Art Junk Girl~

today is where your book begins...

Dear Friends:
I've always been a believer in everyday is a new day. A fresh beginning. It doesn't matter what happened yesterday. Today is the first day of the rest of your life! Last night as I was driving home, I heard this song on the radio and I found it to be a metaphor for my journal writing. It's a song by Natasha Bedingfield entitled, "Unwritten". I love all the words, but particularly the parts about "today is where your book begins" and "the rest is still unwritten". It's never too late for a new beginning. It's never too late to start. Today is the day!
The wonderful lyrics are in the text below. I wanted to share some pics of how I work in my moleskine. It's always a work in progress, just like me. Some days I write in it. Somedays I just paint. Some days I paint over what I write and somedays I write over what I paint. It's all good. It's all fun.

"Unwritten"
I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

[Chrous:]
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, oh, oh

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

[Chrous:]
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

[Chrous:]
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten

a long weekend post...

Dear Friends~
Hope you are having a nice holiday weekend! I'm hoping to get some much needed R & R! Things have been kind of crazy with fric and frac back at home from "collegio". I've managed to work on my art journal in fits and starts over the last week. I think they reflect how I feel lately. A bit overwhelmed. The pages are so much more crowded. When I start out a page, I don't really start with an idea of what I'm going to "say". I start grabbing papers and pasting them around and then an image or word will take me in a certain direction. Do I like the way the way all my pages turn out? Heck no. But that's not why I journal. I journal as a way of releasing stress, working things out, and using images to speak that which I cannot always put into words. It's actually a very cathartic experience for me. Sure I have my, "I just want to make a pretty page" days, but that again is satisfying a need...a need to escape into a pretty little world for a while. That's what I love about art journalling and art in general. You just never know. The possibilities are endless.

Anyhow, I just started my 5th moleskine journal and this is one of the first pages. I'm having a hard time "breaking" this one in. I've been collaging in it mostly, but I think it's time to paint some pages to "kick it up a notch".
I've also been "simultaneously" working in my "gluebook"/drawing pad journal. Here's a page from that one.
(made mostly from magazine clippings and copies of my inchies)..
Speaking of painting.....there is nothing I'd want to do more right now, but the studio clean up has kind of put that on the back burner. Not for long, though. I am longing to make big paint messes everywhere and I intend to this summer! Would you like a sneak peak into my new studio space in unfinished part of our laundry room (which I prefer to think of as warehouse space I'm renting in new york...lol..). Here's the "frou-frou" side...there is another side I'm working on too. I have a painting area, an altered book project shelf, a sewing area, etc.
BTW, the center piece of art on the shelf is a print I bought from a fave artist, Ali J Art and Illustration. Ok, so, as you can see, this is the longest post ever, so why not make it longer? I appreciate everyone's feedback yesterday. I'm really trying to organize myself and this blog and your opinions and suggestions really mean alot to me. Thank you also for the kind words! I know that a blog should be anything you want it to be, but there are READERs and they are important too. If I have something to offer, I would like to do that as it will make the whole experience more meaningful to me.
Anyhow, I also wanted to share a pic of these cool books I picked up at the local used bookshop. They are having their 50% sale again! I saw the sign when I was out runningaround doing errands with the "son" (a.k.a. ferris). Some real goodies here and I got them for as much as you would pay for one of the new somerset studio magazines..lol...

So, hmmm....I think that's all the happenin's at the art junk camp (for now). I will be announcing a give-away on Tues. (after the long weekend), so stay tuned. If you responded to my last post survery, you are already entered! Thank you for your feedback and support. xoxoox lia

first page, moleskine no. 5, learn to fly.

first page, moleskine no. 5, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

I got started on my 5th moleskine last night...the hardest part is just peeling the plastic off...I am going to start taking that off right after I buy it. I notice that it will just sit there for a few days so I can look at it's newness. lol. Anyhow, have you all visited my JournalJunk blog lately? The JournalJunk group is now a year old! We have over 500 members, many of which post new journal pages daily. My absolute FAVE email is when people write me and tell me they started "their new journal". There are many resources listed in the flickr group and blog. Go see and get started on that journal. Rip that plastic coating off before you get home, ok? xoxox lia

her sweet escape~ new moleskine entry

her sweet escape~ new moleskine entry, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

...I'll be back soon my friends.

xo lia

Art Journal Pages for "the Isabel Project"

Here are the pages I did for MaryAnn's niece who is compiling a journal from around the world for a class project. This was fun. I love contributing to travelling journals and doing projects like this, especially for the 'youngin's"!

p.s. my blog may be changing colors this week. You are not lost...please stay and visit for a while! hee. I'm trying to find something new as the banner has alot of older art on it and I want something to reflect my current projects! xoxo Lia

p.p.s. MaryAnn blogged about her visit here. She shares more "funnies" from her trip to DC. I was laughing all over again!! xo

I'm back!

Dear Friends~
The good news is I'm back from vacation...the bad news is, I'm back from vacation and serving time in laundry and domestic catch-up pergatory..... Like, where is Alice when you need her? She wasn't here to welcome me back with fresh changed sheets, a refrig. full of food and a tray of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. Instead, I had to spend the first day back investigating where the smell was coming from in the fridge as well as serving jail time is the dungeon doing more laundry that should be legally permissible in a day. Not to mention running to the grocery store for mother dear as well as the family who never has "anything" to eat in a house full of food. So..I digress. I am taking a break right now to relax and catch up with the blog, etc. The laundry machine sounds like it's walking away right now and playing 'la bamba' or something..the children are in school, I'm still drinking my morning coffee...which has gone cold after having to break to find my daughter's one fave sweatshirt that she "had to have" because, Lord knows she doesn't have any other clothes. It's like this.....they have more clothes that should be legally permissible, BUT, when it's time to go to a visit to, let's say, a particularly picky relative who will inspect them ever so google-eyed to sum up my performance as a mother..they will inevidably (I kid you not)...go grab something they've outgrown from the "give-away" basket in the laundry room...then decide to wear their hair like a punk rocker and run out this way as I am in the car waiting. The rest of the time they dress in their new clothes with their hair blow-dried, straightened, while they are at home on saturday doing their said "chores" and yard work. You never know who might be driving by... So, I don't know how I got off on this tangent, but anyhoo, I wanted to share my journal pages I did each day in my moleskine. I collaged with the travel brochures available there and did some doodling and such. I can't wait to get back in my groove at home so I can resume my painting "class" and other adventures. I am also SO excited about having one of my first blog "sistas" come to visit me this weekend!! None other than the talented and gracious (not to mention hilarious) friend MaryAnn of "follow your bliss" fame! We are going to try not to get in too much trouble...but I can't promise anything. LOL. I'm also hoping to have a few ladies over to catch up and create with on Saturday. I HOPE they can make it!!!!!! More on that soon. Hope you all are having a great week. xoxo Lia

Well, Hello, Hello! Seems like forever....

Dear Friends~
It seems like forever since I last updated my blog...but I think it's been less than a week. I've felt a bit out of touch as I've been busy with things "offline"....lol...and then doing the radio show installments kind of took me away from my usual blog routine. Well, I'm back to blogland and wanted to share a few of my recent journal spreads. I've been in the mood for doing some "color theme" pages from magazine and catalog clippings...Here is "Blue".

This page is in my 4th moleskine. I just love these journals; their quality, versitality and compact size. I know I've said it before and mentioned it on my blog radio show...but it's worth repeating. Y'all should know by now that I tend to get a 'bit' obsessed with things I like.
Here's a close-up of a journal spread I did a few nights ago...

Next week I am going on "break" with the fam. It should be fun. My goal is to journal my trip as I go along. I usually wait until I get home. Mr. Moleskine is coming along for the ride... I will also get a chance to employ the watercolor crayons I never seem to touch. All I need is a brush and water and voila...colorful pages will ensue. I'll post my pages when I get back. Talk to you soon my friends.
xo Lia

a journal page...second time around~

Iittle journal page, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

This journal page was reworked with some paint over a previous sketch I didn't like and some paper bits glued down. Another journal junk bites the dust. It's the last page in a drawing pad journal I have. Right now, I'm really into working in my moleskine journal. You can read more about that on www.journaljunk.com.
Have a good week everyone. I'm getting LOST tonight...is it me, or is Jack even better lookin' than last season? What's that? you are a Sawyer girl...huh? I'm lovin' Jack. Hope big Bruno isn't reading this...
xoxo Lia

don't try this at home (or at least not in your living room)...

I worked on my AJ this weekend and boy, was it fun and relaxing (and messy), but that's ok! I need to get crackin' on my studio move because Bruno gave me "the look" when I was sprayinging colorwash on my journal whilst standing next to the fireplace. I felt like a little kid, gettin' in trouble when I sprayed this stuff....I sprayed, looked around, sprayed again...he he...too much fun. I think I may have an evil art twin like Nance and she is comin' out and wantin' to wreak art havoc all over the house. Pastels and Paints and Gesso are flying around everywhere...No.One.IS.Safe anymore......Mom's done gone mad! mooohhhaaahaaaa....(LOL).
p.s. How do I get oil pastels off my finger tips?..ummmm...yeah....:)

Fly away.

Art Journal entry inspired by links on yesterdays post. I tried lot of new things. I used the magazine gesso technique I learned from Bernie Berlin's ATC book. Image is from this month's Vogue. I haven't gotten out this many art supplies since art and soul...it was really fun to experiment. I think that's one of the things I love about an art journal...you can really beat up a page and lay stuff down and if you don't like it, just flip the page and move on or paint over it! I think I'll keep this one....besides...I don't think I can paint over oil pastels.....

Dear Friends....

To my loyal blog readers, we are a small, but happy family.... It has come to my attention that some of you have STILL not started your art journal! You need to just get started. You've been wanting to, but you keep putting it off.
I think today is a great day to do it! My sweet blog sista Jude sent me the link to this week's Inspire Me Thursday challenge as it has a "square theme", but it led me to many other wonderful things (one of which are these really fun and helpful art journal tutorials) by Suzi Blu.

You must go and see! It makes me want to record one myself. Hmmm....if I do get a wild hair, I just may do it! If I were to present a YouTube video on my blog, what would you most like to see me do (artistically speaking.....I'm not into anything weird ok? lol), and I can't stand on my head, and I can't do any magic tricks, but I can make one-inch collages and I like to Art journal...so let me know which process you'd like me to share.
In the meantime, go watch this inspirational video and get started on your AJ!!!! If you do one after reading this post or seeing this tutorial in the next week, leave a link to the page in the comments. For more art journalling inspiration, click on my art journal category below).

Can't wait to see your colors and words. Look all around at the beautiful fall colors. Relax and have fun. xo Lia

p.s. I just watched the second tutorial after writing this. It's so perfect!! I am going to get out my oil pastels today! I can't wait to get started!!! *skip*twirl*skip* (to be continued!)..

more journal junk..

visual journal, originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

journal junk # 4~New Beginnings

Dear Friends~
Here is the decorated cover of my next "journal junk". These are journals I started using small drawing paper spirals. I usually collage things that inspire me in these as well as add some words and tidbits inside. I like these because they are durable enough to paint into when I want to and they are super cheap at Michaels. (especially if you have your coupon, which I know y'all do now!)
Today is the first day of school for my youngest and tomorrow I'm off to get my oldest settled for her second year at college.
This journal will coincide with this new beginning. I have lots of things to share with y'all, like my junk finds during the trip, my new paper obsession (no, I told you it isn't circles!) and much more, but I got to get the kids settled and then we can sit and have some coffee over the blog and chat, ok?
hugs, xo Lia

p.s. Here are some of my older "journal junk" journals...

A Big Update!

Dear Friends~
Nothing overly exciting to report, but I do want to share what I've been working on in my art journal as well as how far along I am with my squares. It's really great to be back and I am slowly but surely catching up! I've really enjoyed working in my large art journal lately. I've gotten into the habit of flipping back and forth, adding things, words, etc. I was first inspired to start this larger art journal after taking Juliana Coles class at Art and Soul. Her Journals are amazing. She has one particular one in which she's worked on over and over, sometimes painting over a page and working on it again and again. I realize this is not for everyone, and people like to go in chronological order, but I look at my art journal as a body of work rather than a diary. I'm going at a pretty slow pace this way, but I can imagine that when it's complete, my children will most certainly look at it and see part of who and what I am.... I really pour my heart into each page.... I hope they will like it and have it one day. As I've said before, I'm not a great scrapbook mom...I don't have books of their lives to hand over to them...but I believe that in bits and pieces, they are on each page of my art journal....Here are some of the pages I've been working on..

You can see more of my visual journal pages in my flickr album.

And now for the "Inchie" update....I've pulled together my loose squares (left from my last mosaic) and took a pic... I was due for some "square-ganization" as my inchie box was becoming quite messy. I cleaned that all out, put together a few new postcards (which I'll print up in the future). I am at over 650 squares at this juncture.

I also wanted to share my favorite inchies with you all....these make me happy when I look at them. I may gather these into one mosaic soon and frame it. Right now I'm just having loads of fun! Here they are~

So, I think I've caught up on my blog here. Thanks for all your comments and visiting me. I do appreciate it and I surely did miss you all while I was gone! xoxoxo Lia

travelling in my art journal

well, friends, I've been busy workin' in my art journal (the big one) and it takes quite alot of steps for me to get a page done, but I like that. I painted a bunch of spreads last night as well as went back and painted over some of the earlier stuff. I was so inspired by getting Teesha Moore's Play Zine #4, that I am stretching out in all different directions with this journal. I went ahead and ordered the other 3 (I hadn't seen the first time that they have a deal for all 4), so, when that comes in, I will send off my extra copy #4 to a random commenter that would like it! I'm really studying all the elements I like in the magazine, and find that I get frustrated because I want to leap so much further than my knowledge and experience that I have available in this area. I really want to learn to do more lettering (different sizes) as well as drawing heads and arms and such. I used to draw when I was a kid..alot..but have no formal training. That's good in a way and bad in a way. Anyhow, I've had loads of questions on my journal size (this particular one..I have lots of them going. lol). It's a large black sketchbook that you can get at any craft store. They have them at Blicks Art as well. Let me know if you have questions and I am glad to help. I am not the fastest on email, but I do get around to answering. I answer quickest on my flickr photos though. ok, off I go to, erm, clean and do some things I should be doing right now. lol. talk soon friends, L.

"New Beginnings"..

I got out some pretties from my "special stash" (aka things Lilia-fleamarketstudio, has sent me)...I think it's time to do something pretty in my journals! I have been especially inspired by Artist Anahata Katkin as of late...among many other talented artists! I really want to work on layering and using much more mixed-media in my journals. I usually just add a few things, but I really want to let go and have more fun! I don't want to be afraid of trying "something new". :) LK

visual journal junk

work in progress... be back soon...:)

Visual Journal Prepping~

I've been on the run again at home with house guests, family stuff and some emo moments interjected by kids here and there for good measure. I got in some "art time" late last night and painted the following backgrounds for future journalling pages.
I will continue my art retreat "segments" on Monday! In the meantime, here's what I have on the docket. Have you started your art journal yet? hint, hint.

Journalling on the run...

Dear Friends,
LIfe has been goin' real fast for me lately. I think that either time is moving faster these days or I'm getting alot slower. I don't want either of those things to happen! I grapple with the thought that perhaps it's just that I'm not organized enough and I need to drive myself to a franklin-covey planner store and buy an organizer for my organizer. I'm sure this has something to do with the fact that I have my second child graduating HS only one year since the last one! When your children are babies, you are always thinking/looking ahead to that "one day" that they will graduate (and it seems like a looong time ahead), but then, low and behold, you re-live the old "milk" commercials and wake up to hearing a extra man's voice in the house that you confuse with your husbands. Ok, so anyway, where did the time go? I thought I was just tucking him in for his nap yesterday. Sigh. sigh again (insert olympia dukakis look here). So I digress....I just decided on the side of time getting faster and lately, I just can't keep up. xo Lia

more journal junk!

Dear Friends:
Things continue to be busy over here in artjunkland. I'm still squeezing in some art every day (or should I say, late at nite..my favorite time to art). I have lots of little works in progess. I kind of go back and forth and add a little here and there. This is what I love MOST about doing an art journal....flipping back through and adding things to a page, or even sometimes taking something off of it. I went back in last nite and plopped this little image of this square page I did. I had also painted some pages earlier in the week and decided to work on this one...
Then on this one with leftover scraps... You can see the complete spread by going over to the journaljunk group on flickr! Kira has posted an awesome challenge in the group this week to get you kick-started! Please feel free to join in!
I am really lovin' this art journalling. It's so relaxing and fun. Hope you all are having fun in your journals. Have a great week all. xo Lia

p.s. and yes, I did work on my squares a bit too! You can see my progress here.

Top 7 Reasons Why YOU haven't started your art journal yet

1. Reason: I don't have a journal and I can't afford one of those, whatyacallem, "moles and skins"...

Answer: You don't have to buy a journal. If you have a pen and crayons and a piece of paper, you can do a journal page.
Besides that, I've done lots of journals in dollar store bin books. They have way good one's. I've also raided my kids bookshelf and found journals they've gotten for birthdays that have been left empty...Moooohhhaaahaaa...

2. I'm not an artist, how can I do an "ART" journal....

Answer: That's like saying you have to be a dentist to brush your teeth. Sheesh, doncha remember coloring as a kid. What happened? Did you forget to color?

3. I don't have time....

Answer: yes you do.

4. I just looked at all those cool spreads in the journal junk group and I'm intimidated...

Answer: this isn't a competition! just be yourself. the rest will come naturally!

5. That's answer still didn't help me...

Answer: Your art journal is simply a journal page with some color. It can be anything you want it to be. It doesn't have to be fancy. Sometimes a journal page isn't done, you can go back and keep adding to it. This is the beauty of an art journal...it's your little place to "play", write, gripe, dream, whatever you want!

6. I don't know where to start...

answer: just go find a book. pick a time of day that is good for you. open the page, and start, it will be much easier than you think! If you are on the go, take it with you. I don't know about you, but I often find I spend lots of time waiting everywhere I go. This is a great time to sit and rest some thoughts in your journal!

7. But I still have questions...

answer: check out the discussion section of journaljunk and post your question. Kira has started a discussion there and is willing to help.

Now go check out the cool, free, artjournal page backgrounds Kira uploaded for you yesterday! I mean, what ARE you waiting for???

to be continued....

Artjunkgirl's 2nd Un-tutorial: Art Journals

Ok, you all asked for it, so here it goes! Thank you for writing and telling me your progress. I'm thrilled that many of you are starting an art journal (some for the first time!) That is awesome! I'm sure you will find this a very fulfilling experience. Today I will share a page from my febuary personal art journal (journal junk 2) and a few other examples and links on what you can do. Before I do that though, I need to give my little disclaimer and that is that there is NO "right" way to do your artjournal! It's what YOU like, and you will not know that unless you experiment with some things! Just go for it. What's the worse that can happen? Nothing. You can rip it out, step on it, crinkle it up (and then change your mind and glue it back in) and it will still be OK! So, here are some examples of possiblities.

1. Paint the page. You can use recycled paper even, like a catalog if you are worried about messing up a "new" journal. I've used lots of different things for an art journal. This particular page is in a catalog in which I painted the first 4 or 5 pages.

Now, let's talk about what I used to make this page. There is the whole "pen" question. I've found that I tend to like Sharpie pens (thin) and gelly roll pens the best. Sometimes it's hard to write on a lot of paint. The paint builds up on the pen after a while. I have not found a solution to this, so I just rotate my pens until they go kaput! I've recently become particularly fond of the white gellyroll pen. I think it looks cool on top of painted paper.

2. Here's a version of a style I've used in a few journals I've done in small drawing pads without using paint.

First I picked some images from my scrap bin and saved little items from day to day and glue them down. I pick things that appeal to me. sometimes I try to pick things that go together, sometimes I don't and I'm pleasantly suprised at how they come together. Sometimes I glue down little notes my kids write me that I can't throw away! I love saving bits like that from day to day, it kind of like a little random time capsule on a page). So, I place (then glue) things down on the page and finally journal around (and sometimes on) the pieces. This is very easy and relaxing. No paint required, and a good way to clean up some random scraps in the collage bin.

3. I recently came across a great art journal tutorial (it's brand new!) on the blog of an artist of whose art journal pages I LOVE. Check out her site too! I'm sure you will love her journals. She's really inspired me to get back into my art journal more! Thanks Kira!

Ok, I think I'll go work on a page now! xo Lia

p.s. Here is a copy of a background I painted for my collages and art journalling last summer. Feel free to download for your personal use and journal on it as a "starter" (click on it to enlarge). Have fun!

*UPDATE: I just started a flickr group for art journals called, "journal junk" which is what I name mine..lol....Please feel free to join and share your art journal pages. I started this group for you, my readers. Thank you for your emails and enthusiasm, I'm thrilled that you are inspired to begin! xo Lia

Fave Art Journal Links...

Dear Friends:
Here are the links that helped me when I first started Art Journalling. I'm so excited that some of you are going to start an AJ!! Maybe we can start a flickr group to post your new pages!

Here are some awesome links from artists explaining their own individual process:

Teesha Moore

TuscanRose Art Journal FAQ

Aisling's Artist Journals

She cover's gesso questions here.

Nancy Baumiller's Easy-as-Pie backgrounds.

These are my very fave links. Thanks to the artist's that posted these free tutorials online. They were and are a huge help and inspiration in my art journalling.

Have Fun and just get started! I'm sure you will find art journalling a great place to experiment as well as write your dreams or whatever you so chose!

xo Lia

Art Journal Tutorial 101

I'm really into working on my art journal again. I am using composition books as I did for my first one. I found this old tutorial I did for my niece last summer. I am posting here for anyone interested in starting there own. You can see more journal junk examples in my flickr album. Here you go!

I start with putting wax paper down under each page to prevent sticking, mess, etc...

Then I use gesso to prepare the page. Gesso is like white paint primer. You can find in painting isle. It helps give page some body and prevents paint from soaking in. Please note though that you will not have "perfect" results in a composition book. There will still be some wrinkling, buckling, but I assure you they are fun to work in and great as a art journal!

So, take your cheapo brush and dip into gesso...

There...now let that dry...won't take long, believe me..gesso dries quite fast...

Now, i squirt paint right onto the page (ok, so this is not scientific or anything)

This time I decide to use an old plastic card to scape it around the page...

Ok, there, that looks like enough paint...are we having fun yet?

Ok, that's better. I used my nieces fave color here...

ok, now I wait for it to dry or use my craft dryer if I don't want to wait...
Then I start to glue on some collage bits...(save those scrap leftovers now, they are great for this!)

I love using paint pens on my pages so I start writing and swirling around here...

Ok, here's a finished spread (not done all at one sitting, you can do a bit now, then go back and add more..

Here's the cover of my first "journal junk" journal made last summer I believe...

Hope you liked this tutorial. I encourage kids both young and old to make an art journal and just use it as your regular diary or a "dream" journal, quote journal, whatever you like. It's lots of fun to see the pages fill up.
I'll post my fave art journal links in my next art journal post. Now, off I go to paint some more pages!

New art Journal page..

(picture of latest layout in art journal, sketch in upper right is one my daughter made a few years ago with a doll toy template).

My life has been crazy busy lately, but I've been wanting to get on the blog to share my latest art diversions. For those of you that don't know, I have a flickr group called Square World. It's kind of a long story..but I really am into squares. I think I need to let you know this about me. Like, you may not already. But anyhoo....where was I? Oh, yea, I'll be checking in on my Square World group and for this week I will be taking questions in the discussion section of the group. You can pick my brain if you want some suggestions on what to use to make them, my process, etc. Ask now or forever hold your peace, or square...ok, so other than babbling here about flickr, I've been going through stuff in my studio and trying to scan in my artwork for future journal pages, the ever elusive zine I will eventually get around to pulling together, and perhaps even get a wild hair and make some postcard prints and such with a few of my fave collages. Blah, blah, blah..I'm long winded tonight...Anyhow, other than running in a zillion different directions now that spring is here and I'm no longer hybernating, I've also been putting together some ephemera pkgs for trades and working on a rr journal with a very dear art friend of mine. Of all those things, this last thing I mentioned is what I've had the most fun with. If you haven't ever done a collaborative art project, you are really missing out. The whole experience is not one I can put into words. IT's truly magical!

It's so great to know there are other artists out there doing the same things you like and that you are not a total nut case art person who likes squares and have glue on your hands and have to splain why you'd rather glue paper than go get your nails done and get the "blank stare" and "uh-huh, uh huh" when you try to splain what you do.

Alrighty then, there you go. That's all she wrote for tonight. To be continued....
time to go find out if Sawyer is reallly in with "the others"...Ok, peace out. talk soon. xo Lia

I keep a lot of journals....

This page is from my sketchbook journal. I posted a "day in the life" challenge in my "squareworld" group.

I thought I should confess to you all that I keep alot of different journals at once. Don't think it's you if you can't keep up with me at times because I'm kinda scattered. LOL. But many of my blog sistas tell me that is what they like about me. smile.
I really want to help others get started on their art journals and provide inspiring links. The best advice I suppose I can give is to go with what works for YOU and just get started! Don't tell me that's "the hardest part". Don't think it's any easier for me. You just have to silence the critique and start something. Let go of your "rules". It's taken me alot of years to embrace my own rhythym. I used to make myself stay in one journal, but then I wouldn't work on it everyday. After I turned 40, I decided that I was going to throw out my "rules" and "self-limitations" and just go with the flow. That led to different journals for different things....
I keep the following journals. Now, I think I did share pics of them somewhere on a previous post. On this one I'll go more in depth on what's in them. Believe it or not, I do keep them straight...I kind of have a method to my madness. Blogging has kinda helped me be more aware of what I do, what works and what doesn't. So has journalling in these books~

1. I keep a specific kind of spiral bound dollar bin journal for my art ideas and resources. I get them at Michaels craft store. I have filled the green one and am now starting the flowery one. I bought another like it because the cover is really sturdy and I like the size. I jot lots of ideas in there and sometime glue stuff in. I've heard lots of artists like to keep a notebook. I guess everyone is different. Sometimes I sketch things out, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I just like to jump in with a project.
2. After being introduced to the wonderful Moleskine journal via flickr, I just "had to have one". I keep this in my purse. I highly recommend these little journals. You can sketch, collage, write, whatever in these precious hard bound journals. They have an elastic closure too so pages don't get messed up. I get mine at the local bookstore chain. My daughter bought me my "first one" for my birthday last year. A few times last year I journaled in it while travelling. (you can take this to work and journal at your lunch hour)!

3. I also keep a sketchbook journal. The cheaper drawing paper kind. I think 3 dollars or so at craft store. (this is the one that I did the saturday challenge in on the top of this post). I like the flip top kind. I started this one after my sis told me to keep collage journal entries for ideas and inspiration. It's kind of like my art journal without paint, just cut papers. I write around and sometimes on top of the papers. Just random minutia. Things that inspire me on a particular day. I tend to use papers I really like in this one.

4. I also keep "painted" art journals. These are my "FUN" journals. I've used anything from the black marble composition books the kids have to junk mail catalogs. I paint the pages with gesso FIRST. This will give them some body and they can take the paint. I also use paint pens in this and just have fun. Sometimes I use my painted journals to answer journal prompts for memes and such that I see online. You really can do whatever you like. I do paint 3 or 4 double paged layouts at a time so there will be pages ready when I want to make an entry. I painted some with leftover paint from doing the canvas art this weekend. If you are working on something else, you can always pull out your art journal and scrape some paint on a few pages at the same time. I usually put some wax paper in between while they are drying. (I have a tutorial somewhere on my computer that I did for my niece this past summer when she wanted to start one). I will locate it and post it in my next art journal entry.

So, although I am not big on "labels", I guess I kinda have journal ADD. Oh, and did I mention that I also keep a writing journal for regular junk. Ahem. Ok, I think I have overwhelmed you enough....Hope you can find one or two or three kinda journals that work for you and get started. Just dig in, no rules. If you don't like something, just rip it out. If you want to share what you do for your journals, leave it in the comments so I can see. I always like to hear how others journal as well.
Hope you have a creative, colorful, wonderful day! Relish each moment. Collect memories for your journals. You'll be glad you did. Just a little each day and before you know it, it (they) fills up! Then you can find a nice container to put them in. xoxoxoxox Lia

More thoughts on Art Journalling

Dear Friends: As I mentioned last week, I've really been itching to get back into my art journalling on a daily basis. I know alot of you want to do the same. There is something so wonderful about combining words and color together. I wanted to mention a few places that have really inspired me as of late as far as art journalling. Last week, one of my art friends, Becky, asked an art journalling question on her blog and in an art group we both participate in. It really got me thinking about why I love journals. It's actually going to effect how I approach my next journal. I think this is a good question to answer (see her blog). I think that when we step back for a minute and think about the why in what we love to do, we can better focus on how to develop something we love. I don't know if this makes sense to you, but go see the question and you will know what I am talking about. Becky (Bex) is also a prolific art journaller and artist. You can see her work on her website here.
My answer to Bex was something to the effect that I enjoy reading journals because they are compartimentalized into a day, the format is different from regular books. I love that they are "real". I also realize now how much I love words. I love reading journals in which people can say so much with such few words. I recently bought a few of Annie's (Curbside Treasure) Zines on etsy. They are so wonderful, so honest, beautiful and real. I know that Annie is going to be discovered soon and we will be buying her books and seeing her Art everywhere! She is Such a hidden treasure. Don't miss her blog and her flickr. She also is SO prolific. She collages daily. It's like brushing her teeth. It's part of her routine. She reminds me a bit of me when I was young. Smile.
And last, but not least, I saw Kelly Watson's recent journal pages. I love the unique simplicity and beauty of the pages. I also love that she tries to include collage all the way through a journal. You can see some of her pieces in her flickr album.

Ok, so those are my thoughts for today. I'm off to get organized and do some art later today. Can't wait to get started! Thanks to the above Artists for being such inspirations! xo Lia

p.s. Looking for squares? I've been posting them to my "square gallery". I will still post some here on this blog. I also recently started a "Squareworld" group on flickr. Lots of people are trying the inchies! It's so exciting. Go over and take a look and join us if you'd like!

Thoughts on the Art of Art Journalling...

I can't tell you how much I want to get back into my art journal again. I finished up this sketchbook when I was doing art everyday in november. I still haven't started the "new" one. What is it about that first "blank page" thing? I remember when I was younger that I would buy journals (I've kept journals for years...like when they used to call them "diaries")...I would also buy a "special pen" and write in my "best handwriting".Hmmmm...those were the days. My journals now are quite a hodge podge. When I read what I consider the book that got me back into art, Spilling Open by Sabrina Ward Harrison, she dispelled the myth of the "perfect journal page entry". At least for me it did. I poured over her scribblings and "perish the thought" crossed out sentences like they were food for my soul. There were paint splatters, random bits of paper from everyday living, personal photos, etc. I carried around the book for days. I still do. That was about 2 years ago. But I digress....I started my own journal, let go of my perfection and out came alot of colorful, quirky, and fun, did I say FUN pages? When I put perfection aside, the kid in me came out...I so want to get back into that again in my journals. I want to get paint on my hands and "spill" as Sabrina says. I've been spilling out art for 2 years now and I have LOTS of catching up to do. There is at least 20 years worth of "stopped up" spilling to do. I just may never shut up! Are you with me? xo Lia

day 14: random collage for aem

day 14: random collage for aem
Originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

this is a random spread in my book that I did last nite. I'm done with my postcards. got lots going on at home. art everyday is harder than I thought it would be! lol! posting up everyday is a challenge...the art part I can do because I love to do something artsy every day. it's kind of my lifeline really! ok, so off I go. it's going to be a crazzzzy day today so I will try to catch up with you all later! happy day. have fun doing something creative. I would rather play with my paints all day than what I have to do but such is life. I'm with Nance...can I just be a kid again? I guess I am at heart.....there I go again, Jude, having a conversation with myself! ok, so where was I? Oh yeah, I gotta roll...talk soon. hugs to you! ~ Lia

day 12: collage art journal page

day 12: collage art journal page
Originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

a personal entry in my art journal tonight~xo Lia

"Rain Song" journal collage page~day 10

journal page from day 10. random scraps. worked on this on and off between this and that in my crazy life....oh, I wish I could have done more today! but I'm happy for my sketchbook and scraps, pens and pals.

I'm dreaming of altered boxes and my glue gun.....should I be worried? lol...here's to having more art time this weekend.

xxoo Lia

now have a great weekend!

journal 11-5 (art everyday) day 5

journal 11-5 (art everyday) day 5
Originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

worked in my collage art journal tonight! had fun. my daughter cut out the stars and gave them to me as I was going to take picture to post. I stuck them down too! part of my day, glued down to paper for rememberance. I love my kids!

hope y'all had a great weekend and fit in some creative time. talk soon! --Lia

art journal entry: 11-3

Have a GREAT weekend all!

I've gotta jump in and rescue some messes in my little corner of the world. "see" you soon.

xxoo Lia

journal page 11-2

journal page 11-2
Originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I'm keeping an art journal sketchbook (random collage ideas with words here and there). My dear Sis (biological one, lol!) encouraged me to do this earlier this week after I asked her for some advice on focussing on what I like to do best art-wise. She is a writer, so of course she told me to keep a journal of ideas. well, this is what "evolved". I've been picking colors and pieces that appeal to me and throwing them together on these pages, then adding random words that come to me about the day's experiences.

I'm really having fun! so nice to just glue stuff down and not worry about it. It ironically is getting me in the mood for making some cool new art pieces!

I hope this encourages you to go make something without worrying about the outcome. I know it makes me happy. xxooo Lia

entry in moleskine

my college bound daughter gave me this moleskine for my birthday this summer (hmm...I guess you don't know I have a daughter in college now...lol....) I've been filling it with sketches and such. Today I am sharing a little collage I did with a magazine while I was there*...I later journalled our w/e hightlights. the coffee pic is from a small coffee packet she had in her room. I'm way into magazine collaging lately (thanks Nance!)...somebody STOP me! xxoo Lia

*minimum travel collage kit: small scissors, gluestick, and a colorful magazine, moleskine or other small journal.