An art journal page doesn’t have to happen all at once.  Truly, there are no rules when it comes to art journaling and play.  A few weeks ago I stenciled the heart with paint and let it be until I had a  stack of PanPastels out on my counter that were whispering to me.

I love playing with PanPastels because they are so forgiving.  That means no pressure to make it perfect since it is all blendable.  You’ll see what I mean in the video…and you know there will be an Oops in there that turned out to be just what I needed…

Watch Using PanPastels with Stencils in an Art Journal on YouTube.

To seal the PanPastels so they don’t smear, I use the Gelli Plate to apply a coat of gel medium.  You can see how I do that in February’s Colorful Gelli Print Party.

Supplies Used

• Words to Live By stencil
• Heart stencil
• Heavy Bodied Titanium White Paint
• Black Stabilo pencil 
• PanPastels

A Valentine from me to you, reminding us both to be who we are.  We are all amazing and creative just as we are so let your creativity loose on the world!

Looking for a place to share your creativity with the world?  Stop on over to the Colorful Playground Google+ community.  Join me as we learn how to use Google+ together while sharing our artful play!  Here’s a short video showing how to get around the community.

Watch a new art community for sharing creativity on Google+ on YouTube.

The stencil talked to me. It had a very important message that I needed to be reminded of at just the right time.

Too much leftover paint on the palette led me to some very fast and somewhat sloppy stenciling with the  Use Your Words stencil. Notice all the paint that ran under it.  I adore that because it every time I use a stencil it is unique – never exactly same.

Next I grabbed a variety markers and loosely colored in each word.  I forgot to grab a camera so you’re going to have to imagine that step….

The words needed something more so I outlined them with a dark blue paint and a very fine brush.

And then it happened.  The brush was over loaded with paint and the Oops happened right on the L in “listen”.

Well, an Oops is just an Outstanding Opportunity Presenting Suddenly so I went with it and added more paint to the other letters.

The painting was talking to me.  Reminding me to listen, to be present.  But it had more to say.

As I photographed the canvas for this post I found a word that was never outlined.  I have looked at this many times and never noticed that little word was without an outline.

Reminding me with an artistic whisper to become.  Become what?  Who knows but I will keep moving forward just as the painting moves forward.

This painting is a work in  progress, it has yet to become everything it will be.  Not sure where it is going, but that isn’t important as long as I listen to the painting and let it guide me.  What messages has your muse been sending you lately?