What about the VLOG? Episodes 1 and 2

Alright, so I dived right in and have started to VLOG!

Yes I have started small, and hope to do a hourly, daily, weekly ok at the moment a sometime vlog talking about the things that are coming up at the moment, and more.  When I started I wanted to do it daily, but life, time, and over promising myself got the better of me, so I totally stopped. The desire to do it was still there, so I decided to break it down a bit, take the self imposed pressure off and do it as a weekly-ish Realityarts Vlog

I moved home had to do the packing and unpacking - I am on my 4th studio space, will share more soon.  I had courses and exhibitions to deal with and lots of other things that seem to be vying for time, and I want to share some of it on video, but I really underestimated just how long it would take.

Join me anyway on my YouTube channel, are you on your own creative journey and want some inspiration, or want to break-in, don't quite know where to start?  Well over time I will be providing some of the answers (from my perspective). I will be sharing what excites and motivates me, and inspiration from other artists - you accompany me on a creative tropical adventure. 

I will also cover in my VLOG the highs and lows of relocating that we found and how we adjusted to a new way of life, answer questions, tell you about new techniques and courses that I am involved with and so much more.

Episode 2 Series 1

Episode 1, Series 1

The third episode which is well over due should be with you this week and perhaps that will be the regular viewing date, I am trying to keep myself to a schedule - (a work in progress), rather than like sniper fire.

Anyway I hope you enjoy, and join me on the creative journey, we only have one life, why not live it to the full and step out and do the things that bless you and can inspire others in some way.  Go on, I dare you!  High Five..... I'm daring myself so you can't leave me hanging!

Do check out some of my other social sites, that seem to take up so much time....

Instagram

Facebook
Website

Pinterest - don't you just love all the different boards, no more piles of magazines with circles around things that inspire you or that you just like..

Anyway, thanks for getting this far, stay blessed and be a blessing

Amanda

After 31 Art Journals What is next?

I really enjoyed sharing with you the 31 Art Journals Series, it took a lot out of me but I think that it was important for me to show up for myself and you on a regular consistent basis, are you showing up for yourself?  Your art journal page is a good reminder of your journey and how far you have come.

You were able to see a selection of the collection of art journals that I had created and worked in.  How many of the 31 Art Journals did you see?  Did you have a favorite, have you gone out and tried a few.  I had a lot of fun sharing the art Journals, there were even some that I hadn't seen in a while and it was great to revisit their pages.

So you may be asking what now, after all those journals it would be great to see how some of the pages are used.  As promised I will be taking a page from some of the journals and creating on them or finishing pages, so there will be lots to see.  The way that I use my journals varies.  Some to record ideas, work through a particular issue that I wanted to express on the page or just have fun and play.

Some of the art journals were part of a course that I had either taken or taught in, but in each art journal I have left a page or two or more for some so that I could create in it when the mood took me.  Your style might have changed over time but it is still a great idea to be able to see what you would do with a particular theme you may have in your journal.

I think one of my favorite journals over the 31 Journals was my Gratitude's and Celebrations art journal

It became a challenge creating the pages over a year and a half but it was a good reminder of the things that I was grateful for and it is a reminder of how far I have come as an artist as well.

I will be taking you through weekly art journal pages with a hope to spark your creativity further, and will be creating some 'how-to' videos so that you can learn how to make your own journals mainly from recycled and up-cycled materials.

I am so looking forward to taking you on the weekly art journal journey with me for creating pages.  The video will be out on Friday on my YouTube channel, would love to have you there.

Join me on Patreon

Check it out HERE

Art Journal Page - Background Bonus No 5

Blessings for you and yours, welcome to the 31 Art Journal Series backgrounds bonus.  This is the last day of the 31 Art Journals.  I hope that you have managed to see something that has pricked your interest in creating your own art journal..

Over the month you have been shown a series of art journals made from different materials, and 31 different tips to encourage you to work in your art journal.  On top of that you have also been shown a series of background videos to give you additional tips to creating backgrounds.

When you think about all the Art Journal tips, decide which ones you already incorporate into your journal practice and which ones you can start if you need to, you don't have to do them all at once it can be done over a period of time.

Check out today's background video to see how you can create those backgrounds using a few simple materials, and as you look back over the posts it will give you a great place to start.  If you need to check out the 31 Art Journals you can go HERE

The Video

Here is another easy way in which you can create your own background pages. Just add color and play with your supplies on the page and before you know it you have a great surface to work on further.  Enjoy!

31 Art Journals - No 30 & 31

Art Journal no 30

These are great little journals that you can focus on doing specific things in or use it as a normal journal.

Art Journal No 31

This is a lovely journal made from fabric with fabric pages, and can be painted or stitched.  In the videos I show you the pages and how I have used the journals.

Remember that Hacking the Color Wheel begins tomorrow!

Hope to see you there, remember to start thinking about the different types of journals that you can create.  Stay blessed and be a blessing.

31 Art Journals Weekly Tips No 5 - Recap and Hacking the Color Wheel Session 2

Welcome to the Weekly tips for the 31 Art Journals, here are some more great tips for you to put in practice to further enhance your experience of your art journal. 

1. You can come back to a page, it doesn’t have to be finished in one sitting.

2. Take photographs of the different stages of a page, there can often be much to learn from this as well.

3. If you can’t afford to try out different supplies, see if a friend has ones that you don’t have and have a swap so that you can try them out.

4. Your journal pages may become the source for further work in your journal, or paintings

5. Look at some of the videos created by others working in their journals, pick up tips and ideas that you can use in your own Journal.

6. Remember that everyone has their own style, you will find yours the more you spend time in your journal.

7. I can’t state it enough, but have fun and make your own rules for working in your journal

Video Recaps

Here are the video recaps for the week for those who wanted to binge watch :)

Hacking the Color Wheel Starts today

Are you still trying to decide whether you should sign up for the Online course - Hacking the Color Wheel - Art Journaling for Creative Rebels?  

Over the past month I have been showing you a selection of diverse Art Journals that you can make/buy/alter and more.  You have been given over 30 tips to put into practice and you have been getting a bonus weekly video to help you with your backgrounds.

When you sign up using my link you will get the following for 4 Bonuses FREE to keep

• PDF A4 Art Journal hints and tips with over 30 tips to get you started on your Art Journal Journey

• Four background videos showing you how to create some simple backgrounds in your art journals for you to download and keep FOREVER!

• Five backgrounds that I have created full size for you to download and use in your journals

• How-To booklet of Four Art Journals to make from different materials that I have shared in the 31 Art Journals

Fabric/handmade stitched

poundstore

Cereal bag

Directories journal

It would be great to have you on the course so what you waiting for sign up HERE!  Stay blessed and be a blessing!

31 Art Journals No: 26 & 27 - PLUS Hacking the Color Wheel Countdown

Oh my goodness, the Hacking the Color Wheel class starts in a couple of days, really excited to be teaching.  We are counting down and the lesson starts on 5th November, so remember to sign up.  I am giving away quite a number of bonuses when you use my link HERE

Looking forward to seeing you on the course.

The Art Journals Videos

Take a look at the videos to see how they were made and inspiration behind the pages.

No 26

This Art Journal was made from a course that I taught on called The Journey Within and this is where I put some of the work that I did.

No 27

This is another example of creating a journal out of some of the things you may have around you.  I had an old bank book and decided to make use of it.  The pages were quite thick but I stuck them together and it leaves you with quite a sturdy page.

What is the most unusual thing that you have made an art journal out of?

31 Art Journals - No 28 & 29

Only a couple of days left for the remainder of the journals that I am sharing with you as part of the series.  I have so many more that I have lovingly spent time on that will have to wait for another time.

In the meantime, I have two journals that I want to pass your way as I try and keep to my promise of getting them all out to you before the end of the week.  

Journal 28

This is a journal in progress, and is how a lot of them start out.  When you are creating your journal you don't always have to have all the pieces or do everything at once, but each stage can be a meditative process.

Journal 29

This art journal is from the One BadAss Art Journal class that I taught on earlier during the year.  It was fun to teach as well as be inspired by the other teachers on the course.

Take a look at the videos to see the inspiration behind the pages and what they mean to me.  I hope you are motivated to add something that you may have seen in your own process.

Remember that Hacking the Color Wheel starts on Sunday and you can sign up HERE

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

31 Art Journals - No 24 & 25 Recycled Materials

Welcome to the series of 31 Art Journals.  For the next few days you are in for a treat and will be seeing two journals each day as we make our way through the rest of the art journals. definitely been a pleasure sharing and talking about the Art Journals, and so surprising how quickly time flies when your having fun.

This journal as with the art journal I showed you HERE is made from toilet roll tubes and card.  I have made lots of tags so that I can add journaling and there are also encouraging words placed throughout the journal as a reminder.

These two journals are made from recycled materials

and it is important that we start looking at the things that we have around us in a different way.  As creatives we can turn what some might consider trash into treasure, and I challenge you to think about how you can use recycled materials in a creative way.

This art journal was created out of a class with Jane Davenport called Frolicaholic and is also filled with encouraging questions and looks at encouraging you to see the gift that lays within.

How do you deal with your critic, what strategies do you use when you are in a 'flunk' and need to motivate yourself to get on with it?

Take a look at both the videos for these journals to see the pages and get an idea how each spread was developed.

Stay blessed and be a blessing, looking forward to hearing about your creative adventures!

31 Art Journals No 23 - Recycled Project

The Video

Welcome to Art Journal no 23, as part of the 31 Art Journal Series.  I am so pleased that you can join me in the last week of journals, I have 8 left to share with you that I will spread over the next week, each different in its own way and each created with love and more!

I really love this Art Journal that is made with recycled materials and has so many different elements to it to lift and encourage you.

I posted a while back just how the journal was made and you can see the post HERE

I love everything about this journal, it has so much yummy texture in it

I created lots of tags so that I can journal on them and each page has an encouraging word and sentiment on it.

There is so much that you can do with these recycled projects, and they are kind on the environment too!

Why don't you try one, you can start off small, check out the instructions on how to make them HERE and make sure you leave a comment.  I would love to see what you come up with.  Check out the video above to see all the pages.  Stay blessed and be a blessing!

31 Art Journals - No 22 - Brave Journal

Welcome to 31 Art Journals and Art Journal 22

Here is another one created from a children's book that has been up-cycled.  It is a hard back book which is great when you are adding embellishments and collage to the pages.

It was one that I created as part of the Brave Girls Club course that I did and it looks at providing us with encouragement.  It also serves as a pick me up when you stray from your positive self.

It is important that you have a journal that you can encourage yourself in and show up for yourself on a daily basis, and I think we also need to deal with the difficult areas that we often try and ignore as we solve the problems of others.

Think about what it is you really want in your life and where you want to go, where your gifts lay and how you can nurture yourself and in turn others

I really enjoyed creating this mini journal and you can make them any time and highlight different areas of your life.  What has been your favorite Art Journal from the series?

I want to remind you that I have a space to give away on the Hacking the Color Wheel Series 2 where I will be teaching.  There is an amazing line up of teachers!.  I have a great session for you to do, all you need to do for a chance to win a spot is to leave a comment on one of the art journal videos.  You can also sign up to the mailing list to receive information on courses, classes, free giveaways and more.

For more information click HERE

Art Journal Page - Background Bonus no 4

Blessings for you and yours this Sunday, and welcome to the 31 Art Journal Series backgrounds bonus.

If you didn't catch the background bonus from last week you can see it HERE and HERE

Here is a reminder of yesterdays tips, see which ones you already incorporate into your journal practice and which ones you can start if you need to.

Check out today's background video to see how you can create those backgrounds using a few simple materials.  In this video I am using pastels and gesso.  I do like the effects you can get with pastels but don't like using them in the traditional way, so I use them to create backgrounds and blend with the gesso.

I also show you how you can change your mind when working on a page, to suit, don't be afraid, now therwill be no excuse not to start!

The Video

Stay blessed and be a blessing, now go and create something!

31 Art Journals Weekly Tips No 4 - Recaps, Giveaways and bonuses

Welcome to the 4th recap for the month.  We are coming to the final countdown of Art Journals in the Series, and I hope that you have been inspired and managed to make the most of your time and to incorporate some art journaling for yourself.  Remember to check out the Sunday Background videos to give you some really quick ideas for creating a background that you can build on.  

Today we will recap on the videos for the week, think about what might have been your favorite style of journal.  If you haven't had time to check them out during the week and catch up below. 

Lets look at some Art Journal Tips that you can put into practice, I hope that you can find something that will encourage you.

Art Journal Tips

1. Gesso is your best friend, and has many uses in your journal, become familiar with it.

2. If something isn’t working the way that you want it to do some research and find out what you need to, there is so much information and examples, teaching, tutorials online you are spoilt for choice.  Use your journal to help you grow and work through these times.

3. Do not be afraid to try something new

4. Push your boundaries in your journal, this is the perfect place to experiment.

5. Select materials and tools you’re not familiar with and experiment, get out of your comfort zone, you might actually like them.

6. Think about why you want to cover something up, is it part of your process or are you running away from a truth that needs to be expressed on your page

Now for the Video Recap...

Check out these videos if you missed them during the week.

No 21

No 20

No 19

No 18

No 17

I would love to hear from you.  I have one space in the 'Hacking the color Wheel course' that I am teaching on to give away.  Leave a comment here on the blog or on my Youtube channel on your favorite Journal.

I will also be giving away a series of bonuses 

•  31 Art Journal tips - printable
• 5 art journal background for you to keep 
• How to make 4 Art Journals as part of the 31 Art Journal series pdf
• 4 Background videos for extra journaling ideas

when you sign up for the Hacking the Color Wheel course HERE. 

31 Art Journals No:21 - Recycled Directories Journal - Grace

Here is another Art journal that has been created from a phone directory

For some reason our local council had a large amount delivered and they were just piled up so I thought it would be great to make something that would be useful.

I had always wanted to make a book with an insert that you could store things in without it being obvious on the outside.

After sticking the pages together I cut out a section that would serve to hold the letters - a series of encouraging notes to self.

There was quite a bit of journaling done in the figures, and the journaling can be done in ways that you prefer.  I didn't create a lot of pages in this journal for this point that I would be using areas in the figures drawn to journal in.  You would be able to get a better view from the video below.

31 Art Journals - No 20 - Miracles, Recycled Directory

Welcome to today's Art Journal.  It is amazing what can be done with a bit of imagination.

This journal has been made from recycled material - a telephone directory, and is part of a series of 3.  You can see how they were made HERE

There is lots to see in this journal, I have added quotes and tags that messages, or journaling can be done

Check out the video below and get a better look at each page.  I hope you enjoy, and are inspired.

The Video

31 Art Journals - No 19 - Directories Journal

Welcome, today's Art Journal was made from an old A5 telephone directory, and there are three that you will see made in slightly different ways over the next few days. 

Art Journals as I have said can take many shapes and forms and the only thing that will stop you is your imagination.  You can go from really complete to ultra simple

The pages to this directory were stuck together, gesso was added and then the pages were embellished with textures and lots of other vintage materials.

This is a great way to experiment with ideas and take it as far as you wish.  You can see further how they were made HERE

See if you have got any directories laying around and use them to create an art journal.  You can always if you wish practice with the different materials in the journal, and you can try and manipulate the pages.

Thank you for checking out this journal, check out the video and let me know what you think. 

The Video