A peek inside my Art Journal: Finding my voice!

 I'm finding my voice, my style.  I suppose that sounds like a rather bold or brash thing to say. However, this has been one of those searches that's quite like the hide and seek games I play with my girls.  Lately I've been trying things out, chasing ideas this way and that.  Every now and then I've actually captured an idea, a concept, an art supply, a technique that I really adore.  That gets my heart pumping extra fast and my inspiration whirling.  Then I've tucked that little treasure away in my artists' toolbox and moved on.  Time for another chase.  Another seek.  
It's quite like capturing lightning bugs, plopping them into a jar and watching their lights flicker on and off.   All those ideas together…..create a glow that feels safe, just comfortable enough, but not too much so.  Not where I'm done growing.  Just enough of a glow to feel comfortable and like I'm home.

 And so, I'm learning the language my art likes to speak.  Which brushes feel best in my hand and glide across the paper like I love.  Which steps to the whole process of creating a canvas or art page I like.
(for example, art that looks too neat and tidy generally makes my skin crawl)
 I'm learning the perfect formula for me…the right amount of thinking and whimsy.
 I hope you enjoy seeing what that looks like in real life.  It is certainly quite scary to show up and be so vulnerable over and over again.  To show the bits (usually on Instagram) that I may even deem a less favorite piece.  But I suppose if we, the incredible human beings that we are, don't show up as ALL of us….good, bad, ugly, beautiful-what else is there?

This is me.  My art, my evolving journey.  The messages stuffed deepest...







(the journaling on the left was inspired by a post I read on Momastery's blog…..About how there's enough!  Enough opportunity, love, time….She made a very beautiful point about complimenting those around us when they get opportunities because we should be happy for them, not worried we missed out on something great too.  As soon as I read that I thought of you lovely readers.  You beautiful souls who have cheered me on, encouraged me….and clapped the loudest when good has come my way.  I thank you, I thank you, I thank you….)


I must confess that a lot of these pages I now love, but didn't at the first try.  In fact, you've probably even seen a few of these pages before, you just didn't know it because I covered so much up with more paint. 
I think this needs a quote or word stamped in the middle, don't you? 
What would you pick?


Thank-you for taking a peek into my artsy world lately!
Today I've thanked God for art and painting a million times.

Have you created lately?  
Often times for me, the absolute hardest part is starting.  Sometimes it feels like it's all I can do to open the paint bottle and begin.  But then I do start and I get lost in that land of painting and I wonder why it took me so long to begin in the first place. 

Be back soon with new canvases, Rosy Life style.  All my own. 

15 comments:

  1. I think your art is stunning and you definitely have your own style - I strongly suspect that we all have our own style in creating that is as distinctive as our handwriting we just have to find it!

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    1. Thank-you so much Carie! Your words mean so much to me. My art style looks a lot better than my handwriting style, lol. But yes, you are right…we are each one unique.

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  2. How fun to see your journal! Really cool! What journal do you use?

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    1. Thank-you! I am currently using a large sketchbook type from Hobby Lobby…the paper gets a bit wrinkly with all the paint layers I add, but I don't mind because it's mostly just for me (the journal I mean) I've also used a mixed media journal from Hobby Lobby before with a thicker paper and really liked it!

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  3. What about BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED
    Great journal!

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    1. I LOVE this idea Lisa! I must go get my stamps! :)

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  4. One idea: Something along the lines of "grow your own way. " It resonates with your post and finding your own style of art, which all made me think about growing each in our own way. Thanks for a beautiful post for the eyes and soul.

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    1. I love this! Grow your own way AND bloom where you're planted speak to me very loudly…just great reminders that we're right where we need to be.

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  5. One idea: Something along the lines of "grow your own way. " It resonates with your post and finding your own style of art, which all made me think about growing each in our own way. Thanks for a beautiful post for the eyes and soul.

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  6. I am really enjoying your blog Sara. I am so glad I found it! I have been learning how to draw fashion croquis. I want to do my own sketches for my jewelry marketing/website. It's one of those things that you have to watch "admiring people's work" too much though because you start to accidentally copy their styles. The idea is to use certain drawing standards and develop your own unique style. I have never been good at drawing people, so this is a fun adventure (in a "tear the paper into 1,000 pieces because this doesn't look like a human" kind of way..ha ha). Thanks for sharing your journal. I love it!!

    Susan

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    1. Hi Susan! I know exactly what you mean about admiring other people's work…there's a fine line for me between learning from other people and copying them! That's why I like Christy Tomlinson's Behind the Art class SO much. She teaches the basics of pretty much any art supply you could ever wonder about but then there's all that freedom left to decide how to use them. I've been learning how to draw people too and it is TOUGH! Keep at it! We'll both keep trying and getting better together! :)

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  7. I love your art! It's adventurous, whimsical, vibrant, and energetic. And inspiring to me! I'm so glad to have found your blog recently.

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    1. Thank-you so much Colleen! You are very, very kind. Your art and writing are both beautiful! Have you ever thought about writing a book?

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  8. Thanks for the peek into your journal. Love it. For the one with a space I would stamp bloom true in the middle xx

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    1. I like bloom true….a lot. There's totally a difference in just blooming and being true about it, isn't there?
      Maybe I could combine all these lovely comments mentioned…something like "Bloom where you're planted….truly."

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