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My name is Melody M. Nuñez, and I’m an artist and a writer. Please look around my website and make yourself at home. I post new blog entries on Tuesdays & Thursdays, and hope you’ll subscribe to my blog and come back often! To learn more about me, please view the “About” page…SUBSCRIBE
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Category Archives: art supplies
El Mercado de Los Angeles – A Mexican Market
I recently went on another ethnic market adventure – hubby and I ventured up to LA to visit El Mercado de Los Angeles in Boyle Heights. A three-story indoor mall, El Mercado is full of visual stimulation and is a great place to eat and shop. You’ll know you’re in the right place if you see a large, beautiful shrine to the Virgin Mary in the parking lot! Shops sell everything from beautifully embroidered clothing to religious figures – there’s something interesting and colorful to see nearly everywhere you look. Piñatas, candy, cowboy boots galore – those are just a few things you can feast your eyes on.
When you’re actually ready to feast, you have several options. Whether you stop by one of the food stands for juice and ice cream like we did, go to one of the “order at the counter” eateries, or venture up to the third floor to the HUGE mariachi restaurant “El Mercadito”, you’ll be able to fill your belly and enjoy the environment – particularly if you’re new to such environs. You can also take edibles to go – there’s a bakery and a market on the second floor. The market sells cactus, and yes – the cactus is meant to be eaten, after you scrape off the “prickles” and cook it. I’ve had cactus at my in-laws’, and it’s a yummy dish!
Because my husband is Mexican-American, and because I’m pretty well immersed in the culture, I’ve been to markets and restaurants similar to those at El Mercado before. For this reason, this particular ethnic market adventure wasn’t quite as “foreign” to me as my trips to some other spots here in Southern California. Little India, the Persian market, Chinatown, and the Korean market seemed more like a “local international adventure”, but I still really enjoyed my time at El Mercado.
Hubby and I wandered around, saw some new and some familiar things, ate some yummy treats, and did a little shopping. Our edible purchases included candied pecans (upper right), cookies from the bakery, and Tomy’s butterscotch-y candy. Hubby also bought a few movies he’d watched as a child, and I purchased Loteria sets for my at-risk art journaling students. (Loteria is basically Mexican Bingo, and I like to include the cards in the supply kits each child receives.)
I hope you’ve enjoyed this peek at our trip to El Mercado. Please let me know if you have any questions, and please feel free to share any ethnic market adventures you may have been on lately!
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in ethnic food, ethnic markets, food, restaurants
Tagged El Mercado, El Mercado de Los Angeles, Loteria
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The Pulse of Mixed Media – Giveaway Winner!
I’m pleased to announce the winner of my April Giveaway. Congratulations, Denise Penn! You’ve won a copy of Seth Apter’s book, The Pulse of Mixed Media! I’ll mail your book out shortly, and hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!
May is just around the corner, and so is my May giveaway! Next month I’ll be participating in a blog tour for Marney Makridakis’ new book, Creating Time: Using Creativity to Reinvent the Clock and Reclaim Your Life. I’ll be posting about Marney’s book and will be giving away the advance copy I received, so please keep an eye out…
Congrats again on winning The Pulse of Mixed Media, Denise!
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in art, books, giveaway, inspiration
Tagged blog tour, Seth Apter, The Pulse of Mixed Media
2 Comments
“Mark of Wisdom” Collage
I love using a variety of materials in my collages, and this new collage – featuring a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson – is certainly made up of a variety of materials. New, old, smooth and rough textures, a photo, text, and even foreign language text! I used one of my own nature photos as the central image. I’ve thrown a bit of everything into this collage, including bamboo “clips”, metal tape, netting, and masking tape. And though the materials and textures are varied, I think the overall composition is harmonious.
In addition to using a wide range of materials, I enjoy using found objects in my work, and in this case I found three smashed, scratched, and rusted bottle caps that became three of the main decorative elements for the collage. I found them in a parking lot, tucked them into the cup holder of the car, and eventually worked them into this collage. I’m often drawn to damaged, imperfect things. Things with history. Things with character. And though most people wouldn’t have even noticed the mangled bottle caps, or would consider them rubbish if they did see them, I saw their beauty and potential and snatched them up off of the gravely pavement. Proof that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure…
Curious about how I made this collage? Here’s an overview:
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Print an original nature photo onto photo paper, trim to your desired size. Print quote onto cardstock, trim to desired size. Tape along all four sides of both the photo and the quote with narrow silver metallic tape. Use a tracing wheel to add texture to the silver frames, then distress these frames by peeling up some of the edges, and by adding black metallic rub-ons. Slide bamboo “clips” onto one corner of the photo and quote. Set the image and quote aside.
Glue pale green handmade, textured paper onto your substrate/base. (I used an 8′ x 10″ canvas panel as my base.) Tear a strip of text, and glue along the left side of the collage – top to bottom. Attach a 5 inch-wide piece of yellow netting over the text, allowing enough length to wrap the excess around the top and bottom and secure to the back.
Punch four holes in each of three found, flattened bottle caps, and stitch an “x” pattern onto each one using black embroidery thread. Attach the bottle caps to the collage using Pop-Up Glue Dots. Attach the photo and quote to the collage using Pop-Up Glue dots as well.
“Frame” the collage by taping each side of the collage with two layers of masking tape. Treat each corner with a diagonal layer of masking tape as well. Accent the masking tape frame with black and gold metallic rub-ons – apply with your finger using a light touch. Finish the collage by signing in the corner, and by applying a blank sheet of cardstock to the back to cover what you’ve wrapped around to the back.
Please let me know if you have any questions about the materials or my creative process, dear readers. I always love hearing from you…
Warm regards,
Melody
The Pulse of Mixed Media: Blog Tour Post & Giveaway!
Welcome to my post on Seth Apter’s new book, The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed ! It’s a pleasure to be a part of Seth’s blog tour, and I’m happy to share a bit about his wonderful new book with both my long-time readers and new readers. Welcome, new visitors!
I received an advance copy of this book last month, and really enjoyed pouring over the pages in order to get better acquainted with the book. And though I’d love to keep this advance copy for my personal library ‘tis better to give than to receive, so please keep reading for details on how to enter my giveaway!
An Overview
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One of the things I love about this book is it’s filled to bursting with two of my favorite things: artwork and insight. Not only are readers treated to the visual creations of many of the quoted artists, we get to peek inside their hearts, minds, and creative processes as well! The creative process is often a solitary one, and this book gives us a chance to hear what other artists are thinking and feeling about the art experience. Another great thing about this book is that it’s really thought-provoking. Sure, you’re reading the responses of others, but it also helps the reader to think about their own answers to the very same questions the author asks.
Another plus? Exposure to interesting new artists and their mediums! For example, after reading “The Pulse” I’d like to try using plaster for the first time. I’d also like to give encaustic work another try, and add some more dimension to my work. We never know what seeds of creativity will take hold in our hearts and minds, and this book is chock full of “creative seeds”.
144 pages long and full of both text and original artwork, this book is a treat for anyone who’s interested in the creative process and life as an artist. Whether you’re just dipping a toe in the lake of creativity or have jumped in and submerged yourself completely, you’re sure to find quotes, artwork and/or questions that resonate with you.
MY answers to 3 of Seth’s Questions
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Seth asked those of us participating in the blog tour to answer three questions from the book ourselves. Here are my responses to three of his questions…
What do you think your preferred art medium says about your personality?
Well, given that my preferred art medium actually includes multiple mediums, I think it says I have varied interests and enjoy the challenge of working in different formats while still staying true to my aesthetic. I’m most drawn to mixed media, photography, collage, writing, and card design. And though I love vintage elements, and often incorporate them into my work, I tend to think of my art as “modern vintage”. Not only do I mix modern elements in with pieces from the past, my work is usually clean and uncluttered, and I believe this can be said about all my work – whether it’s a photo, a collage, or a short story.
How has the internet changed your artistic practice?
I suppose the biggest change the internet has had on my artistic practice is this blog. I launched it in August of 2010, and life hasn’t been the same since! Blogs weren’t really on my radar prior to MY blog’s launch, truth be told, so I was a bit late to the party. Since then, my horizons have definitely expanded. I still don’t follow a ton of blogs, simply because I don’t have a lot of free time, but I have started following some blogs organically. They’re mostly the blogs of creative friends/peers – folks I’ve networked with and/or come to know along the way in my own blog journey.
One benefit of the internet and blogging is the wonderful connections I’ve made with folks in my ever-growing network. I’ve made so many new in-person and online friends, and it’s been great fun! From teaming up with folks like Catherine Ryan Hyde, Dawn DeVries Sokol, and Seth Apter on giveaways featuring their books, to receiving donations for my art journaling program for disadvantaged public school children from some of my wonderful readers, it’s all been a blessing. The more the merrier, I say, and blogging has definitely brought more wonderful people, laughter, kindness, and creativity into my life. For that, I’m very thankful.
As for my own blog, it’s been such an incredible experience! When you’re committed to posting new content twice weekly, you have to keep making/doing/creating. Artistically, I’ve created so many things that might not have been brought into existence if I wasn’t blogging. And though some might find it scary to commit to producing new content on a regular basis, it’s been my experience that creating and sharing begets more ideas. The more I create and brainstorm the more I come up with ideas because I’m exercising my creative muscles, so to speak.
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Is creativity built-in, learned or both?*
I think creativity is both built-in and learned. Some people are driven by a need to create – the “obviously” creative people. The ones destined to become artists, writers, musicians, and so on – regardless of what life throws at them. They embrace and relish their creativity. Just about everyone else is on a sliding scale of sorts, ranging from those who enjoy creating but are reluctant or afraid to call themselves artists in their respective medium to those who don’t think they’re creative at all. I believe that every one of us has the ability to thrive creatively, particularly if we devote the time, make the effort to find our niche, and make creating a regular practice instead of an “every once in a while” endeavor. This applies to art, cooking, interior design – the works!
How to Enter the Giveaway
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One lucky winner will win a copy of The Pulse of Mixed Media. To enter, please complete all three of the steps below:
- Subscribe to my blog (via the email feed).
- Leave a comment on this post.
- “Like” my website’s Facebook Fan Page.
The winner will be drawn at random and will be announced on Thursday, April 19th, so please complete all three steps by Wednesday, April 18th.
Blog Tour Schedule
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Here is the complete blog tour schedule, including blog tour “stops” before mine, for those of you who might be interesting in hearing what other bloggers have to say about Seth’s “baby”.
April 2 Rice Freeman-Zachery
April 3 Stephanie Lee
April 4 Ali Edwards
April 5 Ro Bruhn
April 6 Roben-Marie Smith
April 7 Nancy Lefko
April 8 Kelly Kilmer
April 9 Trudi Sissons
April 10 Melody Nunez
April 11 Dina Wakley
April 12 Stephanie Hilvitz
Thank you for including me in your blog tour, Seth – what a treat! Good luck with the giveaway, everyone!
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in art, books, giveaway, inspiration
Tagged blog tour, mixed media, Seth Apter, The Pulse of Mixed Media
28 Comments
Dyed Coffee Filter Flowers
It’s that time of year again, when chocolate bunnies and brightly colored eggs abound. Not into dyeing eggs? You might consider buying some discounted egg dye kits after Easter Sunday nonetheless. Don’t own a coffee machine? You may want to pick up some coffee filters anyway. Why? Egg dye kits and coffee filters constitute the base materials for a variety of spring-hued projects that can be enjoyed year-round! From paper flowers to festive banners, these versatile dyed circles can be used in projects that are both frugal and versatile.
Egg Dye on the Cheap
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Last year I purchased a kit to dye some Easter eggs for a photo shoot with one of my rabbits, Cypress. After Easter had passed I noticed the same egg dye kits were marked down to something ridiculously low – I think it was ten cents per kit, if I’m remembering correctly. I decided to buy five kits on the cheap since I knew I could come up with a fun way to use the lovely dyes the kits make. Well, it took me almost a year to get around to it, but here are some of the ways I used last year’s clearance dye.
Paper Flowers
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My primary idea was to use the dyes to create paper flowers. And though I don’t drink coffee, or own a coffee machine, I kept seeing a stack of coffee filters in the break room at work. I wanted to find a way to use both the dye and coffee filters, and my mind finally connected the dots. I purchased a package of coffee filters as soon as I hit upon the idea.
I wasn’t sure how they’d turn out, but I decided to give it a whirl, and was thrilled with how many beautifully-colored paper circles I was left with. I made nearly 200 colored paper circles in dozens of shades! Nine colors of dye came in the egg dyeing kit, but by using the dye in full strength followed by increasingly diluted dye (pour out some dye, add water, repeat) you can create many shades of just one color. It just depends on how much time and patience you have – and how many coffee filters!
The samples I created include two flowers with embroidered centers – including one with a vintage lace hanger – and a flower with a vintage button center. (Please don’t laugh at my embroidery “skills” – I’m a total beginner!) I also created a simple light green flower with a stamped center that’s been embellished with a single large, black button. I attached this stamped flower to a gift bag, and love the way it dressed up what started out as a bland basic!
Banners, Too!
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Another project I whipped up is a banner. In addition to the dyed circles, I used a small paint brush, black India ink (you could use craft paint instead), a ¼” hole punch, and brass brads. With a pile of dyed circles on hand it’s quick and easy to make banners for any occasion quickly and easily by using different pictures, symbols, and letters. It would also be super easy to make a Very Hungry Caterpillar from paper using this same technique!
Our bunny, Pinto, loves these colorful, dyed coffee filters!
My Dyeing & Drying Tips
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- Cover your work space with plastic and work carefully to avoid dyeing your work space. Consider wearing a water-proof apron or old clothes.
- Wear gloves if you don’t want colorful fingers and hands. I passed on the gloves because I happen to love colorful hands!
- Decide how many coffee filters you’ll dye at once. I dyed around 6 at a time, but you may choose to separate them and dye them one by one.
- Squeeze out excess dye after you’ve dunked your filter(s) into the dye. You can either squeeze the filters out over your cup, or into a sink.
- Allow for plenty of drying time. I ended up using a blow dryer with a diffuser attached on my dyed filters because I was trying to finish the projects for this post in one day and it happened to be raining outside on the day in question.
*Please note: The cups of dye in the photo near the top contain two batches of dye per color.
Who Knew? Apparently Egg Dye Tablets Have a Shelf Life
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Quick note on the egg dye tablets: it’s best to use them sooner than later. I waited nearly a year before using the clearance packs I purchased last year, and though they dissolved enough for me to make plenty of dyed circles, the tablets didn’t effervesce the way “fresh ones” do and didn’t dissolve completely.
Hmm, what else can I make?
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I’m sure I’ll think of some more goodies to make with these dyed circles, and am looking forward to more brainstorming and creating. In the meantime, I’m simply taking pleasure in looking at the delicious colors. Yum!
Your turn: What would you make? Have you dyed something aside from eggs with egg dye? Have you used the tie dye technique with egg dyes? Please leave a comment if you’d like to weigh in on the subject of egg dyes, creating with coffee filters, or if you have any questions about the projects I created.
Happy Spring, and Happy Easter!
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in crafts, DIY, holidays, inspiration
Tagged banners, Easter, Easter egg dye, Easter eggs, paper flowers, Very Hungry Caterpillar
10 Comments
“Remaining Balance” Gift Card Drive!
Hello, dear readers! As many of you know, I teach art journaling to disadvantaged elementary school children. I donate all my time and some of the supplies, but rely on donors to provide the bulk of the supplies for the children. Some past donors have sent checks, some have sent art supplies, some have sent gift cards – and it’s ALL been a huge help! My students are SO enthusiastic and appreciative, and I’d love to keep the program’s positive momentum going.
Today I’m launching a “Remaining Balance” Gift Card Drive!
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What’s a Remaining Balance Gift Card? You know, the gift cards that you used some of before you relegated them to the dark corners of your wallet or desk drawer. The Michaels card with a $5.78 balance. The Target gift card with a $4.65 balance. The Office Max gift card with a $2.21 balance. The Big Lots gift card with a $3.01 balance.
Instead of leaving these gift cards to loiter and/or gather dust, won’t you consider donating them? I’ll happily accept gift cards with any (positive) amount of credit on them – even cents! – because every contribution counts. One dollar can provide a child with a pair of scissors, a pack of crayons, an ink pad, or a paper punch. I’m happy to piece together loose change, dollars, and assorted donated supplies if it means getting art materials and instruction to the children that need them.
I’ll be honest: talking about money and asking others for help isn’t high up on my list of favorite thing to do, but I’m not shy when it comes to asking for the kids. They need a helping hand, and I’m glad to lend mine – I hope you’ll lend a hand, too! Here are some stores that I shop at regularly when putting the art supply packets together, but I’m definitely open to other gift cards as well:
- Michaels
- Target
- Smart & Final
- Office Max
- Office Depot
- Big Lots
- Art Supply Warehouse (in Garden Grove, CA)
Please contact me if you have a gift card you’re willing to send for the children – I’ll reply with my mailing address. And whether the card’s balance is $1.25 or $125.00, I thank you!
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in art, art journaling
Tagged "Remaining Balance Gift Card Drive, art journaling class for kids, gift card drive
2 Comments
Repurposed Vintage Train Case
Look – my new “art supplies on the go” case! I used to have my art supply basics in a huge Ziplock bag, and would put that bag inside a larger tote when I attended art classes or creative gatherings, but I definitely needed an upgrade. Sure, my old bag was easy to transport and functional, but it lacked style and charm. I began thinking of a vintage train case as a potential candidate for my upgrade, and found the perfect case the weekend before last while antiquing with friends. Originally $22.00, it was on sale and my total was $18.96 with tax. This was more than I’d wanted to pay, but when I checked eBay I found it was reasonably priced when compared to similar pieces and I saved on shipping by buying locally.
Though the case could easily be decoupaged, I’ve opted to keep the blue exterior plain, and just dressed up the handle. I DID decoupage the inside though. The interior’s bottom and sides looked a bit “undesirable”, so I used vintage ledger paper to cover over the makeup stains. This ledger paper was a fab choice because of the vintage feel and the tiny blue lines running across the pages. These lines tie in to the case’s blue exterior without being super matchy-matchy. An added bonus of the decoupaged interior is that the inside surfaces are now sealed and protected. That said, if I happen to spill ink or some other art supply inside who cares? After all, it IS an art case!
Vintage Train Case interior – before. The interior was intact but stained, and a vigorous cleaning didn’t help.
Vintage Train Case Interior – after. So much better, don’t you think?
The front side of the tag…
The back side of the tag, which includes my business cards…
Curious about this case’s transformation process? Here are the steps:
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- Clean the case – inside and out. I used 409, paper towels, and an old toothbrush to clean up the somewhat dingy case. The old toothbrush worked really well in the nooks and crannies.
- Cut pieces of paper to line the case with. I used vintage ledger paper, but you might use tissue paper, magazine pages, wrapping paper, or another thin decorative paper.
- Apply the paper to the interior using a decoupage medium like Mod Podge or water-soluble Minwax Polycrylic. First, adhere the paper pieces to the case’s interior and let that dry completely. Next, apply two or three coats of sealer on top of your paper to protect the paper’s surface. Be sure to allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next coat.
- Attach a custom luggage tag with your contact information on the handle. This will make it easy to identify the piece as yours, and easier for the case to be returned to you should it become lost. I used a business card, watercolor paper, vintage ledger paper, glassine, a carved cork stamp, masking tape, and vintage buttons to make my custom tag.
- Enjoy! I can hardly wait to take my new art supplies case on its first outing. I won’t be taking the train on my trip, but I’ll be hitting the road on Sunday and am really looking forward to transporting my art supplies in style!
Please let me know if you have any questions, dear readers. Oh, and please post a comment and share if you’ve converted an unconventional bag into something you carry on your artful outings. I’d love to hear about it and am sure my other readers would, too!
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in antiques, art, crafts, DIY, vintage
Tagged antique store, Repurposed Vintage Train Case, vintage ledger paper, Vintage Train Case
10 Comments
Giveaway: Art Journaling Goodies!
Did you catch my art journaling post last week? If so, I hope you enjoyed it. As you know, I’m a big fan of art journaling – I even volunteer-teach it to disadvantaged children – and I figured it was high time that I created a post including some of my practices, featuring photos of some past journals and pages/spreads. Now that I’ve shared some of my work, why not have a journaling-themed giveaway?
Let’s Keep the Art Journaling Party Going!
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I’m giving away THREE art journaling prize packs this month! Woo hoo! Each pack includes an assortment of goodies pulled from my own art supply stash, including decorative paper, glassine envelopes, joss paper, Punchinella, vintage ledger paper, gold paper charms, ribbon, a vintage photo, and more! (The images above and below feature the supplies from one of the three packs) And while I suggest using these items in a journal, if you’re so inclined, they’d also make great materials for card making, collage, and other creative endeavors.
How to Enter
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To enter, simply leave a comment on this post sharing one of your favorite artistic mediums. Do you love drawing? Painting? Collage? Writing? Photography? Mixed-media? Lettering? Art Consumption? (Enjoying the work of others…) MY three favorite include collage, photography, and art journaling, so it’s okay to list more than one if you’re torn!
Tweet Tweet!
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If you’d like to earn an extra entry, you may tweet about my giveaway on Twitter. Please be sure to include my profile name @melodymnunez among the 140 characters to ensure I see the tweet and can give you credit, and please include a link to this post as well. (Tweeting can earn you one additional entry overall – not one additional entry per tweet)
The THREE WINNERS will be announced in a comment on this post in one week (2/28/12), so please enter by Monday, February 27th, 2012, and don’t forget to check back in a week to see who the lucky winners are! Please let me know if you have any questions, dear readers. I look forward to reading your comments, and learning about your favorite artistic mediums. Good luck!
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in art, art journaling, crafts, giveaway, vintage
Tagged art journaling giveaway, art journaling supplies giveaway
25 Comments
My Art Journals
Art journaling – also known as visual journaling – is a combination of written word and visual art. It’s a creative marriage made in heaven as far as I’m concerned. After all, it combines two of my favorite things in the world: art and writing. And though there are guidelines and suggestions for this practice, there aren’t any rules. Everyone one seems to do it a little differently, which is part of the magic: it’s exactly what you want it and need it to be.
Not only is art journaling an incredible form of self-expression, it’s also a snapshot of your life that develops one page at a time. It’s a great creative exercise, and also a respite – a safe, constructive way to process feelings and experiences in an often-chaotic world.
I talk about my art journaling classes for disadvantaged children fairly often, but haven’t shared my own journals yet – this post is a bit overdue! Here’s a peek at some of what I do with my journals – both inside and out. Some of the journal customizations are similar to those I make to my travel journals, and some are unique to my regular art journals.
My Journaling History & Influences
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I’ve been keeping diaries and journals since I was a young girl, but my first “official” art journal was created in college for one of my art classes. I picked up art journaling again in 2002 when I accepted a job in the art and craft publishing industry. Surrounded by massive amounts of incredible practices, techniques, and artwork I quickly adopted some as my own. Art journaling and collage soon became two of my creative staples, and I’ve created/completed 13 art journals since 2002.
Many of the creative elements I’ve incorporated into my journals were learned from the late Janice Lowry, artist and journalist extraordinaire. I’ve also been fortunate enough to take classes from wonderful teachers like Kelly Kilmer, Juliana Coles, and Quinn McDonald. I’m a lucky girl!
My Favorite “F Word” – Frugal
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One of the best things about art journaling, aside from it being very portable and easy to do, is that it’s a low-cost option. Art can be pricey, but art journaling is an affordable option for nearly everyone. If you have a simple journal, a writing implement and a glue stick you’re good to go.
Sure, there are many other things you can use to add visual interest and excitement, but those are all icing on the cake. And while scissors are certainly recommended, even those are optional if you’re open to tearing paper.
The more of a scavenger you are, the more interesting your journal will be. Candy wrappers, fortune cookie “fortunes”, aluminum foil, and paper doilies from the bakery can all be repurposed and re-used in your journal.
The Journal Itself
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I prefer to work in a large hardcover journal with unlined white pages. Because everyone is different it may take some experimentation to find the size and type of journal you like best.
Though I’ve tried fancier, decorative journals, I generally opt to cover the entire front and back of a plain journal with my own decorative elements instead. Most often I collage a variety of things onto the cover, and then seal it all in with multiple coats of water-soluble Polycrylic.
Some of my journals have a rectangular piece of fabric on the book’s spine. Sealed in with the polycrylic, the fabric is both decorative and functional since the fabric adds extra stability to a book that’s frequently handled.
It’s important to include your name and phone number on the inside cover, just in case you misplace your journal. (Hopefully a good Samaritan will return it if it’s found!) I also usually glue an envelope on the right side of the inside cover. I tuck movie tickets, fortune cookie “fortunes” and other tidbits in the envelope.
Another practice that’s just for fun is including the start and finish date of the journal on the inside flap. It’s interesting to see (at a glance) how long it took me to complete a particular journal.
Because I do a fair amount of collage or gluing of memorabilia in my journal I remove some of the blank pages before starting to work in the book. This allows the book to close properly even though materials are added. I usually remove every third or fourth page. I save the blank pages I remove for later – they make great scratch paper!
Materials – The Bits and Pieces of your Life
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When it comes to the materials that can be used, I like to keep my options wide open. Traditional art supplies are used along side candy wrappers, pieces of aged newspaper I’ve picked up off the ground, pictures cut from magazines, emails and news stories I’ve printed, and more. If it appeals to me, or is somehow relevant to my entry, it’s fair game. I do try to keep my materials as “thin” as possible, so my journals close and lie flat, but I don’t shy away from layering.
Content
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As for actual journal entries, the sky’s the limit! You can write a typical “Dear Diary” type of entry, draw, doodle, write a list of things that make you happy, write about something that pisses you off, create a collage page from pages ripped out of old magazines, do a bullet point list of your daily activities while on vacation, create a self-portrait, set goals, sketch out/list ideas for an upcoming project, and more. Whatever you find fun, helpful, cathartic, and inspiring – that’s what your journal should include.
India ink doodles on top of a loose grid of masking tape.
Self-Portrait materials include a photo-copied photograph, paper, wire, thread, printed ribbon, staples, glassine envelope, foreign postage stamp, label, gold paper frame, and a lock of hair.
A magazine images, black gesso, and silver pen.
Caran d’ache water-soluble crayons, black ink pen, cork stamp, black ink pad, metallic gel pens.
Magazine images, black gesso, gold wings, feather, copper foil tape, copper pen.
Watercolor paper, black marker, caran d’ache water-soluble crayons, black writing pen.
Pencil, black pen, gray card stock, pastels.
Watercolors, black pen.
Magazine images, decorative paper, black pen.
Black pen
Metallic gray textured paint, color copy of first self-portrait’s heart, Sharpie marker, sunflower images, silver gel pen.
Questions? Comments?
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Do you art journal? Are you interested in taking it up? Please let me know if you have any questions or comments – I’d love to hear from you…
Warm regards,
Melody
Also posted in art, art journaling, baking, inspiration, life in general, writing
Tagged collage, doodling, drawing, my art journals
4 Comments
Galleries & Published Works
Hi y’all! Happy Tuesday!
Just wanted to take a moment and invite you to check out some of the pages here at my website. For example, my Galleries page and my Published Works page.
You’ll find images of my artwork in the GALLERIES, including photography, collage, and mixed-media. Here are a few examples of images that live there – won’t you visit the rest?
This photo of the Rock of Cashel (in Ireland) is in the Travel collection.
This pink water lily image is in the Nature collection.
This glass bottle image is in the Man-Made collection.
This piece, made in memory of my Aunt Bobby, is in the Collage collection.
This up-cycled metal can project is in the Mixed-Media collection.
If you visit my PUBLISHED WORKS page you can see where I’ve had my art and writings published – and in many cases you can click on the work’s title to see a scan of the tear sheet (magazines) or can link over to the website my work appears on. Projects range from collages and cards to Memory Jars (love that one!) and more! So please take a peek.
Here are a few projects/articles you might particularly like – I hope you’ll also take a peek at the others:
Sowing the Seeds of Inspiration
Time in a Bottle (Memory Jars)
You may also visit my About page to learn more about my background, my Art Program page to learn how you can help me provide art education and supplies to disadvantaged public school children, and my Contact page if you’d like to email me with any questions or comments.
Oh, and Happy Valentine’s Day! Don’t forget to save your chocolate boxes so you can make your own version of my Heart’s Desire project!
Warm regards,
Melody
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Also posted in art, crafts, DIY, inspiration, life in general, nature, photography, travel, vintage, writing
Tagged collage, Galleries, mixed media, Published Works
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