Crusade 56 challenged me.  Tell about myself as an artist…hmmm…I hadn’t thought about it much, I just did it.  There are little scraps of paper all over the house today as I’d get a thought and write it down on any scrap I could find.  When I looked at all my slips I realized a few things.  I explore.

1.  I like to work with paper, paint, and fabrics the most.

2.  I thoroughly enjoy taking classes.  I’ve taken classes in just about everything but glass blowing.  I take pieces from these classes as I return to my trinity – paper, paint, and fabrics.

3.  I am learning to just enjoy the journey without knowing exactly where it is going.

4.  I really love shopping and buying but the supplies I use the most deal with paper, paint, and fabrics.

5.  Color is powerful for me and has been for quite a while – hence the blog name – A Colorful Journey…

6.  I have learned a great deal by looking at how a journal page evolves by taking photos while it is in process.  I started doing that after taking a composition class & haven’t stopped.  So, here is the evolution of this page.

A gesso base with a color wash over it.  Then white paint with foam stamps for the title.A die cut I made brought more color to the page.A pink watercolor pencil to define the letters  Blue circles from a stamp I carved.  Blue lines from a sliced transparency. You can read that tutorial here.Words added in blue pen and white pen. A 2nd color was added around the title to define it further.A little glitter on the blue circles.  Have to have a bit of sparkle.  Added words in gray and went over it with purple.Added bits of fabric.Brought the die cut back and glued it down.I didn’t think the words, paper/paint/fabric, were easy enough to read so added a touch of purple to define them a bit more.Added a fabric tab at the top and gems to the lower fabric.The tab looked too plain.  Added a metal E colored with alcohol ink.The metal E looked too plain so I added a bit of glitter paint to it and the tab.  Added a few more words. White pastels on the blue circles, and blue smeared lines between the words. Signed it in purple.

I bought Diana Trout’s book, Journal Spilling,  when it came out.  I really enjoyed it.  I began following her blog.  When I saw she was teaching at Art is You I jumped at the chance to take a class from her. If you ever get the chance to take a class with her TAKE IT.  I know I will!

I left my comfort zone but it was effortless – yes effortless.  You know the fear, the nerves, the self doubt when you are pushed out of that comfy comfort zone? The types of things my inner critic says usually fill my thoughts wasn’t there!

I don’t create patterns well.  I don’t mix colors other than UGLY mud.  I can’t draw.  I don’t know what colors to use to balance a picture.

I usually go through all that but this time there was none of it- just fun exploration.   Wow – it was so freeing- I just painted.  I don’t do all those things above but maybe it is because I keep standing in my way.  Thank you Diana for nudging me out of my way. These were about the process and each time I look at them on the wall I just smile.  Why?  Because I remember the fun I had with the wonderful people in the class, the a-ha moments, and the freedom these paintings gave me.

All of these paintings were made using only 3 colors – the same 3 colors.  I was blown away by all that could be created with just 3 colors.  My usual hesitation about color selection faded away because whatever I mixed worked since it was from the same 3 colors.