Art Journal Page – Spiraling From My Center

 

It has been awhile since I have worked in my art journal. Journaling helps me to feel centered.

I had the idea of “spiraling from my center”. I drew a spiral and then proceeded to tear out pictures and some words from a magazine that I was drawn to. Next I tore segments to add to the spiral and glued them down.

After I was satisfied with the collage portion I added washes of acrylic paint following the spiral pattern. Then came my favorite step, mark making. I find this step to be very meditative.

“As the world expands – the further away I feel from my center”. Not sure of the wording so I rephrased underneath. Sometimes I feel that I am “spiraling out of control”.

Ring – Fox “A day’s work”

 

I started taking jewelry classes in Grafton at Terri McCarthy Studios April of this year.  Terri is an excellent teacher and I am enjoying the social atmosphere of the class. After a couple of practice soldering exercises this is my first completed project.

The cabochon was the inspiration for the ring. It reminds me of the red and buff sandstone mountains of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas, Nevada

I knew that I wanted to make a ring and I had the idea of cutting out the shape of a plant or animal that could be found inhabiting the Red Rock Canyon. After entertaining the idea of several different plants and animals I settled on a fox trotting across the cabochon placed in a horizontal position.

Using a couple of pictures for reference I drew the fox and then reduced it a couple times on my printer/scanner to use as a pattern for cutting out the fox.

The sterling silver was a gift from my sister and brother-in-law several years prior.

I etched the phrase on copper using a portion of a stamp that I had from Stampington & Co. “a day’s work” fit the space and resonates with my quest for productivity.

The ring is rather large but feels good to wear.