art every day…july 1-8, 2011

I love my art journals like cake and candy!  And since i've taken the sweets out of my diet (for real), i had to find a gratifying substitute.  Playfully making art pages and filling assorted books with yummy color and sweet inspirations is just the ticket for this "sweets journey"!  Making some art instead of making a cake!

To coin a concept from Jenny Doh, i know "Art Saves".  Journaling in paint, pens and paper is keeping me focused on some personal goals.

Although i have always made this practice a daily priority, i want to be more accountable and document my progress. To chronicle my "sweets journey", i'll be posting a weeks worth of art pages every Saturday.  

Here is my art journaling July 1-8, 2011…..

The fun thing about journaling is that there are so many options for materials and the actual books that to create in.  Moleskines, sketch books, watercolor paper, bristol, vellum, etc.  I have many different surfaces that i work in.  Believe it or not, of the 12 or 13 journals i am working in right now i think there is maybe ONE that is full, every page finished completely!  That will be a next goal. 

   There are a zillion pens and paints to use, along with inks, sprays, mists, crayons, pencils, pastels, etc.  Art journaling enables me to become a different artist in very book on every page.  If i do a whole series in a book, i can keep it forever. 

When i can't get the artful groove going the way i want it to, i will just make several pages of color splashes, layers and misty watercolored memories, i mean backgrounds!

Sometimes i draw on the pages and my work is linear and "doodley", loose but deliberate.

Then at other times, i get completely consumed with crazy color and create beautiful surfaces for lettering, writing and soul spilling later.

All of the art this week is inside these 4 journals.  I hope you're a little bit inspired and can go make some "sweet art"!  Thanks for visiting…..

QUESTIONS IN THE COMMENTS???  If you are leaving a comment that is a question, please check back to the blog post where you left it , as i will do my best to answer the questions in the section where you left the comment.

Shakey Shakerson's Premier "Art Friends" Video

Here's a little surprise for you, my art friends, a video!  

It's my very first attempt, and 

it's a little (alot) rough, so humor me and take a dramamine while you watch it!  

I have much to learn and i would really like to put more video and tutorials on this blog.  This premier rookie version was shot while i held the camera phone and turned the journal pages.  I will "get it", i promise!  For now i'll be starting out with just my iphone and a little tripod just to get practice.   iMovie is a great tool, but as you can see i certainly have not mastered the smoooooth transitions to the next frames, oy!   I pinky swear the next one will be good.

But in the meantime, don't laugh at my A.D.D. artist comments, table shots and off focus tidbits throughout, LOL!!  And at the end, i'm sure you will love the ever so meaningful last frame showcasing my glass table top, aquafina and marker bucket!    It is what it is, and i will look back at my very first blog video with great affection.  I'm just happy that i figured it out, and i did it!

we're free!

To celebrate Independence Day, July 4th, and our nation's freedom i am offering FREE SHIPPING in my Etsy shop when you order 2 or more prints!!  Use coupon code: FREE2JULY4.  This offer good June 30. 2011 through July 4, 2011.  Have fun shopping and getting "whimspired"!

"Blinging It" Tutorial….

Go on over to the Luminarte blog where, as guest blogger i have posted a tutorial on making some sparkly shiny embellishments with Twinkling H20s, Glossy Accents, and Stickles.  

This is colorful art play!  Create your own beautiful hand drawn decorations for your art journals, cards and mixed media pieces.  One of a kind embellishments unique to you, are so much more special than manufactured store bought things that everyone else has on their artwork.

 Be adventurous, go make your own fabulous embellishments.  And if you're worried about the drawing part, just draw over and over again until you like it.  And practice too.  You will eventually be comfortable with your personal expression and there'll be no creative inhibitions.  Enjoy!

artful neighbors...

card © Jill Foster

There's a lot of blog hopping, cross posting, guest spots and sharing in the "artful neighborhoods" these days!  I was so flattered when Jill Foster asked me to appear as a "guest artist" on her blog this week.  It's such a fun way to meet new artsy friends who share your same creative passions.

card © Jill Foster

Jill's has a beautiful style and makes these fabulous cards.  Evidently we share the same love for color, this orange speaks to me!

card © Jill Foster

 Aren't they gorgeous?  So simple and sweet.  Go check out Jill's blog and see how my art inspired her latest card.  I love it!  It's refreshing to play together in the same "artful neighborhood" (blog world) learn from each other and and celebrate our artistry.  

card © Jill Foster

What fun over at your place Jill, thanks inviting me!

guest blogger at Luminarte

I'm delighted to be guest blogging on the Luminarte blog this month.  They're the ones with those blingy, bold, shimmer paints and sprays that i love!….Twinkling H2Os and Radiant Rains….  After all, you can never have too much sparkle art!  Flutter on over and check it out…Luminarte by Creative Imaginations.

to be true….

 On Facebook i have a "fan page" called Whimspirations (go ahead, click on the link and LIKE) where i frequently post my inspirational art.  Some people aren't on Facebook, so i will occasionally cross post the art here on my blog.

...oh look!  Here's a shot of before i added the first line…..

 So, in some "cyber place" one will always be "whimspired" by these artworks... 

 ...be true.