Visual Journaling

I've been doing a version of Visual Journaling for a few years now.

I use my SoulCollage cards as inspiration for painting a background, and then write the words as the main image in the SoulCollage card might speak

Here's an example of the SoulCollage of my Mother at Age 86 from the Community Suit card and the Visual Journal page it inspired.

Method: I was drawn to the peachy earthy tones in the background and used that to inspire the textured gloss gel medium and acrylic paint. To texture I used a broken comb, some rubber stamps, paint splatters and alcohol to partially dissolve the acrylic. I painted a lot of layers using thin layers of paint and when it was dry I glued a miniature version of the 5 x 8 card, and then I invited my Mom to speak.

I love writing with the Pilot Hi Tech fine point pens. They're very durable and write over almost anything.





Here's what she had to say, "I am the One who smiles at the world. I rely on my faith to support me through life's ups and downs. Even beyond the grave, my love shines on you always."

Suzie Wolfer LCSW
Visual Journaling Class First Saturdays of April, May and June
More about SoulCollage workshops

Upcoming Art Workshops by Jennifer Campbell

April 4th Saturday 1PM - 3PM ($35)
Spread Your Wings. An Art Workshop by Jennifer Campbell in Mixed Media. Join Jennifer in the world of collage, metal and gel transfers. Create art that you can wear and hang on your wall! Come prepared to create and have fun in this two hour workshop!


April 18th Saturday 11AM-2PM ($35 plus $5 materials fee)
Altoid Tin Travel Journal. Join Jennifer in this fabulous workshop and travel back in time creating your own tin travel journal. You will learn how to make a new tin look aged and rusty in minutes, create miniature collages and learn cold connections in this fun 3 hour class.

Call Peddler's Pack at 503-641-9555 to reserve your space.
Workshops held at Peddler's Pack in Beaverton (4570 SW Watson Avenue, Beaverton 97005)
Register now! We’ll have lots of fun!!

More Collage Cards By Lenall Siebenaler

New Collaged Spring Cards by Lenall Siebenaler

I spent the weekend creating these fresh spring collaged cards.

Paper Cutting

The art of paper cutting, look at what can be done with so few tools. All you need is paper, pencil, scissors, craft knife and glue.

History
For as long as paper has been available it has been folded, cut and painted in countries as diverse as China, Mexico, N. America, Poland, Switzerland and Germany. From crisp vignettes and sacred pictures, papercuts have described the daily and seasonal activities of their makers proving the art to be one of everyday peoples.
Immigrants settling in Pennsylvania brought the tradition from Germany and Switzerland to this country. "Scherenschnitte," the German-Swiss word meaning "scissors cutting" is the most recognized word today for this fascinating art form. From the blog- Me and My Shadows by Jo Krajci

Here is my first attempt at scherenschnitte (love that word). I started with my sculpture of “Going to Town on Stilts”. With that story in my head I tried to imagine what the town was like and how her path would look. As you can see the animals of the forest are a bit curious. Now I’m wondering will she meet up with Pogo?

Calling the Crows

Here she is calling the crows. I just love her funny little face.

Meeting new People

I have been playing with the wire and clay people and have really enjoyed the outcome of their faces. I start out with a very lose idea like, male, older and bald. The rest to my surprise just happens (not all the time). When the face is done it’s like meeting a new person. “The Feather Inspector” has my father’s hair line. The other one “Where the Lost Balls Go” I showed to my brother and he said “hey that’s the strong man from the circus” and sure enough that was the one from the cartoons when I was a child. The one’s that I don’t know, like a girl I’m working on presently, has a crooked smile and is calling crows. Who are you? I will post a picture soon, maybe you know her.

Happy Valentines Day!

My husband and I both loved the Swedish vampire film "Let the Right One In," so that seemed like the perfect inspiration for a valentine for him this year.  The movie is visually gorgeous with Swedish winter scenes in grays, blacks and whites, and always a little splash of red added.  I used soft graffiti fabric that I made, old found fabric, and red velvet bits.  It is backed in a luscious black velvet.  I am very fortunate to be married to a man who does not think I need to be locked up when I give him something like this.

Wired

Creating jewelry with wire is something I've enjoyed doing for several years, since first taking a workshop with Sharilyn Miller. My father designed and fabricated scrolly ornamental iron gates and rails; I think some of that rubbed off on me. There is satisfaction in pounding and shaping wire, as there was in manipulating those thin bars of steel for my dad.
I've been very fortunate to have classes with some of the best jewelry artists around, including Nina Bagley.
Here are Nina's swift hands, demonstrating for her students.

This is a necklace made in a class with Stephanie Lee, another very talented and inspirational artist, where I learned to make jewelry components with soldered brass.

The bangle bracelet here is my most recent project. It involved wrapping yards of silver wire, handmade coils, and Swarovski crystals around a core of heavier wire.

Banishing the Winter Blahs

Usually about this time of year I go into hibernation. My Muse takes her vacation and I relax, getting ready for my Spring Spurt. Well, not this year. I signed up for two yearly challenges which has proved to be a good thing for this season. The first was Nature Gathered, below is my January contribution. The participants are to create their monthly works of art on an 8x8 canvas. I'm really enjoying this size and using my other talents.



The second challenge is the Bead Journal Project. Everyone who signed up was to pick a size for their "pages" and make a monthly beaded page for their personal journal. I choose recycled respirator filters for my pages, which I'm glad I did, they are small and quick to bead up. Here is my January page. You can check out my blog to see more of my pages.

February is just right around the corner and I need to get busy in order to get my art done for next month.