Journaling

I find it really hard to switch off from work-mode and to let myself just make art for relaxation, do you? I feel like everything has to be licensable. I am trying to break myself of that habit though, but it is making my art feel a bit stressed. I need to get back to just creating for the sheer joy of it, without worrying about the end result.

To that end, I got my journal back out. It has been ages since I just doodled. I thought I would share some of my journal pages with you, dear friends. Sometimes my journal pages are pretty basic and functional, like this spread above.

 

 

Sometimes I use lots of collage and paint. Sometimes I print out my scanned in painted pieces and collage with them! I also have fun with the set of antique stamps I bought in Wisconsin.

 

On other days, I am just in the mood for something fairly quick. A little pen and ink, a little watercolor, ta-da!

 

 

Sometimes I am happy to just leave things in black and white. I draw everything freehand with the pen; I don't draw with pencil first.

 

 

Sometimes I want to use lots of color and all sorts of media. here I have used pen, watercolor, Pan Pastels (love them!), collage, stamps, whee! After several days of letting myself have journal playtime in the evenings, I feel much refreshed!

 

 

 

Beachy Dreams

Oh, it is summer, and what a good summer it is! Except for my recent bout of pneumonia, of course! But thank goodness for antibiotics, because it means I was able to take a wonderful and inspiring trip to the Florida Keys. I even went snorkeling on a coral reef for the first time. Now, I know that according to my clients I should be painting Christmas designs right now, but I just couldn't bear to wait to paint all the beachy goodness. Hooray for the beach!

What is on your drawing table this week?

Bears

The weather was beautiful, so my daughter and I decided to do some wildlife watching. We drove to Keenesburg, CO where there is a wildlife rehabilitation center. What a wonderful trip. I was especially fascinated by all the bears they have on the 400 acre property. Since the weather was mild, the bears were feeling very playful. It was wonderful to see them engaging in this behavior in a natural setting.

 

 

Of course, I had to do some sketching.

 

 

I got the wonderful chunky mechanical pencil from Aaron Bros. Art and Framing. I really like it, it is great for loose sketches. The sharpener is in the bottom of the pencil.

 

 I decided to do a watercolor study as well. Perhaps it is time for me to do another lodge series, featuring our friends, the Bears!

 

 

Giveaway

Looks like most people signed up for the giveaway over on my Facebook page. And we have a winner! Hooray for Debi Matlack! Stay tuned, more exciting things will be happening soon.

A Giveaway!

Okay, it has stopped snowing, the kids are healthy, and life has settled down again. That means it is time for a giveaway! I have put together a box with 2 notepads, a magnet, a boxed set of cards, three flags of assorted sizes, and a jigsaw puzzle. Fun stuff, right? And all you have to do to be entered to win is to leave a comment on this page, or one my facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JaneMadayStudio. Extra entries by liking my facebook studio page, or this blog.

 Here is a closeup of the puzzle. There will be more giveways to come! Good luck!

Creative Lettering

 

One thing I will admit is that I am not very good at hand-lettering. I do want to improve though, because I love the casual lettering that is so popular right now. I would also like my journal pages to look better. And, I must also admit, it bugs me when there is something I can't do, and that makes me want to practise it!

 

So I purchased this book by Jenny Doh, and I am very glad I did. The designs in the book are inspiring to look at, and the artists give tips on how they work.

 

 

This is a page from my sketchbook where I did one of the projects in the book, from the Flora Chang chapter. I love her work, so I was happy to see she was included in the book. As you can see, I still have a long way to go before I am proficient, but I am having a good time playing with it.

 

Meow

Here is what I am working on today. Just because it seems like a long time since I have painted a kitten! Meow!