Journal Jam 1 with Effy

Effy Wild is sharing a weekly Journal Jam live in The Wilderhood (her Monday, my Tuesday morning) and my last journal page following the prompts turned out so well I decided that after my work hours from home were finished this week, I'd join in again. If you want the replay go HERE. She draws prompts and shares how she works in response to those directly in her journal, and you can follow her lead or go in a totally different direction. I've re-titled this Journal Jam 1 since this is officially the start of a weekly offering by Effy. This was her finished page 

Here's what happened at my place : 
Blue Scraped 2 blues on with credit card and then finished blending with baby wipe

Drippage Effy used acrylic ink so I looked at my stash for what colour would be pretty... and if one is lovely 2 is better right?! 

Scrape paint with a gift card or other scrapey tooly thingy Using my rubber/silicone tool (No brand name) and some paint called melonball which I thought might inject a bit more yellow light

...not in love but it's a texture layer

Use a smudgeable pencil to outline something on the page and smudge it out Followed Effy's lead by reaching for my black Stabilo All pencil (very water reactive - some alternatives if you don't have one are HERE). One of my favourite things is "found words" - perfect to be using an old book for my art journal. Outlined and smudged Stabilo and then went over the words with an XS black Pitt Pen : dearly loved. There's only one thing to be done. art

Obeyed the impulse to add a bit more smudged Stabilo. Then sprayed with workable fixative so this doesn't react again. 

Add a leaf Yay - stencil time....and I know it says ''a'' leaf but my page my rules! I always like to inject something of my NZ into my art where I can

I know I'm going to have to add some injection of colour but I'm really liking this

Want to add some definition before I move to the next prompt so added brush Pitt pen to outline the ferns and then blended out with a wet brush. These pens are great in that there is a little time when you first apply when they can be shifted but after that they are permanent.

Add overlapping circles An opportunity to add a touch of bronze

And now I can finish the page as I wish. My first inclination is to add serviette butterflies and that made me feel the page was complete. The red ones are perfect to highlight the words.

I would never have created this page alone and enjoyed this process so much. Happy weekend to you.

Journal 52 : Week 12

Journal 52 is a weekly prompt from Effy Wild (Free HERE) that I'm creating on a deck of jumbo playing cards 3.5'' x 4.75'' (8.5 x 12 cm). Each card will include stitch, a found word, and be inspired by the project I've been working on that week or what's lying leftover on my work table. See the original post HERE.
#12 : Navigate. I am amazed at how each weekly prompt (not created this year!) is so appropriate for where I am right now. Currently navigating Covid-19 and social lock down in New Zealand with the additional challenge of Chemo treatments. Focusing on the good. Inspired by my latest gratitude journal page since the paints and stencils are still lying out and I loved that wee birdy serviette...

As much hand stitching as I could manage without tearing the card. 

Sending you strength as we navigate together apart. Find all my Journal 52 posts HERE

Gratitude Journal Jam spread

Time for another face in my altered art journal. I started with a lip-up face in stabilo pencil inspired by Effy's most recent live. You can re-watch HERE and if you only want this art technique start watching from 20 minutes in. This is how mine started - stabilo pencil and water only.

I'm a turban girl at the moment cos of chemo. No clue if she will stay like this by the time I get to the end of the page (as you can see by the preview picture she did not!). The piece of paper on the right background was glued down to hide an intrusive title and picture. Then, just because I felt like I wanted to be led today, I went back to Effy's first Journal Jam live in The Wilderhood and followed along with the prompts....Pink

Add a quick drawing of a flower - I'm a stencil girl so did that instead. 

Realised that I hadn't used workable fixative on the stabilo to seal it so added that next so my colours stay clearer rather than grungy. Reminds me a bit of our plastic bathing caps from the 70s but am confident it won't remain so!
Draw a shape I tweaked the prompt to suit myself and glued down a bird from a serviette and will use it for paint over collage base

Write a phrase that is meaningful to you Did a little quick research by looking back at my thoughts about Shine earlier this year and in my notes came across the perfect words from Mary Oliver : "It is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in the broken world." Use a typewriter font in a word document, printed on some lovely scrapbook paper ready to cut out and add when I've added some more colour to the page (test on ordinary copy paper first to check the size is right for your page)

Yellow Yay colour for the background - I went with a soft daffodil 

Purple Double yay - one of my favourite colours and think a glaze will be great over those initial stencils...and then I used it for face shading and in her garment ♥

Add love hearts Has to be gold for Shine

Add a bird - that's the last prompt before we were left to finish on our own so I first worked some pitt pens over the collaged serviette

Now happy to continue working in my own style. First step was to add clear gesso over my face so I could add the pencil blending technique I love, and pen detailing of course 

and extra layers to be happy with her flower turban. 

In gratitude - that I was well enough to work in my art journal yesterday, that I have lovely art supplies to support my creativity, that I can share my journey here with you, that I am part of such a strong online art community. As I post this, New Zealand is entering social lock down - I am additionally feeling gratitude for how our NZ government is handling this situation, that my loved ones are currently safe, and for our wonderful caring NZ health system. I hope you are safe and making sure you are fitting self-care in alongside your care for others. Talk to you again soon.