Setting my stage with an Art Journal Page

My husband bought me a FlipVideo for Christmas (after I hinted that the future of PHL depended on it's purchase)... a little dramatic, but it got the job done. After an afternoon with my best friend and sister-in-law, and a pitcher of margaritas, we went on a shopping spree in Downtown Sacramento. In addition to a rockin outfit for New Years, I bought a tripod for my Flip Video. Score!!!

It's been a while since I showed you an art journal page, so I decided to show you my process, instead of just showing the end result. I set my stage, I taped the video, and downloaded the clips to my computer. When I sat down to edit them I discovered, somewhere between taping and editing, my clips were cut off. I can't explain how fuming I was, and of course I deleted the video clips before I realized my work had been inadvertently clipped... AHHHHH!! I spent the next day searching the internet, trying to find the answer. I downloaded a couple video converters, that promised to convert my files to MAC compatible ones. Alas, my video remained clipped. My drafting table was a complete disaster after completing the page. I couldn't bring myself to tape another video after what happened, so I'll just show you the finished product, and hopefully the next time will be a little more successful. If anyone has answers for me, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP!! Better luck next time, I hope :(

Here's the finished product. The journaling reads... Good friends are hard to find, but worth the wait. Thanks for being a friend

Supplies used...

Golden gesso

sponge brushes

Ceramacoat acrylic paint

texture tools

Golden Gel Matte Medium

Stewart Gill Byzantia paint in Cardinale

Sumi ink

Yasutomo Bamboo Sketching Pen

AJF #3

I Never Said Nothing...

... Inspired by the song by Liz Phair, I picked out one of my naughty pin-up girl pics, and started creating... I accented the pic with a white Gelly Roll pen, added a little edging and journaling... The white circles and yellow "splotches" are made with the cardboard of a toilet paper roll (yes, I use anything I can find... and it's free... YAY!!)


The journaling reads...
LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR REGRETS... and it's certainly too short to pretend you are someone you're not. Every life needs a little scandal and intrigue... and every woman deserves the right to be a little naughty... BE NAUGHTY!

I just ordered some gardening books last night after an inspirational hour of Martha Stewart "On Demand" videos... I'm telling you, that woman is a freakin' genius!! I was, however, a little disappointed to find out the bulbs I planted won't make their debut until Spring of NEXT YEAR!!! How the heck did I not know that? I'm not a patient woman, and I have a feeling I'll be digging them out before it's time, but I really hope I won't... they're too beautiful to ruin....

I'm still working on my commissioned piece for The American Cancer Society, and I promise I'll have it finished by Tuesday... her name is Mary... She is strong and beautiful and I can't wait to show her off...

AJF #2 (On Monday... ooops)...

Celebrity Surf...

I bleached this photo after doing some textured background techniques and collaging some misc papers I had lying around... Bleaching is so easy and fun, and I love how it gives an antique feel to any picture... Just briefly dip the pic in water, then a bleach solution (two parts water to one part bleach) and watch the years drift off the page... The blue pigment will lift off first, then the red and yellow last... play around with how long to leave it in the bleach solution (just keep in mind more pigment will lift off when you give it a final rinse under cold water)... then pat with a paper towel and Voila!!!

The journaling reads...

This day was the perfect birthday... a day on the boat at Folsom Lake with the folks... Just sun and water... good company and good food... I don't need much and this was simple a perfect example of simple perfection... The only thing missing was the sweet kiss of my love... who was at work... still a great day... July 2007

Art Journal Friday #1...

Two posts in one day?? What?!? I decided that I wanted to start a little weekly somethin somethin in an attempt to keep my self-projects going... I'm always working on something, and sometimes I feel the need to be selfish and work on me. Since Art Journaling is my new favorite thing, I've decided to channel that passion into a book about me... my childhood, my thoughts and fears, passions, and especially my love (Mr. Joseph Vazquez... hi my Honeybush!!!).

Every Friday I'll post a new Art Journal entry to inspire your upcoming weekend. Come join my journey!!!.. here we go....

I edited the picture in Photoshop (turned it black and white and messed with the contrast)and then printed it on regular white printer paper... I wanted to highlight Joseph (in the lower left corner) and the Tree so I colored them in with colored pencil... added a little journaling, collaging and oil pastel rubbing around the edge...

The journaling reads...

This was the first time we went to Fort Bragg... and this was the view from our hotel room... It was beautiful!! We had the view of the ocean and the love of each other... It was incredibly romantic and I fell in love with you all over again... I hope we always feel this way about each other. I couldn't imagine going through life with anyone but you, my love... you are my EVERYTHING!! I love you terribly...