Video " Painting In My Journal" All That Jazz

I posted this on You Tube, but if you don't subscribe to my channel you probably missed it. I just edited this journal video last week. You can see me painting "All That Jazz". It has lots of layers. If you would like to see the original post its right here with more details. I hope you enjoy the video.

I will be back next week with some photography from the botanical gardens in San Luis Obispo, CA. The flora looks so much different in winter, but there are things starting to blossom. You are sure to enjoy them if you like nature!

Here is a snap shot of the original completed. I tried to add it here for you to see, but Blogger hates me and won't let me add it! That is why I will be moving off this platform soon!  Until next time, or visit me at DearCreatives.com too! I have a weekly link up you can join in! Love to have you there too! All my best, xo

Journal Page & New Beginnings

Hello again, I pulled out the water color pencils & pastels & fine tip felt pen to create this journal page. Magical beginnings happen when you grow them from the heart. I went into this page with no ideas & expectations, just a quick page to refresh my rusty self. I remembered a flower design I had drawn years ago for a stained glass window I created. I wonder what happened to it over the years? The moves & changes life gives you. Oh, well....

Then I started to write some of my feelings down. I put five things I would like to focus on, not necessarily resolutions. I try to give myself goals monthly. There is plenty of pressure without having to have a resolution for an entire year. Not to mention if things change we need to be able to adjust. Right? I am all about being flexible & in the moment, probably why a year long commitment at this point doesn't feel right for me. I have had plenty of long commitments personal & work.

I have started to draw again. I wanted to nurture something new that would help me in my paintings. I can't wait to share with you even if I am hiding under a mushroom due to my lack of drawing skills. Sharing from a place of where I start & where I go along with my journal pages, paintings & photography this year. I want to re-start my daily journaling, painting.....

I created a digital, super quick too. I have to go clean my art & craft room so I can get working again on a daily basis,but I had wanted you to know I didn't go any where. I am here, just filled with lots to do. I am adding things to my shop, planning & also working hard on my other site for creativity & crafts.If you are interested in a great list of top ten photography tips & tutorials and where to get them from you can visit DearCreatives.com,

 Here is the digital I made.

This is a new year, with new opportunities & unexplored creativity waiting to be nurtured. Envisioning my dreams onto canvas & bringing it to reality is filling my soul; Creating from the place of my heart.~ Theresa Huse 2012

What magical beginnings are you starting this year?

Imagine The Stories Journal Page

Hi Everyone, Remember the sneak preview of the journal page I gave you. Well here comes the rest of the page and a little journal prompt for you. This has been one of those busy, the kind that seems like you aren't getting anything done! One step forward, two step back weeks. Do you ever have those?

Journal Page: Imagine The Stories I'll Tell You

This page was inspired as I was reflecting on how I love to tell Sammie stories as she swings. Sometimes she reads to me, we talk, tell each other stories and in the summer all while hanging out the laundry. The butterfly is pulling the book around to open it.

Well I love doing this so much and thought of the news my daughter Krissy gave me a bit ago. She is having her second baby due in December. Shes has had a rough pregnancy but is doing better now, but still has to take care. Any way, this page is for the little one who is on his way. I created this page for him.

One day Sammie will be older, the swing empty and waiting for the little boy to come and have me tell him stories. It won't be often as we live far apart, but I know he will enjoy the tales I have to tell him. I can't wait to hear a name, see his precious face and enjoy another baby in the family. Her daughter Audrey will be almost 4yr old when he is born.

Journal Prompt:  I just thought I would share you can add pages about events happening in the family and how they relate to you personally. I said things in layers that didn't show, you know some personal things. I also added in real tree twigs and some mesh fabric ribbon. Lots and lots of textures and layers.

Well, that is all from me for now. I hope to get back on track with things this coming week. Thanks for visiting! & Have a great weekend. Oh, and its Paint Party Friday if you like seeing other creative folks work. The link is in the resources page. Follow along and sign up  Or subscribe by going back to the top left side. I'd  love to have you here and return your visits. Be sure and comment so I know you stopped by!

Do you journal? Have you worked on your journal pages lately?

Journal Prompt " Be Kind To Yourself "

Journal Page and Prompt Be Kind To Yourself. Listen, calm yourself, reflect and  accept peace within. This is what I am reflecting on today as I look back at a overwhelming past week and mishap from yesterday.

Hello Journalers and friends, I wasn't sure if I would be able to get a post out today. I usually try and publish the journal prompts Saturday evenings but yesterday was busy and hadn't written a post in advance. We were working on the yard, kids coming and going....Then all of a sudden Sammie was brought home injured. She had a terrible fall over at the neighbors. A gash in in arm from just below the arm pit to wrist area and scraps all on the upper inside arm from tree branches and rocks due to the fall. She is lucky not to have broken anything, nor did she need stitches!! To see your child bleeding, crying and in pain is very difficult, but out came the nurse in me, calm, taking her inside to clean her up and add the necessary treatments.
Then of course what else would make a little one feel better? How about a movie and popcorn to take the mind away from the pain and of course lots of attention, ice and compassion from mom. Whew! Under control!!

I have to admit this past week I didn't paint not even once. But I remembered this page I made I don't think I shared. Be kind to self! Perfect I thought, I can still give you a journal prompt. The prompt really it goes wonderfully to what my week was like and reminding myself to be calm and loving to myself even when I don't reach my personal art.... goals.

Sometimes life takes you away from your passions a bit, that is ok and we need to be calm about the detours. Honestly I feel like I get a little edgy when I don't get to create a page or have some creativity going on but the bottom line is, I still need to be calm and kind with myself. I know this summer has so many detours in it, but I will try and let you know when I am taking a trip, having to help family, or just sidelined or haven't had time to create art or journal.

On another note about self and loving one's self. I started Weight Watchers since a friend of my daughter's joined and was loving it and losing weight. They were having a special and decided to join. I love how it helps you be accountable to your self in a good way! {points, tracking, weigh in, community, using your own food choices and helping you make better choices} I know not every week will be easy, but I lost 3.2 pounds this first week The good in that is I have reached one of my goals this week, in a big way and starting on better health!


Do you ever have weeks where you can't get a chance to create your art? Have you ever had to challenge yourself to love certain aspects of your life or self? Have you ever had to try something else to help you with your weight?

Journal Prompt: Be Kind To Yourself;
I hope you are able to create a journal page about being kind to yourself, loving yourself or calming those voices of negativity from within. Use stamps if you wish, write yourself a note, give yourself a reminder and mostly reinforce loving yourself!

Quote: If I am not for myself, who will be? Pirke Avoth


Food For Thought: Leather Journal with embossed heart

Journal " Shes Singing The Blues"

Well its raining here again which is a little unusual for this time of year, but I am sure the garden is loving it. I created two journal  pages to share with you along with a prompt for this week to help you along with your journaling. I must admit also that I didn't do a lot of visiting this week and only two days of painting. I was a bit under the weather ironically, with migraines and just feeling drained. I hope to be up and around the web visiting, painting and even starting some sewing projects inspired from the "Art Bags" post I created!

 This journal page was inspired by wishing I could play the guitar and sing. Sometimes I feel left out musically in my house. The Mr. plays drums, guitar, base and piano. Sammie plays piano and sings. I just can play chop sticks! & a little percussion s. Despite the journal page having too much water and curling some of the magazine image there were aspects of the page that I loved and can draw from when I create something on canvas or wood from this.

The second page I created was inspired from the days before Sammie when I would follow Leon around to his gigs and go out dancing. Now, the girls stay at home and the boys go out and play. This makes us sometime sing the blues other times it's just fine. We have are art projects keeping us busy. I kept the back ground the same colors to have some unity for the two pages.

I hope you are inspired to make a journal page about something to do with music. Maybe what instrument you played, how you sang, who inspires you musically, what music you love or about a time you used to go out and enjoy going to pubs and listening to music. What ever it is I hope your singing the blues in a good way!


Journal Prompt: Create a journal page that has something to do with music.

Quote: Blues means what milk does to a baby. Blues is what the spirit is to a minister. We sing the blues because our hearts have been hurt, our souls have been disturbed. Alberta Hunter ( American Blues Singer)

Food for Thought: This 32 sec. video add for Moleskine Music Journals * makes me wanting to make another video for you & learn more about editing! 

I am glad I saw the add it'll be the perfect music journal for Sammie who is starting to write her own music on the piano.

Journal Prompt "No One Should Be Like A Caged Bird"

This weeks journal prompt is continued  from my post on Friday.It isn't about making a page related to what I wrote.. It is about looking at found objects differently. I used old Polaroid film that I found expired from a yard sale camera the Mr. found for me. Maybe I will never have the film to work the camera, but I have used the expired film in my journal page and it will also be on my canvas when I rework the journal page onto canvas.

*Please note that in the previous post I in no way was indicating anything wrong with being stay at home mom. I am one. As is my second youngest daughter. You can read my response to a concerned reader, in the comments, should you read prior post.

 I took the expired film glued images on them then wrote and painted after writing on them.

Also you can use imagery not only from magazines but to cut out shapes to represent items from page content. I found an image of the rustic wood and cut an image of the women out of it. Then I used graphite pencil to enhance edges and blue paint on the outside. This was all painted over writing I had first done on the orange painted page. Later not shown here I outline the heart with wings with graphite pencil having it show up more.

I don't let rips, mistakes stop my process I let my intuition guide me

Sometimes imagery can tell a story

My ah ha moment with this piece is that you don't have to have the perfect cage door open, or the perfect image of a woman running painted, imagery can represent those actions without having to be that thing. Example the bird flying at her head representing freedom, being freed. The white on the cage representing a light of freedom, the shape of the woman in white with textures to simulate movement.
If you would like to read the full post of what this journal page was about just visit the prior post here.

 

 What ah ha moments have you had when painting or creating something?

Journal Prompt: for this week is for you to incorporate found objects into your journal page. Also not be afraid to use loose imagery to tell a story. Do not worry about rips, tears or making mistakes.

Food for Thought:

The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Anelou

Quote: Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. Maria Robinson

Journal Prompt- Spring Into Action

This week I created a journal page that has a creative action plan. Spring is the perfect time to step into action and what better way than to list things you want to accomplish on your journal page. At first I had a lovely die cut paper that had lines on half the page.

If you look close you can see the cuts in the paper. I ended up painting flowers right over everything. The lines just bored me in the moment and I thought color was more important. Like a flower in spring this year I want to continue to bloom creatively. And the butterfly represents me ready to fly.

I haven't used a lot of pens lately but took out a fine tip non bleeding pen and wrote around the petals giving them definition from the rest of the page. Then to make it pop a bit more I added the white around the outside edges here and there.

I created leaves with the pen here and there and lines with hearts in a pattern running down from the top of the page to the bottom.

 The die cut paper under the paint add a lot of visual texture. I also used tissue paper here and there.

I am considering changing my free journal post day to during the week. I am interested in feed back. So I put a poll on the side bar. Do let me know what you think about that. If you want me to keep it on Sundays just tell me in the comments section.  It is gloomy, windy and rainy here right now and if you are experiencing this pre-spring weather I hope these colors brighten your day! I hope you find time to create your journal page~ 

Two questions: If I create a group to share your pages from using my journal prompts would you post your pages there? *free group
It would be great if you did poll or indicate keeping journal posts on Sundays!


Journal Prompt: Spring Into Action - create an action plan in a creative way! 

Quotes: He who has begun is half done. Horace

You don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great."~ Les Brown

Food For Thought: Small Chestnut Pocket Journal with handmade paper 

Simply Sunday "Free Journal Prompt"

Validity in logic, determining whether a statement is true. Today our journal prompt is for you to Validate yourself~ Make a list of who you are: Whether an artist, musician, sculptor, painter, creative, writer, mom......You get the point. The essence of who you are or want to become. You can draw a illustration of yourself or representation as I did. But the purpose of this is to reinforce who you are no matter where you are on your journey to your goal of being that person. What are you proud of? Write down some advice for yourself; such as not to be so hard on yourself, a note to yourself to have have courage or to love yourself better. Today count your own blessings & validate who you are!

If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. ~Vincent Van Gogh

Its not who you are that holds you back, its who you think your not. ~Author Unknown

Today I am validating myself "I am an artist"~ Who are you? Please let me know~ Are you an artist too? or a photographer, writer, blogger.........

Simply Sunday Memorial Day

Image from Country Living Magazine Link to Cherry Pie recipe

This Memorial Day do not forget to honor the memories of the men and women who have risked their lives to protect our freedom~While we carry on with our three day weekend and all our barbecuing or picnics take a moment to reflect on freedom, its meaning and our observance of those who fought in war to protect it. Write or draw in your journal page what freedom means to you. If you know someone who fought or is fighting for our freedom what they mean to you. What will you be doing over the Memorial weekend? How does your family or hometown honor Memorial Day's veterans? I hope you are able to keep your day simple and enjoy Sunday for all it holds for you. Join me next week for another "Simple Sunday" posting.

Freedom is never free. ~Author Unknown

Patience & Understanding

This coming week is going to be filled with patience and understanding. Hubby has to go work out of town for a full week and then who knows how often as they have gotten a huge job he bid over four hours away. He will be home on the weekend. So I will do my daily routine but miss his help in the evenings and of course his company. I will need my share of patience with Sammie this week as he won't be here to help, but I am understanding this is the way it is and to accept it. I hope if I don't get to posting as often this week you will understand, but I will try my best~Journal about somethings you have had to deal with that had to do with patience and understanding~Whether it be everyday things or to do with your art. Do you find you have patience with your art and how it progresses? Do you understand when you hit road blocks they are only temporary? Do you feel with most situations that patience and understanding helps? I hope you are able to keep your day simple and enjoy Sunday for all it holds for you. Join me next week for another "Simple Sunday" posting.

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance. ~Franklin P. Jones

Simply Sunday

Flickr
To see full size visit my flickr page
My personal reflection was drawn by the passing of Earth day and all I saw and read about this year. I reflected about when I was a child and I remember every time we went to the fields and played there were butterflies in abundance. We use to occasionally catch caterpillars and watch them spin their cocoons, setting butterflies free when they hatched. When I see butterflies I tell my youngest one this story and she says to me why don't I ever see butterfly's like that?
The Earth is changing and we have to do things to help save it and all living things~
On my journal page above I put some of my thoughts of how I felt using a photo program and some words painted on the page of dream, imagine, peace, love and hope. I hope you are able to keep your day simple and enjoy Sunday for all it holds for you. Join me next week for another Simply Sunday posting.

What things do you remember from your childhood about nature? What did being outdoors in childhood feel like to you? Journal some things about your childhood.

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops...at all. ~Emily Dickinson

Simply Sunday

Journal your dreams. You must believe in your dreams for them to blossom!
I got this saying in a fortune cookie; "If you can image it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it you can become it. " Positivity simply said!

The greatest dreams are always unrealistic. ~Will Smith

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. ~Les Brown

I hope you are able to keep your day simple and enjoy Sunday for all it holds for you. Join me next week for another "Simply Sunday" posting.

Journaling Journey

It is cold, dark and foggy today and my journey continues~ What I am searching for may be right where my paint brush leads me. Some days are dark and challenging and others like today a ray of sunshine peering through the window amd is showing me which direction to go. I am trying not to be lost in my thoughts or processes when I create. I am trying to let go and let intuition be my guide. It can be a good exercise. I am sometimes focused on the perfect line, the perfect matching eyes, perfect design....Sometimes you need to just step back and let intuition be your guide. Have you ever tried to paint just be letting go and feeling? By choosing colors or an image and just finding your way with your paint brush? Not worrying about the perfect line or outcome? Feel free to post a link to a piece of work you have done by intuition and share it with me~

The greatest explorer on this earth never takes voyages as long as those of the man who descends to the depth of his heart. ~Julien Green

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it. ~George Moore

Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves. ~Henry David Thoreau

Inspiration Board and Mood Board with Art Journal

Mood board incorporated with my art journal~(if you are wondering what is the black circle that is my lens cap for my camera. representing photography)
Close ups of journal pages~
Loose self portrait~

Inspiration Board which is hung in my painting area~
My inspiration board is located where I paint and craft. In my journal I created a mood board for a class I am taking to represent what I am trying to share and want my blog to be like. All the photographs and artwork are done by me. My inspiration board has Color my world ~ passion, I can, success, color. In each I tried to put things I am focusing on and wanting to achieve and share via my art and blog. I hoped you enjoyed a peek of my private side! (You can click on any of the pictures and they will go full size.)
The quote in the photograph of my mini collage is: "You know people seldom go to the trouble of scratching the surface of things to find the inner truth." author unknown

Comic Relief

The above painting was with left over paint and some colored pencil lines done very fast~

Here are some characters that are in a comic book style. I spoke about these in an earlier post that I would share these with you. I did these in my journal just to use different colors, loosen up, work in another style and in one case use spontaneous painting! ( without too much thinking.)

When I have been working on art that is more detailed and thoughtful I need to escape with some comic relief so to speak or at least the freedom to experiment in a more free form. I did these all in the same day and didn't really spend a huge amount of time on them. I hope you find the time to play with color, loosen up in your art journals and look at art forms you might not normally view to find your inspiration!