The Guardian

Today I wanted to share my latest art journal entry, my second project for Life Book 2014 - and totally inspired by Tamara Laporte. I can really see how far my style has come in the past year, and though I realise my work isn't perfect I am still loving where I am at right now. And hopefully, it will only get better and better. 

I've painted this on heavy Fabriano watercolour paper using gesso, Neocolor II watercolour crayons, graphite pencil and Ceramcoat acrylic paint. I've also collaged some Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tissue paper - Composer into the background which you can just make out if you look hard enough. 

A Brand New Adventure

It's been a little while since I've posted here and I feel I've been pretty neglectful. But with the beginning of the new year I have started a new adventure in my art journaling journey and signed up for Life Book 2014, which you can find here. It goes all year so I have no excuse now not to update more regularly and so far it's been truly wonderful.

My first piece was just a warm up exercise, but it was so much fun and Tam makes everything so easy with fabulous instruction. And I'm really loving how this has turned out.

Enjoy the rest of your day x

Mixed Media Art Journal Santa

I created this little guy last night in my art journal and he just seemed to appear in no time. I guess that means he has been hiding somewhere in the back of my mind just waiting to come out to make himself known. 

Last night I finally got around to spending some time with my art journaling muse and I loved every minute of it - that is, until the cat decided my cup of coffee needed to be knocked over! But apart from that little drama I had a great time and will look forward to more time spent art journaling soon. 

Thanks for calling in, enjoy your journaling xx

Art Every Day Month - Day 10

I've had a wonderful weekend spending time with other creatives and adding to my mermaid themed art journal. This piece is the inside cover of my large fish journal which opens up to reveal even more pages inside and features a torn edge on the right hand side. It's a very clever way of cutting and piecing together one A1 sized piece of art paper into a 20 page journal - thank you Paula Perich for showing me how to do this!   

I've used my neon coloured Prismacolor pencils to add shadow and light on my mermaid and journaled a quote from Margot Datz about the origin of woman.

Thank you again for calling in, have a creative day xx

Art Every Day #07

By now I am thinking I'm not going to be able to keep up with a post every day, but I will plod along as best I can with the challenge. I'm going to be spending the next couple of days at an art journaling class so I'm hoping I will be getting some catch up time in :) 

Until then, I received a box full of goodies this morning including some wonderful new stamps from Deep Red Rubber Stamps which are just wonderful for collage. Who could resist right? Here is the result of some collage play today.

Thanks for calling in, hope to see you again!

A Death Defying Triple Act - Art Every Day #06

Day #06 already, and today I am sharing a folded page in one of my art journals - the mermaid circus - which is totally inspired by a recent e-course I have been taking by Jane Davenport and Teesha Moore. I've really learnt so much from both of these ladies and my love for art journaling has grown tenfold since beginning the class. I hope to be working more on this journal over the coming weeks so I will be sharing more.

I've collaged the leaping frogs and given them some painted stripy bathers for a bit of fun having arranged them in the middle of a leap frog diving act. Just a bit of fun.

Thanks for dropping by, see you in blogland.

-Kimxx

Art Journal Every Day Month #05

The owl and the pussy cat finally finished and photographed. It took me three days to complete this one though I haven't worked exclusively on it. I have to admit I have also been working on a few scrapbooking projects as well but, it feels like I've achieved something pretty cool. 

I'm not much of a journaler you see, but I've recently discovered the beauty of handwriting and even though I realise my own hand isn't perfect I am growing to love it more and more. And because this work was totally inspired by Edward Lear's "The Owl And The Pussycat" it seemed only right to add a few lines of the poem to the pages. It really is brilliant, I found myself having a quiet laugh to myself as I was reading and writing.

For now I think I am getting there.

And in the meantime, the search is on for that perfect journaling pen. Any suggestions or ideas you might have for me would be very welcome. I've tried Copic multiliners, Signo and paint pens so far. The Copic are permanent ink but don't like my matte surfaces, Signo are ok but only come in one size and I love using paint markers but they can smudge and reactivate with anything wet. Thoughts?

Art Journal Every Day Month #04

Day four already, and today I am sharing my part 2 double page from the previous post. This little owl dude turned out to be the cutest! I've also added my journaling which is the first two lines to the poem "The Owl And The Pussycat" by Edward Lear - my inspiration for these journal entries.

Tomorrow I hope to get a photograph of the complete double, but for now I had to make do with a scan since it's almost midnight.

I'm pretty chuffed that I'm still on track with the challenge even if it is early days. Amazing! 

Thanks for dropping by, have a great day!

Art Journal Every Day Month #03

Yay, this means I've caught up with the challenge! Day #03 and I went whimsical. I just adore this art style and this piece is very heavily influenced by Tamara Laporte, since I recently signed up to Life Book 2014 and while I was there couldn't resist taking this adorable little self-paced art class called "World Of Whimsy" - so much fun! So this little art journal entry is very much in Tam's style. Tomorrow I hope to be working on the beautiful pea green boat - the second half of this painting but until then I think pussy will just have to make do on her own for one night!

Thanks again for dropping by, enjoy the rest of your weekend xx

Art Journal Every Day Month #02

Here is my day #02 for Art Journal Every Day Month. I cheated a little and I'm using an art journal page I created a couple of weeks ago to try to catch up. This piece is collaged using brightly coloured serviettes and overpainted with acrylic paint, paint markers, pens, stencils and Prismacolor pencils. It forms the cover to one of the current art journals I am working on at the moment - of which there are many! This journal will feature sea creatures, mermaids and characters from beneath the sea.

Thanks for visiting me :)