Make a Super-Quick No-Sew Folding Journal

new drawing pens and pencils

Having found the best pens to use on this handmade paper ___the Uni-ball Signo UM-151 gel ink pens___ I ordered a couple more colors of them. They are waterproof when used with watercolor, and come in .28, .38, and .5 nibs.

At Jet Pens, I also found these two pencils. The long 2-pointed Auto Point Turnpoint Mechanical Pencil has a .7 graphite lead at one end and a .9 red lead at the other. I thought I would replace the red lead with a softer 2B graphite for wider, darker pencil lines. The Ohto Wooden  Mechanical Pencil Mini is very tiny! Fits easily inside my favorite watercolor palettes for on-the-go sketching.

Finally, sketching outdoors again!

And ended up making a journal spread...

This is the finished spread...trying out new colors!

All I got done on the spot; my ink wasn't drying!  It was Noodler's Lexington Gray in a Hero bent-nib pen, and usually dries quickly.  Not yesterday!  So this morning I decided to take my time and mask off the little waterfalls and ripples!

I'm testing new watercolors from Golden--QoR paints, pronounced "core"!  You'll be hearing more about them...happily, I had an unused palette to put them in.

I decided to use a lot of wet-in-wet to keep it fresh...lots of Naples Yellow and Quin Gold in the rocks...

I used my little sprayer to soften the fore edge, and laid in the fish while the water was still wet.

Removed the mask and added a headline...strengthened some areas in the background...

I tried to keep the feeling of motion in the water...

Pleased with the fish!

I used a pen made from a honeysuckle twig for the pampas grass...

And my new Sharpie EF water-based marker defined the water a bit more.  It's acrylic, so I could paint over it when it dried...nice.

All in all, I was pleased with the spread for how it preserved the day--strong winter sunshine and a good day with old friends.  I'm a bit of an introvert (OK, understatement!) and spending a little time sketching in the midst of the party helped keep me focused.

AND I was pleased with the paints, which are strongly pigmented and re-wet nicely.  You'll be hearing more about them as I try out more things...

bear-making and sketching

When our first grandchild turned 7, I made her a hand-made teddy bear with antique shoe-button eyes and real mohair fur. I used to make these to sell in the 1980s/1990s. So I made it a tradition by doing the same for each grandchild on their 7th birthday.

This year, it's Quen's turn. Because he loves wearing button-down shirts with real ties, and loves to sketch and paint, the style was obvious --- a wee artist bear. I only need to sew the ears on and he will be finished. And then sew a tiny sketchbook bound in leather for the bear (or Quen) to fill up with drawings. I used leftover bits of paper from binding regular sketchbooks for the pages, which will measure just under 2" when done.

I'm in more of a mood to sketch, so I took time to do so instead of finishing the bear yesterday. Sketching also helps me decide on facial expression and outfit.

Design Ideas

People often ask about designing pages--it was one of the most popular requests on the poll in our sidebar at right!  I'd done a couple of PDFs to go with my original class and then on the Keeping an Artist's Journal CD that grew out of that class, but I wanted to give them to you here, for nothing!

http://www.cathyjohnson.info/PDF_library/DesignIdeas1.pdf
http://www.cathyjohnson.info/PDF_library/DesignIdeas2.pdf

Let me know what you think!



The CD with TONS more on it is here:

And the downloadable eBook version is here.

Escapism via The Artist Journal

Taking a page from Kate's own fantasy journal, I decided to create a "getaway place" in my own journal during my recovery from a recent bout of the flu.

The Heart-Held Cottage
Watercolor and Ink
Stillman and Birn Bound Beta Sketchbook
5.5 x 8.5 inches

I have long loved Hobbiton from the Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit series as seen in Peter Jackson's movies. I love the gypsy wagons you see in Europe as well as some of the tiny structures that people have built for backyard escapes, even using them as small homes. 

The idea of a personal place all my own where I can go to escape the challenges of real life, be they illness, family, financial or just a too long to-do list holds vast appeal to me. I can decorate and nest and relax. A place where problems can't follow, where there is no dust, no clutter, no cleaning. 

A place to enjoy painting, reading, napping, observing nature, lounging in front of a warm fire, visiting with invited friends, cooking a special meal or just simply being. The cottage became a place where I'm not rushed by deadlines or decisions and I can indulge (if I want to) in an hour long soak in a gorgeous claw- foot tub! (TMI, I know!)

The fun part for me was adding special touches that have special meaning to me that might not be obvious to the casual observer. (The stained glass doors in the bookcase sketch have a backstory, but you wouldn't know if I didn't mention it.) 

While I'm definitely not an architect and I certainly wasn't become overly concerned with the laws of physics in my house plans, I did have a great deal of fun thinking about the rooms I would have and the type of furnishings I would surround myself with. The colors and material choices were all up to me without considering someone else's tastes or needs (unless I chose to include them).

The pages developed over the two weeks I was sick and I worked a little bit here and there until they were finished.

But in a way, they'll never be finished as I have enjoyed the escape so much, I'm already planning my next getaway!

The things I learned for next time:

• I'll work bigger and create the floor plans to take up an entire page each.
• By working larger, I'll be able to add in more detail when it comes to the furnishings, window treatments and such.
• I will work on both the views of the inside as well as the views looking out the windows. 
• I'll focus more thought on where the getaway is located‚ like the beach, mountains, underground, or in a pasture or forest.

How about you? Care to join me in creating a fabulous getaway that only exists in your imagination and on the pages of your sketchbook?

If you do, please comment back here so we can come and visit your secret hideaway!

Sandy Williams -- A Cacophany of Cats

We've been having record cold temperatures here in Michigan as has a lot of the country.  It was the worst time for our furnace to go out last Saturday night and repairs couldn't be made until Monday.  So off went my dog to my brother's house and my sister came and got our three cats while my mother and I checked into a hotel.  We were SO glad to be able to return home as were our pets.  The cats in particular let us know that they did not approve of being uprooted and sent away and let us know -- quite loudly.  I'm happy to report that life is now back to normal and our house is toasty and warm.