Multitasking creating...

Hello friends,

If you know me at all then you know that I do everything with multiple layers and multiple meanings. This is due in part to my overly complex nature and my need to resolve things. I tend to have a lot of irons in the fire which makes completing projects challenging. So to resolve this issue and still accomplish everything I want I combine projects. I feel this not only allows me to do more but also gives my art depth and meaning hopefully touching more people. 

If you have been following my blog then you already know that I am taking the Your Living Canvas workshop with Christy Tomlinson and Art McCracken and you have probably noticed that I participate in blog challenges when I can. This post gives you a peek into how my mind works and how I have successfully combined projects.

Lately, I have been fusing my Your Living Canvas journal art with Color Throwdown colors and getting two bangs for my buck. For me journal pages are challenging because I am not a journaler. Coming up with new themes, ideas, and color palettes can be overwhelming and stop me dead in my tracks. Using Color Throwdown's color palettes give me a great boost of inspiration and oftentimes a direction.

Here are the Color Throwdown challenges followed by my journal pages.

Words of Wisdom:
For me all the world is connected and intertwined, everything affecting and being effected by everything else so it is a natural course of progression to showcase that in my art in both large and small ways. If you are feeling like you have taken on too much find some creative ways to combine your tasks and projects. You will feel accomplished and your life and work will have deeper meaning.

"Your Living Canvas" online workshop...amazing!

I have been taking an online workshop with Christy Tomlinson called "Your Living Canvas" and let me tell you it has been a great experience for me.

I have really wanted to delve into art journaling and it has been a struggle since I am not one to just sit and create without purpose. This workshop not only inspires me to sit and create but the content is also a meaningful journey into yourself.

I encourage everyone to at least check it out and see if it is something that you might need in your life. The 6 week workshop is available for a full year so you can do it at your own pace. This is especially good for me because I was not able to follow along while it was "live."

Out of respect for Christy and Art (her co-teacher) I will not divulge any pertinent information like workshop subjects or exercises. I will simply let your eyes to the wandering. Enjoy!

The cover and following pages are only 1 1/2 classes worth of work (I told you I was behind).

 This is the book I used.

 

Sketchbook Project - Limited Edition

This year, instead of doing the traditional Sketchbook Project, I joined Art House Co-op in their Limited Edition Sketchbook Project. What is the difference you ask?

"The Limited Edition Book Series

Every contributor to the Sketchbook Project Limited Edition Vol. 1 will be included in a series of art books documenting the project. Together, the series will provide insight into the imagination and process of each artist participating in the project. Bound by the Brooklyn Art Library Press and hand-finished in our Brooklyn workshop, the book series will be published in the fall of 2012."

It is very exciting to know that your work will be in a published book!


As usual, I waited a long time before starting which put added pressure on me to produce something that was not only wonderful but also came to fruition in a short period of time. Finding inspiration for an entire book does not come easily to me. I am always so envious of those who can sit down to  blank pieces of paper and produce page after page of amazing drawings. 

Now I do draw and paint but not on demand like some can. Instead I turned to paper crafting which is another great love of mine.  I am not lying when I say I have literally thousands of printed papers....it's an obsession really. I decided to use the papers as inspiration to create scenes. Each scene is a manifestation of a dream or desire....a story; "what you want to be when you grow up" or "what you want to be when you retire" or maybe it's a secret wish or fantasy or maybe you are already living that dream. The book contains no words or suggestions only places for your mind to rest and wander and make up your own story.

 In the end, I am happy with the results. I love that the characters are just that...distinct, relatable characters and that the book is a journey just like life.