pamgarrison

a new art journal

 

I'd recently come to the end of my latest art journal, and found myself without the next. So hate not having one at the ready! I finally got busy and made a new one last night. Although finishing one is always bittersweet, having a brand new one is heavenly.

I sewed my own watercolor paper into an old music book I bought in Paris. The spine was sturdy and in great condition, so I left it in place and made four signatures to fit inside that existing width. I like to have as much paper in my journals as possible that allows it to still close flat.

I had to start playing in it right away, always need an "if found" note somewhere. Although I really have made more than 29 journals, some of them don't get counted when made. Not sure what my strange system is that qualifies one to be numbered and another not, I assume it has to do with size and purpose. Any books made for travel journal purposes aren't included, or small little sketchbooks either, for example. I guess I save my numbering system for the big, art play, visual journals, the ones for no purpose other than discovery and fun. 

This morning I played in it some more:

It's hard to resist the call of the beautiful blank pages:

Sometimes I feel like I should slow down, that I don't want to fill it too quickly, but the truth is; that's silly, I can always make another! Why restrict creative impulses, right? Never know where they might lead...like the Martha Graham quote above says, "...keep the channel open." With a big book of white pages the channel seems wide open indeed!

some art journaling

 

Oklahoma.

I love what my friend Mary Ann wrote on her post last night:

Of course, it goes without saying, that I'm thinking about the people of Oklahoma this evening. We all are.

And today as well.

Lots of times, I turn to my journal to capture some feelings, thoughts, as I did last night. I was downloading photos from the day's field trip and turned on the news for the first time all day, my journal was next to me on the couch here:

so I picked it up and used it.

For me, art journaling is not about the result, just the process. The above page is ugly to me, but allowing myself this method of processing information is a positive in my eyes. 

Other times I use the pages to solidify a concept I've just read and am pondering:

Sometimes it's a "checking in" with myself method in the morning:

Sometimes it's about trying out new supplies:

{the pens referenced were: this pen, and this one, and this set of waterbrushes, and this pen too, as well as these, and this set of watercolors along with this one and this one too.}

Sometimes it's just playing with the materials I already have and enjoy using:

Or time with old loves; paper, scissors and glue:

or mixing the two types of materials:

Suffice it to say, I think there is no one right reason to art journal, just play time. And after, I sure do love seeing a whole bunch of pretty pages, like this:

a visit to the beautiful moss cottage

If you follow my instagram, you know I  paid a visit to my friend Mary Ann yesterday. I had a lovely day at Moss Cottage and tried to capture some of it's beauty for you.

I snapped the above pics before Mary Ann realized I arrived and came out to greet me. We promptly began a garden tour. It's always fun to discuss plants and watering methods and transplanting and garden plans and future projects. We admired all the new growth most. Something so exciting about fruit appearing, no matter how old one is (at least for me anyway!).

I was focused on capturing the beautiful steps she tiled all by herself while she carried  all my bags of art supplies in.

Perfect for a little house in the hills of LA.

We continued our garden tour on the back patio.

I was completely struck by the beautiful colors and healthiest succulents I've ever seen. We had plans for me to take many cuttings, but I realized on the drive home we never followed through on that, as always our plans exceed the time allowed. Next time!

We then moved inside for our usual exchange of various items we'd been saving for each other and as she went through my box of goodies, I snapped some of my favorite sights in her studio.

More beautiful colors everywhere.

This collection of water and sand and other items gathered all over the world is pure genius. I hope I remember to do it the next time I am somewhere special.

They are striking in a group but each on their own as well.

After a delicious lunch we settled down for an even more delicious dessert in the form of journal viewing and play.

(And no, that does not say what it seems to say on first glance!!! I didn't realize it until the funny instgram comments alerted me to it. Look at it again, you'll see what I mean.)

We were especially focused on sketching and watercoloring, as her dreamy  travel journal from her recent trip to Umbria was front and center in both our minds (and the table too). I truly can not wait for her class on it, she already had much to share I want more! So many fun different rabbit holes for us all to go down, even within the world of travel journaling. I love that about art, endless possibilities.

We discussed different pens and ended up trading a few, tried all different watercolor sets while discussing what colors and brands would make the best travel set, did a few blind contour sketches (I can't show mine here because I don't want to embarrass her, mine were so much better than hers haha- let's just say that I don't think either of us captured the fact that we were drawing a human, let alone each other), and did a couple excercises in shapes and patterns. Just play and just perfect.

And like every other time I've visited, I left with a desire to return SOON. Art time with friends, so so important. Sometimes I forget how much. Sometimes I think I don't have the time. I'm glad I have these pictures of me taken by Mary Ann to remind me it is, and I do. Always, always time well spent!

{Ed: for a much funnier and less truthful version of my visit go here}

today's mood & art journaling

The journal page above was actually from the other night. It's been a long week already (think I started with a bad attitude on Monday and kept it going), and the other night I sat on the floor with a pad of construction paper and scissors and a glue stick and had fun fun fun. Here's another spread from that night:

The Target Kid Made Modern line of construction paper has great colors.

Anyway, this morning when I woke up a funk had set in. Not enough sleep, need to drink more water, excercise more yadda yadda yadda. Nothing big, just worries, real and imagined, too much to do, headache, etc.We all have those days. 

Usually, if I wake up grumpy I can adjust my attitude with a little art journal play. So I grabbed some paints and my journal with that in mind.

I even tried a change of location from the usual, this time sitting in the dining room.  I didn't make it into the TimerCam app pic haha:

Obviously, I didn't shake the focus on my mood much!

Silly girl. 

So I grabbed my camera to head outside and capture some things that made me happy and sat down for a bit. Luckily, Jennifer called about some future teaching trips we have in the works and we had a long art filled conversation. During the phone call I began to doodle and then started painting on the pages too:

It was a looooong phone call ;). And just what my funk needed. The colors didn't hurt either.

Art journaling worked it's magic on me once again. (And friendship too, of course.) So grateful I started doing it all those years ago, can't imagine my life without that form of play and expression. If you've always thought about it, but never done it, I say take the leap and join all us art journalers out here in the fun!

new art journaling pages

some recent art journaling in progress

 

{cute hand carved stamps by amy hanna}

recent journaling pages in process

Last week I met my friend Christine at an art store...kind of dangerous meeting spot for me, as I always find something I want. I'm a sucker for paints in premixed pretty colors. Plus, these inexpensive acrylics are easy to just dip into for quick play. Of course, I had to put them on some paper right away. You know how some people say cookies call to them? For me it's colors...they beg to be played with. I can't resist. 

I feel like this front peach was begging to be picked, and I feel the same way about the colors. I pick them often as a reaction to a previous color I've used. 

Because I don't go in order with my pages, and have pages in all the different stages of journaling going at one time, I will end up slapping a new color over old ones which leads to different color combinations as well. 

I had done this journaling page late one night and when I woke up I didn't care for much of it, so started collaging over it. When I got the new paints, I dabbed some on there too. 

None of the pages I'm showing here today are finished. I love seeing other people's pages in process, and am showing mine here, hoping the same interests you.  

This was merely for fun- playing with the new inks and colors I just bought.

I instagrammed this one last night because as I was flipping through pages looking to doodle or color, I found it funny that someone had written a reply to my previously written question. (And no, she did not find the off switch while I slept, I'm still thinking thinking thinking most of the time I'm awake.) But this page went from the above to this with the addition of the new colors:

 

 Here's the whole spread:

I take it back about what I said about none of the pages posted today are finished. I'd say these two probably are.  

Unless I change my mind.

Truly, I don't really give the pages that much thought or analysis. They are experimentation, play, just pages in an art journal. Here's a great example of that:

I'ts just a page I was trying out different tools, showing some friends different tools, a little demo page actually. I don't consider it finished, some day the mood will strike me to paint over some of it, or collage, or write or doodle and then, after that, it will likely feel more cohesive. But I'm going for authentic development, not a preplanned result.

Above is a page that was all about playing with that favorite new pen I linked to in a recent post, this one.

Same with this page, I was showing Carol some of my favorite new pens when we were in the desert. Love to get my art journaling friends turned onto new tools. (I'm working on a favorites pages for the blog here.)

Sometimes it's just a long standing favorite  black pen (I buy them in bulk, they are inexpensive enough that I don't have to treat them specially- in other words, I can leave them out and not have a heart attack if someone in the family picks it up and uses it, unlike with more expensive pens) and good ol' number two pencil that I crave playing with. 

Anyway, not sure how I got off on this tangent, but there you have it, some recent journaling pages in all different stages and a little bit of the way my brain approaches art journaling. 

Thank you to everyone who has requested, and continues to patiently wait for, my art journaling e-course. I AM going to do it, I've even started making videos...it's just a very big project for me; I love art journaling and have lots to share about it. -Since my word of the year is ORDER, I'm working on getting everything organized so that I can attack such a big project and make it as awesome as I can! 

{Ed: Katie asked what paper I use. I love love love this paper that Teesha Moore turned me onto many moons ago, I've used it pretty exclusively since when making my own journals. I'll have more info, like why I love it,  in the upcoming e-course. ;)}

weekend recap

What a lovely weekend I had as an honorary Moss sister attending an art retreat for 3 in Palm Springs. Isn't the place Mary Ann found fun? As soon as I got there, I had to add a little birthday festivity, since it was recently Mary Ann's birthday:

Mary Ann had a great point; that the light showing through the garland at the stitched places is as pretty as the other parts,maybe prettier. Of course, we'll have to try more stitching without thread, to create more holes for light and report back.

The place was so beautiful and fun. Both outside:

and inside:

I couldn't resist putting on Mary Ann's round glasses for a photo in the round mirror:

One Moss sister makes her bed, another does not, I'll let you guess which is which:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The journals came out as soon as we'd finished inspecting our new digs. Oh, the journals! So fun to be with other avid art journalers, always. First one I dug into was Mary Ann's sample for her Full Tilt Boogie class...look at the binding!

Then onto another journal, one of Carol's:

 

 

And on and on we went until we got through as much of the pile as our brains could take, without a break for sustenance.

The rest of the trip is a blur of creating, painting, playing and all that goes along with that.

We all made mini journals, here's mine (open):

and of course, some journal pages:

I wanted to steal this paper that Mary Ann made:

But I didn't.

All too soon, the sun set again and it was time for me to return home. Plans for next year made the leaving a little easier. It's always good to leave before you've had your fill, right?

If you would like to see more photos from the weekend through a different lens, you can check out my instagram, Carol's blog, or Mary Ann's blog.

{Ed:just remember, one of them tells "tall tales" and the other spins yarns for school children, so take their renditions with a grain of salt!}

journal it!!

 

Congratulations to my pal Jenny Doh for authoring yet another awesome art book, Journal It!   You know I'm passionate about art journaling, so I was very excited to get my hands on a copy. So much to see; 19 artists share their journals. I especially love seeing my friends, or fellow blogging/teaching artists that I know would be friends if only we were ever at the same place at the same time with our journals and supplies :).

 Like Corey Moortgat:

Alisa Burke:

and Julie Fei-Fan Balzer:

Speaking of Julie, and journaling with her, I  wish I was going to be able to join in the fun this weekend when she's teaching at Jenny's, but I'll be out of town. There are still a couple spots so if you have an unexpected opening, maybe you'll get to meet her and journal with her. I'm sure it's going to be an awesome art journaling time. 

Instead, I'll be taking my newest itty bitty journal that I made while teaching for a friend's private little gathering over at Studio Crescendoh this past week (isn't it cute?), 

and going to this special birthday party. Is she not one of the wittiest and most entertaining bloggers ever?!? That post made me laugh out loud. I'll do my best with the synchronized swimming routine...I love being in the water, but a water ballerina I am not! Anyway, surely my little book of mostly white pages will not look like this when I get back:

Until then, here are some relatively recent journaling pages of mine to share:

 

 

Hooray for Fridays!!! Hope you are having a good one!

my word for 2013

I have decided to participate in the One Little Word movement. It's something that a whole bunch of people do, (created by Ali Edwards), they pick a word to focus on throughout the new year. Here's a link to more info.

I've never picked a "word" for myself to think about and take action on as a theme for my year before. Interested to see how that goes. I chose order as my word. It's not a word that makes one want to have a charm made to wear around the neck, it's not fun like that, but with it in my life, I think it'd take me to some great places and I woudn't spend much of my life feeling like this:

I thought I was working on it last year, but mostly, I was just learning about how much order and structure I don't have built into my life...systems for operating, functioning, vs. fly by the seat of my pants. I joke that my gifts are my curse, which is probably pretty true for everyone...that yin and yang of challenge also being opportunity. My mind is interested in so many things, and I think about them all at the same time, which I choose to look at as a gift; it enables me to be interested and participate in so many things, especially creatively, vs. one focus, but, it does so without any order, which generally seems to lead to controlled chaos. And frankly, this system of operating has me worn out. So, I invite you into my life, Order, please accept my invitation and please be a kind guest and cohabitant. Please come willingly?

Fresh starts, do overs: love, love, love, them!

first day of the new year

Here's to 2013!!!

I did a little doodling in the car as we were heading to the beach. I am very excited for 2013. I feel like most everyone is, which makes it all the more fun.

We went to one of our favorite beaches, Crystal Cove, and it was a beautiful day.

Loved that the Heron wasn't the least bit perturbed by humans. Good perspective for New Years Day, I suppose he was focusing on the year ahead, haha.

Anyway, I hope you had a lovely start to the year.

Here we go!!!!

 

 

ciao bella!

I'm off to Italy with Mary Ann!

Ok, not really, but in spirit, via her latest, and quite possibly greatest, new online e-course: Ticket To Venice. She's awesomely talented...at traveling, and journaling, and teaching and sharing the story with blog readers...and I can't wait to experience her travels in a new way.  And not just because she's my friend, nope! 

Are you coming along?!? I hope so!

I'm actually off to Spokane tomorrow morning for a little job of sorts...Spokane, Italy...hmm...well, I've never been to Spokane before, but I'm thinking it's just not quite Italy, especially the way Mary Ann does it. Can't wait for the Venice adventure to begin! See you there... safe travels everyone.

recent art journaling

Late one night, while journaling, this woman showed up, not sure why, as I don't often sketch faces. I like her, she seems wise, (and a bit exhausted, thus the words below). The next day, I doodled a few more friends for her, trying to draw different types of faces. I am sure I was at least subconsciously inspired to draw some faces after seeing my friend Jenny's creations for our Handmade Holiday boutique this Saturday.

I've been doing other journaling too, some with paints:

and some with markers and paints:

And since the paints were out...I  painted on wood too:

Some  of the painting is on pieces for the boutique:

Of course, I'll show you more of those paintings this week as I finish them up!

Total non sequitor, but I just had to share this funny video that had me laughing out loud; a good laugh is such a nice start the week. Hope it strikes your funny bone!

Thank you Amy Tan for sharing this video on your blog:

 

december daily... i'm in!

Every year, Ali Edwards documents December for her family in something she calls "December Daily". I've watched and enjoyed her process and wished I'd have done it too on occasion. Well, this year  I (and lots and lots of others), am joining in. Ali is great about keeping the focus on telling your story, in words and pictures; it doesn't have to be over the top or an outrageous commitment (not that I don't tend to make things that way, :) ).

{As you can see by my washi tape, I've been gathering supplies. some of it I've had for a long time, some is even vintage from the flea market. The rest is either from Target, Freckled Fawn  Martha Stewart or Studio Calico I believe.}

The book I'm going to use is an America Crafts Handbook. The book is a ringed binder sized around 9x10 with a "Kraft Chipboard" cover. I went for simple and put some silver Martha Stewart Alpha Letters similar to these (I can't find the exact item. Also, I had to make the second 2 out of a 3 and a 5 because the set only had one. I figure it's good enough. ) I had the little soft blue accent stick on and have never known what to do with them, but thought here it might be subtle enough. If it falls off, I might not put anything there, or perhaps a dab of glitter. I'm obviously taking the plan less, let it evolve approach that I'm most comfortable with when creating.

For the top, I cut out a piece of scrapbook paper the shape of the books embossed area and adhered using my xyron sticker maker. There wasn't much room, so I just took my own hand carved number stamps (I'll be making stamps and printables out of these soon) and stamped them straight on the paper using this stamp pad, ( it may not be the proper product to use, but it worked well enough for me. I don't have an embossing ink pad or pen that it calls for.) Then I dusted the wet ink with Zing powder and hit it with a heat gun to set it.

I did practice first on another piece of paper, just to make sure I liked it, as the photo above shows.

There are so many different ideas out there for December Daily, lots of kits like this one  by the super cute Kelly Purkey,  or this one by December Daily originator Ali Edwards with Studio Calico, or even my sweet friend Jenny Bowlin has a few different kits, or there are non kits but books that would work like this one by Elise Blaha Cripe but you don't need a kit of course! And I could go on and on finding different books/kits etc. obviously.  (And I see when finding links that some are sold out, although I have also seen that some people want to sell the kits they bought, so if you really really want one, I'm sure they can be found.) {If you know of other kits, or have one to sell, feel free to include them in the comments.}

Anyway, I decided that I needed something a little bigger than the kits I've pointed out, since December is an especially  big month in our house due to the fact that 2 of the 4 of us have birthdays as well as the usual holiday events. Since I've never done this before, I wanted flexibility to see where it goes. I'll probably use this and various page protectors for inserts as well as my own papers.

I'm not sure whether I'll end up using a non traditional color palette like the above, or a more traditional one like below. (cute alpha stickers here)

And there you have it, a link- full introduction to my December Daily. Of course, I'll show you my inside pages here as I go along. Are you participating in December Daily? Care to link us to your concept in the comments? Feel free. Ali has a whole bunch of link of participants here if you're looking for more ideas and inspiration. She's also got a great December 1 welcome post up too today. December: here we gooooo!!!

 

election day 2012!!!

Well, I voted via early mail in ballot, which was super easy, but today, on election day, I feel a little disconnected from the whole hoopla of the day. Which is good and bad I guess. After all, who isn't sick of all of it, no matter who you want in the oval office?!? I just saw for the first time the video of the little one crying because she was sick to death of hearing about it non stop. Abigael will be very happy tomorrow, no matter what! I think most can relate. No matter what your politics, I hope you are sure to get your vote on!!!

happy halloween!

 

Have fun!!! 

more recent art journaling

The above and below drawings are by my 7 year old neices. I adore their drawings. (and them too of course!!)

Hope you are enjoying your weekend out there!

recent art journaling

 

Last weekend while I was away, I made a new journal out of this pretty bookcover I had.

Here's a closer look at the cover:

So pretty.

I love to use what's on hand, so I covered the tape binding with paper that we'd been playing on earlier in the evening (see 3 posts ago):

A new journal always makes me happy and tempts me to play right away, so I did:

All the Victorian scrap you see was already on the book cover.

Above and below are some of the newly played on pages from inside the journal:

I'm so happy it's Friday, and tomorrow I'll take a few more journal photos, I ran out of light today. Hate it when that happens!

fun at The Art Clinic

 

My weekend of co-teaching at The Art Clinic began with a lovely drive up the coast. I love this part of the drive, but who wouldn't, right? 

I landed at my dear friend Syd's house after unloading my car at The Art Clinic. 

I met Syd many years ago first via online where we were paired up in a mailing order for a collaborative, then at various art events like Teesha's ArtFiberfest. Syd often travels to art events with her art pal Mary, and after meeting them, we became fast friends. I love spending time with both of them so much, we may seem like an unlikely trio, (maybe that's the magic? i don't know...), but we have spent many an art retreat night in hysterics long after we should have turned in. To meet them is to love them. So, to finally stay at Syd's house was a treat. Her entire house shows a lifetime of art pursuits and a true love of the arts. Look at just this one shot of the kitchen I took, I was so in love with all the colors together...and that little center island...yum!

Jennifer arrived at Syd's not long after I did and we spent the next day was spent prepping for class over at The Art Clinic. Carol, who is Syd's partner in The Art Clinic joined in the fun. Carol is also wonderful and brings a different aspect to the Studio and playtime there, having a wise sage sensibility. She is very much like me in her love of craft tools and varied interests, but she is primarily a silversmith and makes beautiful, intricate works. It was great getting to really know her this trip. She's a real hoot and also super at stepping up and handling any need that anyone had (even if it was for a certain drill with a certain bit, right in the middle of painting- yes, it was me, I confess), besides of course, being a passionate artist. 

Here's a pic of Jennifer making me laugh on the way to class :)

 

Another great group of women joined us in the fun:

 

Both old friends and new. 

As always seems to be the case, especially at The Art Clinic I hear,  those that were meant to be there, were. 

Jennifer and I had a great time teaching together. Even though we felt we prepared extensively, you never know till you do it what might occur, and we were so pleased that we are making plans to co-teach again soon. (This time with more advanced notice, we promise!)

Jennifer serenaded me by the fire one night:

And in an attmept to entertain her, I think I pretended to be a rock star? ( not really sure what I was doing, but she did laugh at me, so I call it a success).

Always lots of silliness at weekends away, which is so good for the art as well as the soul. Jennifer and Syd being silly:

Here we are goofing around getting ready to load up our teaching demo board. We just didn't want the time to end!

Really, it was a great weekend. And I could go on and on. I wanted to  once again thank all the artists that came to join us for the weekend. I know it's not an easy feat to get away from your life and all it entails and that it is an investment in your art, with class fees, materials, travel etc. But I also know that you are all worth it and I'm thrilled that you gave yourself Permission to Play!!!! 

And Carol and Syd? You guys are the best! You haven't seen the last of me by a long shot...wait, did I just hear you locking the studio door? You think that's gonna stop me? Hahahahahaha! You should know me better than that by now. xoxox

getting ready to teach at the ArtClinic this weekend

I know I promised more of the studio swap last post, but suddenly, that has been put on hold and I'm busy prepping for teaching this weekend. Unfortunately for me, the work will still be here when I get back, but fortunately for those of you interested, I'll be giving more progress updates then :).

Jennifer, who I'm co teaching with, is now in town, staying at Amy's house since I don't quite have the guest room back in order, but they're coming over tomorrow and we're going to go over all that we want to cover this weekend and I'm sure we'll sneak in some playtime too. Creating with friends is really very fun. That's an unexpected positive about classes; the creative community that occurs. Anyway, we'll be at The Art Clinic and have a couple more spots for those that might be spontaneous and want to jump in and join us!

I spoke with my friend Syd today (she's co-partner in The Art Clinic with Carol), to tie down some details,  and just talking about this weeknd got me really excited and yearning to journal and paint and play right then and there.

Both Jennifer and I will be bringing some paintings for sale and prints too.

And I'll be bringing lots of art journals too and am determined to get Jennifer addicted to art journaling as well as the students this weekend!

The studio clean up will have to wait...I'll enjoy the time away from it {and so will my back}. It's going to be worth it in the end then, I can tell already. "Slow and steady wins the race", that's my current motto. Well, the steady part...as in, contine on Pam...which I am determined to do!

But for now, I wish you:

xoxo