art journal – Page 9 – Katie Jeanne Wood

Eye I I mini handmade book

Eye I I
mini handmade art journal
2.75 x 1.75 inches

I got the idea for this little mini handmade book from the back cover of the book I made last month. The quote said “Do you know where the sense of I comes from?”, and it was asked by the monk teaching the virtual winter retreat I participated in back in December. The retreat was the theme of my last handmade book. Kinda full circle, I was going.

Of course, being a visual artist, I had to put a little spin on his words, and this book is the result of that.

Art supplies used to make this book:

135 lb watercolor paper
acrylic paint
oil pastels
chalk
hard pastels
charcoal
collage paper
Signo gel pens – red, black, blue black
black thread
needle for sewing the pages together

I got a bit weary from drawing so many eyes, so I went back to the original quote where I meant I. Or, in this case, it meant the letter I..hence the title of the book – Eye I I. I wanted to try and capture all three meanings within these pages – I, as in me (which Bhante was referring to in his quote), the letter I, and the image of an eye.

TBH, I didn’t like this book as I was creating it, but now that it’s finished, it’s growing on me. After about 4 pages of eyes, I started thinking the theme I chose was dumb. lol It was a good practice, but I doubt I’ll have a theme going forward, but you never know what future moments will bring.

So, the first handmade book of 2021 is finished. I already made the book for next month. I’m going to keep these books small, and the pages few, so this handmade book challenge will be easily doable, and fun.

If you want to see more of my handmade books, click here. I’m slowly adding more images as I scan the pages in, so check back often. You can also see my art journal for January here, which is going to spill into February because there’s no way I’m going to finish it this month. Time is flying, as usual.

Thanks for stopping by.

Art journal pages

I said I wasn’t going to post this week, but I changed my mind. I went on a craazzzy art journal binge two nights ago, and created 28 pages in my book all at once. !!! It was a complete mind dump.

I have felt empty from the release of built up creative tension ever since. That’s what happens when I deprive myself of my art journals for too many days. I go mad, and can’t stop myself. lol

This, I believe, is what the British call being “cheeky”. haha
And, so is this. lol
One more sleep.

This book isn’t handmade. It’s actually a cheap composition notebook with a floppy cover. I got the idea of using this particular notebook from an art journal class I’m taking with Alisa Burke. I actually have a whole box full of these that I bought on eBay years ago, so it was perfect. I haven’t used a notebook for an art journal in a while, and my goodness, have I ever missed working on cheap thin paper.

Seeing these crinkled pages reminds me of when I used to make handmade books, and I’d spray the paper with coffee to make them look aged and distressed. They used to crinkle up like this, also.

I don’t always prep my art journal pages ahead of time, but I’m discovering this process works best for me. When I have downtime, and I’m sitting around watching youtube, I’m more inclined to grab my art supplies, and play in an art journal if I have the pages ready to go.

OMGosh..that paper, tho. I think it’s so pretty. Other than the cover, which I need to jazz up, I am so happy how this book is turning out.

The last step in the process is to take the journal into my studio, and finish up each page with some acrylic or gouache paint. I also go over the charcoal with black paint to make it more permanent, and I seal each page with a thin layer of Dorland’s wax to keep the pages from sticking.

Okay, this turned into quite a long post. Now I really have to get to work on other stuff. Have a great week. I might pop in with more photos of my art journal in a couple days. We’ll see.

Making a print in my art journal

Remember how I used to not like purple so much? Well, working in this art journal with all the dark purple construction paper has changed my mind. I’ve been really enjoying making prints on these pages.

I’ve also come to the conclusion that pink (my fav color) actually goes quite well with purple (duh)..so purple and I are friends again. Yay! 😀

Have a great Monday. See you tomorrow.

Kiss off

Kiss Off
art journal
morning page

I like how this piece can easily be read a few different ways, both positively and negatively. These are my mixed emotions coming out on the page right now, so I read kiss off as “kiss OFF”..as in, get the heck away from me. I also see it as an endearing, loving send off..like kissing someone goodbye as they leave.

Honoring how I feel
art journal page

I tend to go running to my art journals whenever I have a lot going on in my head. Ever since Etsy made that big announcement last week I’ve felt a mixture of emotions. With this, and personal stuff going on, I haven’t had the energy to make art for anyone except me this week, and that’s okay.

This is NOT a fairytale
Just calm down, hon
We’re all fine anyway

Instead of pushing through like I normally do, and forcing myself to work like a robot or machine, I hit the pause button. I put myself in timeout until I get my head on straight and figure out how I want to move forward.

I call this my “I don’t give a shit” art because it doesn’t have to be pretty or live up to anyone’s snobby art standards, including my own.

Quit your bitching
art journal page

This art is raw, honest, personal, highly expressive, and it means the world to me. I love and cherish these pieces. If my house was on fire, this is the art I’d want to save because it means the most to me.

Update on Goimagine, Jon almost immediately accepted my application when I applied last week. It took me so long to notice because it went to my spam folder. If you applied to be a seller, and you’re still waiting to hear back, be sure to check spam.

Have a great weekend, y’all. I’ll see you next week.

Engrossed in the process

Pink & green abstract
Fall Back Into

I’m into my art journals heavily atm. I’m on a mission to fill and finish this book by the end of the month.

I like people to be unhappy because I like them to have souls.
Virginia Woolf

I feel this way about my portrait paintings, not about people, tho.

Free?

Virginia Woolf Wears Polka Dots
Flash sale

There must be another life, she thought, sinking back into her chair, exasperated. Not in dreams; but here and now, in this room, with living people. She felt as if she were standing on the edge of a precipice with her hair blown back; she was about to grasp something that just evaded her. There must be another life, here and now, she repeated. This is too short, too broken. We know nothing, even about ourselves.

Virginia Woolf, The Years

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Not Now. I’m Playing

Not now.
I’m PLAYing
sketchbook/art journal

This is what the cover of my sketchbook looks like..the one I’ve been blogging about so much lately. I made this book about 20 years ago, but I never got around to using it. Good thing I hung on to it because it’s coming in handy now that my word for the year is PLAY.

The cover photo has a thick layer of beeswax on it. I never use beeswax in my work anymore, but I’m thinking I should. I love how yellow it is, and still has that lovely beeswax scent after all this time.

painting one of my blind contour drawings

The pages I’m drawing on are all bright yellow, and thin like printer or copy paper. I absolutely LOVE how the pages are buckling and warping under the weight of the paint, and other art supplies I’m using.

🥰🥰🥰

He’s quite a character, this one.
Makes me giggle every time I see him.

We have three local tv stations that run old sitcoms around the clock. Every so often, I binge watch them while I’m painting because they make me laugh. Thinking about it, this guy reminds me of the dad from My Three Sons. ha!

Hope you’re having a great hump day.

It must be winter

I know it must be winter (though I sleep)—
I know it must be winter, for I dream
I dip my bare feet in the running stream,
And flowers are many, and the grass grows deep.
Edith Matilda Thomas

For Bryan
may he rest in peace.

Finding balance as an artist

art journal
portrait painting
#flashbackfriday

A wise woman recognizes when her life is out of balance and summons the courage to act to correct it, she knows the meaning of true generosity, happiness is the reward for a life lived in harmony, with courage and grace.

Suze Orman

Green, pink, and blue abstract painting

making marks
drawing lines

orange abstract impasto painting
book art
#flashbackfriday

I’m finding my balance today by posting a mixture of new and already posted photos.

Have a great weekend. I’ll see you next week.

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