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

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

Inspirational Artists - Yoshitaka Amano

Hello, you scrumptious lovelies!!

Have you had a good week? I do hope so - time to breathe....time to play...time to ART! Mine's been MASSIVELY hectic - in fact, I think my poor li'l computer forgot what I look like... But today I have time to sit and read through your wonderful comments, which have made a LONG few days of grot disappear in MOMENTS, to be replaced by happy faces and renewed optimism, so thank you SQUILLIONS for that! You know I loves ya xxxxxxx

I've not had any real time for art since my last post, although I have some new jewellery ready for Etsy - here's a sneak peek -

Seriously....I can't resist beads... It's a genuine weakness! I've just about been able to exercise severe restraint over paper buying, but beads? Nah.... they're too pretty...! I don't know if it's the variety of shapes, the feel of them, or the GORGEOUS colours - maybe a bit of everything! YUM!

In my last post I asked for suggestions on what I should post next, and Carmen (visit her fabulous blog HERE) reminded me that I've not written an 'inspirational artsists' post in quite a while! She's so very right - and I have a LIST of them too! So I've sifted through my notes and images and stuff, and decided on an artist to spotlight here for you. I'm sure many of you will know of his awesome talent and stunning art, but I have so much love for his work that he's an easy pick right here, right now.

Inspirational Artists - YOSHITAKA AMANO

Yoshitaka Amano is a Japanese artist, born in 1952 who STARTED his career as a teenager, working as a character designer for animated series such as 'Speed Racer', 'Gatchaman (The Battle Of The Planets)' and 'Robot Hunter'.

He stated once [to paraphrase] that if life's too stable, creativity dies so he left a comfortable career and at the age of 30 started to work as a freelance artist. He has designed characters for MANY massively popular computer games, most notably, Final Fantasy. He has exhibited worldwide, and produced [now] iconic pieces illustrating a variety of books and comics including 'Vampire Hunter D', 'Elric Saga', 'Elektra And Wolverine: The Redeemer', and also, spectacularly, 'The Sandman: The Dream Hunters' (with Neil Gaiman). He's also had several collections of his own works published, each of which is a genuine delight and inspiration. Here are some of the books that I proudly own -

Now, you know I love you guys, but I'm not risking spine cracks to scan stuff from these lovelies, so you can thank Pinterest for the assistance with most of the images from hereon in... I knows you understands!

Ok. Sooooo.... I first became aware of Amano's work in the late '90s and haven't been able to get enough of it ever since. I find his books incalculably invaluable, especially when I'm suffering an artstic 'brain freeze'. He is fearless. His work OWNS the page and the canvas and achieves a genuine presence and life of its own.

Amano's work shows heavy influence of tradition Japanese artwork combined with more recognised manga styles and techniques...

...and he also shows aspects of influence by western artists and art movements...

It's always interesting trying to divine where other artists find their own influence... In Amano's work I can see the influence of the art nouveau movement, a hint of some of the long-standing fantasy artists such as Michael Kaluta or Charles Vess, as well as echoes of the work of Aubrey Beardsley, maybe even Arthur Rackham -and many others.

This is Beardsley's illustration for Oscar Wilde's 'Salome' ...his fantastic extention of costume and headdress and exquisitely delicate, posed limbs seem - to me - to be reflected in Amano's characters.

Amano doesn't seem to be intimidated by bold colour - not only combining them passionately to produce evocative and romantic images...

...but also using them selectively to create powerful, high impact works with only one, single colour -

...as unafraid of an ABSENCE of colour as he is by bold, definitive strokes. He manipulates colour and makes it work for him -

With simple black ink he produces sketches that are are so dynamic that they almost seem to move on the page -

  - and allows the viewer to add their own imagined detail ...

His work ranges from the beautifully impressionistic...

...to the detailed and precise-

Although he may be best known for his fantasy art, he has produced some fabulous pop and graphic  art -

When you look at these, then look at this :

- you'd not think it would be the same hand that created them.  In my opinion, he's one of the most versatile and gifted artists working today. I can't get enough... really. I could fill this post with words, rambling on and on about his style, his skill, his technique... But I honestly think that I'd rather encourage you to go hunting for his work - on Pinterest, on Google...or your search engine of choice. Check out your local library, comic shop or book emporium and treat yourself to something you'll treasure. Looking at this online is nothing compared to enjoying it in print. And if you are EVER lucky enough to visit one of his exhibitions, then drink in all that awesome and then smuggle one out for me, will ya? A biggun.

I'm going to leave you with another few images - you've no idea how tough it' been here to CHOOSE!  I really hope you enjoyed this post and that you go find out more about Yoshitaka Amano. I hope you're filled with inspiration and make some beautiful art to share with us in the blogosphere.  Thank you for visiting! I'll be back as soon as I can with more STUFF - and another one of these inspirational artists posts, now that I've been reminded of how big my list is... Yep.

Sending out love and hugs to all of you - Shroo :) xxx

Full credit to the awesomeness that is Yoshitaka Amano - long may you be EPIC!