After the Journal...

After the Journal...whether you are doing Lifebook with Tamara Laporte, DLP 2015, Dirty Footprints, Journal 52, or any other online journal project with a prompt, challenge, or project outcome...what do you do when you finish that challenge???

Sometimes I have an immediate idea about what I want my page to focus on, what I want it to look like, or at least jump in after a few page modifications. Other times I have to get inspired by a pinterest idea, but I always want to make it my own original my style art.

I have finished some journal prompts and absolutely LOVED them. Others I just do it to follow the prompt and work it until I can walk away with a satisfied feeling of a completed project or at least accomplish trying a new technique. If I have no focus and am creating blindly, I often end up with a million different aspects on a page..because that it what is floating around in my brain. It all looks good in there, but on paper it's still art. Maybe not my "ideal" piece every time. Embrace them ALL!!!


But them I'm done. It's not my end all for that prompt. If I don't like how my journal page turns out it is still in my mind. Do I smother the page in gesso and start over? NO! I just make my 2nd chance art that after I've walked away from the first piece I can really get out what I was trying to make in the first place. I may make a rough try out before I start in my dylusions journal, BUT if it just doesn't turn out, I don't just quit there. I learn from the experience take away what I can and start fresh. For example...

I wanted to make the DLP Week 3, poppies in all of my gelato and inktense block colors. First, to have an on hand reference in my journal of my colors and 2nd, to tie into the artist quote from Georgia O'Keefe.

 " I found I could say things with shapes and colors that I couldn't say any other way."

Here is my WIP and finished, not my usual style of art I created for the prompt. 


I did use sewing on my Dylusions page and it does show through on the back sided of course, but I will just glue some textures to cover it or incorporate it into next weeks design. I did have to use washi tape in the seam so it wouldn't seep onto my mandala page any more. I did notice it right away and was able to wipe off the minimal amount that did make it through.

I was envisioning this beautiful field of identical poppies for each color. After using these very smeary colors that aren't easy to write on my plan changed.  I used clear gesso to cover the whole page. If you apply it to your brush very thick and brush lightly across the art, it doesn't actually touch the colors to smear, AND it seals the whole page making it easier to write over with pen.  I drew the sketchy pen marks over and finished the page. I am a sucker for bright vivid expressive art, so to that end I have created an awesome colorful page that I love to look at. However, its not artistic in the way I would envision a "finished" piece I might usually create with a prompt. Don't get stuck trying to make it "right". 

What's next? 

1) Walk away from the original piece and call it done..accept what it is, not what it isn't.
2) Make another piece of art!


Here is the next piece. Instead of focusing on the quote, I focused on the color wheel and the clean colors. This piece is really "me".  By completing the project generated prompt/challenge,  I am trying the new technique or idea and being open to learning.  By continuing with that, I have endless opportunities to create and imagine and feed my artist soul. 

In creating this swirl color wheel, I was going to extend it out to the edge but I like how the fanned out brush marks make it look animated. I also created this piece to the right with the extra paint on my brush after I realized I should use it and not just clean the brush..I LOVE IT!!! The random creation is usually my most favorite.

Just because you don't have another page to use in your Dylusions journal doesn't mean you don't have options. These are some of the options I have available to work through the finished page conundrum of "what's next?". 







1) I have multiple journals, not just one. Don't limit your outlets for creativity. 

• I have the Dylusions journal, and an extra (40% off coupon at HL)
• A small sketch journal, (well a few of those)
• A journal with mandalas, 
• Another larger journal that I use to make zetti art, 
• A large 14 x 16 Canson mixed media pad that I do big collage fun pieces, 
• My dark journal for my not so public friendly art. (That is the skull front) Secret: it is an old photography book for a thrift store..."But it was 99 cents". Really it was. 
• A homemade journal I made for a swap that I loved so I made another for myself.

I don't stop just because I tried one thing in one journal. That idea can continue. It doesn't just end when I turn the page for the next prompt.

 

This journal is one I made for a handmade journal swap and sent to a partner. I didn't realize how much I LOVED making books. I have some that sit empty because they are just so much fun to construct. I took a book from the dollar store and cut the spine giving me sturdy front and back cover pages.














2) I make art every day. I have come to realize that art is like food. It fuels my body and enhances my well being. I make time for art every single day. I don't ignore ideas, I write them down or sketch them for later.  I create until my mind is clear and the idea has come to fruition.

3) Be inspired by others. I like to learn new things, especially art related. It has helped me personally grow in the way I view art, the way I approach it, and the way I enjoy it. I was inspired to join the DLP 2014 when I saw a blog post pinned on pinterest. The artists style caught my eye, so I read it instead of just "pinning it" for later.  It mentioned that the art was done for the DLP.  Being an artist of "I have to have everything match, and this should be perfect" mentality...I became interested in the grunge style of mixed media. Did I stop there? No. I taught myself how to do those styles of art by looking at samples. I did the same things with mandalas, zetti art, and pretty much mixed media in general.

4) Read about art.
5) Take pictures.

My point is art doesn't stop after the journal page. Make more art. Your opportunities are endless.