Art saves

Im the guest curator this week on Jen Doh's website.....reading my story might make more sense out of my recent blog absence.....life is different but its becoming oh so much better......its good to start finding yourself even if its through not the best circumstances :)



things on this blog will probably be going in a bit of a different direction. I have always shared happy things in happy times with a smile or a smirk......lately ive been feeling really emotion and that has been connected to what ive been making. Prepare for a little more real life being lived out on here..... Stories matter as much as pretty pictures and techniques in my option so sit back....relax....and prepare for the ride lol



My friend debbie was talking to me about oprahs lifeclass awhile back.....lifeclass sounded interesting....but oprah????? not really my thing. I watched an episode and i was floored. the things coming out of her mouth were literally speaking to my soul. this particular lesson was.....when you know better you do better. simple sweet and powerful. Many times through out my life i have questioned my choices and the path i was on. after watching this show i became more at peace with my previous decissions..... I did the best that i could with what i was given so how could i be mad at myself. Now i know better....I guess i should do better ;)



I wanted this quote up on the wall in my studio as a constant reminder to myself......its a really calming thought for me..... So heres my little canvas board with a swirly flower.....it seemed fitting......


Create what makes you happy :)

New beginnings

Life's a changin around here.... I just moved!!!! Super excited about that. My studio will be set up in a week.... Being with out it for 5 months was interesting!!! Here a semi step by step of the piece I did commemorating my new found independence..... All iPhone photos so bare with me :)



Take a canvas board and slap some cream paint on it




Apply collage paper with gel medium


Apply antiquing gel around the outside with a paint brush then rub it in with a rag. Water can help smooth it out



Apply more collage elements and glue down



Scribble some portfolio oil pastels



Smudge.... Add some doodling and stamps to help make everything look cohesive



Spray some color wash to make clouds



If youre stamps dont work out so well like mine.... Trace them with a charcoal pencil... Smudge.... And call it a day ;) blend in some vintage photo ink on the edges to further antique it



Add a quote and a bird... This time colored in with a sharpie... And youre done!!!!!
i looked at this when i was done and the proportions made me think of when I was a kid.... What's important is always the biggest when you're little.... Today my flowers were way bigger then my clouds..... Funny how that stuff works out ;)
See u guys soon
Create what makes u happy!!!!

Travel art journaling

Sooooo i went to Boston way back in july and since then i have planned a travel art journal post....hmm a month in the making it better be good right????? I often do searches on peoples travel journal supplies and i mostly come up empty handed......i can only find water color journal stuff.....What about the all around art journalers????? Here's what i took with me and some commentary on what worked and what didnt :)

 

Heres my airline approved quart size ziplock bag....i was amazed at how much fit!!!!!

Here are the contents....click pic to enlarge! The tiny golden bottles were awesome...i got some as samples and some i bought in a pack at Michael's i think....i brought white, cobalt teal, naphthol red light, phtalo blue, phtalo green, micaceous iron oxide, quinacridone magenta, yellow ochre, hansa yellow, and black.....I used everything in this bag(minus a few paint colors) and i was glad that i brought it all.

Heres a pic of my carry on bag(purse lol) from the return trip. 2 things were added while i was away....another journal and a travel water cup :)

Misc contents of my bag not otherwise mentioned :) I used everyone of these items.....i would like to find a smaller roll of tape...or make my own....it was bulky.....the bulldog clip is a must....

inside of my carry on was a super cool hello kitty lunchbox that housed all of my random things. this box fit perfectly next to my journal on the plane and it made it easy to find what i needed!!!

Im pretty sure i used all of this at one time or another too.....minus the stamps.....the wad of unlabeled pens and stuff are water brushes, sharpies, siglo white pen, nib pen, paint brushes, and a couple of markers

I always bring a 8 1/2 x 11 page protector filled with random bits with me....i also add random bits to  my stack while im gone. there are a few stencils in here, vintage paper, scrapbook paper, mini letter stickers, journal spots, printed words, tags, punchinella etc.......

Technology :) I ended up taking and editing the majority of my pictures on my Iphone.....which is not pictured because its taking the picture lol
Things to add next time:
paper towels.....just a few folded
a washcloth to wipe my brushes
a travel cup....which i bought while i was there
my heat gun....i thought it was bulky but im to impatient to leave home with out it
shipping tags.....totally forgot to add a few of these in
maybe a ranger spray ink or 2..... i kinda missed them.....i was thinking about filling mini misters with them
more gel medium.....that tiny container wasnt enough
things to subtract:
not sure on this one...... i felt kinda good about the variety of things i brought and i used most of it
Lessons learned:
Narrowing down what you use all the time is key.....bring what makes you happy (even if it is too much ).....make a mess on the airplane.....it starts interesting conversations with strangers....journaling with your friends in utter silence is pretty much priceless......those moments stick with you :)

What do you bring with u on the road???? what are your must haves???? I would love to see some pictures!

Hmmmm Lets play catch up shall we????

This has been a crazy summer which apparently equals me being a crappy blogger....i have lots to share and say and no time to post.....Ill work on it i promise!!!!!

My trip was amazing.....i have a million ideas swimming in my head.....Its crazy how much inspiration one person can get in 5 days :) My idea book(and my suitcase) are bursting!!!!
Saturday night I flew in to boston to visit my friend cheryl and thought my friend debbie was coming up the the next day....SURPRISE debbie was in the car at the air port.....It made me sooooo happy :) Getting in at midnight kinda sucked though.....Debbie and I art journaled until the sun came up.....LITERALLY

.....Some times you just need another person next to you making pretty things to be inspired :)

Totally loved this little cafe in downtown Lowel!!! So much fun :) The soy latte was amazing....and so was the decor.....so bright and cheery!!!!

U make me happy!!!!!

Out side the working artist lofts

Graffiti by fenway park in boston
Next post is seafood and beach time and then a lengthy post on travel journaling!!!! Almost all of these pics were taken and edited with my iphone :)

Never dull backgrounds

This was so fun...pt 2 will be up tomorrow!!!!

Create happiness

my biggest motto in life is "create what makes you happy" I figured today I would explain what that really means to me.

A few months ago my answer would have been pretty simple. If you create it and it makes you feel good then its perfect. Not everything you make is museum worthy, AND THATS OK! I make alot more crap than i would like to admit. But shhhhhhh dont tell anyone lol

Today this statement means alot more to me. I want to do more that create THINGS that make me happy. I want to create a life and a lifestyle that makes me happy. I want to wear purple tights in the middle of summer.........I want to get hot pink dreads........I wanna travel the world......all while making pretty things that truly make me happy :)

Last week a spent some time at a friends house. Her front entry area really makes me happy!!!! It has a new orleans feel to it. The vines are sooooo awesome. I have some strange fascination with ivy......

We strung lights to make it even happier

Delilah thought it was pretty too

I set up all my journal stuff outside in this little sanctuary

I had Pandora radio playing in the background....If you like laid back happy art music type in new soul in the search bar :) Its an amazing mellow mix.....great to journal too!!!!!

My baby got tired about an hour in

Then she just crawled in my lap and i painted around her lol

 
This journaling session was one of the most peaceful times in my life. I was content....all that i need in life was around me(well except for genghis)
Ill take some real pics of the journal page tomorrow.....all of these pics were taken with my iphone :)

reflections

Every year inspired has been something different to me. It always meets my current needs (emotionally and artistically) In the right way. I guess its strange to go to an art event and gain emotional stability??? It makes sense though..... I often feel like these people are the only people who really "get" me...... The true me straight to my soul. I don't usually share very personal stuff on here but today i feel like its appropriate.

Year one: going in to the experience i was excited beyond belief......ready to learn new things.....and scared to death by the amount of people i was going to encounter( groups make me nervous) I roomed with 2 wonderful strangers and laughed for hours. There was alot of people there with drama which was a little crazy since i was coming to leave the drama. But in the end it didn't really effect me. I played, learned some new things, and talked to about 10 people. The last day after the final dinner i met a stranger. We talked for maybe 15-20 min and have been friends ever since. In that short time I knew that we "got" each other and we have talked pretty regularly for the past 2 years. Lorrie i think you're awesome and Im glad you're in my life. You always share new things and get my creative juices flowing! Youre an amazing artist and Im glad i get to look at a pretty girl made by you all the time!

Year two. I won a free trip so i was super excited about that.....ready to learn more but not as concerned with it.......and still scarred to death of strangers. I decided to rent a car this year and somehow got the courage to post in the message board asking if someone wanted to shop with me. This was totally out of character for me......stranger danger!!! I waited outside for this lady to arrive that i knew nothing about, secretly praying that she was semi normal, not mean, and wouldnt kill me. Up walks Cheryl, smiling, bubbly, and talking a million miles an hour. "stranger danger" instantly turned into "holy crap, we were meant to be friends for life". Through out the week we shared deeply personal stories with each other. She is one of the wisest people i know and I always learn something amazing from her. We still talk all the time. Cheryl words cannot express how much you mean to me. You always help me on the right path and say the perfect thing at the time i need them. I am so grateful that you are a part of my life. This year I also got to know Donna on a more personal level. She is one of the few people i follow that fuels my creative fire exponentially...... all the time. Shes also an amazing person. She is very smart in both life and art. Im glad to call her my friend. Donna introduced me to this sweet and spunky blond collage artist this year too. Debbie mac is a happy and fun loving creative soul. i decided to switch to their group and I was sooooo glad I did. Debbie's art amazes me. She is also a wise and amazing woman. We talk all the time via skype, showing off projects and new products and talking about everything under the sun. Debbie you always make me laugh even when things are rough. You always tell me how things are even when i dont want to hear it. You make me want to be a better artist and your words are always encouraging. You mean the world to me!!!! With cheryl and debbies help i think i talked to 20 stranger this year :)

Year three......I had no emotions and all emotions......Life was in upheaval and i just wanted to see my friends...... I needed a break from life and inspired happened at the perfect moment. From the jump i decided that strangers weren't scary and I just talked to everyone. I am seriously glad I did. I met a ton of people...... all put in my life for the right reasons. Some alot made me laugh, some made me cry, and some shared the most poignant words i have ever heard. I got to know people that i had met in passing in years before alot better. I did projects and finished some, but this year wasn't about art and learning about it. It was about me...... It was about figuring out who i am......it was about learning that its ok that people are there for you......it was about conquering my fear of people......it was about amazing women(and 3 amazing men)......it was about strange happenstances and chance meetings with awesome people.......My soul was truly inspired. Im pretty sad this was the last year since i actually figured out i like people lol. I want to see my 200 friends again :) i met too many amazing people this year too list them out, but ill try. Jenny's key note speech touched my soul......Tracie made me laugh hysterically and made me love trash.....Nancy almost made me pee my pants with a story that i had heard a bunch before.........christy was sooooo sweet and her mini was amazing........Margie was bubbly and hilarious.....katie and kelli just make me smile........bill was sweet as ever........Melissa was way better then her predecessor .......ken was awesome and i wish he still lived here........paolo kicked ass a alwayd.......Cari was too busy!!!! :( i wished we could have talked more......Mary-ella talked and listened when i needed it most youre a super amazing lady..... Jamie Your stencils make my day and i cant wait to get to know you more!!.......The people who took my class laughed at my jokes so i love u all lol.........Lolly was sweet as can be and is my neighbor!!!!...........tracys glue makes my world complete..........Debbie and cheryl i cant thank you enough for just being there.........Donna your super awesome and you put on one hell of an event i cant wait to be apart of the next one. Dont be sad if i forgot you youre still super fabulous!!!!!!!

Pictures tomorrow.......if u made it through all of the required reading for today :)
Create what makes you happy
*Bree