WOW...Just Wow!

I have been totally blown away by all of the wonderful, warm comments you guys have left me on my last entry here. Even after I wrote it, those pangs of not being good enough and not having anything to say or share. I’m working hard to quiet that horrible, mean internal voice but it’s a struggle. and may always be one. 

But I will keep trying.

So, here I am again...

I think I’ve talked about lettering enough for now. I thought I’d share some of my favorite mark making tools. You know, pens, markers, crayons, shaders, etc. I’ve tried about every marker and pen on the market so my list of favorites come from a slew of purchases and trial & error.

Markers-these are such an important part of my art journaling. I use them for lettering, doodling, outlining. and generally embellishing my journal pages. My favorites are:

1. Sharpie extra fine pen/markers. 2, 3, 4 are all Sharpie waterbased paint pens with different tip sizes and colors. 5 & 6 are both Elmer’s Painters, they’ve just changed the look. 7 is an opaque marker pen made and sold by Michael's. What I love about each of these is how well they write or mark on every substrate and they’re not easily disturbed by water, glue or gel medium.

Pens-Oh my, what a love affair I have with pens! I’m always open to trying out new pens. The one thing that a pen MUST do is write on any surface and not skip. That is a deal breaker. So, here’s my favorites:

1 & 2 are both Pentel Sunburst gel pens. 3 & 4 are my old standby Correction Pens...they will write on things when NOTHING else will. 5 is a Uniball Signo UM-153 and they come in all the basic colors. 6, 7 & 9 (yeah, I forgot #8. I had a little ditzy moment. LOL) Anyway, 6,7 & 9 are all gel pens by Sukura of Japan; Soufflé, Gelly Roll, and Tiaras These pens are the love of my pen adoring soul. If you don’t have any of these, get some. Oh my, will you love them!

Other Stuff- When it comes to adding color, we all think of the standards: acrylic paints, watercolors, inks, craft paints, etc. As for me, I love all those...but I also love:

Caran d’Ache water soluble crayons, Portfolio oil pastels, and Pan Pastels. These are such wonderful products and it is amazing, the color they impart. There are many other ways to add color, these are just my favorites and what I’m focusing on right now.

Do you have favorite pens or markers or other mark making “stuff” that I don't have listed here? If so, share it with us...I’m always up for learning about a new (to me) mark making tool.

I have favorites of everything, tools, techniques, paints, color combinations, ephemera, brushes, BOOKS, omg at the number of art journaling books I own. I guess what I’m getting at is that if you have questions, things you just can’t figure out, ask me. If I don’t know the answer, I will find the answers for you.

Hope your week is going great. Mine is getting better, thankfully. :)

Peace & Love,
Barb

Back in the Saddle

Have you ever just felt like giving up in everything? Felt like nothing you do is good enough...that, in fact, you have failed at every single thing you’ve ever attempted?

I have.

That’s why I threw my hands up a few months ago and pretty much gave up on everything in my life. Especially my art. I have loved my art journals and art journaling in general so deeply for so long and even it hasn’t been able to raise me from the depths of my pool of self pity, from my fear, from the search for my muse.

I’ve had nothing. There was nothing inside of me so certainly I’ve had nothing to give.

Today, this very day, I felt this little stir inside me. Something was pushing me to break out my art journal (the one covered in dust that I was afraid would never be opened again) and I just tried to let whatever was in me to just flow. I watched episode after episode of Saving Grace on Netflix to keep me from thinking too much. And it happened.

After months, it finally happened.

This happened...

It’s by no means the best work I’ve ever done but after such a painful drought, my gawd this felt so good.

So, why am I back here? Because I know I’ve let each of you down. I feel like such a piece of dog poo about it, too. I have just had absolutely nothing, nothing whatsoever to give.

I’m sorry.

And I want to let you know, I will be opening up and sharing things on a much deeper level. I believe this may help me to not shut down the way I have done in the past. I know that I have got to be gentle with myself...and each of you need to remember to be gentle with yourselves, too.

WHEW....

Now, let’s get back to where we were before I so abruptly exited, stage left...

Lettering. I love lettering and exploring different forms of lettering. I came across this on Pinterest today and fell in love with it. I also knew I needed to share it with y’all, too.
First, I don’t have any idea who’s work this is (you know how Pinterest can be), but I would love to give credit to the right person, so if you know, please tell me.

Now, look at the wonderful lettering here. There are so many great examples to take inspiration from...3-D letters, script, printing, big letters, small ones...just a feast for the eyes.

I will be trying a few of these out tonight. Hope you will, too.

Until next time...

Peace & Love,
Barb

More Lettering Help

Here’s a great video from Julie Fei-Fan Balzer where she shares some great lettering ideas. I just know you’ll find her ideas useful and a big help in making your art journaling even more original and fun.

See you soon.

Much Peace & Love,
Barb

More lettering ideas!

I have to admit that I have overloaded myself, once again. It’s never intentional and always with the best of intentions...I just seem to forget that in addition to my blog/workshop here, I do have a life. Not much of one but I do have things I have to do sometimes.

I refuse to let this get the best of me but I do have to be honest...with myself and with all of you. Posting Monday through Friday is a little too ambitious for me, at least it is at this point in my life. Too much responsibility for my Mom and our home, too many doctors appointments (for my Mom and for myself) and on and on.

So, here’s the deal...I will post here no less than 2-3 times per week. No specific days but I will do it regularly, each and every week. I’m not burning out, I’m just a bit overwhelmed and if I start beating myself up for not living up to the expectations I set up for myself then I am afraid I will throw up my hands and give up. I am not and will not do that to myself or to any of you.

Whew, now that we’ve cleared that up, I feel better!

Now, I’m going to ask a favor of each of you...

It would be a HUGE help if each of you would post a little something about Art Journaling II on your own blog, a little note about what is being offered here on your Facebook page, and pin the heck out of the lessons here on your own Pinterest.

The more people that come and learn with us, the better this space will be...for all of us. Your help would mean the world to me. There are more ways than cash to help me out and these are a few of them. Also, a huge thanks so much to Cathie for being such a great cheerleader and inspiration to me, too...you rock, Cathie!!

Now, I’m working on a lettering video but it’s taking me longer than I thought it would. I’m not extremely video savvy so bear with me.

In the meantime, I’ve come across some great lettering ideas, tips and tricks from around the net and I wanted to share them with you. Check these great links from some awesome art journalists (if you know of others, please leave a comment and share...I’ll add them here, too):

• Great lettering idea from Elvie Studio (Lori Vliegen) HERE
• An idea for enhancing your own cursive by Miss Ellie Lou on Flickr
• See how color can change your lettering with Joanne Sharp HERE
• Another lettering example...color makes the difference by Pinay New Yorker on Flickr
• Lots of great lettering with ihearthandmade on Flickr

Now, have a wonderful weekend. See you in a few days!

Much Peace & Love,
Barb

Lettering

First off, I am so sorry for my absence the first part of the week...we live on the Gulf Coast (Pensacola, Florida) and have been dealing with getting prepared for Hurricane Isaac for days. I’m pretty much back now and will try and be around more in the coming days/weeks.

Once again, I want to say thanks for thinking of me and appreciating what I’m trying to do here. Thanks for your notes of encouragement and concern, too. Your donations and kind words remind me why I wanted to do this little venture in the first place. Welcome to you newbies out there and thanks for finding our little space here.

Now, let’s talk lettering...

I am no different than anyone...I hate my own handwriting. Pretty much detest it about 93.9465% of the time. But there are people out there that send me notes asking how I got my writing to look so good in my art journals. HA! The truth is that most of us don’t like our own handwriting but, like your fingerprints, your handwriting is truly unique to you. If for that reason and no other, use your own handwriting in your art journals.

There are ways to make your own handwriting better or give yourself different ways to letter in your journals, such as...

• Write very slow and deliberate, watching letter size and slant.
• Remember the handwriting example above the blackboard when you were in primary school? (You can print a copy of the primary print alphabet HERE and the primary cursive alphabet HERE for reference.) Use those as examples for your journal writing.
• Find a font that you like and wish you could duplicate it without having to use your printer? Print out the font chart and use it for reference as you write in your art journal.
• Use cut out letters from magazines to “ransom style” letter in your art journals.
• Change the kinds of writing instruments you use...they can change your lettering up tremendously! Try out some calligraphy markers...they make your writing fat and chunky or try out some calligraphy lettering. Fat markers, skinny markers, dip pen and India ink, skewer dipped in paint, gel pens, stamps & ink pads, or even try out a mixture of different instruments all in one art journal entry.
• Be aware of all the different lettering you come across. Be inspired by the journal pages of others that you come across.
• Use rub-ons, stickers, stencils, and stamps to expand your lettering options.
• Add curly-ques to your letters, like in the Curlz font:

• Add dots to your letters, like here:

I guess the best way to change up your lettering would be:

• Experiment, experiment, experiment!!!

I am going to work on a lettering video (now that I’ve found my little video camera and small tripod since the move) and get that ready for you guys tomorrow...it’s just easier to show rather than describe or explain some lettering ideas.

I do hope I’ve given you some ideas here. Just remember you can add to and take away from your letters to change them up. Make them fatter (partially or completely), make them super skinny, use whatever you have at hand to write with...Just play and you might be surprised with what you come up with in your art journals.

Back with more lettering ideas tomorrow...see you all then.

Peace & Love,
Barb

Let’s Journal

I really wanted to have this great post ready for you on Thursday with all kinds of ideas on what to journal about in your art journal...but the unpacking of our new house has gone much slower than I wanted it to go. I have all these awesome ideas in my head but by the time I would fall into bed at night, those ideas would be hidden behind a wall of exhaustion.

What I thought I’d do is to just to plant some ideas in your head on what you can journal about...topics or prompts that can help remove that feeling of blankness that so many of us get when it’s time to do the journaling part of our art journals.

This might even be a good thing to print out and keep in the back of your art journal (with your own ideas jotted on the page, too) so if a blank moment hits you, just pull out your little prompt/idea sheet and get some ideas from there to help you out.

• Write about a good memory...or a bad one. (Remember, art journaling isn’t just about the happy, happy, joy, joy moments in life.)
• Save a favorite quote.
• Write some poetry...or save a poem that is special to you.
• Journal about things or people that you love.
• Make a list...places you’ve been, your bucket list, foods you want to try, the best days of your life, crafts you want to try, pet peeves, books you love, anything! Just list it.
• I remember when...
• Journal a complete song or just some lyrics that mean something to you.
• What makes you happy? Angry? Sad? Melancholy?
• The best advice you’ve ever received?
• Write a letter to your 16 year old self...or your 80 year old self.
• What things are you appreciating today?
• What is your biggest secret? Who have you shared your secret with?
• Who do you trust the most in the world?
• Talk about the last time someone let you down.
• What is the happiest you’ve ever been? The saddest?
• Journal about your surroundings...the room your in, your yard, the park or coffee shop you like to journal in.
• What would you most like to change about yourself? About your significant other? Child(ren)?
• What is your biggest regret? Your biggest fear?
• Who are you envious of and why?
• List some of your favorites (colors, songs, books, flowers, cities, vacations, sports, etc...)

These are just a few of the things that come to my mind when I think about what to journal about in my art journals. But most of the time, I tend to write about those things that are most prevalent in my mind as I am working on the art part of my page/spread.

(This is one of my earlier art journal pages...and it’s one of my favorites, too.)

Just remember, you don’t have to say a lot for it to be deep and meaningful. Like my favorite high school English teacher told me when describing how long a paragraph should be...like a woman’s skirt, long enough to cover the subject and short enough to keep things interesting. lol

Your journals are not a place that you have to make everything pristine and all about what you want others to see. You don’t ever have to share a single page of yours if you don’t want to share them. Of all my art journals, I have probably only shared about 20% of the pages I’ve done. Some things are private and only you can decide what you want to share with others. Don’t create your pages with the idea of what others will think of them...create them according to what YOU think of them, then share as you see fit.

I know that I had said we would be hitting lettering next and I hope I haven’t let you down.  I just felt it was really important to discuss what kind of things there are to journal about before we get to the many, many different ways there are to get your words down on the page. At first, just get the words down in whatever way that feels right at the time. Pen, marker, pencil, stickers, rub-ons...big letters, small ones, printed or cursive...just go with how you’re feeling.

And on Monday we WILL be going into the many ways there are to beautifully letter those wonderful journal pages you are creating.

Thanks to everyone for being so patient with me while I tried to get this move behind us. Taking care of my mother is much more work than I realized it would be, too. We spent 8:15am until 2:20pm at the VA Outpatient Clinic today so see what I mean?

Anyway, I am so very thankful I have this little home here to share with everyone the love I have for art journaling...it is my respite (the art journaling and the sharing with you all.)

So get out there and have a great weekend, everyone...oh, and get lots of journaling in if and/or when you have the time.

Much Peace & Love,
Barb

Overwhelmed

I admit it, I am very easily overwhelmed these days. Since I became sick, it seems that the littlest things can totally knock me for a loop...throw in some big happening and I become a complete basket-case. And most of the time when this happens, I just break down into tears..

That’s what taking on the care of my mother and this move has done to me...it has overwhelmed me totally and completely.

Please know that I am still 100% committed to you, my faithful readers, and to this unique and wonderful place of learning we are creating here. I just see that I’m going to need a little more time to get my sh*t together after our move than I originally thought I would need.

Not only has all of the packing and unpacking been left to me (my husband works 80 hours a week and my mother that just came to live with us is disabled) but I’ve had to deal with an unbelievable amount of other crud (my mother’s VA benefits transfer, my own disability “stuff”, getting our stuff moved, taking her to doctors appointments in the midst of it all, etc. etc.)

I am absolutely craving time alone with my journal and my paints and pens and some music with no one to bother me, no phone to answer, and no appointments to go to...but that may take a few more days. Can you tell why by looking at this picture I snapped of my studio space? And there are tons more supplies, etc. that spilled out into the foyer, too.

I just wanted to let you all know that I have not disappeared or given up on our Art Journaling adventure here, I’ve just got to get myself in a much better place (like a studio space that is unpacked, to say the least!) in order to be able to share effectively with you.

Now, mind you, I am a workhorse when it comes to unpacking...the entire rest of the house (minus family photos and art on the walls) has been unpacked and it’s all in it’s new place. It’s just my studio that I have to focus on now. I need to rest a little but I plan on hitting it hard in the morning and hope to have it in some semblance of order by Wednesday afternoon...cross your fingers...so that I can relax a bit and write a nice long post (with pics) for you guys to wake up to on Thursday morning.

I appreciate your patience and send a HUGE thank you to the three wonderful chicas that took the time to send me sweet notes of, cheer, kindness and appreciation. You ladies give me great reason for wanting to keep on keepin’ on sharing the art journaling love.

Wish me luck and great speed in this unpacking effort...and I’ll do my best to be back with you all on Thursday morning. I’ll even share a pic of my unpacked studio space with you then. :)

Peace & Much Love,
Barb