Art Journal: Fly

Golden heavy body acrylics, airbrush colors, machine stitching, gellyroll, Uniball marker, ephemera, japanese washi papers, Caran D'Ache Neocolor II wax crayons.

In early 2012 I started with a hardback book and transformed it into an art journal. These are pages from what I call The Noticing Journal. It contains my messiest, most paint-filled journal pages EVER. In this journal, I focus on simple ideas that I might otherwise overlook or forget to document. The journal has been through so much that it has literally fallen apart. Having loose art journal pages {or pages that have fallen out of a journal or altered book} is a wonderful opportunity! Before stitching or binding the pages or gluing them back inside, you can take the chance to sew them with a sewing machine!

After I’d painted blues and whites and the pages had dried {this takes up to a few days, depending how much paint... dry to the touch is not dry to the core}, I decided to attach two things with stitches. I attached the photograph of my daughter using a zig zag stitch. The print is from my Polaroid PoGo Printer, by the way. It has a nice retro feel and a peel-off sticky back. {PS. When I bought the PoGo it was under $50, and so perhaps they've updated the functionality because now it's more expensive.} Then I used a straight stitch to attach a paper I’d dotted with neon acrylics. If you don’t have a machine, you can hand stitch metallic embroidery floss around a photo to add interesting texture to the page.

As I worked, I thought about what I wanted the page to symbolize. The key was the swing. I still find it difficult to come up with words to write. And remember, no rules! But I "like" having at least a few words on my pages. One trick I use is to find something on the page to focus my attention. So I wrote about my daughter’s lifelong love of playground swings. I considered stamping the word FLY with alpha stamps but envisioned something larger with movement to echo the word and the photograph. I painted the word FLY directly on top of the hand-painted paper on the left in bubble gum pink.

Spinning Assumptions

“Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world.
Scrub them off every once in awhile, or the light won't come in.”
Isaac Asimov

“All your questions can be answered, if that is what you want.
But once you learn your answers, you can never unlearn them.” 
Neil Gaiman

“If the desire to write is not accompanied by actual writing,
then the desire is not to write”
Hugh Prather

Making collage fodder.

Experimenting.

Watercolors, masks, alcohol inks...

 Spin your assumptions around with creative recklessness!

What haven't you tried lately?

Sharing Work from my Watercolor Playground Workshop

Over at 21 Secrets we are immersed in creativity! In my workshop, we are playing in a land of watercolor. A land where paint flows effortlessly from the brush and creates a unique magic on the page. To see an introduction to my watercolor workshop, pop over to this post.

I wanted to share with you some of the gorgeous artwork posted in the discussion group and facebook group for the workshop. I'll be sharing another set of pages at the end of May {so if you've taken my workshop and want me to share your work, just let me know via the comments}. Please note that this work is shared with permission from the artists.

Louise D created this masterpiece.

In her words, "I really struggled with the very first exercise but by this one I suddenly 'got it'. It sounds a bit corny but it felt like the paint was my friend, working its hardest to make 'happy accidents' for me. I tend to work rather quickly and loosely (messily) and this medium is perfect for that! Thank you so much for introducing me to a new friend." 

Natasha White painted this amazing work, with so many little paths to discover and places for the eye to play.

In Natasha's words, "I have used my watercolours more since I started this workshop then I have since I got them. The more I play the more I love them. I have only briefly dabbled before and then went back to my acrylics for the most part, but right now...it is all about watercolours I am loving how vibrant I can still get the colour and experimenting with my control and lack of it!"

Natasha shared a few more of her pages at her blog, Define Your Joy.

Patricia of Magenta Matters created a lively playground in the workshop! I love the flow of the paint and the energy and freedom of color. Learn a bit more about her experience with watercolor.

 

Lynn created a beautiful page using a technique called bubbles. Lynn blogs at Lulu's Art Life and included her playground page from the workshop in this post. In Lynn's words, "I loved this class Tammy and learned so much so thank you.  I love watercolours even more than I did before." "I think I loved this technique the most! It was so much fun watching the colours mix and blend.  I blended my neocolours a lot more than you did in your video but I kind of got carried away with the vibrancy of the colours blending. And I liked it like that!"

Some comments from the workshop discussion group:

"What I love about your videos so far, is that because I have a smidgen of knowledge I love how your exercises are teaching us basic steps of controlling the paint without making it boring.  We end up with something that is cool to look at and can be used.  I don't know if teaching comes easy for you but I would say that you definitely have a knack for sharing in a creative and interesting way!  I have learned a ton just watching your videos and can't wait until I dip my brush into water and some beautiful paint.  Now maybe I will get those expensive paints I bought out and take them for a spin."

"I really enjoyed this exercise and I am finding that the exercises are really helping me to practice mixing my paint with water to get the right intensity of colour."

"I can't tell you how much I enjoyed doing these pages. My only other attempt at doing watercolor was based on learning from a book, and it was so abysmal I put it away and never got back to it. Thank you so much for these brilliant ideas/exercises, Tammy! I am hooked on watercolors."

"Thank you for making watercolor fun! I was getting too stressed trying to get things to come out like the original picture in other watercolor books. I wish I started with this class first before trying to learn from books."

"Still working on this page but I'm finding it really interesting. I'm usually all about instant gratification and this is not that type of exercise. That's the first thing that's good for me about this - learn some patience. Secondly I'm finding that the further I get I'm sort of getting the hang of how the brush works - i love that it's starting to make sense to me."

"Thanks again for helping me to become more comfortable with watercolors. I know that I have a way to go, but I feel good about this start at exploring this medium. It's quite fun and therapeutic!"

"I loved doing this and find using watercolours oh so relaxing! I know I will be using this technique A LOT in my journalling to come. I love the rawness and roughness of your work Tammy."

So if you are curious about watercolor, and art journaling, register for 21 Secrets! This link will take you to Dirty Footprints Studio, where you can register. 

Please note that the art work in this post is shared with permission from the artists.

365 Somethings #112-118

“To live for results would be to sentence myself to continuous frustration.
My only sure reward is in my actions and not from them.”
Hugh Prather

"knowing how visual"

hand-cut petals - hand-painted papers, cardstock, found text

"isn't it odd"

misc. ephemera, cardstock, hand-painted papers, fabric, found text

"intensity collector"

fabric, found text

"religion and science"

fabric, found text

"document these qualities"

acrylics painted on index card, fabric, found text

"remember duties"

painted index card, fabric, found text

"13"

fabric, number stamps

All of the collages are stitched 3x5" cards.

What's up at Daisy Yellow?

1. My project for 2013 is to create 365 little collages. I'm actually quite ahead of the game.
2. On a mission to share the link love every Friday in May. Yes! We are officially continuing into May! Please join me this Friday. Thanks to those who participated, commented, or followed just one link in April!
3. I've been doing simple cut + paste collages.
4. Making gelatin prints addictively.
5. Teaching a watercolor workshop for beginners at 21 Secrets. Check out the little video intro. Getting super duper positive feedback!!! 
6. My 2011 workshop for 21 Secrets is now FREE to all. It's an acrylic painting technique called Urban Layer Cake.
7. Art Journal Prompt cards are back in the Etsy Shop in sets of 5, 15 and 52. You can also buy them directly through Daisy Yellow.
8. I'm working on DY Zine #8. But I'm being a perfectionist. Until I get it published, enjoy Zine #7.
9. I've been watercoloring and doodling lots and lots and need to share that with you here!
10. There will be a MOO giveaway this week!
11. June 1 is the start of... well, I think you know. The challenge that shall not be named. 

Link Love Squared {a Mission}

Good news! The Mission will continue every Friday in May.
Join me?

my new joy, tubed watercolors...

Please join me in the campaign to give virtual hugs to our fellow creative bloggers. Link to blogs that you love to read, link to blogs that you've just discovered, link to blogs that are growing but not yet well known. 

I'm on a mission to revive link love! Get involved! Commit to posting a set of 5 or more links once each week for the rest of April the month of May! Grab a LINK LOVE badge and learn more about my goal.

It is not too late to start. Just start today.

I am committed to sharing links at Daisy Yellow and I hope that you will get in on the action and do a link round-up on your blog too. This was one of my favorite things to do when I started blogging and it has fallen out of fashion. 

Together we can bring it back! 

Here's my post from the first week. The second week. The third week. Another week.

1. Olivia is rocking the world, sharing her experience in teaching a green cleaning workshop. Plus she sent me the sweetest happy-good mail that I will post soonish for you to see.
2. I like the idea of looking at your month visually. Roben-Marie shares a fun monthly instagram photo wrap-up.
3. At Tim's Sally, a video of a blossoming painting. I like the concept of underpainting in white paint and white colored pencil. 
4. Quinn writes about losing weight and her new sparkly photo. And I'll add that I struggle with my weight, as my mom did, and her father. Some people treat overweight folks as if they have a character flaw. They feel that we need to be reminded to fix ourselves. Not only to we feel uncomfortable in tight spaces, but we are uncomfortable in maneuvering through life as well. Since you don't know me in person, this might be a surprise. 
5. Sandra draws the coolest doodles in her Rhodia journal, as part of the Rhodia Journal Swap. You can see our Journal Swap tumblr here.
6. At Cappuccino and Art Journal, a collection of travel journals. Love the ephemera.

If you are participating in SHARE the LINK LOVE, please add the URL to your blog post in the Mister Linky below. Links to your home page or links not about our MISSION will be deleted.

Fort Worth {Arts Festival}

The Main Street Arts Festival is an annual tradition. 

Cut + Paste Therapy #6

I'm working in a 8 1/4 x 11 3/4" Clairefontaine Carnet de Voyage. Wide open, it's quite luxurious.

When I create pages, I work on several things at the same time. I'm looking at the layout, the white space, the balance of shapes and colors, and usually a theme, perhaps a feeling or color palette.

Before I collaged the top pages, I drew wavy, erratic lines with Neocolors. Then I added stuff from US, japanese and italian magazines, catalogs, japanese washi paper, MOO cards with my own art, stamps, found text. Then I "painted" around the collage with water to dissolve the neocolors.

These pages have a focus on orange with a dash of aqua, with bits of this and that. Part of a greeting card, a map, tissue paper, clippings from magazines, hand-painted papers, found text, wrapping paper, and I did that thing where you pull the text off the magazine page using matte medium. It wasn't on purpose - I put something down then decided against it - pulled it off and the text remained!

This week I worked at gluing images on Monday but it was so overcast on Tuesday that I didn't take any photographs. I'm linking with the witty Aimee of Artsyville for Week #6 of Glue It Tuesday! Totally surprised I've stuck with this for so long, and so happy I did. I really think this has become a standard practice in my creative life.

Have you tried working in a very simple way, just focusing on images and composition?

Some happy news. I was asked to write a series of articles about Art Journal Inspiration at the Create Mixed Media site. Go check out the first article, Get More You into Your Art Journal Pages. One article each month.

Art Journal Prompt Cards

A creative prompt, a challenge or a constraint allows you to jump into creating in your journal! Art journal prompt cards are tiny works of art designed to inspire your mixed media artwork.

Art journal prompt cards

{100+ unique designs}

Available in sets of 5, 15 or 52.

SPECIAL SALE PRICE THROUGH JUNE 1 2013

I keep track of each order to ensure that you will receive no duplicates on future orders.

Just pop over to the etsy shop.... or, if you prefer to buy directly...  

Please select the number of cards you would like to order:

5 cards $6.50 USD 15 cards $12.00 USD 52 cards {US/Canada} $49.00 USD 52 cards {International} $54.00 USD

Art journal prompt cards are creative prompts in the form of a BINGO card with an array of possibilities for each page. Each card has 24 words or prompts designed to work in harmony to help you create a unique art journal page. Simply play BINGO to select your prompts and form the 5-phrase constraint.

The quality is fabulous and the color is lush. The cards are printed by MOO on uncoated, smooth, heavy, white recycled paper, standard business card size at {84 x 55 mm / 3.3 x 2.2 in}.

Here's what people are saying about the DY Art Journal Prompt cards:

• "The cards are gorgeous, high quality! I can't wait to use them. Packaged in a lovely handpainted envelope. Very happy buyer!"

• "I love these cards! I ordered these fun, innovative cards to keep on hand for my art students who finish projects quicker than others, and often come to ask me what they can do while the rest of the class finishes. While I am busy helping individual students, they can take a card and work on their own. Tammy was on top of my order from the beginning, keeping me informed via email of the shipping status. I love the personalized service - so rare these days!"

• "Tammy I LOVE these cards. Brilliant idea. They are in my bag and will be going wherever I do. I'm sure I'll use them for a million years!"

• "Very cool and inspirational art prompts in a beautiful, personalized envelope - can't wait to get to it! Thanks very much and for the index card art : - )"

• "This is such a cool idea and I am really liking the cards."

• "Love these cards! i have my own sets already, and these new sets are going to be gifts for my art journaling buddies, who i know will love them as much as i do."

• "These cards are great for when I am experiencing "Artist's Block!" What a fun, creative idea for prompts! And Tammy included a nice surprise in the shipment - one of her original mandalas!"

• "The prompt cards were beautiful and very well made. I was very happy with my purchase. Also, extremely fast shipping and great service."

• "I'm so pleased with my art prompt cards, they're fab. Quick delivery too."

• "I first ordered 5 of these cards, and enjoyed them so much, I ordered 15 more. Tammy is careful not to duplicate if you place additional orders, so the new cards are unique. I have even more fun, more patterns, more ideas. I keep some of the cards on my desk, and have others now stashed everywhere. The size is perfect, fitting in any small place, fitting in my hand. But the most amazing thing is that every one that I pick up offers a word, or combination of words, that gets me started, that somehow fits with something I've been thinking about, and want to write about, or art journal about. We all sometimes need a way to enter the blank page. These cards are a doorway, an opening. Make sure you order a lot the first time, or you'll be coming back for more just like I did."

• "What a wonderful creative treat for myself... from a wonderful creative............ all the way from the art journal prompt cards themselves to the painted envelope that housed them."

• "Wonderful - delightful concept and so pretty I am sure these cards will inspire some great pages in my art journal.""You will never again be stymied by the blank page. The cards are beautifully designed, well made, easy to use, and work just as well whether you use them to art journal, or write in your journal. They are luscious colors, very visually attractive. The size is perfect, fitting in your journal, your agenda, your wallet, purse, pocket. And lastly, they are fun to touch. I can't really explain this last bit, but there is something about the feel of them that makes them hard to put down.""I love them and they are right at home on my journaling desk. You are amazing :-)"

• "This morning... I was writing in my journal without a prompt and it was getting a little weepy and moany and complaining, not in a good place to put it mildly but I also had one of your cards on the arm of the couch next to me so I picked it up and just took the first word (I guess that would be B1 in the Bingo Lingo) which was DOODLE and that ended up focusing my writing a bit (I wrote about DOODLE. At first!) It totally turned the tenor of the write and made it positive because the entry then became about the fact that I am looking forward to receiving the copy of "Doodle Diary" I ordered earlier this week which became commentary about what else I was looking forward to and I started feeling better. THEN I wrote something like "Tammy probably meant" that I should actually doodle. So I doodled the word "doodle" and then I let one cat in... going to the back to open the door off the porch... and I noticed the lush green of the backyard and the big blooms of the dahlias and moonflowers so I wrote "moonflowers & dahlias" in crazy lettering and by the time I put my notebook aside, I felt much better... happier. To say the least, thanks for all your generously given inspiration...""I just wanted to let you know that your GORGEOUS art journaling prompt cards arrived safely to the UK in the post - thank you so much. I've had them for a week or two now, and I keep shuffling through them and loving the creative sparks that are beginning to fly! I've been pretty 'stuck' with my creativity recently, but I'm hoping that these will give me a gentle push in the right direction..."

Art Journal Prompt Cards Copyright ©2012-2013 Tammy Garcia

365 Somethings #105-111

“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them.”
George Bernard Shaw

Just wanted to share the next set of stitched collages for my 365 project. I'm into tiny strips of paper this time, with some new flowery shapes and a rainbow.

"with the same weapons"

fabric, japanese washi paper, card stock,  playing card, hand-painted papers

"stop"

map, ephemera, japanese washi paper, card stock, hand-painted papers

"barely highlight"

fabric, ephemera, found text, japanese washi paper, card stock, hand-painted papers

"vast"

fabric, japanese washi paper, card stock, playing card, hand-painted papers, doodles

"daylight into each problem"

card stock, found text

"just beautiful sidewalks"

hand-painted papers, found text

"late afternoon trance"

hand-painted papers, found text

All of the collages are stitched 3x5" cards.

Link Love Again {a Mission}

I'm on a mission to revive link love! Get involved! Commit to posting a set of 5 or more links once each week for the rest of April. Grab a LINK LOVE badge and learn more about my goal.

It is not too late to start. Just start today.

I am committed to sharing links at Daisy Yellow and I hope that you will get in on the action and do a link round-up on your blog too. This was one of my favorite things to do when I started blogging and it has fallen out of fashion. Together we can bring it back! 

Here's my post from the first week. The second week. Another week.

1. Alma constructs a cardboard cereal box canvas and paints a portrait on the canvas {video}.
2. A cheer for the wonderful Leah of Creative Every Day for her on-going challenge to bring creativity to our lives a day at a time. 
3. Tricia is tracking the 33 things she'd like to do this year. I find this type of list inspiring - because you can see that progress on goals takes time but can be achieved.
4. Quinn writes about real stuff, including a thoughtful post called Getting Up Again.
5. Katie talks about working through dry spells in layers and layers.
6. Beautiful feather art at stitch therapy {I found this blog through Gretchen's link love}
7. Pam Carriker shares art inspired by her new stencils. I've not used stencils in my work, and this looks intriguing.
8. Bonus: Love the fresh fruity designs in Christopher Dina's work.

If you are participating in SHARE the LINK LOVE, please add the URL to your blog post in the Mister Linky below. Links to your home page or links not about our MISSION will be deleted.