What is nature journaling?We may have a sense of what journaling is—the routine writing of thoughts and feelings for self-reflection or expression—though it can vary person-to-person. Nature journaling is similar, but focused on capturing individual experiences of small moments in nature and incorporating sketching, keepsakes, writing, and so on. We can keep these moments close and use them for creative inspiration later.
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Art is so noisy, but who knew? When I create and teach my mind is calm and quiet, so this process video is fascinating. This most recent class used acrylic paint to create some illustrative moody ostriches. Each person learned to paint with wet and dry brush techniques, how to use the brush bristles of various brushes to create desired effects and stroke sizes, and mixing primary colors to create the palette. Many giggles, a little frustration, and plentiful masterpieces.
Check out the class schedule for the next painting event and hope to see you soon! You can enjoy a painting party at home with just a few key items.
I've added a couple other favorite frills to make the painting experience more enjoyable and styled. Painting with others is a wonderful way to create memories or learn a new skill. Painting can be calming and therapeutic as well. A typical instructor-led painting event takes around 2 hours, but leaves plenty of time in between for sips, snacks, laughter, and fun. Click 'Read More' to create your checklist!
I made this paper while at university, so it's likely 18 years-old. I have kept it all of these years, partially because it was painstakingly made from artichoke pulp that I cooked down in my studio apartment, but partially because I knew it would be a part of something more beautiful one day. Such as carefully slicing then weaving delicately to create a rough pattern. The fibers were so brittle, but the effect of the layering is lovely.
Collectors will have the chance to browse the Just Beyond collection in a beautiful and modern virtual exhibition space. By using a computer mouse or keyboard arrows, one can "walk" through the space and view the artwork on the walls.
I'll be reshooting my artwork this weekend (morning light has beens superb lately) and get my art into the virtual gallery in time for the Collectors-only pre-launch on September 4th. I'm considering one wing for the framed originals and one wing for giclée prints.
If you build an exhibition, send me the link as I never turn down a gallery visit.
(Flow of consciousness entry) Exploring the qualities of the complex relationship between mother and child, in addition to the self (adult female and mother). My initial thoughts are to create representational shapes of the roles. How do they interact? How do they interpret each other? Maybe think magnets - cycle of repelling and drawing closer, repel, draw, repeat. What shape is a child? What shape is a female or a mother?
In response to a quick sketch exercise created, a friend mentioned 3-D glasses. This has stuck with me as I think through how this relationship would be best described or transcribed or created or... . The layering of two colors, the creation of another color where overlapped is quite representational of this relationship. Cyan and yellow, green? Magenta and yellow, orange? Is magenta associated with female too often? Would blue be too strong or infer different meaning? Could I use ink? Watercolor? Screen print? My brain is completely overflowing right now! More to come.
"Bourgeois uses the spider, both predator (a sinister threat) and protector (an industrious repairer), to symbolise the mother figure." |
![]() Spider, 1997, Washington DC Visit original post | I first learned of Louise Bourgeois in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Gardens in Washington, DC. This was in our pre-kids era and we used to go for jazz and sangria on hot summer nights, dipping our toes in the pond. Wandering through the gardens, my intense fear of spiders kept me from one of the most fascinating interpretations of the "mother". It wasn't until I visited the Bilbao Guggenheim that I really felt a connection with these sculptures (still couldn't touch them though) and the artist Louise Bourgeois. Quietly exploring her exhibition space along, my husbands rocking our sleeping one year-old, I realized some of my negative feelings and experiences toward "Hollywood" motherhood were being validated in an unexpected and pleasing way. Even now, thinking back, I'm not sure I can put the experience into words; I just remember the experience being quiet and loud, and eerie and comforting, simultaneously. To say the very least, it was unforgettable. |
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