The last theme of the art journal course this year was Alternatives. For the first page of the theme, we could create different substrates to work on. I used gesso mixed with Plaster of Paris to give me a textured background and then had fun using inktense pencils and mark making with acrylic pens on the top.
We used collage and pressed flower petals for the next page and added extra colour to the petals with acrylic paint.
I really enjoyed creating the elements for week forty-three. We had to go for a walk or go into the garden and notice what colours we were drawn to. We then made little numbered swatches of the colours and a description of what provided that colour. On the right, we used window envelopes to display pressed leaves. The vibrant pink was from Salvia Cerro Potosi.
Rust dyeing was used in the collage background here. The photos are of my Dad, aged about four on the left, my Granny in her twenties towards the top and my Mum aged fifteen just below her. I also did some journaling about some of my memories of them.
The page took a long time, but was enjoyable to do. We created interesting stamps using string wrapped round cardboard and lids from bottles. these were then stamped onto various papers and cotton material. We made a patchwork from all these papers and hand sewed them together. The photo which is 'trapped' behind tracing paper is of my Granny, Mum (at the front on the right) and her brothers, David and Robert.
Another enjoyable week, making 'zines' from one sheet of paper, collaged onto, painted and illustrated with stamps, images or whatever you wanted to add, to make these little books. I chose two of my favourite songs, 'What a wonderful world' and 'What a difference a day makes' for my zines. I then made the envelopes and decorated them using watercolour swatches.
Dyeing material with plants and flowers was the next lesson. I didn't have enough of anything to be able to use flowers or onion skins etc. However, I did have some walnut granules, so I used them as a dye and then attached some of the material to journal cards.
The artist's musings week was using stabilo all pencil (which is water soluble) and watercolours. The teacher had incorporated collage in her page, but I was happy with my simple version.
The final week was a round up and a bit of reflection, thinking of what we enjoyed, creative breakthroughs, what we would like to do more of next year. I used a patchwork of gel printed pieces and made a tag flap on the page. I carved a small birds in flight stamp which is on the tag. I would like to do more printing (lino and gel), collage and loose watercolour and ink drawing, all activities I really enjoyed this year.
On to Wanderlust 2025, which starts in January.
