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Scribbling and a Play Manifesto

 

Art Journal technique that will bring out the kid in you!

One of my favorite ways to let myself play is to act like a kid. After all, kids are the masters of play so it is no surprise that they are the inspiration for this month’s Let’s Play theme.

This miscellaneous box of inexpensive oil pastels created a scribbled background in my art journal.  The scribbling was loads of fun, but it’s how I held the oil pastels that really brought out the kid in me.

What is Let’s Play?  It’s all about rediscovering the ability to play. Each month I share a specific strategy that helped me recapture the freedom and fun of play.  This month’s theme is act like a kid. You can see more of the Let’s Play series here.

Watch How I Scribble and Stencil in my Art Journal on YouTube.

This is not gallery hanging, museum-filling fine art.  This is play.  Fun.  Freedom.

The grown up mind might start asking, “What do you do with that?”  The playful mind might say, “Let’s see where it goes”.  Bet you can guess which one I listened to…

Art Journal technique that will bring out the kid in you!

As I looked at it, there was just one word that came through loud and clear to me.   Play.  So I grabbed some alphabet stencils, the bigger the better, and stenciled it with black acrylic paint.

In the video, I share why I didn’t start with the first letter as I used my Vintage Typewriter Alphabet stencils.

Art Journal technique that will bring out the kid in you!

After seeing the play, right at the top of the page, a scribbly creative manifesto appeared.  I started with a couple of words from my Uplifting Words stencil, then used a Pico embellisher to add some scribble journaling.

And of course, I had to sign such an official document!  Naturally, there was an OOPS or two in here.  They fit right in to the finished page!

Now you’ve seen my play, let’s see yours!  Share what you’re creating with us all in the Facebook group and be inspired by what others are creating!

Art Journal technique that will bring out the kid in you! Let's Play August Theme with Carolyn Dube

Want to see more Let’s Play videos? You can find all the weekly posts here.

Sharing your play:   I, and a whole bunch of others, would love to see what you’re creating!  We’re sharing it in the Facebook group called A Colorful Place to Play. Why Facebook?  I’ve listened to your feedback about how and where you’d like to share your play instead of the link parties.

Monthly giveaways:  Leave comment on any (and all for more chances) of the weekly Let’s Play blog posts to be entered and one winner each month will be chosen by random.org.  Want more chances to win a $50 gift certificate to DickBlick.com?  Pin any of the images from the page or share about it on Facebook- then come back and leave a comment telling me what you did and you can have more chances to win! Giveaway closes the Sunday, September 4th at 11 pm EST and the winner will announced on the blog the following Monday.

Congrats to Kristiina, last month’s winner!

{ 10 comments… add one }

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  • Corrine August 2, 2016, 10:54 am

    love them colorful scribbles. my kind of page! Nice crayon box too. xox

  • Kristiina August 2, 2016, 3:06 pm

    Just popped by to watch the video and comment… And whoopie, I’ve won 🙂 grinning like a little kid here!

  • Jean Marmo August 2, 2016, 4:33 pm

    Love this! i need to practice this!

  • Sharon Rawson August 3, 2016, 9:51 am

    I love your blog and videos! You give me such freedom! I liked and subscribed to your channel and pinned this to my art challenges board. Thank you for YOU!

  • Annie August 4, 2016, 1:34 pm

    I’m a schoolteacher ( 4 -6 years old ) so this is very familiar to me. The kids often inspire me to play!

  • D.Ann C August 13, 2016, 10:26 am

    What a bold page!
    I remember when we used to scribble like that and then paint over with black paint and then scratch off a design so the colors showed thru… thanks for jogging that memory… I may have to go try that!!

  • Tara McAndrew August 14, 2016, 5:46 pm

    I wonder what it would look like to do this with watercolor crayons then spritz with water? Would it make mud?

    • Carolyn Dube August 14, 2016, 6:43 pm

      It might or might not- depends on a lot of factors. I say, if you have the idea- give it a try and see what happens Tara!

  • christy essen August 16, 2016, 11:36 pm

    I love the stecile, i’m new to using stencils, and love these words(and all the diffrent ways to use this stencil) i love all your lets play videos, have not dove in and played yet, but i’m getting there, and your videos definitely make me wanna play 😉

  • christy essen August 16, 2016, 11:38 pm

    I love the stencil, i’m new to using stencils, and love these words(and all the diffrent ways to use them) i love all your lets play videos, have not dove in and played yet, but i’m getting there, and your videos definitely make me wanna play 😉