A Colourful Journal Layout Share

Aaaaaaaah....Sunday.......

*Sigh*......Peace, quiet, relaxation.......HA! No chance this week. I don't know WHAT has been going on outside my flat today but it sounds like a 'Die Hard' movie out there! There've been idiots on motorbikes revving the damn things on and off throughout the day - I have the greatest of respect for bikers, but these aren't bikers...they're morons riding what sounds like amped-up sewing machines on wheels! The police helicopter's been swooping up and down accompanied by police car sirens, apparently  unrelated to idiots on sewing machine bikes, plus some genius decided to demolish a wall with a drill and a sledgehammer (though no Myley Cyrus wrecking balls, thankfully!) It's been VERY noisy! The Colonel is not amused and has forsaken his spot in the garden in favour of curling up and sulking under a blanket ...poor little fluff-bag.

Strangely though it's been quite a good day! With all the hubbub outside there's no relaxation option so I've been cleaning the flat and tidying up - something I've neglected for...ooo....a while....a looooong while!  Shelves are dusted, nik-naks and doodads are cleaned and polished and sparkling, I've re-organised SOME of my books and even made small inroads on fixing the armageddon that is the studio. Productive! Maybe next week a sinkhole will open up and a tornado will hit and I'll actually jump-start that vacuum cleaner.... or not!

Today I've decided to share some of the pages of my current journal with you. This one is a wonderful little leather-covered book , 5" x 6,5", from a company called 'Authentic Models'. I've had this for YEARS so I honestly don't know if they make these any more. The paper's GORGEOUS though and takes anything I throw at it.

I've mentioned before that every journal I keep seems to evolve differently and have its own style. It just seems to happen. It would appear that this little journal wants to look like an illustrated storybook, so that's what's happening! I'm going to share some pages so that you can see how I've set it all out. I'm hoping that the layouts might be helpful to prompt some ideas for those of you who want to have some journaling fun. It's very much intuitive rather than planned and the pictures don't always happen at the same time as the writing. (Obviously, because this is my personal journal I've removed most of the written entries 'cos they're all private an' stuff. )  So then, here we go with my intro page (all my journals have their own intro page!) -

A simple way to find illustration space is to leave a little gap at the top or bottom of the page. It's a small space to fill, not scary, and suits any kind of doodling, especially something like zetangling -

You can sort of see that I've turned the book so that on these pages my writing goes in a different direction to just plain old left to right. With other pages I've illustrated across the spine and open spread but kept my writing a little more traditional - it just adds interest both when I'm journaling and when I look back at pages I've finished. This is my St George's Day page, illustrated across the top (I'm on the side of the dragon! This one ATE St George!) -

 
 ...and this one is an illustration (across the MIDDLE of the page) of the banner my mum made for my last birthday with her -

On other pages I split the open spread into quarters - four blocks. I like to illustrate one or more of the blocks and write in the others - these are from one such page split -

Here are some close-ups - 

They're not uber-detailed, but it's the colour that makes me happy. I doodle in black indian ink with my favourite nib pen, then when I want to wind-down or switch off my brain I'll go back and colour them. I'm using a lot of Cosmic Shimmer watercolour paints so the illustrations are bright and shimmery. These are from another page spread with the same layout -

(The scanner's flashed out the shimmer quite a lot but you kinda get the idea I hope. )

Some pages have panels on the left and right sides of the open spread and space for writing in-between -

This one is a similar idea but I chose a shape that reminded me of stained glass windows -

....not coloured-in yet, but then I think I like them as they are. I dunno..we'll see... The box-borders are wiggly ("organic" in art-speak!) but that's how I prefer them to be. I'm not a big fan of straight lines.  On the 'window' theme, I have a greedy little fox awaiting some blinging-up as well -

(I'm SO not good with text!! NOT my forte!)

The next two pages were inspired by some beautiful photos from Valerie's blog, Bastelmania. She shares the most wonderful images, not only of her own work, but of the wildlife, landscapes and scenery around her. (I did ask her a while ago if it was ok to borrow a couple of her images, don't worry!). I'll re-share her photos and the doodle that resulted from them -

I decided to add some of my favourite poems and verses into this book - something I have always loved to do. On a day when I WANT to journal but have a brain made of peas and cheese I make a page like this to kickstart some THINKIN'! Doesn't always work, but at least I have a pretty page with happy writing!

When you're playing with art in your book there's also nothing wrong with going 'full art journal' and just illustrating a whole page just for the sheer joy of 'arting'. This is the joy of keeping a diary - anything and everything you do is fine!

Equally, there's no need to place everything in a formal panel....just draw what feels right -

Beltane

Some of mum's favourite flowers

I also have pages with doodles, scribbles and splashes of colour still waiting for me to write on them.

I think what I want to do by showing you these pages is to support the idea that when you keep your own journal anything goes. You don't have to follow a prescribed format or style; you don't have to compare your journal with ANYTHING or ANYONE - it's yours and it's a part of you. It's the same as working with textiles, or beads, or felt, or clay, wire or wood...whatever you create is a part of you: the only difference is that with a journal, no one will see it unless you show them. It's a part of you, created BY you, FOR you. It's special, it's unique and it can look however you like.

I have some more thoughts on journaling (surprise! ahaha) so there'll be more rambing on the way (apologies in advance! Break out the gin and cd of whale-song for recovery!) For now that's it, as the cheesey peas are already taking over my brain. That's what happens after a 'Die Hard'/housework combo day! Back tomorrow, so 'til then, have a big ole bunch of  squooshy hugs from myself and the Colonel (the snoring lump in the blanket). We loves ya! xxxx

An Octo-Offering for Art Journal Journey

It's Friiiiiday, it's FRIIIIIDAY!!! WOO!  AAAAAAAND a new month to boot! Happy MAY, people, happy May!

The wonderful people at ART JOURNAL JOURNEY have a new topic - 'The Sea'. WELL, now....I'm sure you know what a change it will make for me to draw something sea themed...ahahaha..... Yeah, I know...I'm THAT predictable! Anyway - here's my first offering to link to their awesome site: a disturbed octopus -

Sorry the scan's bit iffy again - Gertie's still being temperamental...I think she needs a new ink tray, bless her.

Today's post is just a little 'un, but I hope you like the octo-offering! Sending out some special Friday hugs and one of The Colonel's patented casual paw waves - see you soon! Shroo :) xxx

Pen and Ink - Of The Air And Sea

Wednesday!

Now, see, I KNOW it's Wednesday because it was Tuesday last time I looked and I'm guessing no one's changed the whole day routine thing without me knowing! So  - happy Wednesday!

Are we all shiny and lovely? Oh, HELL yeah! Today's offering is short 'n' sweet as it's a busy old day and it ain't over yet....some beasts of the sea and of the air. First, a bijou diversion-ette from the fishy obsession with a doodly tangle-bird -

And then - predictably - back to the oceans for this piece, which is more illustrative than doodly this time around. This made me VERY happy while creating it. I hope you like it too -

My 'Spirit Of The Ocean'. That's that! Told you it was short 'n' sweet! I've added a couple of extras to my 'pen & ink' page and I'll be back tomorrow (Thursday - eh, eh, eh! Getting the hang of this 'time' shenanigans! ) 'Til then - have some big squooshy hugs from Shroo :) xxx

New Pen & Ink Doodles - Fun With Fish!!

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

I know it's Tuesday because my computer tells me so! Ah time... we've never really been on speaking terms. Being somewhere 'on time' is a challenge. I wonder if people realise that it takes days of planning for me to BE in a PLACE at a pre-arranged TIME? No...probably not. Other people are so beautifully and wonderfully.....NORMAL! I have normality envy! Any jobs I've had I've had to be insanely EARLY for a shift, which employers seemed to like and generally resulted in overtime and a glowing appraisal. If only they'd realised that my "enthusiasm" was basically a side-effect of chronic ineptitude regarding time keeping! Bless 'em.

Aaaaaanyway... It's day TWO of my personal "don't-screw-up-the-blogging-AGAIN" challenge. I've made a list. Well, several lists and I'm honestly no closer to knowing what to post each day so we're winging it and reveling in the joys of spontaneity......(remember to breathe....breathe!)

Today's offering is a fishy one! I have more of my doodly woooodly crazy fishy fish to share with y'all. I still love my nib pens with their fine lines and deep black india ink.

Little doodles and details narrow my vision, help me focus and control my immediate environment - quiet the chatter and confusion. I suppose this calming sensation is the reason for the recent rise in popularity of zentangling.

I think I'll always enjoy drawing and painting anything sea-related and these fish are just such good fun and there's such diversity of life in the seas and oceans that inspiration, patterns and ideas aren't hard to find. This time around I decided to doodle some jungle river fishies as well, just for a change.

This is the fish-fest fun fiddly faff-about I'm sharing with you today. If  you're interested in more of the same inky doodle fun check out my 'pen and ink' collection up there in the margin page listings - you'll also find a reference for the pens I use and HIGHLY recommend. If you're in the UK you can purchase them from Dinkybox, along with other very cool art supplies.  Hope you enjoy the post and the doodles - thanks for visiting, you know how much I appreciate you! (SQUILLIONS!) Love and hugs from Shroo :) xxx

Finding Time for Art - Or ELSE!

Let's pretend it's only been a couple of cheeky days since my last post, shall we? Yes....just for a lark... How is it that despite there being twenty-four long hours in each and every sparkly day, there's simply bugger-all time to get stuff ACTUALLY properly done? Or even a BIT done, in some cases.

I've been INCREDIBLY busy - which, in itself, SUCKS - but then, on top of the hectic, I've decided to severely de-clutter. Sounds like a GOOD idea, eh? yeeeeaaaahh...... no. I have this thing where I have to make sure that  stuff's not wasted, which makes getting rid of the crap I have in my house a nightmare! It's even EVEN harder because I actually LIKE my crap.... I love my awesome Disney snowglobes.... I live for my gorgeous books.... I adore my nik-naks and collectables... Parting with any of them at all (and choosing frugally which ones to keep) is like Sophie's Choice every time! Added to which I'm a first class procrastinator. So my house looks like several really quite big bombs have hit it. A lot!

This is not condusive to relaxation - or art. It is, however, a real boon for the stress-fairy, who's become a permanent fixture, limpeting onto my brain and playing havoc with my blood pressure. Normally I'd have out with the paints and the shiny arty things and flap it all about 'til calm returned, but a/ I've packed things away so that they're safe while I sort through stuff and dispose of various bits, and b/ I can't get into the studio as it's full of charity/ebay/collector's shops boxes all piled up ready for re-distribution. Stress-fairy is THRILLED with this and has been happily cranking up that blood pressure for a month now, so this last week, I foraged through a forgotten corner and found a teeny weeny sketchbook and a couple of my favourite Tachikawa ink pens and have determined to set aside a little time every day to doodle and remember to breathe.

 True.

As it's been....a few days (shush) since that last post, I thought I'd share the first few pages with you, sort of whether you like it or not! Moowahaha... You'll notice that they're all sea-based. That's because I like sea-based things. I'm not planning to win an award here, just not to have my head, heart or anything else explode from the results of poor time/space/stuff management. SO here we go...in page order....:

The scanner's not keen on the paper. The backgrounds are all left sort of off-white but my scanner - Gertie - decided to add random blotches. As I can only assume that it's an expression of her own artistic muse. Aww.  This sketchbook's only tiny - it's 5"x5" and that's kind of cool as it allows me to finish things quickly. Less intimidation, more fun! Take THAT, stress-fairy!

....An absolutely accurate - almost photographic - depiction of a standard day on our local coastline. *ahem*

I like cormorants. There are LOADS (I counted - that's accurate) of them around our local docklands, so I added a couple of docky-type images to this beaky chappie just for fun.

 Gertie Scanner really hates this paper... Anyhoo - mermaid! I KNOW! Who'd have thought it? Me, draw a MERMAID! Craaaaazy......

Naughty Octopus! DOWN boy! SIT! It's the marine version of a Freudian nightmare, but then that's octopusesesesesesi for you.  I've not faffed with detail on the octochappie as I intend to throw some inktense pencils his way. When I can reach them. Or find them.

More mermaids, some fishies and a message in a bottle. Sorted.

Another fish. He has a jellyfish for a belly and he likes it. He's a fish.

So that's an update. Sorry it's not more exciting or tutorialy but if you wanna swap - I'll have your studio with paints and tables and stuff, and you can have mine with it's boxes and bin-bags..... Nah....didn't think so! 

I'm off to get some sleep before another hectic day begins. Sending some love out to the blogosphere - if I'm REALLY lucky I'll have time soon to visit YOUR awesome blogs and say 'hi!' - hopefully whilst sitting in a MUCH clearer, muse-friendly space!  Wish me luck! Much love -Shroo :) xxx

Show & Tell Saturday (Eventually!)

Hello lovely people!

This post - a wee bit later than planned  - is a 'thank you' to the people at 'Artists in Blogland'. The site is such a wonderful source of inspiration and holds links to so many beautiful, beautiful blogs! I wanted to participate in their 'Show & Tell Saturday' post, so this is my contribution - hope y'all like it!

The last couple of weeks have seen my emotions dance all over the place, finally edging further towards the stress end of the scale  as my mum went into hospital. OOOH blimey! - Sleep's been a little elusive so, rather than just sit staring at the wall I opted to push myself into a positive process, working through the grot in a cute little art journal I made a while ago from junk mail and scraps.  It's roughly 8"x6",  just held together with simple three-hole pamphlet stitch, no mess, no fuss. All the pages are covered, once it's stitched, with random colours of crafters acrylic paint as a base coat, which can either provide inspiration or challenge depending... I use washi tape to strengthen the spines of the pages (wet media'll rip through even the toughest junk mail paper eventually!) and there's just the one signature, that way I can keep the journaling focused and themed - a little time capsule, kinda thing.

I decided that each page would feature collage, both magazine images and hand-cut scrap paper assemblage. I also decided to use up some stickers and rub-ons that I've had in my stash for, oooo... - eons, and use ONLY scraps - no chopping up new papers until I've reduced the stack of odds and ends. With so many icky feelings to process, I made extra effort to work through the rough stuff, finishing up with a positive message - it was really important to me. It's an especially good thing I did, as I ended up giving it to mum to look through while she's been in hospital, as I know she likes to enjoy my journals and use them as a talking point with other people. It's worked quite nicely. It's meant that some of the pages are quite multi-layered, which has actually been helpful for the mental and emotional purge, reflecting my often jumbled state of mind!

After thinking about how to do justice to the Artists in Blogland prompts, I decided to share this journal with you, my awesome blog readers. It seems like an ideal opportunity to show why I value art journaling so much - apart from anything else, it can be such a perfect theraputic tool, not just recording my journey through life, but my growth as an individual.  So, let's dive in, eh?

Some of the pages are quite scrappy - they reflect my jumbly thoughts at that time, if I'm honest, where I was finding it tough to access "the artist within" thanks to all the stress fog clogging up my brain. All the collage elements on this page are from magazines - including the blue circles. I over-painted the bird and the flowers and added a whole heap of 7 Gypsies rub-ons - easy and fun. I used dark Pitt pens a lot and enjoyed the way the ink picked out the scraper lines in the background acrylic. I do so love Pitt pens!

See what I mean about 'scrappy'? Yep. This was a blank day with a head full of mush. I ended up just literally throwing blobby inks at the page. It's messy as hell, but it didn't 'arf make me feel better at the time.

**A note - Cutting out your own arrows and chevrons, hearts and stars and such like is a GREAT way to use up diddy scraps of paper. Next time you're looking at all the new releases from big crafting companies, think on about what you can make for yourself with NO outlay of cash. Sometimes we all forget that a lot of what we pay for is pretty packaging - the actual embellishments are SO easy to make at home, and way more individual.**

Okee - next page... This split page is in response to another 'Artists in Blogland' post with the prompt "SEIZE THE DAY!" It did actually give me pause to think about where was emotionally RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT and where I wanted to be,  and I am so happy with how this came out.

This was a really fluid-process page which evolved pretty much by itself. I actually started with the smaller centre flap, adding some lovely wood-grain patterned washi tape to make it look like a door. I added some depth of colour with the trusty Pitt pens, then some stamped hinges and a door handle (from Crafty Individuals). Rather than splitting the page further, it actually helped me find a flow....a 'before and after' type idea. I cut more circles from paper scraps and old book pages and added the cut out tree trunk and some polkadot stems. I think I've mentioned before that I use a lot of symbolism in my art - not always mahoosively complex or subtle - but it's a superb way of expressing myself....I'd recommend giving it a go, instead of adding a lot of text...see how it makes you feel a) while you're working - does it help the flow? And b) when you look back at it - do you feel more positive? Less intimidated?

I added a few key words with a mixture of dimensional stickers, mixed alpha stickers and rub ons, some washi tape (that seemed to fit the feel of the page) and some doodles. This isn't really a complex page, but I had real fun doing it, mixing layers and textures and actually REALLY enjoying the process. Now, moving on....

Have you ever felt that, between where you ARE and where you want TO BE is a mighty hectic motorway in the middle of rush hour, cars and lorries hurtling left and right at vision blurring speeds? Hmm? Yeah, that was me when I did this 2 page spread.  I kind of ended up with an under-the-sea, reefy type of imagery - back to my marine comfort zone - but I really like this. There are a LOT of layers, which seem to get lighter and prettier each time which makes me tremendously happy! I'm really quite easily pleased!

I used a lo of splooshy stuff... acrylic paints and inks, spray inks and chalks, patina inks, distress inks, Tattered Angels glazes and also Pitt pens, inktense pencils, and a white gel pen. The collage elements are as varied - designer scrapbook paper scraps, paper cut outs (shells and pussy-willows), layered stickers, rub-ons, washi tape,  and abstract wavey shapes cut from coloured baby-wipes (from mopping up ink on another page!) I think it's the colours I like the most. I feel good about it and I can see the clear path right down the middle.

...And staying on the ocean theme...

This was a day of trying to sort out my feelings, stop spinning in circles and choose the right direction... I cut the octopus from a scrap piece of paper and coloured him with Caran D'ache Neocolor II pastels, then while they were still wet I added ample sploshes of Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze. It left him with a mottled matte/gloss mix pattern which looks kinda awesome! Again, there are several layers hand-cut from scraps. I used acrylic paints, Pitt pens, Derwent inktense pencils, uni ball white and black gel pens, Vintaj patina inks and several 7 Gypsies rub-ons.

The flip of the page is dealing more with me acknowledging that there's no real escape from events - we always have to return and DEAL with things PROPERLY at some point, better sooner than later -

Collage elements are the cut out fish and the layered waves. It's a simple page that didn't take much time, sometimes that's a good thing!

OOooo - hey, guess what?

Yep! Another mermaid! I know, I know, but I'm not gonna change my art addictions now!! She's cut in three pieces - body, tail and hair. Her tail is a homemade sheet of highly textured paper which was fun to cut up and use. I used Neocolor II pastels and inktense pencils along with Pitt pens and highlight detail with my white gel pen. I added a selection of rub-ons as well as vellum stickers and adhesive gems. The page was so bright and sunny that I added the following motto :

"Wherever you go,

no matter what the weather, 

always bring your own sunshine."

This page - despite being the last one finished - is right at the front of the journal, and I like the idea of this positive sentiment reflecting my intention to end each page image in a positive way.

This is the only single page in the book with no collage element - 'less you count the flowers on the divider page there....I keep having visits from a stray cat - he's a sweetie, but not really up for cuddles. He's been in the house a few times and my own cat's not overly bothered so he's not a worry. I just felt like having two pages to just record some lovely....pretty kitty, summer flowers, butterflies. A serene moment in the midst of all the chaos. After I took this picture I added another motto on that middle divider -

"SHINE!

Be who you are and say what you feel,

because those who mind don't matter, 

and those who matter don't mind."

There are a couple more pages in the book, but I figure that those shown above give you an idea of the purpose and the process of the book. I hope - REALLY hope - that you find this useful. Art journaling has been such a valuable tool for helping me to navigate life's pathways and I feel that it's a duty and a pleasure to pass the idea and inspiration to others. If you're looking for prompts and inspiration, they're all around you and within you, but you might find it helpful to look at the Artists in Blogland site, and some of the blogs linked by them on their pages. You never know - you might be adding your own contributions soon!

Thanks for visiting and reading my post. As always I welcome comments and feedback. Enjoy creating your own beautiful art, whatever your style or experience! Come back any time as there'll be more posts up here very soon. Big hugs as ever - Shroo :)