Art Journaling Tip- 5 Step Lettering

Since our art journaling inspiration is our names, we will be putting names to pages this week and I know that can be a little intimidating.

Some of us are perfectionists. And when it comes to penmanship it's no different, maybe even intensified. I've worked with women who refuse, yes refuse, to attempt hand lettering. They hate their writing and they can't get past it. I don't always agree with them but that frustration hinders the creative spirit.

When it comes to lettering, I'm in both camps, but it depends on the day. If you're one who's stopped by the idea of your own writing not being enough then I have a tip for you.

This will help with letter loathing. It's a light box done a couple of different ways.

1) Design what you want to say, in the font you want to say it, in the size you want.

2) Print it off on a thin (lower number pound) paper. It will let more light through.

3) Place the journal page that you are going to draw on over the top of your printed page.

4) Hold it up to a window (left photo) or over a light box (right photo).

5) Trace.

All of a sudden lettering isn't so labored.

Good luck on the image-making and introspection into what your hands mean to you.

See you Friday.

Celebrate Me • Art Journaling • Week #1 My Name • Begin Now!

Celebrate Me! Art Journaling • Week #1 My Name

This weekend was about getting your BOOK • BOX • BELONGINGS. (If not, read this post.)

Since this is the first day, I'll let you know how we'll proceed. You won't have to go this alone.

Every Monday will be Q & A, as in QUESTIONS & APPLICATIONS Monday. Questions for introspection and application ideas to help with image making. There will also be a word, phrase, or quote meant to inspire the whole thought process. Use any or all of the ideas.

INSPIRATION:

a single focus word (or maybe a phrase)

INTROSPECTION:

questions to explore your thoughts and life

IMAGE MAKING:

applications to experiment with

There's a few ways to go about this.

1) Do the images first and think about the inspiration word. Then record your most important thoughts around or on top of the images.

2) Or, write your thoughts and let images come to your mind and recreate you mental images after you've recorded your ideas.

3) Or, a combination of back and forth with words and images. Images and words.

Anyway works.

One last thought. Don't stress yourself over the image making. This might be the most uncomfortable process. If at first you're nervous, look at other's art journals for inspiration. Mimic their layout. Use their color palette. Incorporate their use of text. It will get easier and you'll become more uniquely expressive as time goes on. Don't worry. Start somewhere. Just begin.

OUR FIRST ENTRY

INSPIRATION:

MY NAME

INTROSPECTION:

Q. Who inspired my name most?

Q. What other name were my parents considering?

Q. Have I always liked my name?

Q. Does my name have any significant meaning?

Q. Do I have any memories related to my name?

IMAGE MAKING:

A. Create a background of markers and ink stamp your name over the top

A. Put the title "Celebrate Me" along with your name and text

A. Take a photo of yourself, glue it into your book & repeatedly write your name over the top of it

A. Do an ink character self portrait and use watercolors or pastels to add color & add your name

A. Print name in a font you love, put your page over the top of it, use a light table and trace

For the next few weeks, I'll add other people's images to get your imagination going as well. This will hopefully give you ideas and ease you into making your own images.

REMEMBER, this is about you, for you, to celebrate you.

Candice Windham

JK Bees

Cafepress Primitive

BlueBazaar.com

Whimspirations

Ohhhhhhhh! I almost forgot.

On Friday morning, everyone can upload a photo of their celebrate me • art journal page on Shannon's Studio Facebook page. You can't not share with us.

It's not a critique of your expressions, it's a celebration of each of us. Let go. Do it. Friday.

Art Journal Tabs

Julie was talking about sections in her art journal over here on our FB page. I came across this gal, Mary Macilvain, and saw her photo of a journal page with tabs. It looks simple to do. So, I thought I'd share the idea in case other's were looking to section off their journals.

Celebrate Me • Art Journaling • How Do I Begin?

Let the Celebrate Me Art Journaling Journey begin!

Art Journal Short Definition:

introspection and images in a book

Art Journal Long Definition:

a personal point of view which can include

wishes, wonders, wisdom, workings, warnings, war-ings, and worthwhile times,

recorded in the form of doodles, drawings, designs or dressed up words and images

all bound in a book

So, those are the definitions that I've come up with. That way we are thinking the same things when we're talking. There are tons of art journaling sites on the net. A lot of them are just about image making. Which is nice. But, I happen to think pictures and text are a powerful combination. Then, when you add a person's life into the mix, it becomes extraordinary. It's the personal point of view that is the intriguing part, seeing the person and what they're about.

Journaling is something we usually do as kids. I have several diaries from back then. I've always thought is was important to keep a record of life but life got busy and my entries sporadic. I've missed some memories that are important to me. We can't be all things, to all people, all the time. So, I'm not going to beat myself up about missing some of the past. But, that doesn't mean I can't record some of the present or thoughts on things now.

Our art journaling will focus on finding out more about you (say, "me".) It's about celebrating. Celebrating your (say, "my") life - past, present and future. It's record-keeping with images. And you don't have to be an artist to do it but if you're worried, I'll share ideas to bring out your creative side. Because it's a little intimidating here's what you'll need to get started.

1) GET YOURSELF A BOOK

It can be anything. If you are going to be using wet medium (watercolor, acrylic, glue, etc.) then you'll want a book with thicker pages. A craft store will have a good selection with the cost being from $5 - $15. I'd go ahead and invest so that you can experiment and not worry.

2) GET YOURSELF A BOX

Not everyone has the space to have a studio, but you don't need one. Just get a box so that you can put all of your stuff in one place. It's ready when you're ready.

3) GET YOUR BELONGINGS

Gather up all your art belongings into the box.

Markers, pens, colored pencils, watercolors, white out, glue, small blow dryer, tape, ruler -

things like that.

BOOK • BOX • BELONGINGS

BAM!! YOUR READY TO ROLL

Get the stuff this weekend. This weekend. Then we'll get started. Monday. Every Monday.

I started a Facebook Page just for Art Journaling and sharing pages. Like it here.

ShannonsPortfolio.com transitions to ShannonsStudio.com

I have transitioned my website ShannonsPortfolio.com to

ShannonsStudio.com

which also means I have a

new blog attached to the new website

When I started my website 5 years ago there were not that many great website DIY services. I remember it took me several weeks to figure out how to do it. There are so many user-friendly services available now. Plus, I wanted my blog and website on the same site. I also was not thrilled with my current service provider's brand personality.

So, I decided to make a change.

ShannonsStudio.com is still under construction but enough is done to work with.

October is National Arts & Humanities Month

I know it's still July and I'm letting you know that October is National Arts & Humanities Month but I have a purpose. It's only 10 Fridays until October. Ten Fridays! (I know, see how close it is.) That doesn't give us much time.

I know every year when October rolls around you have been in a quandary as to how you are going to celebrate National Arts & Humanities Month. (I know, me too.) Well, actually I didn't even know it existed. But this year is going to be different for all of us.

We are going to get ourselves ready for National Arts & Humanities Month with a 10 step process. (Get it 10 Fridays?) And you could actually use some of these Friday steps for great go-out-together evenings. And when October rolls around you won't be riddle with all that guilt that you've felt every year:)

Check back Friday (on the new blog) for your first step into the Arts.

Carl Bloch's Mary and Elizabeth - Merry Christmas

Carl Bloch's

Mary and Elizabeth

41" x 23"

oil on copper plate 1890

One of the most beautiful images of Elizabeth's joyful greeting of Mary. This painting is technically (composition, color, content and craftsmanship) wonderful and I am inspired by the moment he chose to paint. I wish I could see all his paintings in person but I have only seen one. (Healing at the Pool of Bethesda 111" x 126") Its size is majestic and the paint quality amazing. I wish to paint like that. Go to Hope Gallery for more information on this and other Carl Bloch paintings. Merry Christmas.

Painting - Nauvoo Sunstone

Here is a painting that I did this week. It's just about finished. Should have done a video but I didn't know how fast it would go. But I did take a few photos during the process. I like painting stone and I love this perspective.

Nauvoo Sunstone oil 16" x 19"

Art Exhibition - Types and Shadows

Since my genre for painting is allegory, metaphor, and symbolism I was interested in this Exhibition - Types and Shadows: Intimations of Divinity. I can't go see it since it's in Utah but I looked it up online. Brigham Young University Museum of Art has an added bonus of artist's podcasts. I enjoyed listening to what the artists had to say (very short sound bits) about their own paintings. For you art enthusiasts I have included the links to the site and podcasts. Ideally, listening to the audio while looking at the artwork aids in understanding what the artist is talking about. Consider it your art edification for the day.

Click here for Artist's audio podcasts of their artwork in this exhibition

I particularly like David Linn, Christopher Young, Wilson Ong, and Brian Kershisnik's audio. I've included links to their professional websites.

David Linn, ...And Then I Looked..., 2005 17.5" x 24.94"

Wilson Ong The Daughter of Jairus, 1996 41" x 34"

Painting - Shatto Milk Bottle

Shatto Milk Bottle - Untitled 35" x 15"

Detail Shatto Milk Bottle

I really liked the size of this painting (35" x 15") and how it's cropped. I loved painting the glass, well, love is such a strong word. It was a challenge to paint glass but I enjoyed it (along with the Farm Fresh glass.) And painting white... ohhh... I do love painting white. I am going to do at least one other one in this Larger Than Life Locals series.

Painting - Farm Fresh

Play the video below to see it come together

Two hours well spent yesterday. Finally.

Small Paintings @ The Great Frame Up in Parkville MO

Here are some of the small 8" x 8" paintings that are for sale at THE GREAT FRAME UP in Parkville, Missouri. Thanks to Eric, Jason, and Randi. They're great people.

The Great Frame Up #591

6325 Lewis St. Suite 115
Parkville, Mo. 64152
816-741-6464

Reminder - My Studio & Me on Rate My Space

As I've posted before Dan came and did the filming for the Rate My Space showing starting Angelo in January. We've known for months that it was going to view in May. Well, it's airing TONIGHT. Guess who just almost went to the movies? Yes, moi. How lame is that? Hadn't thought about it all day. Still don't know how I remembered, it just popped into my head. Lucky. I figured if I forgot that you might have forgotten - so this is a reminder if you were going to watch it. It's 7:00 Missouri time.

Why I Like It - iPhone

This has been a very busy week. But, I had to post my new 'why I like it'. My new iPhone. I know people already know this but it is very cool. The guy, Josh (above left), at the Liberty, Mo AT&T store was GREAT in helping us (my daughter got one too). I would highly recommend asking for Josh S. when you go in. All I have to say is... iPhone - that's why I like it.

Print of Fortune Cookie Painting in Hillary's Kitchen

It was totally fun to get this photo in my email tonight. Hillary sent it to me of the print from one of the fortune cookies that I painted. A little while ago she responded to one of my posts and I mailed it to her. Just wanted to share and say thanks to Hill for taking the time to do that.