2019.
Yes.
5 years after I began this journal, it is now complete.
I Rule.
There are 4 ‘extra’ pages at the end (A to D) that are private to me.
I generally show y’all everything, but they’re mine, and I get to decide these things.
I have 5 other journals in rotation, currently (#s 2 through 6), so I’m never without options.
✌️♥️🤘
I have not posted a thing for over 4 months and I’d say that’s not like me, but it TOTALLY is. I haven’t blogged or made any art for about that long. I’m not sure what has been holding me back, but I suspect it has to do with *waves in all directions* all of this.
So…I’m participating in Effy Wild’s Artfully Wild Blog Along this year to put myself back into the creative zone.
There is nobody quite like Effy to give me a “gentle” nudge towards a healthier Art Practice. I began with Effy’s teachings in Journal 52 2018. I jumped to BOD in 2019, and this is my 2nd year in Moonshine.
I have done next to nothing but lurk on the pages for this year so far, but I am a firm believer in starting where you are, so…April it is.
I received my Moderna vax last Thursday and I have to note the weight that feels lifted from my shoulders about it is NOT missed.
My coworkers have all received their first shots at least, and I feel much safer about our whole library team because of that fact.
My Love, Matt, received his shot the same day I did, but he’s team Pfizer.
My career, Librarian Supreme, is running along nicely, now that we have a new (MUCH better) Supervisor. My former BOSS* and I are like oil & water.
The services we can provide are limited compared to pre-Covid times, but we do all the things we can for folks, and we are preparing for the future-times when we can do Programs and Outreach again.
My work weeks are spent with this character…She makes me laugh every day.
Work weeks include 40hrs of Librarian goodness, not enough sleep, and good times with my little roomate family (Amy and her kids: Erik and Angelina)
Weekends include THIS Man:
Yep…I am pampered, fed, loved, listened to…It’s a rough life, but I think I’ve earned it.
So…here we are. Today is a good day. I had an eye Dr. appointment where they dilated my eyes, but I’ll get spiffy new specs in 2-3 weeks.
Ok…that’s enough for today…my eyeballs hurt.
Ciao,ya’ll!
*BOSS* per prison slang = Stupid Son Of a Bitch
I spent 2 Saturdays mornings in April at the same place: Moschetti’s
It’s a local coffee roaster that has free coffee tastings every good Saturday, and Such. Great. Coffee.
It’s a great place to meet up with other local folks, maybe check out some art & crafts from vendors…
For me, it’s a great place to hang out, and ART my face off!
I’m working on Journal 52 2018 (I’m always behind, but I do like the prompts fromEffy for J52)…
I’m currently finishing up my postcards for iHanna’s Spring swap
These are this year’s models…extra long cards and a set of kid’s stencils got me started this year…
I played with paint…at the time, EVERYBODY was just pie-eyed about quinacridone nickel azo gold, so…
I had fun with more washi tape than any one person will ever need…really…
And gel pens…
And paint pens…
Pitt brush pens…
Magazine clippings…
Ink…
More gel pens…
Time & travel…
And a TINY bit of attitude…
I’m sending these in tomorrow’s mail…2 for Canada, one for Denmark, and the rest in the states, but none in California (where I am).
Truly, iHanna is GOOD…
Week 23: Small Success
I was on vacation from 6/6 to 6/24 so just getting anything done (while thoroughly enjoying my visits with my very best friends) in my journal was a real accomplishment.
Random ephemera, sharpees, gel pens, and stickers.
Week 24: Silly Zoo Animals.
Totally phoned this one in, but I’m OK with it since I PLAY and I do NOT have to be “perfect”.
Watercolors, sharpees and gel pens, and magazine clippings.
Week 25: Questions & Answers. I really like this spread because I feel like I successfully captured some of the gorgeous colors of the Kansas hills where I was able to visit and camp. As I presently reside in the desert (it’s practically a cartoon, how the desert looks) the colors of the Kansas country were positively saturated by comparison.
This was done with my little travel watercolor set and waterbrushes, and the writing was done with gel pen.
My best friend’s 5 year old daughter quizzed me and I HAD to document some small aspect of the awesomeness that is Jane.
WINGS!
I HAVE to say that I really like how this one turned out!
I really, truly had that moment that the big Art Journal creators talk about…where I worked on an idea, got to the point of HATING it, but kept going until I ended up with something I LOVE!
(seriously…I DREW a book.)
That’s a BIG deal for me…cuz I don’t draw…wait…I can’t say that anymore.
What! I KNOW it’s just a book, but I. DREW. IT.
That’s not a stencil. Or a stamp.
YAY ME!
I seriously HAVE caught up on Journal 52.
Week 17 – Treasure – The usual, acrylic, paint and gel pens, stencils and a random piece of junk mail.
Week 19 – Outside in. This is a random photocopy of a sci-fi illustration that I colored with gel pens and too much imagination, I think.
Week 21 – Top 10 Lists. Acrylic, gel and paint pens, stencils and glitter paint.
It’s pretty cool what I can get done while binge-watching Dr. Who!
I finished four (4!) pages for Journal 52 over the weekend!
Week 6 – Windows.
I was playing with some Folkart glitter paint I found on clearance and then went with it on this one.
Week 13 – Spring Cleaning.
No matter how many times I told myself that I didn’t have to ACTUALLY clean to get this page done, I was still stumped until I came up with this mess. It IS fun to play with watercolors though…
Week 18 – Observations
I picked up this Balzer Designs stencil on my trip to Fresno and HAD to use it. It inspired my page for this prompt so well, I think. I DO love to watch people wherever I go…
Week 20 – Good Advice.
This is some of the BEST advice I have ever taken to heart, and I had fun with watercolors again!
So…If I can finish two (2) more pages before the new prompt comes out on Friday, I will be caught up.
I won’t know how to act, of course…
.I just got home from a road trip to Fresno (8+ hours each way) and I’m wiped, but I wanted to post the pages I finished last week.
Week 8 – Aromatherapy. BIG surprise…It’s coffee! The smell of coffee is one of the BEST scents in all the land.
It seemed like it would be too easy to put a nose on the page, so I messed with my own head a bit and here we are…
Week 15 – Cards. I had thought of using lotteria card for this but that would involve locating them in my stash…heh.
Both of these pages were finished during my monthly day-long-boring-as-hell training at work. I do what I can to keep from fidgeting all day (and stabbing people out of boredom).
I am getting close to being caught up with the Journal 52 prompts and I hope to get to some more by next weekend when I go up to a cabin near Julian with some friends. No interwebs & no cells for 2 DAYS!
I’m putting together little art bags for both of them so they can play too!
Off to bed…
I’m catching up…I likely won’t lap anybody in the speed department, but I’m getting there…
This is Week 2 – Just Be. I was spraying ink on the page that will be Week 3 and got it on this page too, so I went with that. I had been having trouble with this prompt because it reminded me too much of the phrase, “it is what it is” which I DETEST. I mean OF COURSE it is! What the hell ELSE would it be!
Anyway…Once I got over myself, this came out pretty well. I’m trying to work in different color combinations and I think I need more work on my “not bright” color schemes. (Not “neutrals”, exactly, but still…)
This is Week 4 -Silhouettes. It’s a pretty straightforward idea , to create a silhouette from a stencil. I thought of some deep stuff about how “time leaves shadows”, but really, I just like stencils a LOT and I AM trying not to dig myself too deep into the “what does it MEAN?” pit.
This is Week 16 – Collage crazy. This basically started with the two new colors of paint I bought and just went from there. I tried not to overthink it too much and just pasted down the most recent things I clipped from magazines that I happened to have handy. I think it’s OK for coming from what was just in front of me, and it almost even makes sense!
The end result of all this is that I had fun playing with paint and stuff.
And I’m going to do it again!
Horatio and Emily 