Challenge #6: Operative Words

Operative words are the essential words in a sentence, story, poem or script. Performers and spoken word poets often stress or emphasize these words in some way when performing.

We often look for operative words in our writing and highlight or visually emphasize them so they stand out. That way we can come back later and quickly find and use these words as sources for further investigation and exploration.

Look over some writing that you have done. If you don’t have any, take about 10 minutes to do some writing – perhaps use a random word as a prompt or perhaps something a bit more meaningful. Look over your writing and chose important words or phrases and highlight them in some way. These are words and phrases that you are drawn to so trust your gut reaction. Circle them. Make them bold. Use a different color. Try to find at least three operative words or phrases in your writing, but feel free to find as many as you’d like.

Pick one of these words or phrases to use as a source of inspiration.

Don’t to forget to post a link to you response in the comments even if you don’t get it finished.

Challenge #5: Random Words

Part of our approach at times is to let randomness and happenstance to enter our process. Open yourself to chance by picking a random word to use as a source of inspiration.

Grab a book or dictionary that you have close at hand, and open to a random page and point to a random word. Don’t like that word? Pick another. Not ready to be completely random? Pick a random page, and choose a word to which you are drawn.

Just don’t do this repeatedly in order to pick that word you already have in mind or one that fits your mode of thinking. Let chance take you in a direction that you are not ready to go. If you find the word challenging, let it challenge you and see if you can respond to that word even if it’s the silliest most unusual word.

Great News

We got some great news today. Our proposal for a new book was accepted for publication by our publisher North Light Books. So hopefully, some time in 2012 a new JFJ book will sit alongside The Journal Junkies Workshop in bookstores.

For the new book, we really thought about how we personally work in the visual journal - not just the techniques, but the methods, themes, and practical ideas. We really considered how our approach differs from others out there. Where The Journal Junkies Workshop is a basic resource book for working in the visual journal, the new book will actually be a year-long course with ideas and techniques broken into monthly missions giving the reader some very specific prompts and themes to work with (all of which have been ideas that we have personally reflected on and worked with throughout the years in our own journals). It will be full of new and specific techniques, but each month will ask the reader to focus on and explore certain themes and techniques giving the reader a glimpse into our modus operandi - mode of working.

We'll post updates along the way.

Oh, just a hint, the JFJ Challenge is actually centered around ideas and themes for the monthly missions of the new book, so we are giving you a bit of a sneak peak. But the book is going to be filled with a lot of cool new ideas.

We are very excited.

Pivotal People: Identity and Connection

First let me say, that I won't be posting a new challenge for this last week of March. I only want to post four challenges per month, so look for a new challenge by the end of this week or the beginning of next week to kick off April.

Now for my Pivotal People.

The last couple of weeks have been busy with the NAEA Convention in Seattle and finishing up the third quarter at school, so I'm sharing a spread from volume 13.

I chose this spread because of the theme Identity and Connection. I have developed much of my identity from the people who have influenced me - especially my Pivotal People.

My parents have always supported me, and they gave me the independence to pursue my own things. Roger and Sandy Scott taught me to work hard and to stand on my own. They encouraged my artistic endeavors, and never held me back.

I had a few teachers in high school and college who impacted me academically and artistically. Some challenged me for the good and for the bad. Some gave me freedom, and some guided me to see my true potential.

Of course I have to acknowledge Dave as pivotal in my life. He was the one who introduced me to the visual journal. He has also mentored me as an artist and a teacher, and I owe him a large debt of gratitude for the direction of my life. I am very glad that the Journal Fodder Junkies is an endeavor that we continue to share.

Just as Dave has been a mentor to me, I have been a mentor to Erin Keane, a.k.a. Bean. I met Erin several years ago, and have been grateful to share her journey. She is visible evidence of how I have changed the world, and I very much enjoy reading her thoughts and seeing her art on her blog. But Erin has challenged and inspired me, and has been an influence in some of my recent artistic successes.

Then there's Joanne, my wife. My world drastically changed when I met her, and I have cherished every bit of our journey together. She has been a constant in my life for the last ten years. She has encouraged and inspired me. She has supported and challenged me. She has understood me and comforted me. She has made me smile, laugh, and at times cry. She has given me love, joy, and the opportunity to pursue my creative notions. She is central in my life.

I am grateful to all these connections. They have influenced and guided me. They have impacted me and been responsible for the movement of my life. Thank you to all my Pivotal People.

Back from Seattle

 

Dave and I just spent five days in Seattle at the National Art Education Association (NAEA) Convention. We went to a lot of sessions, presented two sessions on the the visual journal, talked to a lot of folks, and got a chance to see part of the city. It was a packed five days. The photo of Dave above was taken our first morning in Seattle at local coffee shop.

When I got home yesterday evening after a very long and uncomfortable flight, I received an email with some wonderful news. I have been selected as a new member of The Gateway Gallery and Gift Shop in Round Hill, VA, just 5 miles from my house. I haven't officially signed the membership papers, but it looks like I'll be part of this fairly new cooperative gallery in western Loudoun.

With the Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour and now the Gateway Gallery, I need to start making art.

Challenge #4: Pivotal People

We all have people who have profoundly affected us, mentored us, or inspired us. There are those people who have challenged us and pushed us. This may have been in a positive or negative way, but their influence has been key in steering us in our lives.

Who in your life has influenced you strongly? What did they say to you? What do they represent? What has been the impact in your life, and how did the direction of your life path change?

Recognize those that have had a profound effect on you.

Saying Goodbye

 

Our house is a bit emptier today as we said goodbye to our sweet, sixteen year old cat, Allie. Allie came into my wife’s life nearly fifteen years ago as a rescue from the Human Society of Ventura County in Ojai, California. She was a sweet, little calico – except that is, when being pilled. I have the scars from my several attempts that led me to declare my wife the official pill popper. But mostly Allie was sweet and lovely, and she loved nothing more than to curl up in her favorite spots, especially the heater in the kitchen and the arm of the sofa. She kept me company many a morning as I ate my breakfast and drank my coffee.

Allie’s last year was a struggle. She developed hyperthyroidism and went from being pleasantly plump to rather skinny and scrawny. She ate constantly, and meowed incessantly to be fed. She received daily meds and went through three cans of wet food a day – about which she was very finicky. Then a few weeks ago, her appetite disappeared, she became rather lethargic, and rapidly lost weight. In the end it was kidney failure, and we had to make a tough but compassionate decision. Allie went to the Bridge early this morning with the assistance of our wonderful and compassionate friend Dr. Krisi Erwin, DVM.

The above photographs were taken during Dave’s recent visit, when Allie decided that Dave’s open journal was a comfortable place to lounge.

We will miss our little California girl.

Challenge #3: Steppingstones

We have all grown, evolved, and changed. At times the movement of our lives has changed direction because of the choices we have made, and at other times it has changed because the choices that others have made. These are what psychologist Ira Progoff calls Steppingstones in his Intensive Journal Workshop.

What have been your steppingstones – those significant moments of your life? What have been the moments when significant change or growth has occurred? What have these shifts meant for you and the direction of your life?

Remember to post a link to your image in the comments below.

Personal Mythology

For this week's challenge, I began to think about the stories that I have told myself throughout the years. I kept coming back to the feeling of being an outsider. Throughout my life I have been the outsider in many circumstances including my own family. I was always a little bit different - more quiet, more introspective, more to myself. This feeling was at its height during adolescence when I longed to fit in at high school. Even to this day, there are times when I feel like I'm on the outside looking in. I guess that in ways I relish the feeling.

I started off this page by applying watercolor with a paint scraper. I wrote in both pen and pencil, and added some collage. I added watercolor pencil and water-soluble pencil, and the self portrait was a stencil that I cut using a favorite photograph - the same as I used in the "I am" spread.

Challenge #2: Personal Mythologies

myth – n: 1. a legendary narrative that presents the beliefs of a people 2. an imaginary or unverifiable person or thing.

mythology – n: a body of myths.

We have all created myths about ourselves – stories that are imaginary and unverifiable. We have puffed ourselves up with stories of accomplishment and tore ourselves down with stories of lack. We have scripts and dialogues running through our heads reinforcing those myths.

What are your personal myths? What is your personal mythology? What are the stories that you have told yourself over and over to the point that you believe them and accept them?

Question your own mythology, and see if you can verify them.

Remember to post a link to your image in the comments.