I just want to play.....

Spring has come early to the treehouse and I want to play.  I'm taking a new online class, The Mixed Media Journal by Judy Wise.  Go here http://www.canby.com/judywise/Journal.html to check it out .

I once again learned how to make my own journal which I have finished but will have to show you next time because no pictures yet.  I've prepped a few pages according to the class instructions and videos, which are great by the way, and now just have to "show up" and play.  I have to get out of my own way,loosen up a little, and go with the flow.

These pages will change with more paint and collage as I go along with
class.

And this is what I used to make the pages of decorative paper at the top of the post.

Phone book pages turned into collage papers with paint, ink, mark makers and some stamps.  That was fun.

So off to play some more in my journal and enjoy some of this fantastic early spring!   How are you going to play this weekend?

Flea Market Treasures

Hard to believe that I froze at the flea market last Saturday and today it is a balmy 55 degrees here in the midwest.  I have been going to the flea market for years and have experienced every kind of weather.  And there is not a single thing I could possibly need to buy but I love the experience...wandering, browsing, eating,chatting with friends and vendors, discovering, learning, remembering...it's all good.  So these are my few purchases.  Some beautiful bird pages from a European bird book from 1973.  Loved how they had the colored sketch of the bird and the black and white drawing of it's nest.  My poor photography skills don't do them justice.  They will most likely be included in some type of art project-collage or art journal.  Also some pretty butterfly prints.

I collect boxes, especially old wooden ones and loved this old inkbox with nice dovetailing and slide lid.  I will use it to keep my bottled inks in up in the studio.  And the sweet little metal drawer with wood front will also be used in the studio for pencils, tags, rubber stamps, something.  There's always something that needs a new home in my studio.  And I bought a nice roll of bound burlap ribbon because , well, you never know when you might need some,right?!

But really the best thing I got on Saturday is this very cool pad of paper that is a beautifully aged look and each page has a lovely saying or thought on the bottom that you can tear off and do what you want with.  I see lots of future journal pages made with these.  

Drawing Practice

It's a very gray, blustery day outside the treehouse studio today. So a perfect time for some Chai tea and drawing practice. And I do need practice! My class has lot's of drawing assignments and though I prefer painting, I understand how important the foundation of drawing is. Just haven't done it in a long time and I'm very rusty.

Started with some graphite pencil sketches and then changed to charcoal with white pastel.

Learned this technique in Misty's class and will definitely practice some more-I don't think I had the right charcoal pencils or white pastel-Good excuse huh?

This was a set I bought at Hobby Lobby with a coupon.  I have an overabundance of art supplies but had never tried pastels,  so first attempt.......

For some reason I think my drawings look sad, or a little "alienish".  Maybe sad aliens?  Oh yeah, I definitely need more practice!!!!

Flea market today.... Stop by later and I'll show you my "treasures".  Have a great weekend.