It is time for BożenA and I to show you our latest challenge. But “latest” is definitely a stretch of the imagination. It was my turn to choose a topic and I chose “Create an art journal page”. But shortly after the suggestion, my world sort of started looking quite different and so I was out of inspiration. And when it returned, you are seeing a very different page to what I had in mind when I suggested the challenge.
If you follow my blog, you will know that since about mid-October, I have been dealing with the passing of family and friends. It brought home a realization that I had actually always followed, having been a nurse, that one should always live each day to the fullest and so my page contains some of the lyrics of the song “One Day at a time, Sweet Jesus”. I worked in my disc bound journal on a page cut from Canson C’ a Grain Drawing paper.
I divided my page into three sections to depict the yesterday, tomorrow and today. I used soft pastels to add the color to the different sections. I wanted the yesterday section to have a golden look to it as memories are mostly golden. I then applied a fixative to prevent the pastel from rubbing off. Once that was dry, I added a stenciled pattern with colored pencil. Using a Spellbinders die, I created the layered flower and leaf cluster from different gold cardstocks.
The tomorrow section needed to be grey, to depict the fact that it is unknown and may never come for us. I again used a colored pencil to add the stenciled background. The flower cluster is made with the same die set, but a different flower and done in shades of grey cardstock.
I wanted the current day section to be bright, almost in-your-face. Again, I added stenciling with colored pencils and used a Spellbinders die to create the bird and flower. I cut the pieces out of colored cardstock, but added inking to the edges to brighten up the textures.
I created the lyrics on my computer and printed them out so that I could cut words and sections apart. I ran my black marker along the edges and then adhered them to the relevant sections on my page. I added doodling to the page with a black Sharpie and with a white Posca paint pen. I completed the page by added a few music notes that I had cut from white cardstock with a mini punch.
Remember, age is no criteria in this life. Be sure to be kind, forgive and don’t put off for tomorrow what you need to accomplish today.
I am excited to see what BożenA has created for her page as art journaling is also a new art form for her. Please visit her post and leave her a comment while you are there.
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Monica
It doesn't matter what you had in mind. The result is amazing Monica.
Happy Christmas and New Year.
Faith x
A beautiful thought provoking page Monica love the three sections and well thought out,Wishing you a Merry Christmas and hopefully a btter New Year-take care and hope you are okay
Carol x
Beautiful artwork, Monica. And thought-provoking at the same time. Life is actually so fragile. Thank you for sharing.
Gorgeous journal page, great reminder that we all need to focus on today and live life. Merry Christmas and may your New Year be filled with Peace, Love and Joy, hugs, Lori m
I know how difficult your time is behind you, Monica. Your page perfectly captures the feelings that have accompanied you recently and what you are feeling now. I love golden for memories and gray for unknown tomorrow. And I completely agree with you that today is all we have and we must try to make it the most beautiful. Only then will it be golden when it passes away. Incredible head of the journal, Monica. Thank you for this challenge, it threw me out of the field of comfort, at the same time forcing me to look at our work differently.
Have a nice Christmas, my dear Monica & Roger!
BożenA
Bless you, Monica. What a beautiful page made while working through pain, but still it evokes positivity and becomes uplifting. I hope the holidays are being peaceful and inspiring for you, because your struggles inspire me and I'm always happy and grateful we've crossed paths. One can never have too many "real" people in their lives. <3 Hugs to you and yours, A xoxo
This is a very meaningful page for your journal, Monika! Beautifully done!