A Magical Journal Journey

Collaborate is my word for 2014, but it's not exactly something new for me. For the past two years I have been a part of a truly special creative project with a bunch of wonderful artist friends that span two continents.

We have worked together to weave a set of magical journals each imbued with our own styles and spells. A veritable coven of creativity, we inspired each other with a colourful theme to set the tone.

This year we chose a colour theme for our journal before sending it on its way. At last it's back and the slideshow above is its visual story of its journey packed with the work of nine artists.

I chose rusty hues - crackly browns, sumptuous oranges and speckles of turquoise and green.

The book spent nine months on the road (no wonder it go so rusty!) before coming home to me in November - about five times fatter than when it set off. In fact, it resembles more of a concertina these days than a bound book!

At first the colour theme was a little scary, but we collaborative journallers are seasoned professionals these days and knew that once we got started and did something about those pesky blank pages, then all would be well.

Right now we are in the throes of planning our project for 2014. One of these days maybe it won't just be my journal that gets to travel and meet my friends! Although... Kat and I did meet this October when I was 'down her neck of the woods'. It felt like we'd already met a thousand times!

Visit my fellow artists and dreamers over the course of this weekend (starting Saturday) as we share our work, and view the fruits of our labours and roll about in all those juicy colours! See if you can spot my contributions!

• Angie at Art Angel
• Gemma at Gemma's House
• Kat at Wright Story
• Kim at IM Girl
• Maggie at The Fanciful Magpie
• Priti Lisa at Priti Studio
• Stephanie at Dragonfly Design Studio
• Tammy at Art and Inspirations

Where have I been?

 

Oh I am such a busy girl these days that my poor blog has become much neglected. The trouble is that there are just way too many distractions. I've been spending hours on Facebook groups - tut tut! I've been painting, adventuring in other dimensions, writing a vampire story, learning, reading and today I've done some gardening (and am feeling a little worse for wear as the thorns and insects scored my skin with their displeasure at my disturbing their summertime slumbers with my hedge-trimmer, secateurs and digging implements!). I've also got to level 96 on Candy Crush, but really that's nothing to be proud of! Frankly there just aren't enough hours in the day for blogging too, and when I write for a living, sometimes it's just too much to think up fancy paragraphs when a sentence will usually suffice on Facebook!

I have to say that sometimes, as much as I love it, sometimes social media can just get a little bit too overwhelming! It's also expensive. All those music, art supply and book recommendations are costing me a fortune!

However, without it I would not be the social butterfly I am. How could I keep up with my worldwide tribes of like-minded artistic souls? Today I am sharing another collaboration art journal set of pages. The theme of the latest of these is The Goddess - she who is Mother to earth, nurture, love, growth. The Goddess has been appearing in my artwork with increasing regularity over the few weeks, so it was kismet that She should be with me this week.

Chakras

A collaborative piece. An earlier artist(s) created the background and drew the figure. I coloured in her face.

Teal, Magenta & Silver

What a delightful palette of colours to play with - soothing but with a cheeky dose of passion to give an edge.

Today these pieces are winging their way across the Atlantic to their second stop on the Magical Journal Journey round robin. These have gone in Kat's journal (which is more of a treasure chest really - complete with silver key...).

In a week or so I'll take delivery of Ange's White Journal which no doubt will pose an interesting artistic challenge... 

Kat made us little booklets to fill. I got carried away and added an extra page...

I'm not sharing it all here though - have to save a little surprise for when it arrives in the mail!

Definitely a mixed media mixed bag, but not many words. I seem to be suffering a word drought on this blog. Hoping for inspiration to come along and bash me on the nose!

Joy in the post

I hope you're sitting comfortably for I have so much to share in this one post.

A year ago I began a collaborative project with seven other artists both here in the UK and in the USA. We each created our own Art Journal which we then sent out on a journey across continents to meet our friends and have them add their own contribution.

Our journals returned to us just before Christmas and we promised each other that we would share the final pieces with each other and the rest of our friends in Blogland.

Here is my personal story of the arty adventure and what it has meant to me.

I have photographed all the pages and focused on details then mashed them up into this little video for you. Some of the pieces are mine (mostly those without names) but the rest portray the magic of my friends - the other artists. I'm sure you'll figure it all out! If the embed doesn't show, you can click here to go directly to YouTube (and put the sound on - there's music!).

The Artists

Lisa DiNunzio - our fearless leader

Maggie Nemetz

Stephanie Mealor Corder

Tammy Neumann Sprinkle

Kat Wright

Angela Hogan

Kim Collister

and me!

Beginnings

I must confess that I didn't quite comprehend the importance attached to what my actual journal should look like. With a thought more on the economics of postal costs and less on aesthetic pleasure, I went for a somewhat 'lightweight' approach to my book. I did, however, make it myself! My first attempt at book-binding surprisingly managed to keep itself together across continents, oceans and postal sorting offices. With this I impressed even myself, particularly as - much to my consternation - it transpired that bookbinding required the use of both needle and thread! (Regular readers will know that I have never quite managed to channel my inner seamstress!

Arrivals

The arrival each month of a bulky package was always momentous, requiring the teasing decision over whether to rip-it-open-right-this-second or savour the moment like a particularly fine wine. And, as the months passed and the colours, pattern and textures spilled ever-more profusely from the precious pages, the anticipation of savouring those contents just intensified.

Not wishing to ruin such moments with sneak peeks on others' blogs, I heeded spoiler alerts that came via email from the rest of the tribe for a while, but confess that eventually curiosity got the better of me and I indulged with wild abandon!

Nerves

Of course, the purpose of each journal spending time with you was to fill its pages with your own style of beauty. However, it took several months to overcome the total terror of messing up someone's book! I also got blocked by attempting to create outside of my comfort zone - to break new boundaries. Eventually I figured that my friends were possibly looking forward to receiving something  recognisably 'Lisa Wright' so at last I began to relax and with the silly added pressure removed the paint began to 'flow'.

Friendship

None of us have ever met in person. We came to know each other through all being members of the Inspiration Avenue Etsy team and blog at one point or another. I do consider these ladies the closest of friends though. I think that holding, touching and being able to peer close up at each other's art helped to nurture this closeness we felt towards each other. We shared our excitement through our blogs and email and of course the monthly packages!

I was extremely touched by the way each of them knew me so well and took the trouble to reflect that in their work. I am a very lucky lady.

Now we've started our own Facebook Group which further eases our communication and collaboration. It's like finally all being in the same room together and telling our stories over our favourite tipple.

The next chapter

We start again with new journals next month. I am preparing to embark upon this second voyage without the trepidation of the first and with some seriously grandiose plans for my journaling vehicle. I like to think that where 2012's was the local commuter train, 2013 will be more Orient Express - albeit a little rusty...

We are working with a colour theme this year and I have chosen rusty hues - oranges, browns, sepia, burnt copper, hints of turquoise...

Start your own

If this story resonates with you, I would urge you to get your own groups together and build an adventure. All you need is some trusty companions, a pack loaded with art supplies and some journals and a spot of mapping to navigate your way to your own treasure.

To get you started you might even be the lucky winner of the competition we are holding with this blog party. To win a selection of items to get you started, simply visit and comment on all of our blogs telling us what your art collaboration plans might involve - let your imaginations fly!

The Artists

Lisa DiNunzio - our fearless leader
Maggie Nemetz
Stephanie Mealor Corder
Tammy Neumann Sprinkle
Kat Wright
Angela Hogan
Kim Collister
and me!

Girl with flowers in her hair

I like to stick a bit of flora in my hair when the opportunity arises. In fact, a photograph of me with pink petals in my hair is actually on a ''proper" company website - for an IT Hosting company. (I would post the actual link to the correct page but unfortunately I can't remember which one it was on. A prize for anyone who finds me!).

This post will eventually get around to plugging an exciting blog party happening next weekend, but first it requires some scene setting.

As I created this piece it began to remind me of my friend and arty collaborator Priti Lisa who, ever since I first saw this picture on her blog, I imagine to permanently walk around with flowers in her hair and channelling her inner Frida.

Priti Lisa

This week I have been excitedly planning the big reveal of the art journal collaboration/round robin that Lisa organised for a group of eight artists last year - as well as planning the beginnings of our second artistic adventure starting on March 1st.

Come along to my blog next weekend for links to all the participants showcase the work that travelled the globe and share their experience of being a part of such a project. I'm not going to say any more now... you need to visit next weekend!!

Well, for some reason this post has taken me ages to write and I need my breakfast.

Sharing with the crew at Sunday Sketches.

The roses in my girl's hair were created using a stamp made from the heart of a cabbage...

Collaborating

Back in the summer I was gifted (from Karen - I am Rushmore) a beautiful handmade journal with each page a unique opportunity to create more art and expand upon what was already there. Assorted ephemera, painted backgrounds, tags, textures ... all beckoned and invited me to come and play.

I was so excited - so much possibility... and yet...

So much opportunity to mess it up! The Muse went all shy, foolish thing. I tried reasoning with her. Doesn't she realise I just want her to be 'herself', my artist within that loves to create?

Well, it took some time, but I feel she's finally allowing her authenticity to flow through. This week we received back the Round Robin Art Journal that has been through the hands and creative thought of eight artists. I was blown away by the contents and you will be too - watch this space for once we each have our treasures back we'll be holding a blog party to share all that loveliness with the rest of our creative tribes in Blogland!

Taking part in this shared experience gave me the confidence that I wasn't going to 'ruin' Karen's book, and I am slowly adding my own layers, my story to sit alongside hers. I'm excited to see where this adventure will lead.

Thank you to all my artist friends who help me grow, push my boundaries and bring such joy and friendship!

Sharing this sketch over one of Karen's backgrounds today.I took the hard black line as the bridge of a nose and the rest just flowed from there...

Mapping friendship

Doubly inspired - by both Orly Avineri's class and my beautiful friends on our round robin journal swap, I created this piece that maps our friendships. Layers of maps, letters, postage remnants and scraps from here and there* while the watchful eyes offer up the gateway to the soul.

Our round robin has wrapped eight friends together through art. Next stop on the journal's journey is the original owner, so I'm incredibly excited as I anticipate the arrival of mine back in the post any day now.

We have resolved to share all through a little blog party, so watch this space to share in the globe-trotting wonders.

While we're on the subject of parties - I'm sharing this with the Paint Party Friday revellers.



(*including one from Orly - or it might have been Teesha - it's the transparent piece over the right eye with the 4 on).

A very round robin

 

 

I seem to be a little short of words this month and have neglected my poor little blog most terribly. I am sorry.

 

I have been painting though and would like to give a sneak peek of some artwork I've been creating for a Round Robin Art Journal that has been globe-trotting.

 

I was inspired by Indian beauties after watching the wedding video of a friend.

 

I'm a girl of many layers

Twice in the last week or so I've been asked what inspires me, so if anything called for a blog post and piece of art then this was it.

This piece is probably somewhere over the Atlantic right now. She resides in an artistic collaboration, a round robin of art journals travelling from one side of the ocean to another. Eight artists each adding their own part to the story. Steph asked that we share what gave heat to our inspirational flame. For me it's layers and words and the feminine and eyes and story and pattern and experimentation... and well, you name it, sometimes it's there!

There's something very special about painting over layers. It's like you're building a secret history for your painting. There are stories from the past that only the two of you have read, but if the observer looks closely enough they might find clues in the tiny elements that remain.

Layers are whispers and hints, they add texture and interest, they cover up the pieces we wish to hide from others, but are still intrinsically a part of us.

Somewhere in this post I stopped talking about art and moved onto myself... There are many layers to peel away today. Some are pretty and sparkling but others stick like glue and weigh me down with their tight weave of negativity. I keep reminding myself to believe in myself and my goals, to keep on doing ...

Oops! I nearly forgot. This post is also for Artists' Playroom and the prompt "What inspires you?"