely and sunny. The kids loved running about and I got to see the Bill Viola exhibition I wanted to see. I am not normally bothered by video art or installations but I saw his work many years ago while I was at Uni and it is mesmerising, you can't really explain why but you can't tear your eyes away. This exhibition didn't dissapoint and I really enjoyed it. Particularly the piece in the chapel which showed a blazing fire slowy turn to water and then almost to smoke. I recomend going down to have a look if you can http://www.ysp.co.uk/exhibitions/bill-viola

Also this weekend I managed to make a start on my next large canvas and finish the art journaling page I started last week:

I really fancied putting in a portrait and when I had added her it made me start thinking about what is confidence? Quite often it is a mask for many insecurities. When do we actually feel truly 100% confident?

Anyway bye for now! xxxx

The next layer

Hello All,

Happy Mothers day for yesterday to all you wonderful mothers! I was treated to a handmade card from each of my girls and breakfast made for me by my eldest. Then later four generations went out for a meal with a free class of bubbly....lovely :)

All this wine-ing and dining meant little time for creating but I did manage a bit more on my commision:

I added further colour with pigment powders and glass bead texture gell through a stencil to create the circles. I feel that the pigment powders allow me to great depth of colour that sometimes I can't achieve with normal acrylics.

I also got a background in my altered book journal done:

I haven't done any journaling for ages so it felt good to make a start on this page. I had a load of paper towels I had used to clean up paint with saved up to use and these form most of the background with added acrylics andgold paint. The photo doesn't show that the text from the page also comes through which I feel adds nicely to it. What to do with it though?! I will have to wait and see where it takes me next.

Bye for now xxx