Posted on March 1, 2010 by Natasha
I have joined Suzi Blu’s Arte Journal Group and in response to this video, I created this spread.
I am happy with how she came out. I tried new techniques and did the face in graphite and water colour, and the hair is melted crayon shavings and watercolour. The spread is collage, and watercolour, and watersoluble crayons and acrylic and sparkles.
And this possibly goes towards creative every day stories…despite been creative everyday, I have not always stuck to the theme or been able to show something that went towards the theme. This could. And I am still pleased to say I have been creative every day! How crazy wonderful is that!!
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Posted on February 26, 2010 by Natasha
Also in my journal I have followed a few prompts….here is two…
One page is the colours of the sky….and all the boxes are different days….
And then the next prompt is I have done a quick picture to sum up something that happened in each day. Just a tiny little square but I am loving this. And things I would have forgotten about probably, I look at the picture and remember how I was feeling when I wrote that. And even better. I look at that page and see my label maker. I love this. Love it. I know. I am a geek. My beloved tells me on a regular basis, but that is okay. I am okay with the geek title. And I am so glad I found this puppy on Trade me. Best purchase I have ever made! My label maker embosser. And my geek children…both want label makers for their birthday!!! So there is some of me in them.
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Posted on February 26, 2010 by Natasha
This is a part background I had done for ages, and then on Valentines Day my son wrote me a love note….on ben ten note pad paper and I love that it was a spontaneous show of love so I glued it in. Have not done any more with it so far, but it makes me smile when I see it and I do have some ideas for this page. How precious is he. My six year old beautiful son.
The note reads…
Dear Mum
I love you very very very much.
I hope you have a good and special day Mum.
oooxxxoooxxx
Happy Valentines Day
I love you Mummy.
I love you too Sebastian George! xx
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Posted on February 26, 2010 by Natasha
Here are some journal pages…not quite complete but getting there….
The 100 things about me page….still so much to go, but I have added material to write on and paint on and am quite happy to have little doors! And then my silver linings page. There is stuff going on, on the other page, and that made a bit of a messy hodge podge on the following (backing) page. And so I worked with that. And it is messy, but that is half the point as well. And the Colour my world page. I was attempting to do that bright crayon layer and then cover with black and scratch (as I remember doing as a child), but the pages stuck and ripped so I put in a layer of gesso and have added more crayon and am just going to plod away.
And then the doorways page. And the Magic page (using black gesso). All have utilised a new technique and have been about experimentation, and really that is what journalling is to me at this time. And I am learning so much. On the ugly pages and the “nicer” pages. And I am showing my ugly pages because they exist and are part of the process. And they have taught me something and they are part of the story…And I like coming and going and doing a bit here and a bit there.
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Posted on February 26, 2010 by Natasha
These are some backgrounds that are waiting. I have decided I am a layer person. And so these will get more layers. But I thought it would be interesting for me to see these here now and then see how they end up. And….I have discovered stamp making….holy mother of two. I am loving this. I am currently working on carving out the alphabet…not perfectly…but how is that personal to me?? So far I have a few background ones…including the diamonds and squares that are seen on these pages. And I have tried paperweaving, and I found some skeleton leaves, and I have used colour as a first base on a couple of pages. Just to see where it goes and get some colour down. Even if I cover it all up….I am just playing and seeing how things work. So anything goes….and my mantra at the moment is that “it is another layer”, no matter if it looks good or bad…just another layer.
And then this one….inspired by this You tube video….two of the sharpie colours have disappeared altogether (Green and Black????…really surprised about the black!), and I used 4 coats of gesso as the second layer came through clear as a bell. And then I tried tissue paper…you can still read the words in part of it….but it is only a layer…so by the time it is finished with…good to go. But interesting process. And surprising!
And so these are some backgrounds….still not even complete backgrounds…but the start of some layers. My goodness… I love that word…..layers!!! LAYERS! LAYERS!
(And clearly I enjoyed testing my stamps!!)
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Posted on February 26, 2010 by Natasha
I am trying to be more mindful at the moment and making sure the words I talk are in accordance with the actions I take. These journal pages are a reminder to me. And I was inspired by this video
.
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Posted on February 26, 2010 by Natasha
I have been creating a lot in my journal. Some not so pretty, but playing. And that is what I have decided to do in this journal at the moment. Let loose. Make mess and create and learn. And there has been some ugly stuff. And some stuff that has turned out better than I imagined. At the moment I have far more backgrounds than “finished” pages. But it is good, and I can fit in a bit there and here. And I keep it out all the time because if there is some left over paint on my palette I use it in my journal. And I am loving on it.
I started off with layer love pages. And then some of the backgrounds are Julie’s Super Nova class. But also… now I have found a few you tube videos, and sometimes I am just flowing. In fact at the moment…I am into just seeing where I am going. There are some classes I would do if money allowed, (like this, or this) but that is not even an option at the moment. Not even a little bit. Unfortunately. Money is just not there at the moment. And that is life, so I do what I can with what I have. This is only right now…the future is still wide open.
And the best part of this current journal is that it used to be a writing journal. And there was some pain written on those pages. Things I had to work through, but that were very painful. And they sucked the energy out of me, but I loved the books. And now…with a bit of gesso, those words become just another layer. And I create on top of them and I love those books now. (I am a notebook/journal/book junkie, so I have a few of these books!)
And I am loving where I am creatively right now. Learning, and not perfect and showing up. Quite frankly. I’m showing up. Every day.
And so the next few posts are going to have some pics of my journal pages. Ugly and unfinished though they maybe. But it is just awaiting a layer. And that will come. I won’t be able to show you all the journal pages as really…I have been busy. And there is some stuff admittedly I am not ready to show, but this is where I am now. And I look forward to looking back to see where I was a year from now.
I read about people worrying about having their own style. And I do, but not so much. At the moment I am learning and creating and making mess and having fun. I do tend to learn the technique and practice it, but then I do my own thing as well. And amalgamate things, so I think naturally a bit of me is on those pages. But if I could point to one thing and say that this is “my thing”….not so much at the moment. I am loving everything right now. And absorbing it like a sponge.
And how lucky am I that I get to do this. I live a blessed life.
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Posted on February 26, 2010 by Natasha
Sometimes we polish that crown that has become tarnished with our blood sweat and tears and we see what was hidden behind it. The beauty that has always existed only we couldn’t see the beauty for the grunge on top! All we need to do every now and again, is polish that crown. Declutter our lives, minds and homes. To find that elusive beauty that we realise was there all the time.
This was interesting. It started of life as something completely different, in completely different colours. And then as if on a whim of it’s own, this painting evolved. A mix of collage and paint and pencil and gloriousness. I love how it turned out. I reach a point where I think “I could live with this”. I am now moving beyond that point and I am loving for the most part what results. Sometimes a completely different painting emerges. And I love that. The point where you stop thinking and wondering if you are any good, or is the work any good and you just paint. I forgot how much I loved drawing and creating as a child.
And the best bit. My kids see me and I model for them that even when they are grown ups. They can still create. Both of them are very creatively minded. And I love that sometimes we all create together. On the table. And I love that our table bears evidence of our creating in the paint that I can’t get off.
And I love that through playing…this work evolved. And there has been much polishing of this crown of late. It seems apt!
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Posted on February 26, 2010 by Natasha
Sometimes doorways appear where you least expect them. And when you find them, the path is often messy to get there and it takes some courage to open it.
The research proposal I have been preparing and submitting with a Māori Health Services Provider looks at women who were imprisoned while pregnant, and the effect that had on their relationship with their child and their wider whānau/family relationships. And then looks at developing a service that is partially residential to help these women and their children and their families, and is so powerful and exciting. And could really make a difference. And be rolled out to other communities. But I have had such moments of doubt. I could do it. But who would fund me. I am no longer part of an institution. But the research is good. The proposal is good. I can’t pre-empt where this will go. The ultimate decision is up to minds that are not mine. And political environments that are not mine. But this is so exciting. And we have the support of the community if it goes ahead.
Sometimes, those doorways are scary. But they are there. Hidden areas of gold in amongst the debris. And without taking a step through it, all you know for sure is that it definitely won’t happen. Imagine if it does. How freakin’ incredible!!
And while all this was happening. This painting happened, and I didn’t see it until it was finished. And ‘Doorway’ seemed apt. Those golden opportunities…
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Posted on February 26, 2010 by Natasha
And then there was this baby.
I wasn’t 100% with this either. And took it down to play. Not sure if I could name what was up with this. But before I knew it, it had changed drastically really. And the mood is quite different. And I saw a Seeker in this. Searching, for that elusive bit of gold in our life that will make everything okay….and really it is the process that we go through that turns out to be the real gold. The journey, not the destination. Another lesson I need to remember.
And so ‘Seeking’ became the ‘Seeker’:
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I am happy with how she came out. I tried new techniques and did the face in graphite and water colour, and the hair is melted crayon shavings and watercolour. The spread is collage, and watercolour, and watersoluble crayons and acrylic and sparkles.
