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Friday, May 13, 2011

Art Journal Workshop


I am not a journalist so I have been taking the Strathmore Visual Journal Workshop Series. I have many old sketchbooks with notes and ideas, but they were precursors to paintings. The idea of putting so much work in a journal seemed unrealistic, since I needed to put that energy into my paintings. However, since I quit doing shows the art journal has become more appealing. Unfortunately, I discovered I do not have the casual mindset to dive in and start creating in my new journal. It is like a blank canvas that intimidates me. I need to think and plan what is going in it. The first workshop with Pam Carriker was easier for me because I was not involved with another project and was eager to get started. I loved the idea that she used her computer and scanner a lot. She had a definite motif of faces, which gave me a starting point. The second workshop was with Linda Blinn and she taught ideas for enhancing the journal with extension pages, pockets, stenciling and spraying. The current instructor is Roz Stendahl. Roz is a fantastic graphic designer and artist. Her attention to detail and organization is over the top, which awes even a fussy Virgo like me. As a result, she is a wonderful teacher. Right there to answer any question asked, Roz goes beyond what is expected with suggestions and advice.

I recently went to Whole Foods and sampled the most delicious and expensive pear I have ever tasted. I bought one and when I got it home, I could not bring myself to eat it without trying to paint it. I have been struggling with an idea for a subject for my first journal pages. A painting of this pear seemed like the perfect solution.

I created my background with the watercolor spray and stencil techniques we used in Linda’s workshop then painted the pears with opaque watercolor. Roz’s lesson included using collage. So I created my collage pieces on the computer (ala, Pam) and printed them out on clear labels, (I could have used vellum) and pasted them in my journal. Of course, the writing was also computer generated. It is far too intimidating for me to write on a page that I put so much work in.

One of my favorite followers is Robin Samiljan, who recently asked me if I still paint or do I only use my computer now for my art. Her question really made me aware how long it has been, since I have used a real brush to paint. Creating these journal images were a small reminder how much I love to do that. Thanks Robin.





15 comments:

  1. just beautiful thank you for letting us see this

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  2. Thank you Ester for your comments and for following my blog :O)

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  3. You have really assimilated the classes and used them in your own way. Fantastic.

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  4. Thanks Monica, and thanks for following my blog! I'll visit yours.

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  5. The stencils and the back ground washes have added a great value to the page and no doubt, the pears steal the show! Nice to look at a page from your journal!

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  6. wow, I am in awe of your journal project, and that is an amazing looking pear! You impress me Eva, that you are able to learn from so many different places, and people. I am glad you took out the brushes.

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  7. Eva -- delightful how you are continually exploring new methods and mediums -- because of you I have watched the Steve Aimone workshop and purchased his book! Now I have to explore the Strathmore site -- always learning, always exploring -- thanks so much for sharing! :-)

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  8. Hi Kelly, I am so glad I have inspired you. I don't think it's too late to join the workshops as they are up until August. Come join the fun :O)

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  9. Great pears, Eva. What did we do before computers? We used that brush more often, but I love the idea of journals--and using everything available.

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  10. Thank you Hallie. I'm afraid my computer has taken over my life. It is become an addiction!

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  11. a true artist, to paint your pear before you ate it! gorgeous journal page, looks like a page in a printed book!

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  12. LOL, I should have waited a little longer as it was not as ripe as the sample. It was crisp and not as juicy as I had hoped. Oh well, it served a higher purpose and that was to inspire me to paint. Thanks for your comments :O)

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  13. WOW!!! What Zen said never saw a Journal Page that looked so much like a Painting you would hang on a wall....just beautiful .!!!

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  14. Thank you Pamela! I have always enjoyed painting still life since I was a young girl. My grandmother, whom I loved, had a still life of peaches over her kitchen table. For some reason I was mesmerized by the skill of the artist. I was really sad when I learn her painting was given away (probably thrown away) at the time of her death.

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