by Linda | Jun 10, 2010 | my creative journal
Another Thursday and another peek into my creative workspace. Here are some photos of all the little projects I have going on…little experiments, prototypes and works in progress. I am realizing that it’s a lot more fun to always have many projects going on at the same time. You can jump to whatever sparks the most inspiration and in that way you are really enjoying the creative process so much more than grudgingly having to finish xyz. I suppose I can understand how painters might work on many different pieces hanging around their studio. Now I just need some more space to store everything!
After my vacation from last week, I finally finished up the two little bookbinding experiments you see above. The purple one is covered with patterned paper, but I didn’t feel it was thick or strong enough. The black one is covered with leather and an illustrated canvas panel of my bike illustration. I definitely like the thicker leather cover, but the inside papers aren’t that thick making it less stable. Both are accordion style books, but the way I glued them together doesn’t really make it usable on both sides. I guess it’s like Goldilocks and I have to find just the right one, the right combination that will work the best. More experimentation I suppose…
In my bookbinding adventures, I also like to try new techniques and recently learned about the Jacob’s Ladder. It’s that flip flop accordion style booklet that is fun to play with and you’ve probably seen it before. I was so surprised to learn it’s quite easy to construct, even if I still don’t understand how it really works 🙂 I tried to make a sample, but tried with string so that there is less coverage on the panels. I soon realized why people recommend ribbon – because it’s flat and can sandwich between the boards much easier. You can see mine gets a bit bent up and twisted at times…another lesson learned.
On to another little project I am working – painting up my tissue paper rolls for minibook making. It gets really messy with the inks and paints and I also have to let everything dry, but I’m looking forward to putting it all together.
Finally, you can see the 3 little canvases that keep morphing in the photo above. I keep painting over them and can’t decide what it is I will do. More mulling time needed – I guess you can call it the art marination process. So those are the photo peeks of all the little projects spread throughout my creative workspace. A little here, a little there. It keeps me busy and keeps the creativity fresh, jumping from one task to another – I think so anyway! It’s definitely more fun, although I suppose there is probably a scientific limit to how many ongoing threads of thought a person can have at one time. Hmm…well, hope you enjoyed checking out my photos!
by Linda | Jun 8, 2010 | my creative journal
Happy Tuesday to you! The sun is shining brightly and the weather is super hot here in the Tuscan hills. Although most people complain about being uncomfortable and sweating too much – I on the other hand completely love it! Is it bizarre that a Fall baby like me loves the super hot version of everything? Hot showers, hot peppers, hot sun…even the super hot air trapped in your car on a sunny day. Yup, I actually look forward to getting into a warmed-up car in the summertime. That warm wave of air just feels good. I guess we’ll see in a few months if my senseless glee holds up! Nevertheless, the colors of warmth and happy thoughts definitely influenced the color palette for my art journal page today.
It’s all about yellows, oranges and earthy tones. This was a little lady I sketched up and started coloring in with colored pencils. Then I decided to fill in with watercolors and outlining with ink. Nothing fancy here, just another lady in my simply bound leather sketchbook. Although I started to realize how I automatically draw full-frontal faces instead of any other view. Coming from more of a cartooning experience of drawing, I always find profiles and other views very challenging. Another exploration to add to my list of experiments…3/4th profile views…profile views. Lately my mind has been swirling with so many different ideas. Art journaling discussions in the Milliande and Art Journaling ning communities, sharing tutorials, designing printable graphics, patterns, making journals, flip books and zines… I could go on and on into a laundry list stream-of-consciousness brain dump. I’m sure many creatives have this same swirling in the mind and sometimes making lists and just writing out the possibilities helps a lot.
I sort of scribble and make random notes in my idea book. Sometimes I don’t even understand myself after the fact, but I suppose it’s about the process at that moment…of getting it out of me. The muse had to speak, right? At first I started writing my ideas for art journaling posts. Perhaps something for beginners to start but really as an exercise for myself to document my process. I know there are a million resources out there about art journaling techniques, but we all have an individual point of view. I thought about writing tutorials or maybe trying to do a video or two as well. Or maybe I should make an e-book to make it more official and incorporate my graphic design skills. But then I thought that was too professional in a sense and a handmade zine would be much cooler to send to friends. Ideas and more ideas…but the zine idea really stuck. I suppose it was destiny because I actually received a zine in the mail today as well. What zines do you read? I like how they are limited and coming from that one person. Cool and interesting tidbits…factoids…little bits to add to our own creative lives. It’s like how we buy cookbooks and like to see photos and follow along with the recipes. However, over time you write in your own notes and alter to fit your particular taste and style…how cool is that? I wonder if I could make a zine as cool as that…what do you think? Would you read a little zine if I make it? If you build it will they come? Any comments or suggestions would be great…thank you in advance and have fun art journaling. As always, thank you for dropping by, ciao ciao! 🙂
by Linda | Jun 7, 2010 | my creative journal
Happy Monday to all and hello to everyone again as I’m back from my little vacation! I had a great time and thank you all for your well wishes. My husband and I took a road trip to the East coast of Italy and it was great to see new places and difference things. The weather has suddenly turned into full-on summer heat here in Tuscany and I’m totally re-energized by my trip and the sunshine combined. As I get back into the swing of things…let me first share some travel inspiration photos with you.
Ahh…vacation! I think that taking a break, whether traveling afar or just changing your immediate scene by taking a walk – helps to open up your perspective and shake up your normal routine. We all need that sometimes, so remember to let yourself go free when needed. You should not neglect yourself or your delicate muse! Any kind of break-time will definitely pump you up and refresh your mind for creative thinking. That’s how I feel now! I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing a bit of my travel inspiration!
by Linda | May 28, 2010 | my creative journal
This week I’ve been thinking a lot about the process of creating and the reasons why I do what I do.
Whether I’m taking photo, altering them, doodling, painting, creating digital graphics or randomly making whatever I feel like at the moment… it’s something I enjoy doing and feel that I must do in the moment. Often I’m inspired to make something because I see someone else do it – a cool project or idea that just has to be tried. However, most of the time it’s about channeling ideas out of mind and feeling good through the process.
Making stuff makes me happy. Isn’t that enough reason to create and do something?
It just feels good to keep my hands busy and the process of creating art and crafting seems to take me into a relaxing zone. It’s not work mode, when I have a game-plan in mind on how to tackle the problem in the most efficient manner possible, etc etc. My creative time doesn’t come from a plan and even when I think I have a plan – it turns out completely different.
I semi-finished the little binder book I started yesterday and decided to use it as an address book. The pages are made of kraft paper folded into pockets, so it can hold business cards and tags. I suppose at some point it might get really bulging, but I actually like how it fans out anyhow.
After making that little book I immediately felt the urge to create more…I wasn’t done bookmaking perhaps. I automatically went to folding papers and cutting leather to make another classic journal. I just did it without much thought or planning… it felt so satisfying in the end.
I don’t really sell much stuff at all even though I’ve put it out there online, but I just keep doing it anyway. Why is that? Shouldn’t I be discouraged and give up already? It’s bizarre, but I have these internal debates with myself sometimes. I’ve realized that sales doesn’t equal satisfaction for me. It would be great to one day be a self-sufficient artist, but either way I’ll be creating. I just like it. It’s fun! I want to be happy and enjoy life, so I just have to do these things.
Perhaps it’s moving to Italy that has changed my perspective as well. Previously it was all about satisfying social norms and being that “perfect person” that I thought people wanted me to be. The successes that I thought were imperative ended up being pointless in the end. No satisfaction, no happiness, no feeling. I’ve changed so much and my priorities have completely shifted. I feel like life is so much simpler now.
Am I oversimplifying it? I feel like I’ve stepped back from the whole “scene of life” and now I can see the big picture more clearly. I’m sure there’s still much to learn, but I’m so happy and grateful for the life I have – gosh, I can never gush enough.
Sigh…all this to really say that I wish everyone would create because they just want to. Don’t let fear hold you back. You do it because you want to. Because you love the process, because it’s fun and feels good to express yourself. Because you have to just create. That’s all the reason you need, right? I hope you all have a happy weekend and lovely holiday in the USA…until next time my lovelies 🙂
by Linda | May 25, 2010 | my creative journal
Hi everyone! Another week of art journaling with me, thanks for stopping by as always. I thought I would continue with drawing my funky ladies in the black journal of watercolor paper. When I go to draw, there’s no plan or picture in my mind. I just start with round eyes and go from there, whatever my hand happens to do on it’s own really.
This time I ended up with an alien-looking lady and the writing says “swirls, it’s magic now” – musings that just come forth from within. It’s nice to just draw and not really care about how it all ends up. It’s the process and act that is wondrous and rewarding. I think that art journaling is really about that exactly – the free creative process. Sure it’s nice to be able to share a beautiful result, but first and foremost art journaling is about you and your expression. You can pour yourself out and whatever comes out or doesn’t come out – it’s all good for the soul in the end. It doesn’t matter if you want to draw or collage or splatter paint. Creative therapy for life I suppose? Hope you have a lovely week and if you like art journaling consider joining the ning communities Milliande and art journaling – I’m on there, so look me up. Ciao ciao!
