My New Art Journal!

I have been trying to complete my journals before I start a new one but I just couldn’t resist. This journal is about me. Yes I am “fragmented” which only further explains my inability to complete a journal before beginning a new one. So information from this year will be found in multiple journals. Also, I have the habit of not writing in my journal on consecutive pages. This happens when I want to work over a previously painted page and the next one in my book isn’t the color(s) I want to draw or journal on. Perhaps I am happy and want to write on a sunny yellow background so I skip the Pthalo blue/ Burnt Umber page.

The idea for this fragmented picture came from an article that Angela Cartwright had written in one of Stampington’s publications. In that article she had collaged a face from various photos of herself from different ages. I have been wanting to explore that idea for years. It takes a lot of prep work though. First you have to find a variety of pictures of yourself at different ages, then scan them into the computer and print them out in the sizes you want.

I came up with the idea for incorporating the apple slicer while creating one of my assemblage figures (Which I’ll blog about in the future.) Each slice captures different moments in time in my life.

First I etched the title of my journal, them I torched the copper to give it a nice patina. I love the rich colors that copper can have! I only applied the antiquing solution to the title area. Then I sprayed on a glossy clear coat to protect the finish.

Being creative and organized doesn’t work together for me. When I am in one of my most creative moods I like to work quickly to keep the ideas flowing. Being organized is a hindrance for my creative self. Then when the creative flurry is over or I can’t stand the mess anymore I organize. My creativity and organizational skills are fragmented. But in a way I use creativity and organization both to help defragment myself. Getting ideas out of my head and onto paper helps to declutter my brain. Organizing helps to compartmentalize and put ideas and memories in their place.

So what if I’m fragmented! THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF ART FOR ME IS TO KEEP CREATING! It also helps my organized side that I date each journal entry.

I made this journal with coptic binding. The pages are torn down to size from sheets of 140# watercolor paper. The cover is a bit bulky with the apple slicer but doesn’t seem to hinder working in it for me. I find the journal to be very inspiring in itself and have all sorts of ideas to fill it with.

Another Art Journal Page

I drew this last night on a prepainted page in my journal. The face is larger than life so that was a challenge for me. I am not used to drawing such big eyes.

Goat Vignette

A little goat vignette. The angora goats in the frame above are Little Lulu and Baby Dumpling. That picture was taken about 14 years ago. The clock portrays the passing of time on my little hobby farm. I used to collect goat related items, before I had even heard of eBay. Goats were hard to find then. The internet has changed that. I am trying not to collect anything these days. I don't like to part with anything in order to make room for the new. I attach memories and feelings to objects.

Creative Inspiration at the Cedarburg Cultural Center

The Cedarburg Cultural Center is one of my favorite places to visit for inspiration. They are sponsoring monthly Artist in Residence programs. This month the featured artist is my friend Lisa Brobst, who specializes in fabric collage as well as woodworking and furniture design. You can see her creating on Thursdays from noon-3pm. This is my window view from last Thursday (much better in person without camera glare!)

In addition, Lisa will conduct a special workshop on fabric collage for families on:

Saturday, September 24: 10 am - 1 pm

House Design Continued - Kitchen View

Here is where the bench usually is in the kitchen (see previous post). The jug terrarium was Mark's and has survived for over 30 years. The grandmother clock was from a kit that my grandma Eleanore's husband put together. The hoya plant on the top of the clock was mine since I was a teenager, so it probably is almost 40 years old. They are very hardy plants. I only have a few plants, these are ones that have survived years of neglect. The wooden boards that hold my curtains are eveners from an old wagon. They even out the animals when they are pulling the wagon. Other than the pillows and potted flowers in the window this is a regular view from my kitchen. Bonus -This was a good incentive to wash my windows inside and out.

Photo Styling My Living Room

I have been pinning beautiful home design ideas using Pinterest. Pinterest allows you to "pin" pictures off of their site and other websites creating a virtual bulletin board to store ideas.

I am inspired to photo style objects in my house "feathering the nest." This is a view from my living room. The only piece in it's original location to the way we really live is the watercolor painting by Violette Yahnke. I bought the painting from her at her last show. The frame was a score from my sister. The bench is from my kitchen and was made by my Dad years ago by combining the bottom of a sewing machine stand to a buggy seat. The table was given to me while helping Bernie Berlin pack to move. The crocheted pillow was made by my Granny Eleanore. The pillow case hanging on the back of the bench is also from Granny. The linen pillow is one I had made and actually turned around to the backside as I felt the flowers embroidered on the front did not match with my design scheme. The lamp is from my studio, a score from St. Vincent dePaul years ago. Spanky the boston terrier is posing as the model dog. What fun this has been!

Now to put everything back to the way we really live. The pillows need to be stored away as the dogs would have them off the bench the minute I wasn't looking!

Sketchbook Challenge - Every Day Objects

It occured to me today that August is almost over and I hadn't done my Sketchbook Challenge for this month. Here is a cup and saucer from my every day set of dishes. My granny Eleanore had these. I never seen her use them but I thought they were pretty and I liked the quote on the back of the dinner dishes. There are only 4 dinner plates left, but I have plenty of cups for tea.

Art Studio - Cedarburg, Wisconsin

You are invited to a reception to celebrate
The Grand Opening of our new Art Studio

Featuring artists Joan Hollnagel, Mary Newcomb and Kim Rae Nugent

Third floor in the Settlement Building,
Located on Bridge and Washington Streets
In Historic downtown Cedarburg


Thursday, August 25th
4 pm to 8 pm

refreshments served

Journaling at the Weather Center Cafe in Sheboygan

Sketchbook page from the day Jill Shulse and I went to a coffee shop named the Weather Center Cafe in Sheboygan, WI.

2011 Vacation Journal

My friend Jill K. Berry gifted me this journal she made. I had been saving it for "something special". Something special was a trip with my husband Mark to visit long time friends John & Gail in Idaho and Randy in Montana. I love the small portable size of this journal and it was my goal to completely fill it during our vacation. The 72 pages, although tiny proved to be a daunting task. Today I have finished the journal, 10 days since the end of our 10 day trip. So this journal comprises everything artful that I have created in 20 days. Below is a sampling of the pages.

A fold out map showing the route we took plus where we stayed overnight.

This was one of the few paintings that I was able to create while on our vacation. It is a view from "Ancient Hunters Overlook" in the Badlands. I had a lot of time to journal while driving but motion sickness makes this impossible for me. By the time we parked for the night I was usually too tired to journal.

I did take over 300 photos during the trip and Mark took over 700. So I had a lot of reference photos to work from.

We visited Yellowstone. I was in awe about the numbers of wildlife that we seen there.

We brought a lot of food along and cooked many of our meals. Mark's fortune from a chinese take out that we treated ourselves to.

Road Trip 2011

On Thursday, May 25, Mark and I started our road trip to Idaho. About thirty years ago we went on our first road trip, our honeymoon. We don't vacation very often and with the current price of gas and other reasons to think of it, it probably wasn't the best time to travel. But we had already delayed this trip for 18 years...

Spanky came along. Rufus and Ziggy went to Grandma's house and Edna stayed with Brook.

Nice View!

Mark did all of the driving.

Spanky and I enjoyed the scenery on the way.

There was elk all over town in Mammouth Springs.

I found a buffalo in a wash of paint in my Journal earlier this year. I had no idea at that time we would be traveling out west and actually see buffalo. Many buffalo!

I was in awe of all of the wildlife at Yellowstone Park. Mark and I seen 4 black bear, many bison, lots of elk, mule deer, Eagles, pronghorn,mountain goats, dall sheep, and even a wolf. Is this how it used to be all over, before "white man" took over? We traveled through different temperatures and weather depending on our elevation in the mountains.

We even were greeted by a Raven at the park. I now have several nice reference pictures to add to my folder.

We seen buffalo at all different elevations in Yellowstone.

We stopped to see "Old Faithful". Not yet time for it to spout off.

Our next stop was Thompson Falls where we met with our good friend Randy Umbs. Randy used to be our next door neighbor, then he moved to Hayward, Wisconsin. For all the time he lived there we talked about visiting him but never made the trip. Now that he lives on the West side of Montana we visit him. Life is full of surprises, and sometimes you need to make them happen!

Spanky thoroughly enjoyed being the only spoiled dog. The sleeping space above the cab was the perfect spot. He could see out the windows on all sides.

Our Locomotion and Lodging. Our riverside camping spot on the Clark Fork River, courtesy of Randy.

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A pair of eagles floating on a log in the Clark Fork River.


Our destination point was Clark Fork Idaho where we spent three fabulous days talking, eating and relaxing with good friends John & Gail, Kristin and Gerald.

Village Wide Rummage Sale

Nothing like a village wide rummage sale to get my heart going! I have every excuse in the book, usually, to not walk especially on a windy rainy day...except if there is the opportunity of spending some time at a village wide rummage sale. Just one more house, just one more street...my motivation for walking. Not too far into the quest I find this:

A library card cabinet. Actually there was two sections side by side for a total of 30 drawers for $10. I could hardly believe my eyes and scurry to pay for the cabinet before someone else claims it. The owner tells me that she had another section available. So for $20 I have added 60 drawers to my cabinet collection. Not that I needed another cabinet! The downside to my find is that the sections don't have a finished backside or top. Mark wanted to know where was I going to put this. He took the cabinet sections apart so I could stack them vertically instead. After a couple of days pondering, here is the result of how I squeezed three sections into my assemblage studio.

I am sure that I can find a place for the fourth section. Many happy hours sorting junk and labeling drawers await me!