Art Journal Pages I'm Sharing Today

Recently, I chose to draw animals and fill them with doodles. Here's the first of three. I love this one. Just the noble canine and nothing else on the page. It looks so sharp. Personally, I prefer smaller dogs. Our first was a SiIkie Terrier rescue we named Wilson. We found out he had some big health issues, but by then he had been with us for three months. He was part of our family, and he gave us love for five years before giving up the good fight. Our second dog was also a rescue, mixed-breed terrier we named Honeycomb, Honey for short. She was six years old when we got her and she had some minor health issues. She's now 8 yo and has exactly that many teeth left. I guess terriers have an issue with their teeth rotting. We've always brushed our dogs teeth every night, but obviously many owners don't even think of doing that!

Here is my dolphin (well, not mine personally but my art journal page). After filling in her body, I doodled some waves and gave her the quote, "Don't just float, make waves". Do you doodle? What's in your art journal?? Happy crafting!!
 

Summer Means A Farmers' Market!

 Until my tomato plants start blooming and tomatoes start turning red, I spend every Sunday morning at the local farmers' market. Although it's in the neighboring town, I live on the edge of mine and it's closer to go there than to my own town's market.

I love to browse through the stalls, check out the local artists/crafters, and choose fresh farm-grown vegetables and fruit. So last Sunday, I was inspired to create a Zen doodle of the bounty that is offered weekly. There's also a kettle corn vendor, as well as a crepe food truck. It's always great to see families and couples wandering up and down, enjoying the sunshine, walking their dogs, meeting up with neighbors and friends, and generally having a good time.

As you can see, I decided to color my veggies. I used colored pencils, which made sense with all the black ink on the page. Does it make you hungry?? LOL

Have a Turtle-y Awesome Day

 

I have another fun thrift store makeover for you today. This trio of mischievous turtles was a thrift shop purchase from last year. I knew I was going to repaint it, but life threw me a curve ball and it sat in my basement until now. I sanded the trio to a rough surface to ensure my white base coat woould not peel off. I painted the turtles' bodies first, using an Apple Green for them all. Knowing that each of the many layers I painted would have to dry completely, I used the ceiling fan as well as a heat gun to speed things along. 

I used my favorite colors, which are teal, turquoise and aqua for their shells. I love these colors and paint with them frequently. In fact, the color scheme of my summer trailer uses these colors. Since they are wildlife, and my deck sits above a ravine with a stream running through it, maybe I'll pack these guys up and use them at the trailer. Btw, lots of summer residents give their RV lots creative names. Since I share it with my nephew and family, I thought something that had both our last names in it. How does Martin Manor/Toscano Terrace sound?

Here's what the trio of turtles originally looked like (below). As you can see, they were dented, dirty and dull. Now, with two coats of gloss varnish, they are bright, cheerful and ready for mischief!

Come Sail Away with Me

 Caught the Doodling bug again. This time I went all out with sunshine, water and a boat. The sun has a little blotch on the right. I guess my glass of water got too close to it! 

I am filling up my art journal quickly. I have several more pages to feature on my blog. They were all drawn this month. Just when I think I've run out of ideas for doodling, I get inspired by the weather, the zoo, my home - just about anything! Are you that way? Do you find inspiration everywhere? For me, the problem is finding time to create from the inspiration!

Today's page was inspired by the travel plans I and my sister are making. We are taking a cruise together, which is no mean feat as one of my sisters lives in Germany. We chose to go to the East and west Caribbean. We tried but couldn't book connecting rooms, but we're close enough so we can pop in each others' rooms. Just thinking about the trip gets me excited... 

I Love the Smell of Leather

 When I was a kid, my family lived on a city block where all my neighbors had sons. I grew up as a tomboy with one desire - to own my own baseball mitt. I never got a new mitt, but I did get a "throw-away" one from my uncle. No matter, I could catch with it just as easily as a new one. 

I think that's where my liking the smell of leather kicked in. Awesome memories playing ball with him and his friends (uncle was only 4 years older than I) and forever throwing the ball against the front steps. You had to throw the ball just at the edge of a step for it to "throw back" at you. 

My make today uses a leather kit (and that's where the story came to mind). I  had to piece together and sew the leather to create an art journal cover. I traded the twine for my own silver twine and used a blanket stitch on the covers instead of the recommended simple stitch. The stitches are a little messy, but it did its job. 

After admiring my sloppy work, I pulled out my Posca paint markers and got to do what I do best - doodle!! If you are wondering whether to put out the money for a set of Poscas, they are truly worth the cost over other paint markers. The effect is more opaque than all the rest. I outlined everything first, then went back in with some colored paint markers. I love the end result. Using another piece of colored twine, I rummaged through my jewelry supplies, finding a few beads and charms to complete my journal. Now I just have to put paper in it and we're ready!

When I think of the isolation of COVID, I think of all the new techniques and supplies I tried. Some attempts were laughable while others stirred a desire to continue learning. Now I'm not only a card maker, I am JOAT (that's Jack Of All Trades, thanks to Anne McCaffrey's science fiction/fantasy Ship book series. I also stretched my taste in books and music.  

Challenges I am Entering:

A Perfect Time to Craft - A/G    

Ally's Angels - A/G

Daisy Chain Challenges - No Design Paper

More than Words - Art Supplies (art journal)

Zen Doodling is All about the Patterns

 

I pulled a back muscle, so instead of enjoying a weekend at my trailer with family, I spent it relaxing and creating more Zen doodles. This one is of a young woman; I have another to show you. But first, I always use a medium point gel pen. I now buy them in bulk off of Amazon!!

The doodle below is also of a young woman. I'm going to try my hand at a young man's face later in the week. These are pages from my newest art journal. I'm almost to the end so I will have to use the backs of the pages already filled. I try not to do so, in case of leakage, especially when I paint or use Copics on a doodle. But as the saying goes, Needs must!

BTW, this month's challenge at the Path of Positivity challenge blog has an optional twist of PATTERNS. If anything, doodles are just an arrangement of patterns. Hope to see some artwork from you over there.

My Poet-tree

 I got a chance today to create in my art journal. No doodles this time, just some collaging and three of my copyrighted Haiku poems. The background paper was an online freebie, the dog cut from a magazine, and the bird and butterfly are die-cuts. I also used a word sticker, "dream".

I am attempting to e-publish my Haiku poetry. My cousin published hers and she's coaching me on how to set up pages, etc., Please tell me your honest opinion of any or all of these poems. Haiku is a type of poem originating in Japan, offering three stark lines in the  proportion of five syllables, 7 syllables and 5 again. You have to make your statement in just 17 syllables: difficult, but not impossible. I love creating these, and have about 50+ poems to share with others.

Challenges I am Entering:

 Creative Artiste - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Creative Fingers - A/G

Paper Dragonfly Creative - #1 Anything Flies

Diecut Divas - A/G with at least one diecut (butterflies and bird)