Making and Filling Journals - Quietly, but Busily

I know it seems I've been very quiet lately, but although I'm not blogging much, I am quietly and busily creating journals - from scratch...This is so much fun that:

I can't seem to stop!...making, creating covers, and filling journals.  Here's the cover to my newest one.

The blue is Folk Art Metallic paint - lucscious! I've collaged watercolor dyed coffee filters, fabric, and painted papers, then unified it with the paint.  Later I  plan to add some text - either quotes, stamps...I'm not sure yet...





Tonight I collaged and painted the back cover.
















I've been doing a lot of writting in the current journal that I'm working on filling.  I write, paint over, write some more, sketch, make notes - everything goes in this journal now.  My made-from-scratch journal. Very fulfilling.

And here is a page where I just felt like playing around with watercolor and a brush.

The paper is just some old bond paper that I found in the closet, but it holds up very well to all my "abuse".  I am having fun !

Practically Perfect Labor Day Weekend

Hillsville, VA hosts the southeast's largest flea market each Labor Day Weekend. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it, having not been in a few years. The weather was perfect - clear blue skies, no humidity, highs in the 70's. I went Saturday and Sunday with my daughter, who happens to be my favorite person to hang out with.


Found this happy, very"me" pitcher at the Labor Day flea market and picked these zinnias from my garden to complement it.



One of my goals today was to complete the covers of my handmade journal. I collaged a copy of one of my paintings along with painted fabric and paper from prior play sessions and the definition of the word "live" (zoom in for details).



And I purchased the two stools at the flea market for $5 each, which prompted me to rearrange my corner studio once again. You can see other pictures of its continuing metamorphosis in prior posts.

The Finished Piece!

Thank you to all who commented and made suggestions on what to do in the upper left corner.
I have solved it. I am so pleased with the way this turned out!!!!! I feel like doing a little dance among these brilliantly colored flowers! Doesn't this look happy! Happy Labor Day Weekend! - (for my fellow-Americans at any rate) :-)

Painting #10 in 100

This is a fun piece I did with markers, watercolor and gouache.
The top left corner bothers me, I just haven't decided what to add yet. maybe just a darker shade of blue...
I thought about adding a butterfly, but I'm afraid it will stand out too much and detract from the flowers.
What do you think?

A Day at the Lake

What a beautiful day at the Lake with my family! My favorite sketch of the day is of my daughter Grace on the float bobbing along behind the boat, having a ball!  Love this sketch...

 

Who knew that Claytor Lake had a lighthouse! Everybody else was performing antics in the water while I sketched during intervals between watching them... "Watch this, Mama!"...add another brush stroke..."Mama, look at this"... another brush stroke... "Deborah, watch this!"  Okay I will have to call it done!



Sketches at right above from the football game last night.  Our team won 45 to naught!!  Yeah Team!


And back to the lake today... a real RIGATA!  How beautiful all those white sailboats were against the backdrop of billowy soft, perfectly formed, summer clouds.



This was a warm-up sketch I did in the camper from a photo in Southern Living Magazine before we left to ride the boat.



A perfect day, documented with sketches and topped off with a camp fire roasting marshmallows before heading home.  And now I'm off to bed.  Night all...

Some Recent Sketches

The sketch below was done in the car parked on the side of the road, a very quick sketch.

Then I did the above sketch in my Hand Book Journal using Caran d'Ache Neocolor II crayons and water soluble graphite. I also added whtie oil pastel to the barn and the cloud.



Using a Sharpie pen (love those things!) to draw from a magazine picture.




Done from memory in my lined journal.

On Making Journals

So many of you have asked for instructions on making the journals in my last post.  I don't feel comfortable giving you instruction as I am a novice myself.  I took a class at a nearby art supply store that closed shortly after my class.  The instructor was Kathy Vincent and she was great!  Her artwork is so fresh and expressive!

Here is the link to her website where she showcases her books: http://gallery.webfresco.com/kv/Books/

The stitch I learned is a PAMPHLET STITCH, 3-hole and 5-hole depending on the size of your book really.  It's a simple stitch.  I may attempt a video of myself stitching a book, but this is something I've never done.  Good reason to try something new maybe :-)

Thank you all so much for your comments and your interest!  Do visit Kathy's website!

Making and Filling Journals

Relaxing on the couch sewing journal signatures

A close-up of the stitching

And the results! 4 journals - now I'm ready to jazz up the covers and fill them!

In the meantime...
Recent pages in my Hand-Book Journal:

In the above sketch I was drawn by the swirls on the stage - so many curves - the instruments and their designs, the musicians, and the music...I'm feeling a rather abstract or expressionistic painting coming from this sketch.

And lastly, my resolution of yesterday below. I'll have to add color later - no time.

A Day of Play

Oh hi!  It's raining pretty hard!  Come on in and pull up a pillow!  Today is Saturday, I have the house to myself...

and what better way to spend a rainy Saturday alone than in the living room floor playing.

Here's a WIP and a finished piece.  I started this yesterday with white oil pastel resist, just drawing circles and a "frame" around the picture.  Then I added the cobalt violet watercolor over the whole piece - with some quinacridone rose thrown in.  When it was dry I wiped over it with a paper towel to expose more of the resist.

And today, I added all sorts of playful stuff with markers and colored pencils.  I just played and had so much FUN with this! Just making up the shapes and colors of the flowers as I went along.

Finished piece - 5 x 7 W/N watercolor paper

I started out the day in my sketchbook. Looking through "Country Living" magazines, I found a picture of birdhouses and drew the little ones below.  I had drawn the house about a week ago.  I added some little details to it... check out the BUTTERFLY!!!  I found him outside KFC in the parking lot last Sunday. He was already deceased! I used gel medium to put him in my sketchbook and then drew him below in Warm Gray 90% Prismacolor.  I plan on using him in some future drawings, but will probably use all sorts of different colored designs on his wings.

Below is a finished little flower painting with watercolor pencils and Prismacolor colored pencils used dry for more texture.

5 x 7 on W/N Watercolor paper

 

And the next two little black and white drawings are the beginnings of future paintings...this being sort of the skeleton of how I start usually.  Just designing a picture and then adding tons of color and texture...

BOOKS, BOOKS, and more BOOKS!!

Just thought I'd share my collection with you! 

Happy Saturday!

Hope you enjoyed our play session :-)

New Purchases - FUN!

I found this clock at lunch today for 5 bucks! The perfect balance for my artwork on the shelf in my office.

AND I bought these Folk Art paints. I know professional paints are better, but I love craft paint! The consistency and ease of application. My daughter will be away with my sister the rest of this week and weekend and I plan to PLAY in the studio!!!