New Tutorial
Just posted, it’s been delayed! Not specifically for journalling, but it has possibilities. You’ll be surprised at how many ways you can alter the surface to include it. Take a look.
The Grass is Always Greener……
Sometimes we get stuck in a rut, and it’s good to work things through and re-settle ourselves. I was reminded recently of a story from my childhood, I’m sure you all know it.,
I’m going to list some of the items I’ve used for these journal pages. It’s really to indicate that anything is acceptable, and sometimes even the smalles scraps will be just right for something. I’m regarding this spread as a work in progress as I’m sure I’ll add to it at some point.
Fabric, Vegetarian Silk, Paper Fabric, Dyed Paper, Painted Deli Wrap (soon available in the shop, it’s wonderful!); all have been used to make the houses. Each was applied with Matte Medium. Torn edges for the paper, roughly cut edges for the fabric and Vegetarian silk. The fabric and vegetarian silk was hand-dyed, most of the papers coloured using the new Koh-i-noor palette.
This shows the right hand page in a little more detail. I’ve used a calligrapy pen to make the marks of the doors and windows. Each is roughly drawn – no precision is required! At the bottom are smudges of metallic green acrylic, just enough to hint at something else and to give more texture. You can also see that this journal is made from Kraft paper, it’s different to work on – and I’m loving it. I work on more than one at a time, being able to choose the surface is definitely worth the trouble.
The left hand page continues in a similar vein, but I chose a dark painted paper for ‘my’ house
It is a deep blue, almost a purple. Black images wouldn’t show, but it was perfect for the golden windows. Once again I’ve used a metallic acrylic.
Do you remember the story?
I’ll leave the pages for a while before coming back to see if I feel like adding something else. It’s lovely to have a ‘work in progress’ that might also be finished……..
(By the way, if you like colour you will always find a source for inspiration here)
Visible/Invisible
You know that I enjoy using colour. Putting colours together is not difficult if you start with a colour you like and play safe with analagous colours (those on the same side of the colour wheel), but they only become truly exciting when a contrast (a colour from the opposite side of the colour wheel) is added.
These two pages are ones that I use as samples during one of my workshops.
Both pages have been coloured with the same media, and both have the same flower shapes cut into them. This (bad) photo shows the right hand page with the one behind it.
Using similar colours, but different media I created an area of texture to show through the holes.
This closeup shows that the textures are different, but the result is not distinctive!
Now look at the other side
The left hand page shows that painted for the background, on the right you can see the ‘cut outs’.
Even though the textures are similar the colour really ‘pops’ once the two pages are layered together. Not much is needed, just a little, so why not be bold?
Today’s Chittle Chattle
Today’s Just Snaps
Today’s 365 days of Colour
A quick tip
This post might be of interest. It might save you some money on your art supplies, too.
What to do if you run out of gesso!
Urchfont Journal
Many of you will know that I teach at Urchfont Manor. It is an excellent place to learn, and is set in the heart of the peaceful Wiltshire countryside. I keep a journal just about my visits there, as they are frequent. Not only do I teach there, but we also take our supplies to sell on a regular basis. I thought I’d show you the cover
The background is a ‘recycled’ out of date advertising postcard. I have printed over the surface using a hand-carved eraser (you’ve seen this one before, it’s one of my favourites). Some of the printing and the photographs still show through, but are no longer obvious.
To continue the recycling theme I have used recycled card for the additions. Colour has been added using scant amounts of ink which has been dabbed and stroked in areas.
Added texture is provided by a piece of torn textured wallpaper which has been similarly coloured.
One of the best things about staying at Urchfont is the wonderful food! I’ve recorded that with a handmade tag that features a ‘recipe’
I’m teaching three courses at Urchfont next year, there is a little information here, but when I have time I’ll write about each course in detail. ‘Let’s Play with Dyes’ is a new course, and will be a dibble dabble into lots of different things, including just a touch of natural dyeing…. It will be fun.
Not just for journals
I’ve written before about the different uses for journals. I’ve been working on a couple of new projects recently, and I’m starting to write about them here. You may like to follow some of the posts, the first is up today and the second due tomorrow.
Let’s just say that I’ve been having fun!
How do you use your Journal?
It’s just a journal. It can be used in any way you wish, but sometimes it has a specific purpose.
How do you begin to make a hanging – 5 metres long and 8 inches wide?
Experiment!
How?
In this instance I need to work out a combination of designs and colours, so you will now start to see a ‘thread’ in my current journal.
The colours are becoming more fixed in my mind. Gentle and relatively ethereal, but with surface texture to add interest. It’s quite easy on paper. Shortly I’ll have to start thinking about how to do it on 5 metres!
Hope you enjoyed another peek.
This and That
Those of you that took part in the postcard swap will know that it was a success! There is another one planned, and the information is here. Hopefully there will be more of you next time, but we will have fun regardless of the numbers. It’s a ‘no pressure’ swap. No need to be worried that it isn’t good enough – I don’t believe in that sort of exercise.
It’s been a while since I posted a journal page here, but those of you that follow my other blog will have seen this recent post. Today I thought I’d share this page with you. It’s the finished page, and on a subject that might surprise. you.
I have recently begun a series based on decay. It offers far more inspiration than you might at first imagine, and was sparked off by my old friends featured here.
I have, of course, featured them before too, so you will realise that I know them pretty well by now. I’ve investigated the shapes, negative shapes, cut shapes, overlapping shapes – etc, and now I’m inspired by the colours. Here’s today’s journal page….
This page is built up in layers? Any comments as to how I’ve done it?
I’m not giving anything away here – but if you are good (and I get enough guesses) I’ll give you more than a few clues another day.
Oh, and if you would like to join us in the postcard swap but have never made a postcard before – join by sending me one from your local area and I’ll respond by sending a handmade one in return. (Don’t forget to include your email address, then I can contact you for your address)
Postcard Swap
Those of you that have been following the collage a day sequence will know that I mentioned a postcard swap. Sign up here for a swap to be sent out by 17th September. They don’t have to be made using collage, but those that I send will be similar to the ones here, in fact you may be sent one of those….. If you sign up before Sunday 21st August I will arrange a partner for you AND send you a postcard from me too.
