Journal Cover 2015..in process...

I went to bed early so I could get up early to meet friends for breakfast and not be tired, but I could not sleep for the life of me. So I got up and smeared some paint around. I guess I'll just go to breakfast tired, but it won't be the first time.

I couldn't figure out what colors to use. All the sudden I was freezing up about it, so I decided to use some new greens and yellows I bought today. And some of my favorite blue. I can see looking at this that I've obliterated much of the blue on the left side, but I can fix that later. Whenever I'm at this stage, I wonder if I've just made a mess of it, but usually later it works itself out as I start drawing on it. We shall see! If not, gesso can usually save the day and give it a fresh start! I think it looks summery and sunny. I like that.

 Ok...now I'm starting to see it. I might end up liking this after all! Pretty sure there might be a bicycle on this year's cover too. Why not? Bikes are happy, active things, and I like to draw them.

This post reads much like this meme:

Creating during Cleanup

Yesterday, I had to clean up the dining room table, since family is coming to visit, and we will need a place to eat! I've enjoyed having the art supplies out, and close to the running water. Before I put it all away, I figured I'd make one more background, so I'd have something to doodle on.

Hmmm. Wonder what this will be?

Do you suppose she's a wildflower?

I've been enjoying doing some backgrounds the way Rae Missigman shows on her blog...the 15 minute background. It's quick and fun...you can just let loose and work fast. It makes it easy to experiment with colors that you might not use much too. Here is the background I made tonight in less than 15 minutes. I started on a page that I'd taken notes on, so it already had a layer of interest. Then I layered on the paint.

Now, dolling it up, takes a bit longer. I took it to the couch and doodled on it some while I watched TV. Then I got some papers out. The girl on the bicycle is from a candle advertisement that my neighbor saved for me. I love that people are starting to save interesting papers for me! I had a dictionary with the word "foxglove" on it, so I drew a foxglove on the page and glued it in too. More doodling and a quote from Alice in Wonderland, and I had a page I really like. Sorry for the glare..I might take a new pic when I have daylight.

Playing around with adding some color. I use a brush, and I also use my fingers alot...like a toddler :D

 I like the print peeking though. These are all relatively small pieces, so details that you experience up close become important.

I do these very much like I do the backgrounds in some of my sketchbooks. It's basically art journaling, but done on a base that's easier to display.

Playing..

I'm at the shop today, and using the backs of some bank envelopes for a couple of pages about money, thus all the green. I was inspired by Bows, Baubles and Beliefs when I saw her bacon box...just go ahead and use what you have Joyce!

It looks like is a mess, but when I reach a point like that, I like to keep going for a bit. It's amazing, but adding more to that mess can actually get me where I want to go. And if not, there's always gesso ;o)

Journal Backgrounds with alcohol

No, that does not mean I'm drinking while painting (though you can achieve some novel effects that way!). I read about how watercolor painters sometimes spray alcohol on wet paint to get an interesting effect. I decided to try it with watered down acrylic. Pretty cool.

This one had a base coat of dry pink paint. I went over it with watered down blue acrylic and quickly sprayed rubbing alcohol on heavily. After it sat a few moments, I tipped it up to get some drips. Very moody, eh?

This one had an orangey red undercoat. I coated it with watered down yellow, and sprayed a fine mist.

Here's another cool way to use alcohol for your journal backgrounds.

These are interesting, but if you try them, use your common sense about not breathing any mist, etc. Have fun and be safe :)