The start of the new year inspired me to start a new visual journal. I wanted to make my own, so I headed on over to Blick's, hoping to buy a 10-pack of Fabriano Artistico hot press watercolor paper, but alas, they only sell these online, so I couldn't use my 40% off coupon for it. What to do? I wandered over to the sketchbook section, determined to make good use of that coupon. Searching for a nice roomy size with sturdy enough paper, my eyes alighted on this Moleskine watercolor journal. The hardback cover could be altered (some day), the page size (8 1/4 x 11 1/2 inches) is very generous, and I knew from experience with a smaller pad that the paper could hold up to mixed media. Forty percent off, please!
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Once at home I got busy prepping some pages, experimenting with different techniques: Plain white gesso brushed on. Plain watercolor. Acrylics straight out of the jar and applied with an old gift card. Gesso with a smidge of watercolor swiped on. Etc. I hated the plain watercolor (probably due to the elementary school box of watercolors I used...) so I shmeared colored gesso and washed out acrylic over that. The point is, it's good to try things out and find what works for you!
A lot of mixed media artists I've met or read about do this thing of choosing a word for the year, in addition to or instead of New year's Resolutions. I wasn't planning on doing this, but my BBG friends forwarded Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's blog post on it and started sharing their choices for their personal word of the year. The bug was thus planted in my ear and I began to contemplate: What did I want or need in the coming year? Focus is always in need. Success would be nice. Finally, I decided that what I want most of all is Clarity: Clarity of purpose, of passion, of direction. I'm really hoping for some kind of epiphany, a strike of lightning, a trumpet blast from Heaven above to show me, once and for all, my true path, so that I won't go on feeling like a scatter-brained artistic dilettante. Is that too much to ask?
So, into the journal, for all of posterity, went my word. (I drew each letter backwards on the wrong side of scrapbook paper, cut it out, glued it on. No, I didn't sketch them out forward first. I'm pretty good at writing in cursive backwards. I'm weird that way.) Simple and straightforward, just as Clarity should be.
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And then, of course, I was compelled to do a visual. My little mixed-media project became more and more elaborate, perhaps not as Clarity should be. But I really like the third eye symbol and the heavenly rays of light going into or coming out of the head. (Collage, clear gesso, Neo Color crayons, Derwent watercolor pencils, Stabilo pencil, Sharpie paint pen, white Gelli pen, hand-carved stamp, Pitt pen, acrylic paint.)
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I am happy that my little journal is on its way. Where I will go from here, we shall see.
What's YOUR word for the year?
A lot of mixed media artists I've met or read about do this thing of choosing a word for the year, in addition to or instead of New year's Resolutions. I wasn't planning on doing this, but my BBG friends forwarded Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's blog post on it and started sharing their choices for their personal word of the year. The bug was thus planted in my ear and I began to contemplate: What did I want or need in the coming year? Focus is always in need. Success would be nice. Finally, I decided that what I want most of all is Clarity: Clarity of purpose, of passion, of direction. I'm really hoping for some kind of epiphany, a strike of lightning, a trumpet blast from Heaven above to show me, once and for all, my true path, so that I won't go on feeling like a scatter-brained artistic dilettante. Is that too much to ask?
So, into the journal, for all of posterity, went my word. (I drew each letter backwards on the wrong side of scrapbook paper, cut it out, glued it on. No, I didn't sketch them out forward first. I'm pretty good at writing in cursive backwards. I'm weird that way.) Simple and straightforward, just as Clarity should be.
And then, of course, I was compelled to do a visual. My little mixed-media project became more and more elaborate, perhaps not as Clarity should be. But I really like the third eye symbol and the heavenly rays of light going into or coming out of the head. (Collage, clear gesso, Neo Color crayons, Derwent watercolor pencils, Stabilo pencil, Sharpie paint pen, white Gelli pen, hand-carved stamp, Pitt pen, acrylic paint.)
I am happy that my little journal is on its way. Where I will go from here, we shall see.
What's YOUR word for the year?