Check in for Art Every Day: I picked up the joural practice I'd been doing before, and forgot about (photo above). For instructions check out Bridgette's art journalling prompt "A month in Review" , I colored another sketch book entry with garish colors of epic ugliness, and made homemade thank you cards for people who helped out with the show.

Here's some of the press we got for the show. Sylvie Mousseau wrote an excellent article for L'Acadie Nouvelle. These next two papers have posted the articles online and I've linked right to them. Sheila Lagacé wrote an extensive piece for L'étoile, and an article appeared in the Times and Transcript . Jeanne is also going to talk about our mentorship experience on Luc et Luc, a daily talk show. I'm scared about being on TV and am glad that I get to watch the making of this show. I think it will help me get over that fear.

Claire Richard, pictured here with her husband, Homer, is a regular blog reader, but doesn't blog herself. I'm so glad she introduced herself this weekend at the Moncton Studio Tours.

It's been a goal of mine lately to remember names. Hah! Not going so well. Since I didn't write these down (mistake), I'm paranoid I've got them wrong. I do remember Homer, for sure. Claire, if you're out there today and I got your name wrong, please drop me a line :)

International Art Contest, Art Journalling, and new Oil Paints

The money caught my eye with this contest. Nearly one half million in prizes makes this the biggest paying art competition in the world. It's a people's choice event with voting mostly over the internet, no jury. I think that would be a good competition for artists who's work is accesible, plus virtual popularity couldn't hurt either ;) It's open to all variety of art, all levels of artistic talent so you don't have to be a pro, no limitations. Go here for details : ArtPrize. Yikes, this could get messy! It's supposed to be annual, and I'm watching to see how it plays out this year. Do you think first prize will look like this?

My mother was down and we went shopping for woolies for a coverlet she's weaving. She got some lovely alpaca, very soft and is considering the indigo dye. Here's the London Wul Farm's owner, Heidi's blog.

The journal page above was made with pastels, watercolors marker and pencil. It's an older piece when I was testing out all of my supplies for a sensitivity reaction. The pastels became an irritant, for now anyway, but I had some great news this week. Celebrating!! Oil paints seem to be going well. There are certain colors that irritate, but the cool gold I want to use is working beautifully. Not only that, but they perform so well. I'm not using solvents, just linseed or walnut oil for thinning so it takes a long time for my layers to dry. There probably won't be anything to show here from that batch for at least a month. It's an interesting rhythm. Slow food, slow blogging, now slow art. Guess I needed to slow down :D

Mixed Media Art Journal Page Without Glue

This page was made with conte crayons, Faber Castell watercolor pencils, and a pigma graphic marker. Instead of using glue, I used a hole punch and blue wire to attach the vellum paper. The journalling prompt, "A month in Review" came from Bridgette's amanobooks blog. It's so rich in journalling how-to, it's like sitting down to one of your favorite mixed media art books.

For chemically sensitive artists, you may or may not have success with these materials. Conte Crayons are harder, and give off less dust making them a good possibility for many, especially if you wear gloves. Creative Canaries has a couple of pages listing possible resources you may wish to check out. I found switching brands to Faber Castell watercolor pencils, and keeping them dry, doesn't provoke a reaction (hee, hee! found a set for a dollar at a second hand store). I'd advise caution with the marker and the vellum paper which is made from plasticized cotton.

So far, I'm using up any old supplies that don't trigger a reaction, and researching like mad for new possibilities. It's a roller coaster of emotions- the whole range. Just when I was especially frustrated, I got some great video links from Liberty on making your own plant based paints. Check out Organic Painting on Crafting a Green World blog. Not just a great site for crafters, and artists, it's perfect for parents who are concerned about finding truly non-toxic supplies and projects for their children.

Many thanks to Regina, from rgr designs blog for this award :) Regina's recent texture experiments are gorgeous. I'm passing it on to all those in my sidebar. Thanks for the continuous inspiration!

Dream Journal Page

Do you ever dream about work? Leah at Creative Every Day has a prompt to get the creative juices flowing that centers on your dreams. She offers a variety of ways to approach it. Coincidentally, Bridgette of Contemplating the Moon was talking about her 'burnt umber' dreams. With all that talk of dreaming, I guess its no surprise that I had another art dream.

It was gold, warm, and glowing. It was a row of lace paper dolls. I remember thinking, "Yes! Paper dolls. That is genius!!" Then I woke up, and all I could think was, "Paper dolls? What the heck?!"

Oh well. While listening to a seminar I had the itch to scribble in my journal. No amazing ideas were forthcoming so I took a page I'd already prepared with blue, and pink doggie stamps (hand carved, inspired by the paper cutting M.Kate sent), then made my chain of lace paper dolls.

Sun Art Journal Page

The words will go in the petals. The yellow paint is gouache on top of pastels and it's very flaky.

Healing Art Journal Pages

These are very personal pages. It is a healing piece. After I finished it I didn't feel stressed out anymore.

As for details, I will say that we have a Manx cat, so when I draw cats they never have tails. Sometimes I think to add them later even though they look strange to me, but I like the triangle shape of this kitty and decided to leave it be. Also the writing on the left page is some of the lyrics from this song.

I was trying out a new tool on these pages. I love the messy look that came out, but I've read it's got many tricks. Photo realist Jon Friedman likes it because it can do precise edges and "smear colors together seamlessly". If you'd like to try them (aha! a fellow supply junkie) here are some benefits and useful tips on using these silicon color shapers.

To me it felt like painting with a greasy finger.

Bright and Battered

This last journal page is bright and battered. It was so aggressive, loose and crazy to me that I added the three squares for some order and rest. The writing will also calm it down a bit.

I've been thinking a lot about color and its symbolism in the western world. When I was in school I did a project on color psychology. This involved simple coloring tests with a class of grade one children. They had very similar reactions. Red was for anger, black was bad, orange was for happy, pink was delicate etc.

Part of the fun is to either use our cultural color language or to manipulate it. How can I make red feel happy? How can I express empowerment with pink? How can I make black feel pure? Color isn't the focal point in my work, but the art journal gives me a place to go wild with it.

Apple Blossom Art Journal Page

This is the second page based on the pink flowering crab apple tree. It's all ready for writing in, horizontally between the half circles.

Oh, and Jace my spouse-guy got me gerberas. Love that color!

How about some more pink? Head over to "How Sweet the Sound." Beverly is hosting a celebration of inspiring pink. There's even a giveaway at Cottage Farm Villa for some gorgeous goodies.

Grungy Art Journal Page

"Look into his eyes and you can see why all the little kids are dressed in dreams..." Jace is adapting "Diamond Sea" by Sonic Youth for acoustic guitar and while he sang I drew this in my journal. The lyrics, and their performance itself, are stunning. It didn't occur to me that musicians could uses sounds for symbolism just as artists use imagery, but of course it make sense. So many principles in various artistic mediums overlap.

If you got an undate earlier, and then came here and didn't see a new post, so sorry. That was my fault. I'm overeager to put up my latest painting, but the photograph isn't good enough so I removed the post. I photograph paintings outside, so hopefully the weather will cooperate and I'll post a better one soon.

Art Journal Play

This is a page from my new art journal, inspired by Suzi Blu's cool video. She's got some great ideas and inspiration for anyone who wants to explore their creative side.

I was having so much fun rubbing on the pastel layers and scruffing up the paint layers that I got a small blister on my thumb. Hah! Of course if you want to avoid that, just rub with a scrap piece of paper and go slower.

The tree came up intuitively, while working on the theme, "Why I make art." I recognized it after I was done. We used to have a flowering crabapple tree that would get thick, thick, thick with pink blooms. Once when I was sick of playing with my younger brother, I climbed up into the tree and hid (we weren't especially chummy then, but we got to be pals). He could pass right by the tree and not see me because the blooms were so full. More magical than any fairytale and it forever changed the way I saw the world. The way those flowers were up so close, so intense. The loud buzzing from the bees, the sweet scent. It was one of my eternal moments- you know-those little moments that end up the most important? The pink tree, that moment of close observation, and the heightened senses to the point of euphoria are reasons I make art.

The photograph is of me when I was two or three. Of course that would be the first reason I make art.