I had decided that this year I would play around in my art journal whenever possible but without recourse to prompts. However, some friends from my “art tribe” convinced me that I should check out Art Journal Adventure and I decided to participate in a dip in and out fashion. I recognise that I am someone who, in my present hectic circumstances, needs an occasional poke and a prod to actually find the time to just be playful with my art and that is something that journal prompts encourage me to do. However, I am also going to attempt a themed art journal for the first time and will dip into that when the mood and mojo arises. From time to time, I may well incorporate the Art Journal Adventure prompts into my themed art journal.
I got off to a good start as far as being flexible with participation goes because I did diddlysquat with the first week’s prompt. I did, however, make use of this second week’s prompt. It was pretty simple – the focus was to be on texture. I am not one for adding much dimension to my art work – I am definitely a 2D person – so I focused on creating visual texture as opposed to anything tactile. I had a half-finished page in my art journal that I hated. It had been malingering in the journal for several months but I opted not to rip it out because I rather liked the art work on the reverse side of it. A couple of months ago, when I had some surplus black acrylic, I smeared the paint across the page. I decided, therefore, to return to that page as the starting point for my “texture” page. I added some torn paper collage, spatter with pearl blue paint and white paint, printing with found objects, dribble, and finally some alphabet stamps. It was all a bit random and abstract so I chose to give it a focal point by adding the word “Focus” which is my word for this year. As art journal pages go, it is pretty mundane and mediocre but it is a massive improvement on what was beneath that black paint so I am happy.
A Pict in PA 
This is awesome, I love it. It has a sci-fi feel to it too (well to me anyways) which makes me like it even more!
Thank you. It’s funny you write that because one of my kids had the same thought. I guess it’s the dark colours and the star-like spatter.
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one to see it, its a really cool abstract.
i wouldn’t call it mediocre at all. i’d love to have such a page on my journal. 😉
Thank you, Nicia. That’s very kind of you. Maybe it’s because it’s so busy and with a very small focal point that I’m not overly happy with it. I seem to be the minority though. I’m always my own worst critic.
we always are 😉
It reminds me of an 80s album cover–and then they’d put that image on the front of the concert T-shirt.
I like that idea a lot. 😀
I think you’re underestimating this one. I think it’s great. And I agree with the mysterious outer space interpretation.
Thank you, Claudia. Maybe it’s because I didn’t get into the process of creating it that I don’t place much stock in this piece. I just kept adding elements in passing – literally as I passed the table. I guess it turns out that’s a successful approach!
Well, results speak for themselves. And, I have often used this very technique, the adding a little here and there, sometimes over widely separated bits of time. I actually think the “resting” phases are as important as the growing phases. Anyway, this obviously worked. Take a look at it in a week, when the memories of how it came about have faded a little, and I bet you’ll be very happily impressed with your work.
Thanks for that sage advice.
That is a beautiful piece of artowork!
Thank you very much.
You’re welcome!
I really like it. It’s right up my street. You need to put it away and look at it with fresh eyes in a few weeks. It’s great.
Thanks, Alison. That’s a good idea about the “fresh eyes”.
That’s awesome!!! Both an awesome page and that you are keeping an art journal!! Have you investigated “altered books” as a medium?? https://karenswhimsy.com/altered_books/ http://gomakesomething.com/category/ht/ab/
I’m glad you still find time for art in your busy life!!!
Thanks for the links, Sue. I will check those out. I’ve been keeping an art journal for a few years now. I don’t really “journal” in it as such and it tends to be impersonal but it’s a place to just mess around with creative ideas and materials and see what happens. I’ve dabbled with altering books, yes. I painted a series of monsters in a 1970s cook book (I blogged about it on my other blog – see https://pictink.wordpress.com/tag/altered-book/) and I have another copy of the same book that I plan to alter at some stage. I’d like to try other approaches to altering books too – maybe a bit of cutting here and there or something sculptural. I’m never short of ideas, just time.
Wonderful Laura!! I’m telling you that what you do is a sought after thing. I mean there are art galleries for it! One gallery that has some of my books is the 23 Sandy gallery http://www.23sandy.com/ – what you’re doing is also called “artist books”! And you do it very well!!! Loved those cook book monsters!! I encourage you to submit to the 23 Sandy gallery…
Wow. You really think people would be interested in my stuff? I will definitely check out the link. Thank you.
Heck YES people would be interested!!! I actually had to restrain myself to only sending you one link!!! I can think of a number of places your work would fit! I could fill your inbox to overflowing of recommendations about the book arts and about gallery exhibit opportunities… but that one I sent you is really the best of the best. It bears repeating – YES people would be interested in your stuff!!!!!
Thank you. I’m going to carve out time to check out the link, I promise.
I know you’re very busy – in the meantime just know that I think you’re very talented and your work would be recognized by others!
Thank you. I just need time to get on a bigger screen and then I’ll check it out. I’m crippled by lack of self-belief so I totally appreciate your encouragement.
I hear you. I had similar lack of self-belief once upon a time too. It helped me to think of it in terms of a baby crying in the night; I’m warm and comfy in bed but I’ll get up and tend to baby anyway because s/he needs me. (i.e. I don’t feel certain about myself/abilities but I’ll do my art/submit my art/show my art anyway because people have said they like/enjoy/want to see my work…)