I have a therapist on call 24 hours a day and the sudden change in my world due to broken ankle, has me needing that therapist more than usual. Who is this amazing helper? My art journal. She’s always available and always accepting of whatever mood I am in. Here’s a look at a recent session which began with the therapeutic scribbling splotches of color with Gelatos.
Mary Beth Shaw’s Barbed Wire stencil (both the small and large size) perfectly perfectly summed up how I was feeling- a bit prickly and cranky. That art journal therapist has handled every emotion that has been thrown at her.
A little scribble journaling vented out some feelings using the new PN pen by Sakura. When I scribble journal it is like talking to a dear friend who knows everything I know so nothing has to be explained.
Thanks to the back and forth of color and play, those stressful feelings were returned to where they came from, refused reentry back into my heart, and the door was closed on them so that I could have a better day.
To stencil the words, I used my Mixed Media Mail stencil and black paint. The word closed isn’t technically on the stencil, but since enclosed is, I simply stenciled the closed. There are all sorts of words inside other words.
That art journal therapist lets me honor any feeling, any emotion, no matter how intense or silly or irrational without any judgement. My art journal accepts me for who I am.
Here are the supplies I used. Some of these links are affiliate links which means I get a small percentage. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and it helps keep the free tutorials coming!
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What do I do when good colors go bad? I double down and play even more.
This started as an experiment that went to the most horrid baby poop green in layer number 2 thanks to some unplanned color mixing. It happens to us all. The creamy colors themselves are wonderful, but the way I combined them was ghastly. Green and orange mixed together do not make rainbow magic in my opinion.
I should have known better. I should have seen it coming. But I didn’t. So what did I do? I said O.O.P.S. (short for Outstanding Opportunities Presenting Suddenly) and played some more.
I couldn’t even begin to fathom where that cringeworthy muddy green would take me, let alone that I would actually appreciate those olive green hints. Layer after layer of Gelatos built up on this mixed media card and I not only loved the process of playing and smearing colors, but love the messy mixed media feel of this accidental card.
So next time good colors go bad when you are playing, try saying O.O.P.S. and add more layers!
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While doing a death defying tight rope walk between two trees 50 feet in the air, I fell and broke my ankle. I wish that was the exciting story that went with the broken ankle but alas, it was just a simple missed step at home.
So this gray boring boot is going to be with me for a while and is teaching me all sorts of things, including patience and a whole new respect for anyone who has to deal with a physical disability. Life is certainly different when mobility is limited.
But I have a wonderful helper, the hubby, who has been my life saver when it comes to getting things out of the studio so I can play. Another thing I learned is that what is crystal clear to me is so not clear to him.
I asked him to grab me a couple of larger paint brushes to prime the boot. He brought me handfuls since I forgot to say a flat brush. Turns out I have more brushes than I realized.
I added some primer to the boot, and used newspaper and a paint cloth to protect the sofa. For the parts I couldn’t reach pain free, he helped me out, even pointing out that some of the areas I did were a bit sloppy. Turns out pain meds do not induce careful brush strokes.
Then happiness, smearing paint all around. Seeing the rainbow on the boot actually makes it more tolerable!
Who knows what I will do next to it, but whatever it is, it will be gentle. Broken bones and torn ligaments can really smart! To my artful newsletter people, there isn’t going to be one this week and I hope you’ll understand.
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