Cheers to the Art Blogging Community!

Roots 1
9” x 12”
acrylic on paper


I haven’t done any new paintings this week since I’ve been sick with an upper respiratory infection—spring is in the air but my nose doesn’t seem to like it! But here is an older painting.

While doing a Google search about some art pencils today, I refined my search to blogs only and got a wealth of tips, techniques, and step-by-step instructions about the type I was researching. I love the art blogging community—I have found so many generous and nurturing individuals!

So, a big thank you to all you wonderful art bloggers out there—your helpful and sharing nature have lifted my spirits. I lift my tissue box to you!

Ladies & Gentlemen, Start Your Fake Journal!

Do you enjoy looking at artist journals? Do you like keeping a journal yourself? Have you ever kept a journal as someone else?

The 2nd International Fake Journal Month is approaching! Started by Roz Stendahl last year, she has a blog encouraging and describing what fake journals are all about. I jumped in at, literally, the last hour and had a great time. My character was a young wife and mother in 1960’s Ireland and she tried to sketch and jot down things going on in her life; you can see them here.

You could do a fake journal in a media you’ve always wanted to try, in a voice you’ve always been curious about. Last week, thinking and jotting possibilities down, I got excited about one in particular. I won’t give it away just yet, but encourage you to play along if you’d like.

Forgotten People Series

Phillip

9” x 12”

acrylic and toner transfer on paper

This is the first painting in a series called Forgotten People, which I did a few years ago and will feature occasionally. Using scans of old photographs bought at an out-of-town antique shop, I was fascinated by their strong faces and period clothes. I created a name for each person, wished to respect their dignity, and wondered about their life story.

Memory Triggers

Fuchsias remind me of Ireland, where I first saw them. Yesterday, we got two small ones along with herb and tomato plants. I love their brilliant colors and intricate blossoms.

Thinking of travel memories, I’ve been wondering what do with old postcards. Do you save postcards, too? What do you do with them? What do they mean to you?

I could simply sort and display my collection in clear scrapbooking sleeves, or bind same-sizes ones into a book. That might involve punching holes or altering them, which might work for the blank ones. But those with correspondence are special. Originally meant as a cheap, disposable souvenir, a travel postcard evokes memories of those who sent them. With people writing and mailing fewer letters and cards, these old cards become personal historical documents.

What if I began integrating them into art journals, theme books, or stitching them to stretched canvas? What if I began mixing them into different projects instead of placing them together? They could evoke an active and interactive role rather than passively sitting together. They could spark journal entries full of memories.

Like the fuchsia plants did yesterday.