I apologize for being AWOL on LJ this week. I’d like to say that I’ve been writing, wrapping presents, and decorating the Christmas tree. But no, I’ve been sidelined by cooties. Oh, woe is me! I’ve missed two weeks’ worth of voice lessons, and my tambourine is temporarily silenced.
Still, I managed to drag myself to a creative journaling workshop, and oh, I was really glad I did. Stace introduced us a new technique: washing diluted Gesso over watercolor-penciled, collaged backgrounds. I love how it mutes the colors, how it gives images a dream-like quality. Look at the little girl on the right…can’t you almost imagine you’re glancing at her through a frosted windowpane? I wonder what book she’s reading, where that hummingbird is headed…
Now turn your attention to the page on the left. I’m not loving it–you either? It’s pretty clear that my vision got lost in translation. Instead of thinking about the overarching theme,* I got fixated on the tiniest of details. And, um, it shows. There’s no overall cohesiveness, and the images are blurred beyond recognition by the gloppy layers (upon layers) of products I used to cover my "mistakes."
Creative journaling is supposed to be playful, more bouncy Tigger than thinky Pooh. Unfortunately, I lost sight of that this week. We talked about this in the workshop–how we so often focus on product vs. process. When we take it (or ourselves) too seriously, we rob ourselves of recess.
No worries, though: I’ll carry that (re)discovery over to the next set of pages. And hmm…if I squint my eyes and tilt my head just so, I’ll probably find a few writing lessons in this, as well!
*Themes/metaphors are totally unnecessary, by the way. But hey, that’s how I roll.
This is all so interesting. There’s much more going on with the process than I realized. I totally understand about getting lost in the product rather than the process. Hmm, where have I heard that before?
I do love that muted color effect.
Ha! You’re so smart. 🙂
Have you started on your collage? I’m looking forward to hearing about your process.
This is all so interesting. There’s much more going on with the process than I realized. I totally understand about getting lost in the product rather than the process. Hmm, where have I heard that before?
I do love that muted color effect.
These pages are gorgeous!
Thank you! While I learned a lot by doing both, I’m most fond of the page on the right.
Your turn? 😉
These pages are gorgeous!
totally unrelated, but I heard the NPR story about Oral Roberts’ death earlier this week and thought of you. Does he make an appearance in your memoir, if you care to share, that is?
I don’t mind at all. Short answer: yes.
cool!
totally unrelated, but I heard the NPR story about Oral Roberts’ death earlier this week and thought of you. Does he make an appearance in your memoir, if you care to share, that is?
Those muted shades are so lovely. It gives the pictures an old-fashioned, sepia-tint-like feel. Thank you for sharing them. Hope your cooties are all gone now 🙂
Thanks! I’m on the mend, have rounded the corner (insert cliche here)… 🙂
I love the muted shades, too, and I’m so glad Stace showed us the technique. I’d seen it in print, but it’s really nice to get personalized instruction from someone who’s experienced–a real-life artist, that is.
Thanks! I’m on the mend, have rounded the corner (insert cliche here)… 🙂
I love the muted shades, too, and I’m so glad Stace showed us the technique. I’d seen it in print, but it’s really nice to get personalized instruction from someone who’s experienced–a real-life artist, that is.
Oh I love them both, Melodye. The one on the right is what we want the world to see of us but the one on the left is all the stuff that’s going on inside of us. And of course it feels awkward to turn yourself inside out for the world to see.
I do love the Gesso wash….similar to the video I watch the other day about painting over much of the pictures and making them “your own.”
I just uploaded my art pictures and am working on the blog post about it all now.
That’s such a great way of looking at these pages!
I’ve got to find and watch the video you mentioned (about morphing someone else’s pictures into your own). Sounds like a way to encourage my own creativity, while also providing a little bit of structure.
My first writing vision board
User referenced to your post from My first writing vision board saying: […] t met yet. But I am trying. And I’m inspired by many posts about creative journaling from , like this and this and this. There’s also been a whole lot of "visioning" going on, such as talked about over here on Shrinking … […]
My first writing vision board
User referenced to your post from My first writing vision board saying: […] t met yet. But I am trying. And I’m inspired by many posts about creative journaling from , like this and this and this. There’s also been a whole lot of "visioning" going on, such as talked about over here on Shrinking … […]
I really do love the effect of the girl on the right. It’s just gorgeous.
And hey, we sometimes must travel down the wrong road to find our way back to the right one. The “wrong” path you took in the page on the left ultimately led you to some good conclusions, it sounds like! So it’s a win!
I hope you get over the cooties very, very soon!!! Feel better!!!
You are so right, Kevin. I’ve (re)learned that lesson many times over. 🙂
Hope all is well with you and yours. (Hey, I noticed that Precious is now in wide distribution…are you planning to go?)
I really do love the effect of the girl on the right. It’s just gorgeous.
And hey, we sometimes must travel down the wrong road to find our way back to the right one. The “wrong” path you took in the page on the left ultimately led you to some good conclusions, it sounds like! So it’s a win!
I hope you get over the cooties very, very soon!!! Feel better!!!
I think this is what makes me nervous about trying the journaling because even though I start out with Tigger intentions, I end up skidding right past the Pooh stage and straight into Eeyore territory. This is true with a lot of my creative projects. I need to figure out how to enjoy the process (in a lot of things!) much more.
I hear you loud and clear! This is precisely why I think creative journaling is such a great activity–and it’s the main reason I’m posting my pages to LJ. I am learning SO MUCH about the ways our lives (not just artistic ventures) are affected by our perfectionist tendencies. With visual aids as proof!
Sure wish we could play with this together! Wouldn’t that be fun? I vote we meet up in your basement, where you’ve got that legendarily large stash of art supplies. 🙂