Collage Journal Pages

I use a small, spiral journal as a daily planner.  

It's filled with to-do lists, creative ideas, & notes on projects. 

 I've been playing with collage, using pages from old books, typewritten sentiments for inspiration, homemade stamps, washi tape and tissue paper from old sewing patterns.

And what better place to play and experiment than in my daily planner? 

I make this art for myself, to spruce up my planner, and to experiment with collage designs.

It's a lovely form of self care that gives me space to play creatively, 

and give myself encouragement as I go through my daily routines.

Many of the old papers, sewing patterns & some pens came from the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, a thrift shop dedicated to art materials.

I bought this new-to-me planner there.  Filled with luscious thick, creamy paper and fine lines, it calls out to be decked with collage, encouraging words, and my own wonky stamps.

Making art doesn't have to be expensive.  Use what you have, and give yourself some time to play.  

You'll be surprised what a few scraps of old paper and some stamped designs can do to brighten a simple spiral notebook.

What words of encouragement would you like to read as you jot tomorrow's to-do list?  Write them, type them, or cut them out of an old book or magazine, and glue them down.  

A little self care every day lifts the spirits, especially this time of year.

Finished 3 Fabulous Feathers!

I couldn't be more delighted with my new Schmincke watercolors.  Here's the finished study of a Crow feather, an Owl (?) feather and a Downy Woodpecker feather.  Of course, the real feathers that I found out on hikes and around my farm weren't purple and blue, but I decided to take a colorist's approach to the black, earth-toned and black-and-white, feathers, respectively.

Collage Creations, Week One

I love the way that creating with collage opens up opportunities to mingle materials and images.  I once used to try to create "perfect" collages and artworks, but I have come to realize that getting in the neighborhood of "good" is far more productive and satisfying.  Yesterday, as I taught Collage Creations online, I spread out my materials and just let my eyes fall on interesting pieces to use -- postage stamps, book pages, maps, pressed plants, etc.  Later, I was happily surprised by connections I saw within my compositions, and it reinforced that I can trust my intuition.  That's the best thing about art for me - the after-effect of peaceful reverie and contentment.

Here are some collage post cards I created during class yesterday.

Valentines Update

This time of year, with the snow and cold blustering outdoors, I find myself drawn to bright, bold colors and making Valentines.  Tonight, I brewed up some green tea, carved a new Valentine stamp, and tested it out on papers that I had previously painted with intense Dr. P.H. Martin's Liquid Watercolors.  Nothing like the thrill of bold black lines against vivid magenta, tangerine and violet!

The Speedball Speedy Cut block I used to create my stamp was super easy to carve. 

I painted on sheet music, pages from an old shorthand textbook, and dictionary pages.  The print added another layer of texture.

A finished card.