Soul Journaling: Day 22

Happy Sunday everyone!

I decided to make a second "misfit" character. And here she is:



She's a bit scarier than my cat/mouse character which I kinda like...hehe



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Today's Prompt:
Working on the next two page blank spread of your journal:
-First collage various papers such as dictionary pages onto your journal then dry brush with Gesso.
-Then using a permanent pen write for at least 5 minutes using the prompt ” Today I feel…” Sound familiar? ;) (The first time we did this prompt we covered the words with Gesso and not the other way around but today I want our words to symbolically show through. )

-This next part is gonna be messy. If you are worried about your manicure you may want to put on a pair of rubber gloves and it's a good idea to have some paper towels and wet wipes handy too. We are going to finger paint a self-portrait! No paintbrush or tools allowed. This may be a little frustrating but allow yourself to relax and just think about the shapes and colors. Feel the cold paint between your fingers and think about how our ancestors painted their caves, their body, and many other things using only their hands.
- Make sure you fill both pages with color. Add any personal symbols too. Remember only your hands are to paint these pages. ;)

Here's my finished painting. At first I was frustrated but then started to enjoy myself and was pretty impressed I was able to even make a face that resembled me using only my fingers. I think she looks pretty happy too. ;)

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I hope you have enjoyed Soul Journaling…this is not an end but a new beginning. First, I want to thank you all again for this amazing journey. It would not have been successful without your courage and friendship. I am humbled and honored.

Secondly, I want you to know that this is not the end but a beginning for us all. Look how far we have come! I encourage you to continue working in your journals a little every day. Even if it’s just to write one or two words. I may in the future do a second installment of Soul Journaling and I do plan to sporadically post prompts on my blog when I can... so look for those.
 

I also wanted to mention that the awesome folks at Joggles found out about my Soul Journaling project and were so impressed that they have asked me to teach online classes for them! I pretty much have free reign to teach anything I want so of course I am jumping at this opportunity as it has always been a dream of mine to teach art.

Please keep in touch.

Love & Laughter,

*SOUL HUGS*

Sarah

Soul Journaling: Day 21

Hi everyone. :)

Here is my Photocopy page from yesterday:

And here is my photocopy book mark all ready to go. I collaged the photocopies onto watercolor paper and inked the edges with ColorBox Chalk. I decided to do both sides of my bookmark (optional) and then wrote my name on a small tag on one of the ribbons. (If you are participating in this swap please make sure to sign your bookmark somewhere.)

Boy my book is getting full! I love it!

It get's harder and harder to close each day now... ;)

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Today's Prompt: Misfit Creatures and Sad Super Heros. Have you ever wished you had super powers? Do you ever feel like a misfit? I know I have had many moments like these, especially in the "real" world when I show people my art who just don't "get" it. It's in those moments I feel like a real weirdo with two heads. :P

Here are a few of my past "misfit" paintings: (click for detail)

Today we are going to do a two page spread about a time we felt like a misfit.

Let's work in the next two page blank spread of your journal:

-First make sure your pages are prepped with a dry brush of Gesso if you are not working in a watercolor book.

-Then I want you to draw your misfit character in your journal. Here's how I make mine:

Using a fine tip permanent pen I begin by doodling a random shape. I try not to think about what I am doing and just let my lines be free to cross and go where they may. If i don't like it I can always Gesso over it.

Then I spend some time looking at my lines, kinda like finding shapes in clouds. :)

When I see a character coming through the lines I start to go over them and darken the ones I like.

I'm starting to see a catlike creature with this one. I never know what I am gonna get and the surprise is always so fun. I continue by adding washes of paint to further develop my characters shape and drawing in new features I'd like him to have (like his teeth and feet).

My misfit ended up with a unicorn horn looking thing and instead of painting over that I think I am going to keep it and add lines to it to define it even further.

Keep adding washes of paint, lines and details to your misfit. Think about his or her personality as you do this.

Don't worry about extra lines or drawing a perfect picture. This process should be as enjoyable as finding shapes in clouds.
After you are done with your misfit creature continue developing your spread by journaling about a time you felt like a misfit or super powers you wished you had.

I'll share my misfit page with you all tomorrow. :)

*HUGS*

Soul Journaling: Day 20

Yesterday’s homework was to make a color photocopy of at least 3 journal pages at your local office supply store. I am lucky enough to have a great laser copier/printer so I have made a bunch of copies.




I frequently make copies of all kinds of things. Artwork, cool fabrics, patterns, etc. I save them and reuse them in other pieces and I also use them for testing out new ideas. For instance, my "houses page" has a blue sky but maybe I thought about changing it to purple or green but I was afraid to do so and ruin the look I already like. I will then make multiple copies of that page and paint right over the image. Make one purple, one green, and so on to see if I really do want to alter the original. This is a great way to test out all kinds of ideas and not fear ruining the great things you already have happening.

Here is my blue original with my painted green and purple photocopies.



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Today's Prompt: Photocopies!


Using photocopies we are going to reuse some of our favorite journal images to make a new page. Working on the next blank two page spread in our journal cut, tear and paste your copies into your journal. This is a great way to take advantage of all those “sweet spots” or “favorite spots” you may have going on in a page. Add additional journaling, paint, or anything else you wish to these pages. Think about all of the possibles for new projects incorporating photocopies of journaled work. Have fun!



Here I am playing with the layout of some of my images, I can't wait to add some new color around these.


Finished pictures will be posted tomorrow...


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Just for fun I thought it would be cool to do a photocopy bookmark swap. Something to keep in our journals.  Email me for more info at sarah@caspiana.com

Soul Journaling: Day 19

Thank you all so much for your well wishes. It was such a beautiful time that I was sad to leave NYC but I am so happy to be back home in my studio. :) Since today is Official show and tell day I thought I would start by showing you some of the cool art products I took with me on my travels.

I took two permanent black markers, a small paint brush, a glue stick, watercolor pencils, Peerless watercolors, and a Wet media tablet on the plane. Because of the new regulations I was not allowed to take any water, my glue stick had to be under 3 oz, and my scissors blade under 4 inches. After I got through security I bought a small bottle of water and used the cap to dip my brush in. On our return flight I ordered water for my beverage and drank most of it leaving a little to wet my brush.

These Derwent water color pencils are fabulous. You just draw with them and use a wet brush over your drawings and they magically become watercolor paintings.

If you have never tried Peerless watercolor paper then you are in for a treat. These are super travel friendly and even I was surprised at how vibrant and beautiful these colors were. All you do is touch them with a wet brush to pick up your color.

I bought the regular pack and the small bonus pack to try them out. One side shows the paint's color. The opposite (darker) side has the actual paint on it.

You can see the spot where I touched it with my wet brush.

Here are the larger sheets.

Not only would these be fabulous tucked inside your travel journals but you could also sew or attach a whole palette into one of your books if you wanted. I ended up only using the very small bonus pack. It is 40 colors strong yet fits in the palm of my hand.

Here is some of my doodle art I made on the plane using my fine tip sharpie marker and my watercolors.

I bought this cool kids book at one of the gift shops and it entertained me on my return flight.

These spirals would be soo neat as a background for an ATC or decoration on an envelope. I plan on using some of my watercolor paints over them too.

And finally I promised you all my potpourri journal prompt pictures. Here is my second piece:

Here is my third “Collage potpourri” piece. I am already seeing great things happening that I’d like to go back into and develop further. And I like how the corrugated cardboard made some great lines so I can add further journaling later.

Since this is "show and tell" day I would love it if you would leave a comment to this post with a link to any new journaling you have done on your own this week. :)

Homework: Color photocopy at least 3 of your favorite journal pages. Copies are usually only a few cents and most office supply places are very helpful if you have never made a copy before.

Hope you all have a super fabulous day! XO

Soul journaling: Day 18

A warm welcome to everyone who is just joining us! Please start at Day 1 and work at your own pace. Don't feel the need to rush to catch-up, just allow yourself to enjoy the process. :)

I also want to thank everyone for your kind emails and comments! I have not been able to respond to all of them but I want you to know that I do read and appreciate every single one. *HUGS TO YOU ALL* What amazing company I am keeping. I am honored to call you all my friends. :)

Some of you already know that Jared and my 10 year (non-wedding) anniversary is coming up Aug. 3rd. To celebrate Jared is whisking me off to NYC to soak up all the art and fun we can! I am over the moon excited but I do hate to leave you all. Today will be the last prompt I give you until I return on Aug. 7. I hope that you all continue working in your journals and we can have a "show and tell" when I return as I am also planning on taking my journal with me. :)

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Today's prompt-
Collage potpourri!

Page 5 and 6
Mix up this list!

-Write the Alphabet quick and Angry (use a permanent ink pen)
-Cut out a silhouette of a person’s face, ink or paint over (magazine stencil technique)
-Add a wash of paint in a new color
-Use something unusual as a stamp (like a piece of corrugated cardboard or a sliced green pepper)
-List everything you did today so far. (Include little things like: brushed my teeth and let the dog out)
-Gesso out a section of your work, don’t think about it…just do it. Add something new over it.
-Add something metal
-Add a drybrush of paint in a new color

Continue playing with these pages. Be messy and have fun. The cool thing about this is you could do this same basic list over and over again and get totally different results each time.
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I will show you my results from today's and yesterdays prompts when I return.

Homework: Assignment#1: Write somewhere in your journal about your experiences with Soul Journaling so far. What were your favorite and least favorite prompts? What exercises would you like to do again? What surprises have you encountered? Has this process changed anything for you in your life or in your art making? Has our "Fellow Soul journalers" community influenced the journaling process for you? How?

I would suggest not covering these pages up but instead using them as a reference of your experiences. Though, if something comes up that needs to be covered please feel free to do so. :)

Assignment#2: Go back and work on your "Taped page". No rules. We will have a show and tell when I get back!

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I love you all and hope that when I return on the 7th you are all still here and ready to begin the prompts again with me! XOX See you soon. Sarah

Soul journaling: Day 17

Hi there! Sorry I am posting so late today. I had a crazy morning. :P

Today's prompt is going to be similar to yesterday's:

More Collage potpourri!

Do all of the following things to your pages BUT: Mix up the order. You can go in any order you like EXCEPT the order they're already in. If you want: print this list out, cut out the tasks, fold them and shake them into a bowl and randomly pick what to do next!

Page 3 and 4

Mix up this list!

-Fill up the page with numbers (Draw, collage, or stamp)
-Blob acrylic paint in your book and close it (did you know that Frida Kahlo used to do this in her journals?)
-Trace the outline of your hand at least 6 times (Use a permanent ink pen or paint*)
-Add a wash of a new color paint
-Use a crayon somewhere
-Paint with a fork dipped in paint
-Stitch with a needle and thread OR attach something with thread
-Add some meaningful words

*I also used a “Wite-out correction pen” by Bic

Tip: Keep baby wipes or wet paper towels handy to move paint around or remove unwanted paint spots

I thought I would mix things up today and only give you a sneek peek of mine so i don't influenece your process too much. ;)

Continue playing with these pages. Use this list as a jumping off point. Be messy and have fun. The cool thing about this is you could do this same basic list over and over again and get totally different results each time.

My pages from today and yesterday are already speaking to me. This is my favorite form of visual journaling. Because the steps are random it forces you to turn some of the focus off the critical voice that double thinks everything and the choices you make are what makes art… art. Color, Composition, etc.

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I have gotten a few emails about this so I thought I would post a note about it here too.

A note about permanency: When you are doing layers of journaling like we are today you need all of your inks and pens, markers, etc. to be labeled “permanent” if you don’t want them to bleed. My favorite permanent pens are Sharpie markers, Faber-Castell Pitt artist pens (India ink), or Acrylic Inks with a fountain pen (such as Liquitex). My favorite Permanent stamping ink is Staz-On. I always buy refill bottles when I buy these as they dry out fast. You will also need Staz-On cleaner to remove the ink from your stamps.

Hope everyone is still having fun with this! See you tomorrow. :)

*HUGS*

Soul Journaling: Day 16

Today we are going to have lots of fun!

The first thing I did was take my paper dolls out and put them in a safe spot because they were making my book a bit bumpy to work on. Then I put waxed paper between my pages. Oh I forgot to mention that when I know things are going to get VERY messy I put a paper towel on top of my waxed paper to help soak up any extra paint. This is part of my set up process and I do it without even thinking.


Before we begin in our books today I want to demo a technique for you. I call it the Magazine Stencil technique. It's easy and looks great in journals. First, find an interesting body shape in a magazine. Pay attention to the negative space (space around the person) and the outline. This is what will show up when stenciled. The larger and less complex your shapes are the easier they are to stencil. Remember, don't do this in your journal yet...I'm just showing you how.



Hold your image still with one hand and use a make-up or other type of sponge to brush the paint over it.



Peel up your image. TaDa! Cool huh?



Now let's try it in the journal. We are gonna start working on the pre-prepped pages from yesterday. We will do one spread a day for 3 days.

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To start, number your pages. Draw, stamp or collage the numbers on.


Now for the fun! Welcome to my collage potpourri. :)

Do all of the following things to your pages BUT: Mix up the order. You can go in any order you like EXCEPT the order they're already in. If you want: print this list out, cut out the tasks, fold them and shake them into a bowl and randomly pick what to do next!

Working on Page 1 and 2
Mix up this list!
-Fill the page with descriptive adjectives (Use a permanent ink pen)
-Cut out a silhouette of a person and ink or paint over it (Use the Magazine Stencil technique)
-Add a wash of paint (use a color you haven't used yet)
-Write your grocery list or any other list somewhere (use your non-dominate hand)
-Add tape
-Use pencil somewhere
-Make some quick lines, fast and without thinking
-Drip and splatter at least two different colors of paint
-Dry-brush on some paint (use a color you haven't used yet)


Here is my journal with all of today's steps.

Continue playing with these pages. Use this list as a jumping off point. Be messy and have fun. The cool thing about this is you could do this same basic list over and over again and get totally different results each time.

*HUGS*

Homework: You will need a plastic fork for tomorrow! ;)