Tag Archives: art journal

#PocketFullOfArt: A daily art challenge with a twist

Challenges seem to have become a thing around here – after the Mindful Break and Kindle Thy Spark, this is my most ambitious yet – a daily art challenge! But first:

Why a daily art challenge?

Because my one small regret from last year is that I did not make enough time for art, especially in the second half of the year. Moving to a self-hosted blog and all the tiny little tweaks I had to make to it ate up a lot of my time and attention. Setting up an online Tarot reading business took up another chunk of energy. And then there was all the time I spent dreaming about blogging and fun new ideas – like the two Instagram challenges mentioned above. No wonder that my art table felt a bit neglected!  Continue reading→

On my art table: Fierce warrior

Art journal spread - fierce warrior

This is among my favorite paintings! It’s my first – and come to think of it, only – experiment with doing just half a face. And there’s something about it that I simply love. The strength of her gaze, that shock of orange hair set against a black background, the subtle shading of her face.

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On my art table: Open to interpretation

figurative-landscape-waiting

 

Waiting. Yearning. Dreaming. Hoping.

A figure in space.

A figurative landscape.

Yellows, blues, a tinge of brown.

Hope, calm, despair and sorrow.

Looking ahead.

Turning back.

Dreams broken.

Hope springs anew.

That’s what it does – abstraction.

One image – multiple viewpoints.

If you want to learn how to art journal, sign up for my monthly newsletter, Gypsy Wanderings, and get a free copy of my ebook Art Journaling 101. Click for details.

On my art table: Wisdom

art-journal-layout-wisdom-baloon

“Turn your wounds into wisdom” – Oprah Winfrey

Wisdom, they say, comes from living. All of our experiences, good and bad, teach us various lessons. By mining the lessons from our experiences, we claim them, own them, and make them a part of us. This treasure trove of life lessons can sustain us through the darkest times.

I created this spread with ample room to add in the most important life lessons I’ve learnt so far in my life (not all of them are pictured here). And at the end of the year, I plan to add in all the lessons that 2016 teaches me.

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On my art table {plus a how to}: Create

Art_journal_Create

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll know that my word for the year is Create.

This is the very first art journal spread I created this year, to remind me of my word whenever I open my journal.

And since the word is create, it’s only fair that I tell you how you can create a similar piece, isn’t it?

It’s quite straightforward, and a lot of fun!

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On my art table: Figurative landscape

Figurative_landscape_contemplate

I’m guessing by now you’ve realized that I love painting girls. While most of my girls are whimsical, I’ve been wanting to experiment a bit more with form and abstraction. This is one of my first few attempts.

I’ve deliberately left some of her features undefined, but she’s not yet as abstract as I would like.

It feels like a risk to make her disappear some more…

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On my art table: Evolve

Art_journal_spread_evolve

I drew her in my moon journal this year. A reminder to evolve – to be brave enough to emerge from the cocoon, to break down the walls I’ve built up to protect myself, but which only keep me entrapped and prevent me from growing.

It can be a slow process, this metamorphosis from a protective cocoon to a butterfly. But it’s such a beautiful process. Creation and destruction, much like the cycle of life itself, don’t you think?

Do you need a reminder to evolve? You can buy art and canvas prints, notebooks, coasters, and more featuring this piece in my Cupick store. I’ll be adding more art work on there regularly, so do follow me there for updates!

If you want to learn how to art journal, sign up for my monthly newsletter, Gypsy Wanderings, and get a free copy of my ebook Art Journal 101. Click for details.

{P} Paint over collage

Paint over collage is a very interesting technique – especially if you’re afraid to draw or are unsure about shading a face, for instance, and it yields some amazing results. The technique does take some practice, but once you get the hang of it, it’s really a lot of fun!

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{N} The art of non-attachment: an introduction to intuitive painting

For me when painting, I’m most successful when I let all organized thought go; my eyes blur, and my pen goes. Whatever odd words pass through my mind I place on the page, where the edge of a paint stain looks like an eye or and arm or a mouth I let it become that, regardless of the logical nature of the form.” – Leslie A. Brown (Painter)

So, just what is intuitive painting?

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