Mixed Media Art Journaling

The way of the artist makes room for rest, for inspiration, for freedom of expression. It's a reflection of the inner person, a chance to breathe, to connect, to focus. 

Art is an addiction, and today I was able to feed that addiction just a little. And gee was it nice. Just to stop. To relax, to get messy fingers. To free designs, colours and images that have been swirling around on the canvas of my mind.

I attended a local mixed media journal class, and while mixed media journaling isn't new to me, it has been a good few months since I've had the pleasure of enjoying it's creative freedoms.

Today Gelato's and spray ink held my attention, and I found myself delighted with their ease of use, their colour vibrancy and their forgiving nature when I made mistakes! It's safe to say that mixed media journaling is something I'm definitely going to continue with!

Words are an important part of the mixed media journaling process for me, and I'm always needing to include something that is deep and holds a lot of personal meaning. I feel my work isn't complete until the right words are woven into each piece. 

After completing my artwork today, I realized that I'm actually not going to add it to my journal, but frame it instead. I don't think I could bare cutting it in half to stick it in my journal! 

I'm looking forward to next Friday (I hope I can wait that long!) for the next journal class ...

I wonder what we'll create?!

Being Brave

I've always loved Impressionist art. It doesn't matter how hard I try to create a different looking work, it always ends up looking very Impressionistic or a little bit Impressionistic. It's the colours, the texture, the movement of the style that I just adore. Van Gogh has long been my favourite Impressionistic artist(Technically speaking, he was a Post-Impressionist artist) His work, to me, is stunning.

One thing I am learning about my artwork lately, is that I'm not really happy to just 'dabble' and be safe anymore. I have this urging to create a monstrous canvas piece of ... something! A landscape? A portrait? Our cat?! Who knows?!! But I think I'm working up enough courage to just jump in and give it a shot! I feel as though I've been 'practicing' for years and years, and now? Now it's time to get cracking!

I would like to see my art progressing and each day, getting that little bit better at what I do. Not comparing myself to others, but enjoying the uniqueness of my own work. Art is, after all, individual expression.

I really appreciate this quote from Matisse, and while it is sometimes easier said than done, it's something that I'm really desiring to implement more into my art.

COURAGE = BRAVERY = BOLDNESS = INDIVIDUALITY.

One thing I do know, is that when I do create courageously, it will most likely have an Impressionistic vibe to it! 

See what I mean?! ...

'The Long Journey Home'.

I used oil pastels to create this piece, entirely from my imagination without a reference picture. For me, that was courageous. And yep, Impressionistic feel! Now, I'm ready to take the step in creating that large piece of work! 

Wish me luck! 

I'll let you know how it goes!

I hope you have a beautifully creative week!

Anyone Love Pinterest?!

I've been busy taking some iPhone photos today ... just because I wanted to! The session only lasted for about 15 minutes, but it's better than not doing anything creative at all today! 

If you're not already aware, Embrace Create Enjoy is on Pinterest . Pinterest is absolutely amazing! I would love you to pop over and have a look at the pins I have there and follow along!

I have a love of quotes and words. I also love photography. So, I was inspired to combine all those little iPhone images that I captured today and some quotes that I wrote all together! Perfect combination! I added them to my Pinterest account on a board named 'Quotes' (original I know), so I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed creating them!

Creativity can be something as small and simple as quotes on a photograph. There's no right or wrong when it comes to how you express your creativity. Just as long as you are doing what you love. I would love to 'meet' you and be inspired by your art, your cooking, your photographs ... whatever it is that you enjoy and would love to share! Comment below and leave your blog address so I can come see what you've been up to!

Thanks, and make sure you enjoy yourself this week!