Artist Made Sketchbook Journal

While waiting for artwork to dry in my repurposed magazine sketchbook journal (here and here), I got the wild hair to make a smaller sketchbook journal. This one measures approximately 8"x6" closed and 8"x12" open. It's made using gesso coated muslin. There are 3 groups of 3 "pages" sewn on the inside of a painted fabric cover. Very raw, handmade looking.

I see why artist, who work in sketchbook journals, have more than one going at a time. It helps keep the momentum going when you're in a creative groove. 
 

This artwork started with 3 images torn from magazines and adhered to the gesso muslin with gel medium. The pages are in the upper left, right of center and bottom center. 

This WIP artwork started with the magazine page in the lower left. Unfortunately, the gel medium covered paper did not dry smooth. Note to self: take a few extra minutes to smooth then smooth some more.

I'm not at all happy with the cucumber shape in this WIP. I didn't notice it until I took this photograph. Other than that shape, I like the direction this artwork is going.

 

This WIP is a style I have wanted to develop for awhile. There are a few more details I would like to add but I'm letting this artwork rest for a bit before finishing.

 

I love incorporating bleeding tissue paper in my artwork. These pieces are leftover from other projects. With the addition of asemic writing, i consider this arttwork finished.

 

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Photo Friday

Have a wonderful weekend!

sketchbook journal - update

I'm working daily in the sketchbook journal that is made from a repurposed magazine. I first blog at it here. Most of the designs are loosely made, which is helping me work through my creative block. It's interesting to me that when creating these designs; other project ideas are coming to mind that are not related at all. By giving myself permission to play, my art brain loosening up.

The designs below are for all intensive purposes finished in their current state. I'm ready to move on to the blank pages in my sketchbook journal.

This designs didn't go as planned. My initial idea was to comment on my personal conflict between commercial vs fine art. I like the elements but the layout is awkward. There are more elements that I wanted to add but the composition wasn't well thought out. Time to move on without finishing

I had fun creating this design with the colors and whimsical theme. It's not my usually style but it does make me smile when I look at it and that's a good thing. Again, the composition is a bit awkward. If the individual elements overlapped a bit then it would be more interesting design.

After staring at this design for a few weeks, I decided it was finished when I first created it. I envy artists who can add layer upon layer to their art. That's not me...yet...or maybe never.

If you read my initial post, this design was created because I like the technique created in the ground. I added purple in random areas and calling it finished.

Crazy mess! That's what I think when I look at this finished design. And that's okay. This design served it's purpose of getting me to put something down on paper...anything.

I have to admit this design could fall into the "Crazy Mess" category but I like it better than the design above. To me, it looks like more of a composition. Messy composition but still a composition.

Now I'm off to create more free flowing, creative block busting art!

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Photo(s) Friday

Here are this week's Instagram Photo Layouts from my neighborhood walks. To follow me on Instagram, please click on this link: https://www.instagram.com/mia_bloom/.

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Photo(s) Friday

I really enjoy posting on Instagram.You can find me on Instagram by clicking on this link: https://www.instagram.com/mia_bloom/. I can post a photo or more and add a few hashtags and that's it. It's especially easy on my neighborhood walks. I have been playing around with the different layouts. Here are my morning/neighborhood walks' photos from this past week.

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Creative Block and Playing

I haven't posted new artwork on my blog going on two months. I was in a creative slump. It has happened before and I'm sure it will happen again. I realize that stressing about it doesn't help. I decided to share because reading about other artists’ struggle with creative block has helped me. Maybe I can help someone going through it.

To try to kick start my creativity I looked at my list of fiber art projects to create and projects that were WIP. Nothing caught my interest. I looked on Facebook and Instagram to see what other artists are creating. Read about other artists working through their creative block, which was helpful. I tried to stay clear of Pinterest because it seems to be a black hole for me that I can spend hours perusing.  

Then I realized that I was over thinking it. I remembered what gave me joy as a child. It was sitting in my bedroom drawing and painting...for hours. Not for a deadline. Not for a specific project. Just for fun. To play. To explore. No judgment. No rules. No expensive materials. I realize that creating in a repurposed magazine gives me a chance to play and explore without the guilt of using up "good" paper and materials. Each design doesn't have to be perfect because that's not the point. To reiterate that point, I'm showing my sketchbook journal pages in the beginning stages. Works in progress. Imperfections. Not social media perfect. I'm working on multiple pages at once. I'm jotting down ideas that I will build upon in no specific order or time frame. My hope is that by freeing myself by playing, it will recharge my art brain. Pushing my art. Adding layers to my art. Adding dimension to my art. I will post updates to my art journal as the designs progress.

Here is the cover of the 10" x 12" repurposed magazine. I decided to keep it simple by painting black onto of a layer of gesso.

The first two pages started with the Warhol's Elvis art clipping from a magazine. This design is slowly developing.

The next pages started with the yellow-orange motifs. I wanted to remember it for a possible stamp or screen print. 

Continuing on with the next two pages. This design started with the mauve-y color paper from a fashion layout in a magazine. I wanted it to be messy. Not my normal style. My instinct is to stop at this point but I'm going to push myself to add more layers and possibly more colors.

I have to admit these next pages were created because I was pushing myself to leave some marks. Any marks. "Just put something on the page, Bloom!" I started by painting black over the whole ground. Once it dried, I took an old credit card and scrapped white paint randomly. I liked the technique and didn't want to cover too much of it up. I'm not sure about the design that's developing on top.

These next pages are falling back into colors that are in my comfort zone but the messiness of the overall design is not. Similarly to the design with the mauve-y color, I would normally stop at this point but I'm pushing myself to add more layers, marks and colors.

Like the design above, the colors in this design are in my comfort zone. More pushing myself to add layers, marks and colors.

Do you get in a creative slump? How do you get yourself out of it?

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