Believe

Believe:  to accept something as true, genuine, or real. Do you believe in magic? (Did that question just make a song pop into your head? Sorry.) Do you believe in your dreams? Do you believe in God? Do you believe in yourself? In someone else? What does it even mean to "believe in" someone?

One thing I've learned from a work-related training that I find applicable to every area of my life is that "my perception is my reality." In other words, how I see the world is what is "real" to me. So "reality" is different for everyone. Have I lost you? For example, you may say something to me sarcastically, but I perceive it to be insulting, therefore I feel insulted. Your reality is that it was sarcastic and funny. Mine is that it was mean. We all have different perceptions about the world around us, how we experience it using our five senses and judgments made based on previous experiences; those perceptions are what constitute reality for each of us.

While that's an interesting concept, one I could probably ramble on about for pages, it's not really the direction I want to take in my art journal. At least not at first blush. So. Another way of thinking about believe is "to accept something as genuine." A genuine person is sincere and honest; a genuine emotion is sincerely and honestly felt or experienced. What would "sincere and honest" look like on paper? They're feelings. What do feelings look like?

The only way I can think of to go about this is to find something that symbolizes these concepts to me personally - my perception of them if you will - an object, action, person, or event. So many choices! I'll have to give it some more thought. And then there's Wednesday's prompt to incorporate:  tree. Is there anything more genuine or real than a tree? Another good combination of cards, I'm looking forward to a visit from my muse this weekend for sure!

White and Wordy?

I did something new last night, something I should be proud of, although I'm not sure that's how I felt:  I went to the Ladies' Craft Night at my church for the first time! I've considered going to them a few times in the past, but I had a wicked cold one month, out of town once, a broken arm....a few times, I admit, I was just too freaked out to try.

It's in the Fireside Room at my church, which is a room I had never been in before, and that's what kept me from going - I didn't know what the room looked like! This is one of the things about being autistic that I really hate. But that's for another series of posts altogether, ones I was hoping to write in April but I'm still processing.

Anyway, I went last night. I saw it in an e-mail I got on Thursday and decided I wanted to go - and then I actually went! Three other women were there this time. While I didn't bring many projects with me, I accomplished even less, but one of the things I did get finished was the first layer for my page this week, the "reflection" layer! It's very simple but I like it. I'll post a photo of it with my final post for this week, not sure which day that will be (depends on when I finish the second layer).

Speaking of which - it's time to share the second card for Week Twenty. (It's very exciting to be back on track with these!)

This card was made using a white ink stamp pad, but I plan to use a white ink pen on my page. Paint would also work. If you enjoy doodling and/or zentangle, coloring in parts of it is a great accent. Even journaling with one would add another layer. I prefer the Uni-ball brand personally, and would recommend coating the page with a gel medium first.

Another post I would like to do one of these days is to explore color theory. Warm and cool, shading, the color wheel, complimentary colors - I've always found colors fascinating. I'd also like to come up with some color combinations as inspiration for pages and projects. Feel free to comment if you have suggestions!

Fire

I just realized I didn’t post the second card for Week Nine. Here it is – “fire”. I hope it fuels your imagination and creativity!

Introductions and Stamp Making

I realize it’s Saturday, which is typically when I post the second card of the week; however, this week has been a little crazy, so I’m posting both of them today. The first card for Week Eight is “introductions”. Although the card has a photo of a man, you don’t have to limit yourself to the introduction of a person.

Other types of introductions include those written by authors, intended to be read before beginning the rest of the book, article, manual, etc.; or the introduction of an event, new technology, the latest toy, and on and on…. There really is no end to the possibilities for this one. In some ways that can be exciting – you can do just about anything! – and in some ways quite overwhelming (I tend to prefer clear boundaries, hence the deck of cards).

The second prompt for Week Eight is “make a stamp”. This is similar to the red deck prompt in Week Two, which was “hand-carved stamp,” except this time your challenge is to find something around the house and use it as a stamp. For the example on my card, I took one of the plastic rolls that was emptied in my ATG and inked one side with red Staz-On ink (this particular ink works great on plastic, metal, etc.). I also used this kind of stamp with paint on my first art journal page:

The page doesn’t look like this at all anymore (this was the background), but you can still see the circles made from the plastic “stamp”. Great image!

Knowing both prompts at once may alter how you approach this week’s project; don’t resist it, just go with it, and perhaps in the future you’ll want to wait until Saturday to being working. I don’t think it’s ever a bad idea to try something different once in a while. Inspiration will find you, but only if you’re working!

Stitched

Although sewing is a lost art in our culture today, it was once a much practiced and necessary component. I’m sure you’ve heard the old proverb “A stitch in time saves nine”. It means a little effort now prevents more work later. Those who first spoke it were literally referring to stitches, knowing it’s best when you first tear something to take a few minutes and repair it. Otherwise it will only tear more, costing you more time and the need for more stitches later.

It’s a timeless truth that  procrastination often requires more work in the long run. I find it ironic that this (and other proverbs with similar messages) have endured, and yet we seem to be getting lazier as a race. I include myself in this, of course, as some of my best work has been produced at “the last minute”.

[Rabbit Trail] That reminds me of this paper I wrote in University, I believe it was during my second year (which was actually my first Senior year, but that’s a different trail altogether). The class was called Paradise Lost and was supposed to be a Senior “capstone” course, focusing on John Milton’s epic poem of the same name. (By the way, an epic poem is a lengthy narrative poem [tells a story], ordinarily concerning a serious subject and containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation.) We spent three months reading and discussing it – and I honestly don’t remember any of it!

I do remember writing the main paper for the course, which I uncreatively titled “Milton’s Paradise”, which was due on a Wednesday morning at 11. The reason I remember the day and time is because I wrote the entire thing that very morning – 15 pages in about 2.5 hours – and got a B+. As I said, some of my best work has been done at the last minute. Not the course of action I would advise for anyone else, but for me, sometimes it paid off to waste some stitches!

Just for fun, here’s how the paper started:  “The ideas of the earthly paradise held by Milton and his contemporaries reflected several centuries of acceptance, rejection, and interpretation of earlier myths, theologies, and literature. In Paradise Lost, Milton sought to understand the beginnings of man and his world – the development of knowledge, religion, government, marriage, and family – and to relate these beginnings to later history.” [End Rabbit Trail]

I imagine one of these days I’ll go back and read that paper again, probably find several much needed edits and change it, and maybe even re-read the poem since I have a feeling I never actually read it the first time around. But not today. If you’ve managed to stay behind me while we traveled that trail, we’re back to the second week seven prompt “stitched”. I believe we left off with an old proverb and some irony. I love irony. Too many Rabbit Trails today!! Must resist.

I also mentioned that sewing is a lost art. That’s not to say it’s never done anymore, just that it’s not as necessary or commonly used as it used to be. We now have fancy machines – and I don’t mean the ones we have in our craft rooms – that can put together an entire outfit in less than five minutes.

Personally, I haven’t yet begun to explore sewing. I have two machines, both were given to me, that are in working order. One of them is a “Jean Machine” capable of sewing through denim. A jean quilt would be awesome – I love weight when I sleep! I also have four drawers (in a cardboard dresser) FULL of fabric:

   

These are a few of the piles (organized by color, of course). I could make a lot of really fun things with all of the colors and patterns I have. Two sets of fabric came altogether, with instructions, to make some pretty awesome quilts. I just need to get started! I know how the machines work, in theory, I just haven’t gotten my craft room organized enough that I feel able to start this new adventure. Story of my life, to be honest – always waiting for something more before I can do this or start that. What a waste of stitches!

Date Night

Have you ever had to answer the question “What’s your ideal date?” (or maybe some variation)? According to my good friend Mr. Webster, ideal means “existing as an archetypal idea”. To help you out, I also looked up archetypal, which means (in the easiest way to explain it) “a perfect example”. When you put all of that together, the question becomes “What is your idea of the perfect example of a date?” If you’ve honestly experienced one, I’d love to hear about it!

Of course, “perfect” isn’t something that exists literally; it’s just a standard against which we measure things. Same with “normal”. (I don’t think anyone would bother to ask your idea of a “normal date” though, so we won’t follow that rabbit trail this time.) Which brings us back to where we started:  date night.

This is a term I’ve most often heard when referring to a married couple getting a chance to spend time together without their children. It can be other things as well, such as “girl’s night” or “guy’s night”, or a chance for a parent to take a child out for something special – “date night with daddy”, etc.

Since I’m daring to “explore” this year in new and exciting ways (that was said with extreme sarcasm and I’m laughing about it, on the inside), it’s my goal to attempt thinking “outside the box” for this week’s project. I don’t mind this kind of activity, although I do love boxes, especially square ones. This week is particularly challenging, which makes it even better – how can I create an art journal page about “behind the fence” and “date night” (separately, and then combine them!)?

That remains to be seen. Two more days to finish things up, I hope you will be pleasantly surprised! Both with whatever twisted perception of reality I decide on, and whatever creative inspiration you find for yourself. Don’t be afraid to try something new this week! Happy crafting!

Smile

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
- Dr. Seuss

A smile is one of the most contagious things we experience. Kind of like a yawn, but more healing. It’s something we learn very early in life – if I smile, I can get out of trouble, or get what I want (those of you with young children know exactly what I’m talking about) – but for some reason we seem to forget it as we get older.

Think about it for a minute – close your eyes and hop aboard my imagination train – what would the world be like if we passed on every smile we received? Have you seen the movie “Pay It Forward”? It would be that same concept, except absolutely free and painless! The world would literally change in a matter of days!

Ok you can hop down off the train now [smile] Another great benefit of the smile is how easily it brings about another healing experience – laughter. How many of you just laughed? I love hearing laughter, especially babies! Just thinking about it makes me smile! Too bad no one is here with me to receive it and pass it on….

Dreamscape

“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.”
- James Dean

I don’t often remember my dreams much longer than maybe a day after waking. If I tell someone about it I can hold onto the images a bit longer, but that doesn’t happen often – with one interesting exception. There’s a dream that I had when I was eight years old that I still remember quite vividly (twenty-four years later). It was a bit of a nightmare at the time, though I’m not clear on the difference between dream and nightmare. Some dreams can be scary; when do they cross the line?

In this particular dream, my mom and  brother were in a car without me. I don't remember the car, or a lot of the specific details. They left our apartment (I believe they were called “Cheney Gardens Apartments” – something with garden in it) and drove down the hill to the stop sign. There was a McDonalds on the left, and Anderberg Chevrolet on the right (this was back in early 1989, I'm not sure what currently resides there). From here you could go left or right onto First Street, which ran through town, State Route 904.

Just as they turned, the car was hit. My mom got out and was bleeding, my brother (for some reason) was in the trunk (it was a dream, weird stuff happens). He climbed out and was also bleeding. They had cuts all over. I went running down the hill to them and all of a sudden we were back at our apartment and an Avon lady was trying to sell me makeup out of her car. No idea where that came from, but again, it was a dream. And I was eight. I remember she was definitely selling Avon though.

Now, I don’t subscribe to dream theory; I believe that our minds are vast, largely unused masses of information and power. Our subconscious continues to work and process while we sleep. It also combines and reconstitutes and takes artistic liberty with anything and everything we’ve ever experienced.

Another way to look at dreams, and the direction that I took with my page, is in the way of having goals, or hopes, for the future. More on that tomorrow. For tonight, you may consider keeping a “dream journal” to see what kinds of madness rises from the depths of your mind. Would make some great art journal pages!

Message In A Bottle

First let me start by saying, to anyone who is participating in this art challenge, that I’m sorry this is two days late! I drew the card Saturday morning, and then spent most of the day at Paper Pals co-teaching a mini album class. When I got home I had a wicked migraine growing from not eating all day, so I didn’t do much of anything aside from eat dinner. Yesterday I finally got this photo uploaded, but couldn’t find the right words to ramble about it. So here it is:



There have been a few times in my life when I’ve considered sending out a message in a bottle – while riding on a ferry from Mukilteo to Whidbey Island, or from the Island to Port Townsend; I’ve also contemplated attaching a small one to a helium-filled balloon and letting it float away.

The reason I did neither of those is simple:  I have no idea what message to include! Should I write a brief synopsis about myself – name, rank, and serial number? Hahahaha just kidding. I’ve been watching Hawaii Five-0 and JAG the past few weeks. Anyway, I could include some basic information about myself. I could write some details about where I live in case the message traveled out of the area. Perhaps I could send a poem, a quote, or a profound thought.

Something else I’ve considered is what kind of message might I find if a bottle washed up on shore in front of me. I’m not often presented with an opportunity to visit the beach, and so far haven’t found any bottles when I have. But since this month I’m exploring possibilities – I’m going to explore this one and get back to you.

Hand-Carved Stamp

Happy Saturday fellow journeymen! (I use that term broadly, especially since most of my artist friends are women haha) How many of you have decided to join me on this 2013 art challenge adventure? I haven’t yet heard from anyone who has finished their first project, although I’m sure there are several of you who at least find the idea interesting, and are possibly making your own version. Don’t be shy my friends! Share your photos, or ideas, or inspirations - or all of the above! I love seeing what other people are creating!

Wow, three exclamation points in three sentences. I love how a simple mark can convey more emotion than I am capable of feeling most days [smile] One of the many blessings of the written word – being able to communicate in ways that are otherwise unattainable due to my autistic superpowers. I find that encouraging!

Since I don’t have anyone else’s art to share today, I will commence with the red deck (layer two) prompt for week two:



Although I won’t be posting the second prompt until Saturday (to give everyone who wants to join me a couple of days to work on the first one), I will be drawing the card as soon as I’m ready to incorporate it into my own project. Last week, that was Saturday; this week, it was Friday, and I must admit I was a little disheartened that it was “hand-carved stamp”. I had only a vague idea of what the “footprints” prompt would become, and this didn’t help very much!

To make this week's card, I took an ink blending foam pad (I use them with Tim Holtz Distress Inks) and cut out a puzzle piece shape. I recommend getting these, they’re great for many things. I’ll be writing about them (and other tools I use) in future posts; also, the foam pad applicator, refills, and inks are all available at Paper Pals in Pullman (and I would even be willing to purchase and send them to you for free if you paid me cost and shipping – I love Paper Pals!)

For my “footprints” page, however, I decided to go a different route. I drew the card Friday morning so I would have the work day to figure out what medium I wanted to use for carving; I also asked my friend Karen (owner of Paper Pals) if she had any ideas. It became clear through our discussion that it depends in large part on what design I’m wanting to carve. My first idea was a footprint, but that didn’t really fit with my inspiration for prompt one:



I’m sharing the background with you today, although I actually completed the entire page (other than the journaling) last night; I’m hoping to post a picture of the finished project tomorrow, but no later than Tuesday night. I drew my inspiration from the quote I shared Thursday in my post called I, Explorer, and the idea of “travel/journey/exploration” – a more abstract take on a footprint. Again, I’d love to see (and be able to share) what you’ve come up with!

Getting back to the hand-carved stamp, I considered a raw potato (but it wouldn’t last long, and I might want to re-use it in future), cardboard (not thick enough for my idea, though a possibility for certain shapes), and a larger sponge (too messy for me in this instance) before landing on Styrofoam. I have a few thin strips I salvaged from some electronic purchase from who knows when, and it turned out to be a great size for what I wanted.

There are dozens of great mediums to use when wanting to make your own stamps. If you have the money and inclination, you can even buy materials specially designed for such endeavors. To find out more, just type “how to hand carve a stamp” in any search engine and you'll find articles, blogs, videos, etc. (Isn't the internet great sometimes?!)

Of course, I don’t have either the money or the desire to do so right now, and in a lot of ways, using random found objects is more my style. Plus they can add some great textures, and as you get more comfortable with mixed media art, you’ll come to appreciate the great value in that. (Just as in fashion, it’s all about the layers my friends!) Other than what I mentioned as my own considerations, does anyone have some suggestions they’d like to share? Leave a comment and I’ll publish it!

Now that you have your second prompt, I will leave you to it; I hope inspiration will find you working on something today. Happy crafting friends!

Practice Drawing

I am still excited about this idea deck weekly challenge I’ve created for myself. I’ve been having fun creating the cards, and making the “symmetrical background” for the first page was relaxing. Today we add the second layer, using a card from the red deck. Here’s what I chose (at random):



It’s a little harder to see because it was drawn in pencil. I found this image on a “how-to draw” site online. There are dozens of great sites with free images of all kinds, walking you thru the process step by step. The best way to learn is to pick one image and practice it over and over (every day if possible), until you’ve got it mastered. I chose a teddy bear for the card in honor of Oliver; this one is supposed to look “well loved”. I'll be using a different image for my page.

Now, just to clarify, these cards only serve as ideas or prompts for projects. Mine will begin as art journal pages, and then may progress into a mixed media canvas or other project. Of course I’m open to all possibilities, and I would LOVE to see what other people come up with!

Since this is a weekly challenge, it's my goal to post the first card (for the initial "layer") on Wednesday, the second on Saturday, and hopefully the completed project Sunday; however, you have until Tuesday to finish, before the next week’s prompt comes up. Don't forget to have fun, be creative, and make art every day! Happy crafting friends!