September, 2014 - Art Journal

Fran, my dear friend who inspired me to get started learning alternative and mixed media art techniques, also told me to keep a journal.  I found it easy to try ideas in the journal, rather than starting a canvas before my ideas could gel.

It's a great place to keep lists of items you want to purchase or inventory lists of items you already purchased.  This way, for example, when you are at an arts & crafts store and there is a big sale on the brand of paint you use, you have your list of colors you already own so you don't duplicate.

I use the journal to try new techniques I read about online ... or to work out a design concept before committing to canvas.  I want to do a series with Buddhas.  My stamping needs practice, which I do in the journal, using COPIC pens to colorize.  I learned to use a Tim Holtz stencil with spackle from hardware store.  This creates a very hard dimensional layer, which you can also colorize with paints and powders.  I'm practicing photo transfer but I read where it's not as effective using an inkjet printer image, but better when image comes from laser printer or copier.  There are lots of photo transfer methods and I want to try them all.