15 Minute Journal

Two years ago I started a personal challenge, a journal page in 15 minutes. I decided to record these sessions and post them on YouTube. I have been thinking about this book lately and am thinking about trying this challenge again. I liked that it was a set amount of time, so I couldn’t spend alot of time looking for the “perfect” thing. I had to just grab what was at hand. I believe that this challenge changed how I create. I now work must faster and I am less obsessed with finding that “just right” thing for a page.

Have you checked out this series on YouTube? Should I do it again?

Did you start a creative challenge this year?

Last month I talked about different creative challenges and why it’s good to take on a challenge. I also told you about my sketchy success rate. Well, it’s happened again.

This year I decided to do the 100 day project again since it was such a success for me last year. I decided to do 100 days of color palettes, using lots of colors I don’t normally use. My logical brain said this was a great exercise to help me expand my palette. Unfortunately, my creative brain did not agree.

I started out great. I selected a main color for each week of the challenge. I cut out 100 small cards to hold my palettes. I even finished the first week and then….. my creative brain took over. I wasn’t excited about my palettes, so I always found other things to do. I tried a few days to catch-up, but about day 30 I just gave up.

After feeling bad for a few days, I thought about why it had been unsuccessful. I realized that I had picked a project I “thought” I should do. My logical brain thought this was just what I needed, but it forgot to consult the rest of my brain. One of the reasons I was not excited about my project was that I had not planned what the palettes would look like. After a few days I realized I would like them more if I had made them like swatch cards, but I had already started another way. (Don’t ask me why I couldn’t just change in the middle of the project.) I also realize that I would probably enjoy it more creating larger palettes once a week, instead of daily. By the time I get all of my supplies out, it seems a waste to just create one little palette card.

Although I didn’t finish 100 days (heck, I didn’t finish 10 days), I learned a few things. Number one….make sure the logical brain holds a meeting before making any decisions. Number two…I enjoy making palettes, so I’ll dedicate more time to it once a week. Number three…if I choose to do the 100 day project again, think about what I would want to do every day. Keep it simple.

Inspiration

Re-think your stamp collection

I have been having alot of fun playing with Dina Wakley's Gloss Sprays. I have tried them on different surfaces and even on my gelli plate. One thing I love is that I can create a quick background in my journal without having to gesso. You can layer and color mix all you want and they dry to the perfect glossy finish.

I was inspired to create this page using the new Gloss Sprays and using stamp sets in new ways.

This page started with a background of blue sprays

(Turquoise, Ocean and Marine).

After allowing the first layer to dry I came back with the spray in Night, both sprayed directly on the corners and through a stencil.

While the background was drying, I created some pages for stamping. I wanted to use Dina's "Circle Patterns" stamp set to create some abstract flowers. I also wanted to use her "Funky Journal Shapes" stamp set to create some leaves. I used three sheets of Hammermill Premium Color Copy Cover paper. I sprayed two sheets with a mixture of Magenta, Fuchsia and Lemon. The third sheet was sprayed with a mixture of Lime, Olive and Turquoise.

When these sheets were dry, I stamped the "Circle Patterns" set in Magenta and Vermillion Ranger archival ink on the pink sheets. Then I stamped the leaf shape from the "Funky Journal Shapes" on the green sheet. I used Garden Patina and Sap Green Ranger archival ink for this sheet.

Then I cut out the leaves and flowers.

I also stamped the face from Dina's new "Fierce" stamp set on a sheet of blank Collage Paper using black Ranger archival ink. Once stamped I cut this image out, removing as much Collage Paper as possible.

I glued the face onto the left side of my background page using Dina Wakley Media Gel Medium. Once dry, I used Caran d'Ache Neocolor II pastels to draw in a face shape and neck.

Using Dina's Ultra Thick Gel Medium, I began gluing the flowers and leaves in layers around the head. Several flowers and leaves were trimmed to carry the design to the right side page. I also left some of the flowers hanging off the top of the page, instead of trimming them even with the page.

I am really happy with the outcome and I enjoyed using the "Circle Pattern" stamp set to create abstract flowers. This reminded me to look at my stamps and think of new ways to use them.

HAPPY ARTING!!

Creative struggles…

I wish I could say that I wake up with a brain full of ideas and endless energy to get them done. No surprise that this isn't so, ever. I struggle sometimes with the thought of "this should be easier", "if I was really good, it wouldn't be this hard", "how does an artist also be a mom. it's impossible". I have to work hard to make time for my art. Sometimes I have time, but don't feel creative. When that happens I sometimes force myself to work on something that's already on my desk. Sometimes I find myself sitting at my desk, staring out the window. Sometimes I don't even make it to my studio and end up doing dishes instead.

This isn't a new topic for my blog. I have been here before and I expect I will visit again. One thing I have started to think about is what my expectations are. If I expect to wake up inspired and have endless time to explore a creative idea, I will be severely disappointed. I need to have a reasonable expectation of my days. Not rocket science I know, but a different mindset for me.

How do you struggle with creativity?

How I organize my stencils

Hi, my name is Mary and I have a stencil addiction.

No, I don't want help with it.

I have been through at least 4 ways to store my stencils. I have scoured Pinterest looking for ideas that would work for me. I love to look at how some people keep there stencils in the original packaging and they are hanging pristinely in their studio. That is not what I was looking for. I am not neat. I don't clean my stencils. And the chances of them making back into a plastic sleeve are zero.

My first organizer was just a 12x12 scrapbook plastic storage box. That lasted for quite awhile. One day though I outgrew that box. My choices were to buy another box or find a new way. The box had been great, but I was tired of digging through looking for the stencil I wanted.

Organizer #2 was a set of large binder rings. I hole punched each stencil and hung it on a binder ring. I had 4 binder rings and I could hook them on the side of my art cart, so they were handy. The binder rings started getting loose after a year or so. I decided to buy just one big ring and I bought the Reset Girl's Again small washi tape ring (organizer #2.1). This worked for awhile, but first the ring was heavy since I didn't stop buying stencils. Also when I would take the stencils to my classes, it was time consuming to put all the stencils back on the rings.

So now we arrive at my new find. I had a desk organizer similar to this one from IKEA for a few years.

I had been using it to store my Project Life cards. I don't know what happened, but one day I walked by and I wondered if my 12x12 stencils would fit in the back pocket. They did! And my 6-8 inch ones fit in the next pocket. Another one fit 6x6's. It was a miracle!!! The only adjustment I had to made was cutting out one divider in the front section so the 6x6's fit perfectly.

Oh gesso, how I love you.

There are two camps when it comes to gesso. The always-gesso camp and the never-gesso camp. I am a lifetime member of the always-gesso camp. I have very few art journal pages that don't start with gesso.

( A quick course on gesso, if you don’t know what it is. Gesso is basically a primer. It usually has a chalky finish that gives your substrate some “tooth” to hold paint.)

So here is why I love gesso so much.

1. It saves you money on paint. If you gesso a page or canvas, it seals the surface so the paint you add sits on top. Without gesso, your paint will sink into the fibers of your paper or canvas.

2. It allows for corrections. If a page or canvas is gesso'd, you can erase wet paint with a baby wipe. Again without gesso, that paint has sunk into the fibers and may stain when you try to remove it.

3. It can add texture. I love adding texture to my art journal pages, but since I am working in a book I don't want thick texture. Even a fluid gesso can add texture. My favorite technique is to add gesso to two facing pages, smoosh ( yes, that is the technical term) them together and then separate and let dry.

4. It makes art journal pages stiffer and thicker. I prefer an art journal with thicker paper (like the Dylusions art journals), but I have some journals with thinner paper. Gesso adds a little support to these pages.

5. Seals the "crack" in your journals. The center of your journal is a prime area where media can leak onto other pages. I prefer to add a strip of masking tape to the "crack" and then gesso over it. This protects my pages from leakage.

6. Preps non-paintable surfaces. If you are trying to paint over vinyl, chipboard or wood, gesso will make these surfaces easier to paint. The main purpose of gesso is as a primer, so it it perfect for making the hard-to-paint easier.

7. Use with your paint. Gesso has a chalky finish, so when mixed with acrylic paint it changes the texture and finish. While you are painting you can use gesso to knock-back areas that are too loud, use it to add marks, or use as a layer. I use gesso just like I would use white paint.

This is my favorite all-around gesso

But some close contenders are:

• Dina Wakley Media white gesso

• GOLDEN heavy body gesso

• GOLDEN black gesso

• Dina Wakley Media clear gesso

You picked your ONE WORD, now what?

If you picked a word for your year, CONGRATULATIONS. I am a firm believer in picking a word to help guide your year. I know I spend alot of time thinking about which word to pick, what it means to all areas of my life, how I want that word to manifest. By the time I pick a word, you would think the hard work is over.

The hard work is keeping your One Word in your life. Much like New Years Resolutions, your word can go to the back of your mind within a few weeks. How can you keep your focus on it during the year? I have a few tips for you based on my experiences.

Keep your One Word in your life…

1. Keep your word in front of you….literally. Consider a bracelet with your word, post-its around your home, a wooden sign for your work area.

2. Set specific goals related to your word. If your word is “focus” think about what areas of your life you want to focus on and then set some goals.

3. Set a reminder for a weekly, monthly or quarterly review of your word and your progress.

4. Tell a friend about your word or join a One Word group. Sometimes having accountability is the right motivation to pay attention to your word.