Thursday, January 27, 2011

ATC Challenge

In the spirit of the promise to myself to get more involved in the online Mixed-Media community, I have just joined the 82 ATC Challenge run by Elli at www.peonyblue.com

I have played around a bit with ATCs a few years ago early on in my explorations/learning of the world of Mixed-Media and absolutely loved it. The mini-artworks are so fun to make and to admire afterwards. I have to admit that the only aspect that didn't sit well with me is the fact that you trade them ie. give away your babies ;) Yep, I don't think I'd be good at making art for a living.

I am an absolute pack rat when it comes to saving all my scraps of paper and ephemera and ATCs are a great way to use the tiniest bits for collage, as well as using up excess paint on backgrounds.

The challenge starts in a few days and I am really looking forward to playing along. Feeling a bit concerned that I will have to balance this committment with the 2 other projects I am currently doing. I am still going through the LaSirena course with Suzi Blu as well as doing the Strathmore workshop. Not to mention any Art Journalling I may want to do! But, as they say, the busiest people get the most done so I will trust that I can fit art into my everyday life better than I did in 2010.

Till next time :)

Monday, January 10, 2011

Stages of a page

Having never blogged before, I had no need for progress photos of a page. I have just discovered that I 'accidentally' have a pic of a background of a page that I have now completed. Thought it was a good opportunity to show it off.



I was at a friend's house for a catch-up. She had some beautiful paper napkins on the table with our tea & cake. Well, being an art journaller (one track mind), one is seeing ephemera possibilities everywhere ;) Thank goodness it was a good friend who knows my 'madness' and before I could ask, she laughed and said:"you want that serviette, don't you?" (And gave me a hand-full of course).

Anyway, I created a pink paint background with a view to layer that napkin on it. I really love the imperfection of the wrinkles that form when you peel a layer of a tissue off a 3ply napkin. I then stencilled some sequin waste on top. The page came to a sudden halt. It was too pretty to touch.

A few months later, I was searching through my focal images....and was floored. Here she was! A perfect image for my page (in her Hawaiian sarong, the colour was perfect, love how she faces away). I cut that image from a magazine a very long time ago. She was waiting for that background all that time. I love the magic, the serendipity of the Art Journalling process.


Until next time,
Lena :)

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

A new year, a fresh start....

I'm not usually one for new year's resolutions, but I have a strong intention to commit to regular postings on my Blog in 2011.

In the second part of 2010, my art journalling has taken a bit of a back-seat as I have come back to making cards again and challenged myself to push my comfort zone. I have been doing an on-line class with the one & only Suzi Blu. The La Sirena course was something I just had to do - it forced me to brave drawing/illustrating. Up till now I have been enjoying mixed media using mainly collage & painting techniques. I have learned so much. I now know how to make "pretty pretty girls" as Suzi says by perfecting facial symmetry using a formula. Quite a revelation.

In the absence of any new completed work, I will continue to post my old journal pages for now.


This is a very simple journal page done quickly. I spread some 'sea colours' using a credit card technique, hand cut fish from an old music book & doodled a bit with a white paint pen and a white gel pen. The page looked so peaceful & clean that I didn't feel like making it any busier. Yes, it was a challenge giving myself permission to just go with my instinct & not try & make it more arty. I decided to just put a lovely quote on it that I saved from a blog.