Learning Lettering

Warning! Photo heavy post!

I've always admired beautiful lettering - the skill of Mary Brack, Miriam Schulman, and of course, Joanne Sharpe - and have spent time trying to emulate them. Last month I bought Joanne Sharpe's book (I had to order it in from the states as it doesn't make it to Australia until May!) and am working through the exercises in a random fashion. Here are some of my lettering adventures:

This is a spread in my Bible study journal done after having a go at some of the exercises. Quite often I don't manage to arrange the words very well, but this time I'm pleased with how they came out, stacked neatly on one another. 

Stacked letters.

The 'little black dress' outline.

Practicing in white on black. I enjoyed using the black lines to guide the size of the letters.

My first go - a few alphabets with different pens just to loosen up.

The 'playing' at the bottom is done using a dropper - there isn't much control which helps me to let go of perfection. The 'play' above was done with a paintbrush and then outlined with thick and thin markers to give a shadow.

Whoops! A bit blurry, but you get the idea.

I already used the little black dress outline quite a lot, but I really like the reverse one with a colour outline. Must use that more :)

What new skill are you working on?

Journal Fodder 365 - prompts #47 & #48

The journey through Journal Fodder 365 has finally come to an end after almost a year. I did the last two prompts this week because it's always fun to finish a journal :)

This spread is inheritances and legacies - what do you bring from the past and what will you leave behind?

I thought about the inheritances as seeds that were planted in my life and the legacies as the fruit that comes from them. I think my main inheritances are a desire to keep learning and sharing skills. The ability to read and follow instructions (not as obvious as it seems!) means I have been able to teach myself several skills by reading books. I love to learn from others, but sometimes there aren't the opportunities to do that, so you have to make do with what others have written.

As for the fruit - I hope to leave people with the knowledge that they are creative, even if they haven't found their niche just yet. I hope to be generous in sharing skills and encouraging the creativity of others, just as I have benefitted greatly from those who have been generous to me. And I hope to leave an abundance of beautiful books and jewellery. 

The final prompt was to look back at the journey through the book.

This journey has been a long one. Some of the prompts I have found easy, some of them I just didn't seem to be on the same wavelength as the authors. But I have interpreted the prompts as they appealed to me.

Working through the book has helped me to nail down my hopes and dreams; to see which fears are holding me back; to be grateful for all that has gone before, because it has made me into the woman I am, even if it wasn't fun at the time.

Thank you for joining me on the journey!

I will be sharing this page with Mix It Monthly, which has the subject of maps this month.

One Little Word - Dream

There are two words for One Little Word this month - and four prizes! Go take a look at the wonderful works created around the words 'calm' and 'dream' and add your own here. You have until the 14th April to enter.

This is my entry for 'dream' - my dream of a studio to teach in and hold retreats. It's still just in my head at the moment, but one day…

See my entry for 'calm' here along with a time-lapse video of how it was made.

Gelli deli

I've been having a lot of fun gelli-printing greaseproof paper (or deli paper for those of you stateside) and then tearing it up and applying it to pages with gel medium. I especially like to do that with the ghost prints and when the colours are dark. The black ghost prints add a really good grungy feel to the page which I'm liking a lot at the moment :) The gel medium makes the paper go translucent so all the other layers show through.

This piece was done using a piece of mouldable foam pressed into a texture plate. This makes a stamp that I then used to pick up paint from one area and add it to another. When the stamp becomes loaded with paint you can use it to stamp on a page and it gives a great mix of colours unlike anything you can get with an ink pad.

Inspiration

Where do you find inspiration? I found this fantastic photo by Bing Wright on the Colossal website - go look at the whole set of sunsets photographed in broken mirrors.

They make me want to do some paper mosaics with glossy paper...

Journal Fodder 365 - Prompt #46

This week's prompt is feeding the spirit. How do you keep good spiritual health and mental well-being?

For me this involves Bible study, prayer, journalling, cooking, serving others, and reading. I make sure to do at least four of these every day. Self-care is so important.

How do you feed your spirit?

And in case you missed it, find out about the Pay if Forward art-sharing project here.

Pay it Forward!

Get out your pens, paints, pencils, and photos and join in the fun!

* Pay It Forward Art-making Project for 2014 *

I promise to make a small work of art for the first five people who comment on this post and say "YES, I want in". A 'like' alone is not enough of a commitment, nor is a comment about thinking Pay It Forward is a great idea.

You must in turn post this as your status update and make something for the first five who comment on your status.

The rules are simple:
– It has to be your work, made by you, and the recipient must receive it before 2014 ends.
– It can be anything art-based: a drawing/illustration or a conceptual work of art, a photograph, a knitted item, cross-stitch, paper maché – or anything in between.

I'm paying this forward thanks to Marji Thompson.  Yes, you can be on each other's pay it forward lists.

First five, GO!

PS. It doesn't matter if you aren't an artist, try something out, google/ YouTube how to make stuff, step out of those boundaries.

 Step 1Copy&Paste the above as your latest entry on your favourite social website (in my case, its this blog) 

 
Step 2For the first five people who comment on your blog entry saying they want to participate, you will do an art trade with them that must be completed by December 31st 2014. I would count as the first person so technically you only need another four. If you find your friends are keen you can do as many as you want. 


Step 3All forms of art count including creative writing , photography, digital anything goes!
 

Art Journal Journey

The challenge over at Art Journal Journey this month is 'Moments of Happiness'.

It's good to take note of all the small things in life that bring happiness and be thankful for them. Here are some of mine, in no particular order:

The light in the eyes of a loved one when they see you.
Warm hugs.
The giggles of small children.
Sunshine on my face.
A cool breeze.
A sheet of white paper.
A new book and a warm drink on a winter day.
Dinner with friends.
Giving a special gift.
Making stuff.
The smell of baking bread.
A surprise parcel.
Inky fingers.

Fractured

Feeling a little fragile...

Journal Fodder 365 - Prompt #45

I have finally reached the last chapter of Journal Fodder 365. This prompt is accomplices. Who do you art with? Who is an inspiration?

I usually work alone, as do most artists most of the time. However, it is always fun to take or teach a class. There is always so much to learn from others. Just watching how someone else uses that medium, chooses a palette, gets that effect - it's fun! Having a play time with someone else provides inspiration and motivation.

So thank you to all of you out there who make video tutorials, share techniques, provide encouraging comments - you inspire and motivate me :)