Live in the Moment

I followed the prompt that Junelle gave us for the first piece in week two of The Art of Wild Abandonment. I had to change it up and add my own spin, of course. This journal page was all about a memory of a very special ram we had when we lived on the farm. It's also a reminder to stay present and enjoy the moment. She is enjoying fine company, lovely spring tulips and the opportunity to fly a kite on a beautiful spring day. I used distress inks and Neocolor IIs for the background and shading. The ram is built up with molding paste which I distressed once dry. Lots of layers and textures, as well as a variety of paper scraps, made this piece fun to make. I'm feeling more comfortable making the sketchy linework and doodles. Yay!
Thanks for taking a peek.
Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Our house is a very very very fine house

Did the title get you singing? Have I planted an ear worm?? This journal page continues my Art of  Wild Abandonment journey and finishes off week one. Yes, I am behind but still loving every minute of this class. I continued to combine paper piecing with linework, Neocolor II crayons, and a few Derwent Inktense pencils. I also added some distress ink around the edge of the page because that's what I do. The challenge for me continues to be staying loose and slightly messy. This class and style of art journalling is so good for me because I tend to be overly precise and ...dare I say...leaning toward perfectionism. I'm gaining confidence in my drawing and sketching abilities. Both Christy and Junelle make me believe I can do it. What a gift that is!
Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Spring Makes Me Smile

We have had the most unusual gift of gorgeous warm weather which inspired me to complete this journal page for my Art of Wild Abandonment class. This is the first time I combined paper piecing with watercolours, acrylic paint, and pen doodles. I love this process...much to my surprise. I watercoloured the background and cut apart my sketch so I could use it as a template for the clothes. Once everything was glued down, I went to town with my Neocolor II crayons and my black pitt pens. I stamped some random messy areas with background stamps from Tim Holtz, pounced paint through punchinella, and used some Vintage Photo distress ink around the edges and over the pages to grunge  them up. I watercoloured the leaves of the poppies. Then I cut  two petals off  punched flowers and used my black pen to make them into poppies. For me, the words sum up my feelings about spring. I love how this piece ties in all of the new techniques I've been learning in my various classes.  I can't wait to see where I go next.
Life is good; so is art.

Bonnie

Travelling Flat Me

One of the Split Coast Stampers swaps that I'm involved with is a Flat You adventure. I created a doll with my face and sent her off on her travels to visit nine other ladies all over North America. What a fun concept! We share pics of what each doll does while visiting so everyone can keep up with the virtual tour. I made my flat me doll using a Dylusions stamp for the body, legs, and arms. I paper pieced the hat and the skirt and then added a separate suitcase where each person she visits can add a note. I coloured her up with my Prisma pencils, wished her well, and mailed her off to her first stop in West Virginia. From what I hear, she's having a blast. As for the non-flat me (seriously!), I'm getting strange looks from people around town as I take my wee visitors on a tour and photoshoot.
Love it!
Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Nudging my boundaries

I've been having a blast this week following the online class, The Art of Wild Abandonment, taught by Junelle Hallstrom Jacobsen and Christy Tomlinson at scarletlime.com. I get to play with all of my favourite toys: stamps, pens, designer paper, Neocolour IIs...you name it. Both of these women are fabulous artists and instructors and the facebook group is amazingly supportive. I've done art that I never thought I would attempt this week...expanding the ol' comfort zone. How awesome is that. Check it out if you get the chance. You'll love it!
Here's my silly little owl exercise that I did for week one. Funny little group.
Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie