Thursday, September 18, 2014

Mixing It Up Loves Cottonwood Arts - It's a Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Mixing it Up loves Cottonwood Arts blog hop!




This is a closed blog hop just for the members of the Mixing it Up Every Day facebook group, so that we can get to know each other better.
Having said that, if you are not in our group, please feel free to leave a comment then come join us over on Face Book. We would love to get to know you better, too.


Question: Are you a Journal Hoarder?

This is really quite funny since until perhaps 6 months ago I had no idea what an art journal even was. However, I now have 4 journals.

Journal #1 was created when I wanted to have what everyone else had. A beautiful book filled with fabulous artwork. I wasn't sure what that was all about, but I HAD TO HAVE ONE!
So, I gathered up scrap paper at work and coil bound it together and VOILA, I had a journal. It was pretty cool and I looked at my new journal for over a week admiring those clean blank pages that would soon showcase my art. 

I looked at it for another few days... and ... watched you tube videos on art journaling. I found out that it is more like a practice book. A way to express yourself (like a diary, sort of) and also a way to try different art techniques and mediums. 


HUNH? 
I am not going to dirty up these beautiful pristene pages with  practice stuff!!!!



My refusal kept my journal a virgin for about another week. I wasn't happy, though.
I watched others post pages of their journals and knew I wanted mine to be just as beautiful. 

My first page was remarkable. I loved it. But, it should have been a painting, not a coiled page in a practice book. 

This is when I found that I was not meant to be a regular art journaler. If a page was not up to painting standards, then I felt it was an eyesore in my journal. If it  turned out fabulous, I hated that it was coil bound in that book and not out for others to see as my art.

Once I accepted that journaling was not really for me, I became a journaler!!! Ha!
I only used my journal to try things. I accepted that it would not represent my feelings as that is what my paintings do everyday. So, that's journal #1.                 

 Journal #2 is  a coverless spiral notebook that I found in the trash. One of my grandkids threw it away at the end of the school year. I saw it in the recycle bin just after I bought Joanne's "The Art of Whimsical Lettering" book and joined her facebook page. It was perfect to use in lieu of a composition notebook and because it was picked out of the trash and was battered already, I had no qualms about seeing less than perfect work in it. I use it just for practicing my lettering. 






I think I am getting the hang of this journaling thingy ::wink::







Journal #3 came about after I signed up for class with an artist I truly admire. I wanted a book that was devoted to what I learned from her and she asked that we make a journal for the class. Again, I found a throw away. It was a blank journal book that had been in my garage for ages. I was so excited about this journal that I actually spent time painting  the perfect cover.


In the end, I didn't really need many pages to complete my 'homework' assignments, so I have since used it for many other things.




Journal #4... yes , there is a journal #4... I have been following a You Tube card maker who often times does journal pages. Her pages are absolutely phenominal and I was convinced that I, too, could create beautiful journal pages if I had a book like hers. A Mole Skin! I had to have one because I just knew that my art would get better if I did. 

Are you all smirking?  Rightfully so, you should be. I learned the hard way that the quality of the paper definitely makes a difference in a journal page in how the paper accepts the medium, but..... it, in no way changes the quality of my art.... duh. 








Journal # 5 Cottonwood Arts ... coming soon :)

So there you go.... journal hoarder? I don't think so. Each of mine still have a lot of empty pages that I hope to fill. I love being able to pick one of them up and sketch or practice my lettering, but I am too new to this art journey to be a hoarder. Instead, I am an 'accumulator'. 

Project:

We were asked to feature a piece of art that represents our 'style'. I have been told my whole life that I have no rythym and definitely no style... haha

I wracked my brains trying to come up with something unique. Not just a unique idea for  a painting, but a small project. Something that is creative.... by Sunday night I was becoming more and more stressed that this artist couldn't muster up just a little creativeness for this blog hop. I was almost in tears as the crunch line was nearing. 

Does it really take a good cry and a total sense of defeat to push me to create????

Well, evidently, yes... yes, it does. It was right in front of my face .... so here's my project in pictures:


Tissue box

Gesso (took 2 coats)

Base Color

Work area getting messier


Added MY GIRL (with tears, of course)
Glued one end, but added velcro to this end

and... Voila!!!!  a refillable tissue box :)


It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To

I needed a little encouragement to post this project, but I am glad I did. I love WHIMSY and this is soooooooo ME! You can find more of my whimsy in my Etsy shop. I just 'recently' put up a web page . Its pretty bare, but hopefully not for long :)

Every artist develops a style of their own and I can't tell you how happy it makes me to create whimsical and inspiring girls.  And, though I love creating MY art, there are many who create different art that I love just as much. 

If you're still here reading, please visit the blogs below and see some of the AWESOME art that our group creates. Consider leaving comments as they really mean alot to us as artists. 

Thank you always for your support and encouragement.
Hugs,
   T

31 comments:

  1. I love it!! I love all your work of course. You are just a fantastic artist. I am so happy your are moving on up! Love the kleenex box with the girlz on it. Ok I will go with what you said, I am not a hoarder, I am a accumulator. LOL

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    1. Thanks, Donna. I should hire you to manage my fan club :)

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  2. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmaaaaaazzzziiinnngggggggg!!!!!!! If my hair wasn't such a mess of take a picture to send of the tears in my eyes and the smile on my face.. Lolllll awesome!!!

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    1. Thanks you Tamiko. This hop has taught me alot about Journals. Looks like I need this prize, cept it might turn me into a hoarder :)

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  3. Oh my goodness! How creative!! I love your work! the colors and those flowers and the girls!! I think I need to study some of these!!

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    1. Thanks, Jean. Just because the wedding is over, doesn't mean the calm has set in yet. And for the record, I didn't study and whenever I do, now, I just go back to what I love.

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  4. Oh this project is SO you!!I always love seeing your little girls!!
    I love the reusable tissue box! I'll be looking at empty boxes in a new light now!

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    1. I know, Anna, Right? I look at EVERYTHING differently now deciding if I think it will take paint! Ha Ha Truth!

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  5. I love reading about your thought processes and art journaling. I think you are one now though, whether you admit it or not! The tissue box is awesome, I love making those too!

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    1. I think once all the newness calms and I have a variety of tools and supplies, I will be journaling more. I think their purpose is becoming clearer thanks to Sundays with Sandee :)

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  6. Jo I love your story about your Journals, I have followed you on many groups and love your work and there is no need to stress over all this, after 20 yrs of decorative painting, I was so glad I found my fun style as we change with age and I am older than dirt as my great - grandaughter tells me. I can be free and do what I want and be happy, I want to use the journals so I can practice and stay more organized in my studio when it come times to do a project or blog. I just love your tissue box so fits your story of doing this blog.

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  7. Tommy Jo, I am still giggling with you. We never start out thinking, I HAVE to have this thing or that, and the next thing you know, we have it. I stared at blank journal pages a long time, too thinking, what if what I create isn't good enough for this beautiful journal/paper/fill in the blank. But I started. And I love my journals and what has been placed there. Love, emotion, whimsey, anger, frustration. All of it. Just my life. Thank you for bringing a great chuckle and happy smile to my face today. Your whimsy girls are awesome. Keep it up.

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing that. It feels good to know I am not alone and that perhaps journaling will be a sense of hope and support for me.

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  8. I love your art TommyJo. Quality of paper matters big time. I learned through trial and error. Now, I have books for various reasons because all paper is not meant for painting. LOL! The tissue box is adorbs!

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    1. Thank you, Tiare. I admire your work MORE! I have learned a lot in this hop and what journals everyone prefers and for what reasons. Think we can do a hop on brayers? LOL I would really like to try one of these Cottonwood Art Journals... huge reccomends by everyone who has one.

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  9. What a great creation! Love the way you told your story and let me get to know several pieces of you! I have such a hard time remembering to take pictures in the middle of my projects showing the steps ... you did a great job! I need to come back to this to remind myself how to do that!!! By the way, LOVE LOVE LOVE you whimsical girls!!!!

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    1. Melissa, I never took step by step pictures until recently. And now, I can't imagine not taking a few 'in progress' ones. It is really helpful if you get stuck and need to step away. You can periodically look at the pictures and then all of a sudden you just know where that piece is supposed to go. Odd, but true.

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  10. TommyJo I had a good chuckle reading your post. It sounded like you were talking about me. I loved it. I also love that tissue box. I'll be subscribing to your blog, it is such fun to read.

    Sorry about your 9/11 event {{{{hugs}}}}}}}

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    1. Thanks so much, Cat! Would love to have you checking in here. Thank you for becoming such great encouragment for everyone and sharing your beautiful art. I have actually gotten better in art due to the encouragement from MIUE.

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    2. ~Hugs!! I will definitely be back!!! and thank yo sweetie!!

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  11. Hi Tommy Jo! I'm so glad to see how much fun you're having as an artist! Super happy to meet you through our fb group and this blog hop. I think you're tissue box is a great idea! You inspire me to try my hand at one, too. I like the Velcro and the fact that it's a reusable box. Great work; keep it up!

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    1. Martice, I love your work, so I feel honored to receive your compliments. If you make a tissue box, I wanna see it!!!!!

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  12. I love your reusable tissue box it is so you.. Yes I am doing the trial and error way with my journals.. Glad you figured out a way to use yours in your own way..
    I'm hopping off...
    Sandy :)

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    1. Thanks Sandy :) I think you don't just jump in and journal. I know I have to have a purpose.

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  13. Oh my goodness this tissue box is so stinking cute!!! What a clever idea

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  14. Thank you for sharing Tommy Jo. I've been a huge fan of your work since I found you in one of our FB groups. I always find it interesting to learn the artist I admire and love their work, (which is you by the way), also struggle with wondering if their work is good enough. You are very talented girl and love what you do. Thank you for sharing 'you'. <3
    Huggss,
    Yvonne

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    1. Aw, Yvonne, thank you. Mutual admiration here for sure. Hugs back :)

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    1. for somereason yours and Sharons comments didnt show up on my moderation page, but it looks like we are good for now.

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  16. Tommy Jo, Sandee said my comment earlier didnot com come through, I love your project and you are a great artist I have followed you on a lot of groups we belong to. It is a pleasure to get to know you as a person and hope we will be able to show more of what we do with our journals , If I ever get one to work with I want to do a lot of different ones for myself and my family to remember me and my work. Blogger hugs

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  17. I think we are good now. Your's and Tiff's didn't show up on my moderation page earlier. I am going back to see who's I missed. I thought I had them all.

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