Tuesday, June 30, 2015

“Taste and See” {Bible Art Journaling}

Bible Art Taste and See Ps 34-8

Following along with one of my art challenge groups, this is a Scripture I know but would not have thought of for Bible art journaling. That’s one thing I like about my Bible art groups—new ideas for illustrating my faith!

I really love this entire passage, a Psalm of David. My art journal Bible is KJV, and here is the passage in ESV:

Psalm 34:1-9 (ESV)

Taste and See That the Lord Is Good
 Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

34 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!

Saturday, June 27, 2015

DLP Challenge-Travel Pictures {Art Journal}

DLP June 27 Travel Pictures

Documented Life Project 2015

June Theme -Travel Journaling
June 27 - Art Challenge: Photos and Words
Journal Prompt:  A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

I used a road map of Oregon for part of the background, as I wanted to use some photos I took of beautiful flowers while on a trip to Astoria, Oregon.

Gelatos and stamps make up the rest of the background.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Three Nails {Art Journal}

Three Nails

One of my recent art journal challenge prompts was “NAILS.” Clearly, there are numerous directions in which to go with this one. I usually go with what first pops into my head.

Two praise songs came to mind immediately when I read this challenge: the line from "Living He Loved Me (O Glorious Day)" (Casting Crowns) that says, "He took the nails for me," and the line from Leeland's "Yes You Have," that says, "Three nails gave me liberty." Choosing the latter for this layout, I sketched and watercolored three spike-type nails, and the rest of the layout is acrylic paints and stamps.

Three Nails

The lines from the song that I used for the journal are profound. It was because of God’s love for me that my freedom was purchased. The price was the sacrifice of His Only Son, nailed to a cross, because “the wages of sin is death.” He “took the nails for me.”

Hallelujah, He did not stay on the cross, nor did He remain in the grave. His salvation is offered to all who believe.

So, yeah, I SHOULD sing His praise!

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

No Place Like HomeS {Art Journal}

No Place Like Homes DLP June 20

Have been traveling of late, making the cross-country trek from our MO home (where part of our family lives) to our WA home (where another part of our family lives). So far I have been able to keep up with the weekly prompts for The Documented Life 2015 Art Journal Project, and the prompt for June 20 seemed relevant for me right now. The theme for June is Travel, and the prompt for this week is “There’s No Place Like Home.”

There are a million ways to go with that prompt, but I opted for what came to mind first: There’s No Place Like HomeS.

I used my Silhouette to cut out the flourished states, and I sewed stitches with black embroidery thread to indicate a path that is SOooooooo much shorter than the real one!

Monday, June 15, 2015

Clocks and Time {Art Journal}

Clock Challenge Art Journal

I have my bags packed for a cross-country trip. “Bags” includes several bags and boxes of studio supplies, as I will be gone for quite some time. After packing, I received an art journal challenge prompt, “The Clock Strikes,” and I realized that I have enough supplies, not packed away, to complete this challenge quickly. So I rushed through it, but at least I will be not be behind on this challenge (two per week) when I leave on the trip.

This is a topic that could go in so many different directions. It’s a topic I have on my mind a lot lately, as time seems to be flying by even faster now than it did when my children were younger.

Clock Challenge Art Journal

(Oh, and what does it say, that I have several bags and boxes packed from my studio, and still have so many supplies on hand that you can’t even tell anything is missing? Don’t answer that question.)

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Road Less Traveled {Art Journal}

DLP June 13 Road Less Traveled

This week’s Documented Life Project theme is travel (the theme for all of June), and the prompt is “the road less traveled.” Had I known this was coming, I would’ve saved last week’s off-road four-wheeling journal idea for this week! But here we go with another travel theme journal entry.

I’ve spent my share of time on the “roads less traveled” (hubby is famous for “taking the scenic route,”—sometimes intentionally even). I’ve also spent my share of time camping! Love this little vintage camper—reminds me of our first home, an 8x29 trailer!

Nashua Trailer-First Home w border

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Challenge: “Play” {Art Journal}

Play Challenge

The challenge at Fabulous and Free Art Journal Challenges is “PLAY.” This was an easy one for me, as far as knowing immediately what I wanted to use for this theme. I was the oldest of five, and as children, we loved to "play school." (Oh, yes, I was the GOG--Giver of Grades-- even then!) I have often said that I "played school" until I was "in school" (and the play continued in the summers), and I was "in school" until I taught school. Then I taught school until my Superintendent husband retired. So, "play" and "school" are linked in my mind. I learned to read in the Dick and Jane readers, and my husband and I have several of the old ones in a collection.

For the background I used primary colors (in the kindergarten mode), blended them with a baby wipe and then brayered some white paint on top. I cut some images out of one of my Dick and Jane workbooks, adhered them, and then stamped with several Graphic 45 abc primer stamps.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Monochromatic Challenge {Art Journal}

monocromatic challenge

For some reason, I love monochromatic. That probably says something about me (boring? tidy?); I wouldn’t want everything to be monochromatic, obviously, and I wouldn’t want monochromatic all the time. But I was happy when I saw that one of my challenges this week was simply “monochromatic.” Deciding on the “one color” was easy for me, because, as my artwork reveals, I love aqua (teal, turquoise, aquamarine, whatever name).

So I gathered some tissue paper, deli paper gelli prints, scraps of patterned paper, book paper that I had cleaned my brush on, pieces of newsprint that had been under some of my work, stencils, stamps, and several art supplies in that color family.

IMG_6848

With “joy” as my focal word (my goal, my desired feeling, as it were), I just layered and layered with paints, papers, stamps, markers and inks.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Travel Journal {Off-Road Trails}

DLP June 6 Travel Journal

blackeyed susan  yucca plantcone flower

flowers on sxs trails

Documented Life Project: June Theme -Travel Journaling
June 6 - Art Challenge: Illustrative Art Journaling
Journal Prompt:  Take Me Away
Coincidentally, this week's challenge came to my email minutes after my husband and I had left the house on a "take me away" weekend, four-wheeling at a state park with my sister and her husband (who happens to be my hubby’s brother--my sister and I married brothers...they have been married 47 years, we have been married 49 years). While on our rides through the off-road trails in a MO state park, I snapped photos of some of the flowers and then illustrated them when I returned. So, it was easy to choose what to do for this challenge.

IMG_6760

IMG_6822

IMG_6784

IMG_6817

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The four of us have traveled many places, and to several countries, together. Being not the bravest of the group, I was a bit apprehensive that it might seem like some of the trails were risky, but I was fine. My brother-in-law, leader of the pack, told me that he considered which trails to take in light of TOB (thinking of Barbara). I appreciate it!

Thursday, June 4, 2015

With Joy We Draw Water From the Well {Bible Art Journaling}

Bible Art Journaling Is 12-3 Joy

(click image to enlarge)

This passage in Isaiah is one I had not noticed before the current challenge over at Bible Art Journaling Challenges. I actually find comfort in the entire passage:

Isaiah 12 (KJV)

“And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord, Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the Lord, for he hath done excellent things; this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

Amen

Bible Art Journaling Is 12-3 Joy

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Like a Tree {Faith Art}

Challenge Trees

I recently did some art journaling in my Bible on this Scripture verse. But one of my art journal challenges this week was “trees and leaves.” So, once again, this passage came to mind.

I honestly feel like I have over-dosed recently on mixed media--keeping up with Documented Life and other weekly challenges, I'm overwhelmed with the desire to take a break from so MUCH stuff in my art journals, layers and layers of stuff...anyway, I'm sure I'll be right back at it next week...but for now, what appeals to my senses is clean and simple. So my last couple of projects have been basic and simple and pleasing to me for right now.

For those interested in technique and process, for this challenge, I covered the pages with heavy duty gesso, then took a fork-like catalyst and made marks through it while wet. I then used ONE paint--Lumiere Halo Blue Gold, to cover both pages. The characteristic of that paint is that it looks like several colors. I love it. When it was dry, I applied stamp ink through a tree stencil, stamped leaves all over, splattered with black and white inks, put the Scripture verse on. That's all, folks.

Challenge Trees

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Strength for the Weary {Faith Art}

DLP May 30 Texture and DF Strength

There are some words that convey such a strong meaning for me that there should be a literary term for those kind of words. It’s not onomatopoeia (which means the word sounds like what it means—like “splash” or “hiss”). Maybe there is a literary term already (anyone?).

One of the words that should have its own literary description is “rest.” It is a wonderful word to me.

In this case, the word “weary” just calls to mind a strong image (for me). It’s more than “tired;” it’s more than “exhausted”—I can’t put it into words, but “weary” makes me think of a physical/mental/emotional state that begs for treatment.

Maybe that’s why I have always loved this verse in Isaiah. As a Christ-follower, there IS a treatment for me when I am weary. I can rely on the strength of my God and Savior. It is another one of those gifts that I want to choose to accept: HIS strength. (Then there is that verse in the New Testament that takes it even further—HIS STRENGTH is made perfect in my weakness—just think of that!).

Take Two on Strength DLP

I love this.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Faith is a Choice {Faith Art}

(Click image to enlarge.)

Working in my altered book today, free-handing some flowers and adding a couple of thoughts. This is one of the pages I just completed.

Today my granddaughter leaves the US for a six-week mission trip to Mexico, as a part of the requirements for her degree in intercultural missions (and biblical studies) from Multnomah University.  While she has been out of the country numerous times for mission trips, they have been week-long adventures, so this is quite different. She is excited, and with her natural spirit of adventure, she is looking forward to it and will love it. In her words, she is excited to see what God is going to do during this time.

I was texting with her dad (my son) today, and as we were sharing our thoughts about how we will not worry because we know God will watch over her, he texted this to me: "Faith is a choice." I was working on this art at the moment, and I decided that quote was a perfect sentiment for how I am feeling today.

I am so blessed and thankful for my children and grandchildren.


At the airport on the way out of the US!