another spread

can you see the difference between the first and second journal page?

a lot of times after i have taken a photo of my work i can see areas that may need something.

i added more hearts in the lower left hand corner to balance it a bit more, and added some red in the crease of the heart.  as i look at it some more i see that maybe it needs a few blue circles on the left side of the heart, or not.

"If there's ever a tomorrow where we are not together, there is something

you must always remember. You are braver than you believe,

and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think,

but most important of all, even if we are apart,

I'll always be with you."

~ A. A. Milne

journaling

new journal spread done from journal prompt about body image i had prepared for Saturday's workshop

which did not happen

it was supposed to be for teens, when i called the library to check on the numbers i was told there was a nine year old coming...when i inquired further they told me they were all under 12

i usually teach adults, and agreed to do this workshop with teens 13 and up

i really felt this would not work with such a young group so it was canceled

so i will use this prompt for my next women's workshop i think.  we all have issues with body image and it may be good to explore what God has to say verses what we believe and what the world tells us.

grace and peace

serendipity...or not...

it's still rainy and overcast here, but i think i got a better shot of this.

oh, and look at all the acorns that dropped this year...a lot of them have been disposed of...this is the rest.

imagine these hitting a tin roof or getting hit in the head walking to the car... :)

back to the painting...

when i was working on this i did not really have a story in mind.  however, as i added certain stencils they did have meaning for me.

little bits, but not seeing it as a whole till i was finished.

if you look closely there is a background outline of a person...a very primitive one

this was not meant to be a specific person, actually it was a failed attempt to do something

i did not like it, that's when i began to stencil

here is what i see

a hand pointing to Jesus
arrows pointing upward
hand prints of God
peace sign...there is only real peace in Jesus
stop
men running
heart
even some drips running down the body
x's

stop running
look up
real peace is offered
real life is offered
real love covers our mess
our debt has been canceled

oh how i love when this happens

smelly painting

the light is fading, i will take a better photo tomorrow

usually this is an under-painting

i usually continue on to add layers of paint which leave bits and pieces of the stenciling peeking through

but i think i may leave this. may go back and outline some, maybe add a few words, but i think i like the feel of this

i cannot explain why i am so drawn to this busy, graphic, graffiti, messy, explosion of color...

this is hanging outside, front door open and fan going in the studio...

sprayed in my studio

should have sprayed outside

with a mask

feeling kind of gross right now

workshop feedback

it is so fulfilling when you hear something that validates what you feel God has called you to. very soon after my  journey with visual journaling began, i felt the pull to share how God uses this to show us our hearts.  how we can use it to explore them and what is going on internally. 

after saturday's workshop i received a request from a lovely young woman asking if she could share a bit about it and how it has impacted her life and art on her blog.  i wanted to share it with you.  i want to celebrate not me (though it is thrilling to be used) but God and what he is doing.

thank you Isabel.  

you can visit Isabel here

On Saturday, I attended an art journaling workshop taught by artist Mary Freeman, who is an incredible lady. After the very first time I attended this workshop, I can easily say my art was never the same. The central message of these workshops is that the art you create is not supposed to be a masterpiece but instead is supposed to be an outlet for you to speak and reflect on your life. In short, its a form of art therapy. You don’t have the pressure to make everything look “perfect” and can just freely experiment with all the cool supplies Mary Freeman brings to each class. You don’t have to be an amazing artist. You don’t even have to know how to draw a straight line!

And what makes these workshops even more powerful for me is the fact that my faith can also be intertwined with my art. Every class, Mrs. Freeman has Bible verses to share and stories that serve as prompts for the day. I love it most when my God gets involved with my art because, for me, true therapy is achieved through him. But, regardless of your faith, anyone can come to these journal workshops and anyone can be inspired by Mary Freeman’s amazing work!

Above I attached a few pages of hers that particularly inspired me on Saturday.

new journal page and stuff

working in my journal a bit. i seem to be drawn to it more these days. i make such a mess when i do one though. i started this one trying to make it a little "prettier", but i really don't begin to like them until i grunge them up a bit. i wonder sometimes, if my internal struggles have something to do with that.  then again, i think i think too hard and much sometimes...

i have a workshop this Saturday and have much to do.  i also am beginning another women's night out visual journaling series at Out of The Box art studio in Roswell next Thursday. 

i am doing a workshop at a local library in a few weeks.  i think it will be a younger group, mostly teens. i have been thinking about doing a journal prompt on body image for this workshop. i don't think there is person out there who does not struggle with this on some level.

off to get supplies

around the house

 there is something about this little corner i love

and i love this little space with the stacked books and framed print

also love my little collection of succulents and rocks the smaller ones from Kim 

it's cold here today, more like January is supposed to be

hope you all are having a great Saturday and doing something you love 

grace and peace

wanting more

a few new journal pages. i have not worked in my journal since November.

i sat down and thought i had forgotten it all, but as i began to add paint it

got a little easier. 

well for some bizarre reason i cannot get the above photo to load horizontally, i even changed the size of it. any ideas? and i just realized my tears/raindrops are upside down, oh well...

...she began to listen to God by listening to her heart, to her life. she had crossed the threshold everyone is called to when called to obedience - the threshold where God says, "Please listen, because I want to reveal myself to you. i hold the answers. and if i never reveal the answers to you, i will reveal myself to you.
(Listening to Love)

do i want answers?

yes!

but i want God more.

grace and peace