You Gotta Catch it When (and where) You Can.

A day or so ago I was talking with a patient at work about the weather changes. I said I hadn't remembered such a fluctuation in temperatures in a given day or maybe I was just a bit more aware of it now that I was in the midst of such fluctuation with my own power surges. He grinned and said he had kept a journal for about 40 yrs and the first thing he did each day was document the weather. This opened up the door for a brief conversation about art journaling and how I felt better starting my day with "Morning Pages" and art. I said, "You gotta catch it when you can," meaning there were not enough hours in my work day for me to create so I took advantage of my need to get to work an hour before I started in order to get a parking spot - hence art in the car. He thought that was pretty cool. And so I am slowly filling this little tranformed Dollar Store day timer. I covered it with some marbleized paper that I had made earlier in the year and the first thing I do is document the weather at that moment and what might be forecast. The book is small enough to work in on my lap and my art bag has glue sticks,some markers and pens, a few big zip lock baggies full of torn paper for collaging, my water color crayons and a water color brush. I have to remember once again to take the crayons out of the car on the days it's going to be hot. I tend to remind myself that I have certain appointments or that I need to do something like pick up insulin for the dog. It's kind of cool to see this little book grow. I started another page by gluing down this altered dictionary page in to the book and I knew I wanted to do some more. (I knew there was a reason I was telling you this) I tore out a bunch of dictionary pages and went to town. So now I have a bunch of paper to use in this little document your life in the car journal. It's really quite simple. You gotta catch it when you can. I hope you have a great weekend. I haven't been to the party in a few weeks so I am headed to where there's a lot of good stuff going on. Thanks for visiting.

Finally

I am up and running again thanks to the Geeksquad who came to my home and sorted out a bunch of computer issues for me this afternoon. It was a month ago that my visually impaired, geriatric dog, Buddy, bumped into the computer desk, knocking it over and cracking the screen, thereby my having to purchase a new computer, which I was none too overjoyed about. While they had transferred my data from the old to new, this was not the same program I was used to using in order to upload photos, edit and some other things. "Agent Jordan" was very helpful in resolving these issues as well as sharing other tidbits of computer knowledge which I greatly appreciated. Needless to say, I feel sooooooo much better. Today I am keeping it light, just showing you a couple of unfinished journal pages. I have been wanting to incorporate some vintage photos in to my work, and what better way than to use some personal family photos. . THe background of the first one was done with INktense blocks, gesso, and my own torn papers, and the second one is using the same as well as torn paper from a magazine image. These two girls were sisters. While I cannot remember the exact story, I know that one of them died in childhood. And the last one was just playing around withe inktense blocks, gesso, torn paper and some doodling. I rather like it. Of the art supplies I have ever bought I cannot say enough about these inktense blocks. The colors are luciously brilliant. I am thoroughly enjoying my new studio space, hopping from end of it to another. I still don't have it all organized, but I know that will happen when I can stop creating long enough to do it. I should have done that when I had all this computer trouble, but it was a lot more fun to come home after a stressful work day to throw some paint down rather than organize. I have lots more to share with you in the coming days. I hope you are well. Thanks for visiting.

Inktense Morning Pages

Those of you who have followed me for awhile know that I get up early in the morning- like 4:30am. This came about because this sweet boy has to pee at that time. I start the coffee brewing, run him out, feed him and give him his insulin, feed the cats, fix me a rice cake with peanut butter and my coffee and settle in on the couch for my writing of my Morning Pages. (Julia Cameron. The Artist Way etc.)Over the years of Morning Pages I have also learned I can create art on top of the pages. I have previously mentioned that I bought myself some of these for Christmas. I have to tell you these are my favorite art supply right now. The color IS intense. My Morning Pages writing is done on a cheapo composition notebook and the pages are pretty thin. I can easily throw down some gesso on top which not only covers up my writing but gives some strength to the pages. From there I lay some color down and can spread it quickly with a dry brush or slightly dampened. No. I did not do these all in one sitting. But I did lay down all of the background in one sitting, coming back on other mornings or evenings to add stuff. I think the fact that the color is so intense, I can use gesso as a paint to change the color, and that it dries so quickly is a plus when I am wanting something immediate- in a 30-45 minute segment, before I get myself started to start my work day. Yes, my fingers are messy with color before I head to the shower but it's such a nice way to start my day. For several weeks I have missed the partying going on over here where you can find a lot of pretty nice folks and some very cool art. I am also linking here where you will also have a good time. Thanks for visiting.

The Flu

I don't feel like I'm starting the new year out very well. I got the flu last week,for the first time that I can remember, despite that I got a flu shot. Yes, I know they said that it wasn't necessarily going to work for this year's strain. It came fast and hard for me. Imagine being under an electric blanket and still being cold. And I thought it was just lots of continuous hot flashes and the body aches were that I was another year older so maybe I was getting arthritis. No! It was the dog gone flu!! I can't remember the last time I slept as much as I did the first 2 days of this. I had to cancel my Saturday mixed media class AND a 90 minute massage that I got for a bargain price on Sunday. I went back to work today still not totally feeling my normal self y but I expect it will take some time to find my energy again. Already I want to take a nap and it's only 7pm here. I got some of these for myself for Christmas.I've been wanting these for a long time because the colors are intense. You know how I do my "Morning Pages" around 4:30-5am? Those morning pages of rambling, bitching, whining, moaning, complaining, dump everything on the table pages none stop important don't think about what you're writing just get it up and out stuff........??? I've been playing with these luscious color sticks on top of all this writing. Ok. No writing on that page. But here And here And one morning I got so into this I created a two page spread. Not bad art for still recovering from the flu yesterday morning. But don't you just love the color? I feel like I'm moving in to something different on these pages. AS I am looking back at these pages I have to tell you it feels fun looking at them. I mean it looks to me like I had fun doing them. I didn't plan them. I only wanted to play with color and lines. Do you find that when you don't plan something you end up liking it or not? Is the end result what you're after or do you already trust that you will like it in the end because you have trusted the process? Thanks for stopping by........ I hope you do not get the flu.