"Once we clearly acknowledge the soul, we can learn to hear it's cries. - Dallas Willard, Renovation Of The Heart."

It takes courage to pursue our dreams. It takes time and patience to unearth buried treasure. But I believe with all my heart that we must do both.

3.11.2010

Large Journal





Here are a few spreads from my large 11x16 journal. I have shied away from working in it. I think I am finding that it takes me awhile to get up the gumption to try new things. I don't know if it that I am afraid I will fail. I can remember as a child and young adult, and maybe not so young, I would begin a project and never complete it. Was is boredom or something else??? I think there was a fear of not doing a good job. This adventure of art and painting has help in that. I am loosing my "wrong" notion that I or what I do has to be perfect. Boy, is that freeing or what!!

I see this trait in my sweet daughter. Amazing how something one does not set out to do intentionally gets passed down to the next generation. My sons even have traits from my Dad, and they did not spend much time with him growing up.

I like these pages. I don't think they are quite finished yet, especially the one with the girls on it. My daughter saw that one and said, "You did a girl with a dress?!!" I don't do dresses!!!!!! I am a pant kind of girl don't ya know!!!

And yes, I will finish them if I feel they need to be!!

Blessings!

30 comments:

CountryDreaming said...

These colorful journal pages are delightful and succeed already, even if you plan to work on them some more. Striking and happy at the same time, with their words and hearts and girls and butterflies, and even black coming across as vivid. I sure don't have your talent for painting ... the good thing being, we can all appreciate each others' different strengths and creative styles. :-)

Poetic Artist said...

I love the colors on these pages..I really like the girls. They may not be finished but I like them already.
Luv,
Katelen

studio pashnada said...

Mary - love your use of color on these pages and the contrast with the black & white - guess that fear was unfounded! (and btw we all have that fear on some level to some extent!)
Can you tell us what media you used & how you laid out the color?

Denise said...

I love the colors, awesome.

Mary said...

Sherry, I use Liquitex soft body acrylics for most of my journal pages. I use Golden too, but I really like the consistency of the soft body, not too thin, not to thick. Hmmm, I bet Goldilocks would like it!!! :)

Trying to tell you how I lay color down is almost impossible - because I really cannot tell you the process, it's so random for me. I begin with a few colors I think I want to use, and sometimes the finished pieces are no where near where I began. I just layer, layer, layer.

I can tell you I begin with gesso. Then color, then I may stamp or write. Then maybe a thin layer of gesso or white here and there. More layers of maybe stencils, stamps, writing, color.......I just keep going till I am pleased with it.

The first journal spread posted here has houses underneath - didn't like it and covered it up. I think it may even have some spray paint on it.

But I find I am building something with all the layers, so I don't get upset anymore when it does not work out how I had planned, it usually morfs into something better. :)

Hope that helps.

Anonymous said...

mary, i love these pages- freedom, fun, color, messiness, layers. yum

icandy... said...

Mary~
Your journal pages are fantastic, girl!!
Aren't they addicting, once you get started? I can't put mine down now!
Hugs,
Christina

katie purcell said...

THANK YOU FOR THIS POST.
I HAVE BEEN GATHERING SUPPLIES, SEARCHING BLOGS, BUYING BOOKS AND YET MY JOURNAL PAGES ARE ALL WHITE. AFRAID TO START, AFRAID TO FAIL, AFRAID TO LAY MY HEART OUT IN LIVING COLOR!
OFF TO TAKE YOUR HELPFUL EXHORTATION AND JUST START.
DO YOU EVER GIVE CLASSES?
HAVE A BLESSED DAY.
KATIE

Anonymous said...

Oh how striking, I just had to click on your site right away! your pages are colourful and captivating! I love, love, love what you've done! I don't think you should worry when you create, the freer you let yourself be, the better your pages turn out!!! it's so true!

Well done!
ciao bella

Unknown said...

Mar we all had that feeling of not being good enough and I think it stems from Dad being such a perfectionist..you and I both came away with a bit of that as well. Your journaling has helped you so much, but I don't think you KNOW how good you are...your art is awesome and you need to really realize that...I love you sis!!

Jane Farr said...

I think your pages are already wonderful Mary!!

studio pashnada said...

thanks for the info on your products and process - I work similarly on my collages. I don't even know what's at the bottom sometimes when I get done!

Janet said...

I love these pages! I think your sister is right....you don't know how good your art is!!

Buffy said...

Oh Mary these pages are yummy looking. Loving the colors on all of them. Beautiful work.

lori vliegen said...

wow....not one, not two, but THREE fabulous journal spreads!!! you go girl....they're all filled with delicious color!! :)))

Jo Reimer said...

Fabulous pages, Mary. I'd love to sit down in your living room with a cup of tea in my hand and your journals in my lap, and all the time in the world to enjoy them and you.

S. Etole said...

no need to fear ... they are engaging

Bren Graham Thebeau said...

I'm loving your big, bag journal pages, I love my 10x11 journal, you can spill all over! These pages are vibrant and so you, love the under writing with the stencilled numbers on those first pages, wonderfully creative layers in all. And I know how you feel about dresses, I'm a jeans kind of gal myself :-)

Artoholic said...

I'm loving your textures and bold, vivid colour combos - such energy on the page!

Off to look at more of your work,

Cheers,

Cindy

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

I love the bright color on these pages! They are awesome Mary! Listen to your sister! You are an AMAZING artist.

I liked your answer comment you gave to Sherry about what media and colors you use along with how you laid these pages out. I am so self-taught and am needing to learn so much more about the art process. Your explanations really help me. YOU are an inspiration to me Mary, not only with your beautiful art talent, but with who you are.

Hugs,
Lee Ann

Anonymous said...

Mary!
I love your journal.. Colors are so fun, laydown is great.. (no rules needed there)
That is what I love about this entire Mixed media, being a perfectionist as I am, it frees me up..!
Keep on keeping on Mary..
Hugs, Darlene

Amanda Fall - Sprout editor said...

So beautiful! I'm delighted to have stumbled across your work on Flickr...these pages are so inspiring to me. I love the layers of color and text mixed in. Gooorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Love the butterfly one!!!!

Blessings,
Tammy

Manon said...

These pages are so beautiful!! Great work!!

Sandra Hall said...

Fabulous pages full of colour!

Martha Lever said...

Oh Mar!!! These are fabulous!!!! The colors are just so pleasing to my eyes and they are YUMMY YUMMY!! I know what you mean about fearing to fail. It all started in the third grade for me. I can pinpoint the incident that started molding my psyche. Oh how those little events stay so clear in our mind! The enemy of our souls is constantly at work, isn't he?

mariamarooska said...

I love your journal pages -they make me want to paint and put things together too...an inspiration.

Mollye said...

Hi Mary, I like the girls in dresses! Very unique. Like you! Check out this link. Hugs, Mollye

http://johnmccallum.blogspot.com/

thekathrynwheel said...

Oh Mary, I know that feeling so well. I'm the world's greatest procrastinator - even when it's something I want to do, like work in my journal, and yes, I think it is the fear of failure. But these pages are STUNNING! You have such an eye for colour. Want to share your stenciling secrets with us all? Kate x

Mary said...

Thank you everyone, you have been so kind with all your comments. You are so encouraging to me.