January 25, 2013

Focus on Life - Week 4

Hello... I'm late getting to the party but after looking at many blogs and the wonderful heartwarming pictures and messages - I just had to get in on this event.  What a wonderful idea and thanks to Sally Russick for encouraging us to stop and focus on life.  Her prompt for this week was Create Art and I'm happy to say, that is right up my alley.  

Blown glass fruit and star fish light catchers to inspire me in my studio each day 
I am taking a little break from bead work and signed up for six online art journal classes which I am enjoying to the max.  My reason for getting into art in the first place was a result of a tragic event in our family.  Last summer my daughter's boyfriend was killed in a plane crash and the life was literally sucked out of her and us as her support system.  We all went through the grief process with her but for me, my creative muse just up and left and I felt like I had nothing inside anymore when all my life I have been artistic and creative.  I heard about the healing aspects of art journaling so thought I'd give it a try.  WOW is all I can say!  It has been a life saver and really..... I feel like I am overflowing with art and beauty again.  One of my online instructors has a favorite saying - Beautimous which means beautiful and fabulous at the same time.  That is how I feel about creating art - It is a beautimous thing!


Part of the reason I am inspired these days is my new art studio.  It is upstairs in a 74 year old house and the window faces south so it is full of natural light. This space makes me smile - a BIG smile every time I go up there. 

 Yesterday I started with these items:  cotton canvas duck, gesso, water color paper, cord, sari silk, stencils and stamps and of course lots of paint - which I didn't photograph!  

 And today I ended up with this bound journal in which I hand stitched four signatures into a decorated canvas cover and tied with sari silk.  Ta da!


It is hard to believe that the ugly patterned canvas when covered with gesso and many layers of paint can become a beautiful cover for your own hand bound journal.  This is the second journal I have made and I absolutely love them!

This is an art journal page I made and yes, I did draw the girl.  I am taking a Fabulous Faces course with Tammy Laporte and she is absolutely the best!  I have most of my art journal pages on my flickr page so check them out if you wish.  The link is on the side of my blog.  

Thank you for stopping by.  I love comments and do my best to answer each one.  Now head over to Sally's blog to see who is participating.

32 comments:

Alicia said...

Oh, wow - never heard about art journaling before, but I love what you have created! Your drawings are full of life and colour - I am sorry for your loss, but at the same time happy you find a way back into art.

Love your 'I believe' statements, especially the last one: may you persist and create / do anything you have the opportunity to!

Patti Vanderbloemen said...

I am so terribly sorry for the loss you and your family have gone through...so glad you have found an outlet, especially one like this! You have true talent!

Lorelei Eurto said...

What a powerful post- I am so happy to hear you got back into making art and the journal is just beautiful but that page layout you showed! WOW. so inspiring!! Thank you!

Claire said...

just gorgeous!!
what a tough year for your daughter - and you, but i'm so happy you're ready to make art again... it IS a healer, and you're making beautiful work :)
have a great week!
[no 19 - i overslept!]

Empty nester at last said...

Awesome piece. Art Journaling, interesting....and what a great idea to help deal with your loss. And what brave comeback! Keep up the good work! Looking for great things from you!

Beti Horvath said...

Inspiration comes from many directions. From your family's loss, to your new studio, to Sally's challenge, to your beautiful result!

Meeling said...

What a lovely art journal and what an interesting way to deal with something so devastating to your family. It sounds like a wonderful healing process. Your studio looks lovely too!

(I'm #41 this week)

Tanya said...

I am sorry for your loss and your daughter's loss. It does seem that tragedy can provoke growth and change. Your journal is just beautiful and I am amazed it came from the smattering of supplies you pictured.

Therese's Treasures said...

Hi Katherine,
I am so glad that art jounaling was the means to bring your creative muse back to you. You create beautiful art and I am looking forward to seeing much more!
Therese

Juli Cannon said...

I am very sorry for your family's loss. You have discovered a method of creating and healing for which you have a true gift. Your journal is beautiful as are the pages you shared. Bravo.

brokenteepee said...

I'm very sorry for the loss to your daughter and family.

The journal you created is glorious. It amazes me how art is so healing.

Courtney Breul said...

Your work is beautiful. I am glad you were able to focus on this to help with the terrible loss.

Alice said...

So sorry for his huge loss. I'm so glad you were there to help your daughter through the proceess, and also glad you chose art journaling to help yourself through that grief.

Your journal is gorgeous! I love the wonderful colors--it's such a happy looking cover.. Your journal page is just as lovely as the cover.

Mystic Indigo said...

Your art journal is just wonderful...and to have a studio that you love with south facing windows is a dream of mine...I've just started with my journal and it is healing...and it also stirs things up too...looking forward to reading what your experiences are with it too!

AntiquityTravelers said...

Katherine, I am so sorry for your family and for your daughter. What a difficult thing. I remember reading your blog last summer when this happened, and it does seem like your creativity is growing again! time is a healer.

A Polymer Penchant said...

I can see why you love making them, they really are gorgeous and then you get to fill them up with goodness. I'm going to have to go see more on flickr.

Pearl and Pebble said...

OH it is just beautiful! I love the blue with the red ribbon against it. And the inside is AWESOME! Your girl is fantastic! I'm so glad your muse is coming back again. Your view from your new room is truely amazing.

Karen Williams said...

Life can be so very painful, but it can be so very beautiful as well. I'm so sorry for the pain you and your daughter have suffered. But I am so glad you've found such a wonderful way to help recapture your joy. I hope your daughter finds her way as well.

Thanks for sharing the peek at your journals, they are truly lovely.

Niky Sayers said...

Love your journal, and your pages are fantastic! Book binding is one of my newest addictions!

Annette said...

Having the courage to start something new during a difficult time can be healing in itself. I'm so very sorry that your daughter and your family has had to go through this, yet happy to hear that art can heal.

Cyndi J said...

Ditto what Annette said. Love how the canvas came out and the girl is fantastic.

LoriF said...

Oh my Katherine, what an amazing result of such a sad occurrence. My condolences to your family~and congratulations on producing such gorgeous work! I notice the freeform pieces in your header...I'm just starting on that, obviously; yours are beautiful!

Lola said...

Your art journal pages are Beautimous! =) I am so glad this art form helped pull you through such a difficult time.

Becky Pancake said...

You created awesome art. I'm so happy that you found your muse again. I would be lost without being able to create. Your girl is great.

windrock studio said...

Thanks for all that you've shared here ... such sadness but it sounds like your family is strong. I'm sure having a beautiful, sunny studio space keeps the juices flowing!

Unknown said...

Art journals are food for the soul. There is a craft shop near me that the owner creates the most amaing ones, just from scraps in her shop. Your's is fantastic.

Mary K. McGraw said...

I am so sorry for your loss. And art does heal. Your journal is beautimous.

Mary Lamoray said...

What a difficult thing to work through... I hope your daughter is doing much better these days and can find joy again...

The journal is beautiful! I especially love your gorgeous ornaments adorning your windows. :)

Unknown said...

I read your post yesterday but didn't have an opportunity to comment. I love your art journals and the pictures of your girls are awesome. I know that you have mentioned before that you have been working on these and you have piqued my interested I have been going through pinterest trying to find some how to ideas. I love that it has brought back your creatively. I have been feeling rather drained of late and really feel like I need something to rev up the creativity and I am thinking this would be a lovely thing to undertake. I have always love inspirational saying and I would love to learn to draw better. Thank you for the wonderful share!

Kathleen Lange Klik said...

Your art journal is really amazing-what a work of art! I am so sorry to hear about your daughter's loss and can understand the heartbreak that you all felt. I am glad to see you are finding a beautiful outlet for your creativity. I hope she is doing better as well.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your family's loss...I hope your daughter is doing better. Love your journal, it's really beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Katherine, your post just took me on a whirlwind of emotion, i'm so sorry that your daughter, you and your family had to endure such a tragic event. How utterly heartbreaking. I'm glad that you found art journaling to slowly pull your muse back into you and to help heal your heart and soul. Journaling, is such a wonderful tool for healing and I believe it allows you to work through things at your own pace. Your journal cover and your journal page are wonderful!!
P.S. Your photos are wonderful too!