Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Mixed Media {Wood Panel}

March Texture Play Creation Revealing

I have heard others talk about images or designs just “showing up” as they create, but this is the first time it has happened to me. For Mindy Lacefield’s “Permission to Play” class,  I was working on a mixed media background on this 6x6 deep wood panel. I had adhered two kinds of tissue paper (top and bottom) and used a palette knife to spread my new heavy gesso (love it), then sprayed some teal and some cappuccino Perfect Pearls spray in a couple of places, mixed a bit of Dina Wakley Dusk paint with Glazing Liquid and spread it around on the bottom third, using a catalyst wedge and a fan brush. At that point I noticed a white area in the center right. I thought, “Boy, if I just had some orange Perfect Pearls spray, I could spray a circle of orange right there, and it would almost look like a sunset over water.” I actually did have some orange spray on my shelf, so that’s exactly what I did. As I was dry-brushing some of the Dusk paint around all the sides of the panel, some lyrics from Chris Tomlin’s “Indescribable” came to mind. So I printed those lyrics and adhered them to the board. I decided to stop right there and call it done. Frankly, I love it.

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Monday, March 30, 2015

Documented Life 2015 March 28 Challenge {Art Journal}

So far I am on track for all the weeks of 2015, even though some weeks the challenge at DLP is tougher than others. The March theme is (still) Mark Making and Doodling, and the challenge this time is to use a custom-made “element” using doodling or mark-making.

I pulled out the four Scripture Cards (3.5 x 5 each) that I had created for a Glory Art Bible Study on trust, a few weeks ago. Yes, they are custom-made, and yes they use doodling and mark-making. I created an art journal background with coordinating colors, used a lot of stamps and other mark-making tools, adhered the Scripture Cards, and there you have my March 28 project!

DLP March 28 Unique Element

Friday, March 27, 2015

Keep Focus {Art Journal}

DLP March 21 Coming Into Focus

The March theme for Documented Life Project is “Making Your Mark (Doodles and Mark Making).” The March 21 challenge is “Mark Making as a Focal Point.” The Journal Prompt is “coming into focus.”

Right away I knew I wanted to make a page about keeping my eyes focused on God, and I wanted to use a Scripture passage as the “focal point.” But, making the page come together as I envisioned was more challenging than I thought it would be.

closeup

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

New Journaling Bible {Bible Art Journaling}

Make a Joyful Noise Little Conner

The Bible I had been using for Art Journaling had a print size that was just too small for me (7.5). Although I had completed several art journaling pages in that one, I decided there was never going to be a great time to switch Bibles, and I just was not pleased with the difficulty I was having with actually reading the text (which would be the main purpose for a Bible, after all).

So, I found a Bible with 11.5 text size, 2.5” margins. It is larger than my other one, but that’s okay. I’ll take the trade-off. It is also only available in KJV, which is fine with me, as most of the Scriptures I have memorized are from the King James Version. I have numerous other study Bibles to use, so having my Journaling Bible be KJV is all good.

This Bible is from Local Church Bible Publishers and has a black genuine leather cover. It is the 400 Mid Size Note Takers Black (Basic).

I had illustrated this passage in my previous Bible with piano keys. I wanted to start in this Bible with the same passage, and this time I used a little image that reminds me of my red-headed grandson, who sings, plays guitar and keyboards, and is now a newlywed, preparing for the ministry.

For those who like a challenge, there is a “reality” to the notes on the whimsical staff in the marginalia. Any guesses?

Thursday, March 19, 2015

“Of All the Things I’ve Lost…” {Art Journal}

DLP March 14 Borders

This is Week 11 (of the 52 weeks in 2015) in the Documented Life Project. This week’s challenge specifies:

March Theme - Making Your Mark (Doodles & Mark Making)
March 14, Week 11 - Art Challenge:  Borders
Journal Prompt:  "Borderline feels like I'm going to lose my mind."

This Twain quote was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the prompt. It is also apropos for “documenting my life" this week. It has been crazy on several fronts-so, yeah, losing my mind. Can't find it, search though I may. (I usually take 2-3 days for each week's project, but no time to start until this morning, and calling it done this time.)

Used paints (background is Distress Paint Wild Honey) and pens (UniBall Signo black and white), stencils and stamps.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Make a Joyful Noise ({Bible Art Journaling}

Joyful Noise Bible Art Journaling

I love this passage. Of course, it is about more than “making music,” but that is the image that comes to my mind because I am a musician. Or maybe I should say I am a musician in the same way that I am an artist. To be honest, I feel a bit like an imposter when I use either term.

Nonetheless, I have played piano since I was 10, and I have “played for church” since I was 11. At that time, my dad was a pastor of a small church, and I could play hymns, so there you have it.

Still, verses about praising the Lord with music hold a special meaning for me.

Psalm 98:4-6 (ESV)

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

We Confess, He Forgives {Bible Art Journaling}

1 John 1-9 BAJC #10

I have found another inspiring challenge to participate in for 2015. This one is called Bible Art Journaling Challenge and is headed up by one of my online Christian artist friends, Rebekah Jones.

I like this challenge because it is specifically Bible art journaling, so that motivates me to actually work in my Journaling Bible (where I have been rather hit or miss, lacking focus). In this challenge, we are given a verse each week, so I love that.

This verse is a promise, and I am realizing that many of my favorite verses are promises. Because of the shed blood of His Son Jesus, God promises to forgive and cleanse, if we confess our sins. Our part is to confess, His part is to forgive and cleanse. Awesome.

 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

– 1 John 1:9 (ESV)

Monday, March 9, 2015

Home Blessings {Art Journal in Altered Book}

Home Blessings

My altered book is almost full! This is the second one for me, and I do like doing art on the pages of books. This one is a Home Blessings piece, inspired by Junelle Jacobsen’s class, Saturday Mornings 2.

It’s a good thing my whimsical art does not need to be all detailed and realistic. That would take away all the fun!

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Prompt: Make Your Mark {Art Journal}

DLP March 7 Making Your Mark

The Documented Life Project challenge for this week is Making Your Mark. I chose a cross to represent my “mark,” and I used several mark-making techniques to create the journal page. It also addresses the Documented Faith Project theme for March: Love.

I used mark-making in layers: dictionary stamp and rub-ons; handwritten thoughts and doodles; stamps and stamping in ink with found objects; painting with a brush, with a sponge, and with a card, through stencils and on stamps; typewritten words.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Bunny Play {Mixed Media Wood Panel}

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In the Permission to Play class with Mindy Lacefield, there is a lot of free play with acrylic paints. The idea here is to play with the paints, as your child-self.  This is a challenge for me, as my child-self never did any art play. (I was pretty awesome with a coloring book, though!) So, the whole idea of “art play” is new to me as an adult!

This piece was done on a 6x6 birch wood panel (deep). I started by painting the whole block in carbon black, but the top panel has no remaining black showing!

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Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Simple {Bible Journaling}: Love the Lord Your God

Wk10 DF Love the Lord Your God Bible Journaling

This week’s Documented Faith challenge uses this verse from Mark 12:30. I also am using this verse for my memory verse for March 1, Siesta Scripture Memory Team.

The first thing that comes to my mind when I read this verse is a song that my daughter-in-law used to sing with my (then) small grandchildren, Tory and Conner (now 21 and 19). I asked Tory if she remembered singing it, and she said, “Oh, yes, I remember singing it at bedtime.” Bingo. She is exactly right.

The verse that follows says “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Then the Scripture goes on to say that those are the greatest commandments. Honestly, if we could live out those two commands, how much better would our lives be!

Monday, March 2, 2015

Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do {Art Journal}

DLP Feb 28 High 5

This week’s challenge in Documented Life Project is to use five layers. The prompt is “Give me a high five.”

In addition to the gesso (two layers, one watered down to make the vintage book paper less yellow) and a couple of layers of decoupage, my five layers are: vintage book paper over all, deli paper with gelli print over all the book paper, college elements including bleeding tissue of my handprint, stamps/stencils, and pen/pencil marks and journaling.

My response to the "give me a high 5" is the handprint signifying the traditional take on "high 5." I used the Bible verse that says,

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." – Ecc 9:10

High 5 Closeup