Journal Friday #62: Building Layers

I've been working in my current big journal for 3 and half months now, and some pages are really starting to take shape, so I spent time this week building up layers on pages that already have a lot going on.

When I begin pages, I often have no idea where they're going, and themes and concepts often develop as the page progresses. I worked on a few pages this week using stencils and drawing words as ideas popped in my head. Sometimes the words are in response to what's happening on the page. Sometimes they're from reflective writing, and sometimes they're reactions to things that I've read, heard, or seen.

Along with adding writing and words, I broke out the Chartpak blender marker and created several image transfers with some photocopies that I have lying around. Image transfers are an easy way to add imagery, and the marker transfer results in a fuzzy, transparent image that is perfect for layering over top of other materials.

I also added some imagery with my pen, and drew on a few pages. I love to draw monsters, so I spent time experimenting with a variety of silly, sad, and confused little beasts. I also added a stylized face to another page. Though I often use my pens to draw rectangles, lines, and shapes, it's nice to break out some recognizable imagery once in a while.

I always enjoy how pages develop over time and seeing how different pages can of in completely different directions!

Journal Friday #61: Red Ink

As I've mentioned before, my visual journal pages are a slow accumulation of actions, and often what that means is that I sit down with a specific material and work on quite a few pages at once. Sometimes I sit down with watercolor paint, or watercolor pencil, or with scissors and glue. This week it was my red uni-ball pen. The uni-ball Vision pen is my go to pen, and I always have a black, blue, and red on me. This week I spent time revisiting pages and embellishing words, images and shapes.

Besides embellishing, I used my uni-ball to do some writing in the journal using several writing techniques including stream of consciousness and note taking. The note taking was doing a little bit of research for a new series of artworks that I am working on. I've been focusing on the idea of relics, so I looked up definitions on a variety of dictionary websites.

So, it was just a few minor things this week, but not all actions in the journal can be grand and big. Often they are small details and embellishments that build depth and meaning.

Mapping the Journey at 310 ART

I am super excited to be returning to Asheville in May to teach a two-day mixed media workshop at 310 ART. I'm looking forward to heading back! I love Asheville, and 310 ART is an awesome place to teach. Mapping the Journey is all about using life and the idea of making to create layered pieces of art. I can't wait! I hope that you can join me in Asheville.

Journal Friday #60: Watercolor Layers

Today was spent journaling at the coffee table. One of the great things about the visual journal is that it's a portable studio, so instead of needing to be in the studio, I can work anywhere, like the living room coffee table.

I worked primarily with watercolor adding to pages that I had already started. Because of their transparent nature, watercolor is perfect for layering.

Part 9 of The Journal Fodder Junkies Daily Challenge

Part 9 of The Journal Fodder Junkies Daily Challenge is now available!

It contains 30 new challenges plus a whole new gallery of journal spreads. So check it out at the JFJ Shop. 

Journal Friday #59: Reflection

It's been a couple of busy weeks with the NAEA Convention last week and teaching an all-day professional development workshop this week, and when things get busy, it's always good to spend a little time reflecting about things in the journal in an attempt to sort it all out.

I spent time today in the studio gluing things into the journal and adding color, shapes, and words with water-soluble pencil. I tend to collect a lot of fodder when I travel, especially at a conference or convention, and Seattle was no exception. As I glued bits and pieces in today from my trip, I began reflecting on the whole experience. Reflection doesn't have to be deep and personal writing, and it doesn't have to include many words at all. It's easy enough to get into a reflective mindset as you handle, cut, and glue the physical material and ephemera of an experience. It's a physical as well as mental kind of reflection, and as I glued in business cards, photos, tickets, and such from my trip I thought about the people that I met and interacted with, the sessions that I attended, and the places that I went.

I didn't limit myself to just collage today, and I broke out the Derwent Inktense pencils and added some color, lines, shapes, and words to many pages. These water-soluble pencils are great for building layers of bright colors, and work well to tie many of the collage pieces to the pages and surrounding elements. Like cutting and gluing, the repetitive movement of the pencil helps create a state of reflection since I was able to allow the experiences of the past week to just mix and mingle in the back of my mind as I worked. As I explored these pencils, I simple rolled things over in my mind and pondered the experiences. 

A few words and ideas did keep popping up as I worked, and I kept coming back to the idea of connection. This year's convention was probably one of the best, and not because I presented a bunch of things or I went to a bunch of mind blowing sessions, but because of the people - the connections. I got to see and hang out with good friends, and I got to know some acquaintances better than I had in the past. I got to talk to so many people and share stories and ideas, and I got to meet quite a few people who I have been able to inspire. I am always amazed and humbled when someone comes up and thanks me for inspiring them or shares a story about how I un some small way have been a help. For me, that's what it is all about. Art and education are all about the connections, and I am grateful for the opportunity to connect.

Something else has been going through my mind as well over the past few weeks, and my recent experiences have just reaffirmed the notion. Everyday, I want to know how I have uplifted people - how have I helped and inspired - how have I aided and motivated others. If I am not lifting others up, then I'm probably tearing them down, and I don't want to be that way.

I choose connection and inspiration. I choose to help and to uplift. 

Journal Friday #58:Travel

This past week was the National Art Education Association's annual convention in Seattle Washington. Though I'm no longer a public school teacher, I stay active in the the association, which means traveling and presenting to art educators from across the country. Whenever and wherever I travel, the journal goes with my, whether I'm traveling for business or pleasure. On this trip I took four separate journals with me to share and to work in.

The NAEA Convention is a huge gathering of art educators, and it's always invigorating to be surrounded by my tribe. Of this tribe, I'm closest to a handful of artistic accomplices, especially David and our friends Sam Peck and Michael Dodson, and we often sit and work on journal in all manner of spaces during the convention. We can often be found working in our journals in our hotel rooms, hotel lobby, and bar, taking notes during sessions, and even passing around journals and sketchbooks before dinner.

For this conference, I was fortunate to spend an entire day working in my journals, as David and Sam presented a pre-conference, full-day workshop. It was great to spread out and journal. I was able to add to a lot in all of my journals. One thing that I used a lot was some punchanella - also know as sequin waste. These narrow ribbons of circles make great stencils for painting and drawing.

Of course, since the convention is a massive professional development, there are all kinds of presentations and workshops, and the journal is a prime space for taking notes, but these aren't the notes from your school days. These are visual and colorful, and often include imagery and collage elements. I'll go back in the future and embellish the notes and include more color and imagery.

I am always amazed at how much journaling gets done while traveling.

Artful Layers at Studio Joy

Please join me in Kansas City, MO at Studio Joy the weekend of April 28 and 29, for an in-depth look at layering with mixed media in my 2-day Artful Layers workshop. I'm excited to teach in friend Amanda Jolley's wonderful space, and I'm looking forward to sharing my layering approach to a Midwest audience. So make plans now to join me!

April 28-29, 2018; 9:30-4:30pm
Cost: $220

Immerse yourself in the art of mixed media layering, and delve deeply into a wide range of techniques for creating artful layers in your work. The focus of this workshop is on developing imagery with complexity and subtlety as you explore the vast possibilities of layering materials, ideas, and images and incorporating personal themes, ideas, and images. Explore how to build up color and texture using transparent media like watercolors and water-soluble pencil. Discover the layering possibilities for using papers such as vellum, tracing paper, and tissue paper to incorporate color, writing, and drawing. Experiment with collage, image transfers, and personal text to develop narratives and themes. Learn to embellish and enhance elements to draw out focus and detail, and walk away with a variety of richly layered work.

Check out Amanda's website for more info.

Artful Layers at Larkin Arts

Please join me on April 14th for my Artful Layers workshop at Larkin Arts. I'm excited to be returning to this awesome art gem in Harrisonburg, VA to bring a full-day version of this workshop to the Shenandoah Valley.

SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 11AM-5PM  
$150, with an additional $15 materials fee

Immerse yourself in the art of mixed media layering, and delve deeply into a wide range of techniques for creating artful layers in your work. The focus of this workshop is on developing imagery with complexity and subtlety as you explore the vast possibilities of layering materials, ideas, and images and incorporating personal themes, ideas, and images. Explore how to build up color and texture using transparent media like watercolors and water-soluble pencil. Discover the layering possibilities for using papers such as vellum, tracing paper, and tissue paper to incorporate color, writing, and drawing. Experiment with collage, image transfers, and personal text to develop narratives and themes. Learn to embellish and enhance elements to draw out focus and detail, and walk away with a variety of richly layered work.

Check out the Larkin Arts website for more info!

Spring Workshops

I'm so excited to have three awesome workshops coming up over the next couple of months, and I invite you to join me for one or more of them.

In just under a month, I'll be teaching a full-day workshop at Larkin Arts in Harrisonburg, VA. I taught a workshop there last year, and I am excited to be heading back on April 14th to teach my Artful Layers workshop! If you're anywhere near this Shenandoah Valley city, you have to join me for a day of art making fun!

And later in the month of April, I take Artful Layers to Kansas City, MO to teach at friend Amanda Jolley's Studio Joy. It'll be my first time there, and I can't wait to share an expanded two-day workshop version of this workshop the weekend of April 28th and 29th. If you're in the Midwest, I'd love to have you at this in-depth mixed media workshop.

Finally, in May I'll be heading back to Asheville, NC to teach a weekend workshop at 310 Art in the Riverside Arts District. I'll be offering Mapping the Journey the weekend of May 19th and 20th. I love Asheville, and I taught a sold out workshop there last year, and I'm excited to be heading back. If your anywhere Western North Carolina, I'd love to see you there!

I am looking forward to all of these workshops, and I can't wait to share my approach to art with you all! I hope to see you there!

Stay up to date with all of the JFJ workshops, exhibits, and happenings by checking out the Events and Workshops page.