Author Archives: leslie

Pocket Journals

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In my classes and here on my blog I've talked and written about the importance of a pocket notebook or journal, repeatedly and often. Jane and I explored this with our "Field Experiments" posts. I find that when I carry a sketchbook/journal with me ALL the time I use it more often. Even if all i'm doing is writing down which train I need to take and when, I'm using it. Having it on me all the time lets me use it for sketching and journaling whenever I want or need.

I've taken to carrying Field Notes and a BanditApple Carnet peewee in my pocket along with a mechanical pencil and a black ink pen in my coat pocket. It's a barebones journaling set up. No color just graphite and ink. IMAG1422
Because I've been keeping my journal in my inside coat pocket the point of my pencil has been pocking through. I jabbed my hand with it but I was more afraid I'd break a point off or jab someone else on the train. I made myself a little pen sheath that fits over the top of my flap cover.

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Journal Flips

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I thougth I'd do a post of journal or sketchbook flips I really like. What I like about each of these videos is how the person used their journal. Some of them are more art based and more are less so but all really USE their book. To me that is the important thing.

I really dig this flip. First off, look at the cover. That journal has been loved. It's batter and stretched to it's limit. To me that's a sign of how much it's been used. Inside it's pages are pasted in images, newspaper clipings, drawings, notes, paintings, doodles, post cards, etc. This journal has it all. Boy it is amazing. I'd love to sit down have coffee with this person and look through some of her journals.

 

The style of this journal is entirely different from the last. It's crisp, organized, doodly, and loaded with writing. What I like about this one is that it's the first step into a more visual style of journaling. It uses a lot of writing, and sometimes that's needed, but sometimes, words just aren't enough. I think this journal is a great example of just that bridge between words and images.

 

Technique Today: Watercolor

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Watercolor is one of my favorite thigns to use in my art journal. They are capable of brilliant or dark colors and are able to adapt to just about anything. Watercolors are simply a great tool to have in your art journal kit. They can open up a simplicity that can break open your practice and allow you to explore a different type of art journaling- faster and looser. Free in a way that acrylics and huge layers can't be.

If you have issues viewing the videos here on my blog please click the title of the video on the upper left of the video and it will open up in YouTube for your viewing pleasure.

 

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Technique Today: Drawing and Sketching

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No joke, I love to draw in my art journal. Sketches, doodles, all sorts of neat stuff can go in there. But what to sketch, how to sketch? Hopefully, these videos will help give some guidance.

If you have an issue watching the videos here on my blog you can click the title of the video (top left of each video) and it will open up in youtube for you.

 

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Technique Tuesday: Contour Line Drawing

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One of the best things I ever decided to do in my art journal was to devote myself to drawing. For about a year I devoted 20 to 30 minutes a night to drawing in my journal. I drew ewverything and anything from stacks of bottle caps to used tea bags to every piece of fresh fruit that came into the house. Sometimes in the 20 to 30 minutes I'd make 5 or 6 quick drawings othertimes I'd work on one. Anyway, contour line drawing does something in the brain (we aren't sure what yet) but it's been linked to all kinds of good things. (Check out Grandma Layton.) Take a moment when you are watching TV to go draw something. *

If you are having problems viewing the video here on my blog, click the title on the top left of the video and it will open in youtube.

 

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Art Related Videos

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I’ve been watching a bunch of things on Amazon Prime, Hulu and Netflix. It’s been too cold to do much outside. Anyway…

I watched Exit Through the Gift Shop which  you can find here:

 

I also watch Ghost Army, a nifty documentary about artists in WW2 in a special division of the US Army. My friend Greg had mentioned it to me and I was finally able to see the movie. Nifty.

 

I’ve watched a load of trash TV as well… I won’t mention them here.

Happy new year to all my friends!

Techniques Today: Composition Book to Art Journal

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I love compostion books for all things note taking. I use them in school for class notes, ideas, and doodles. Their sturdy stitching lets them live in my bag and survive. These make great art journals. Here are a few videos to give you some ideas on what you can do with them.

If you are having problems viewing the video here on my blog, click the title on the top left of the video and it will open in youtube.

 

 

Art is a Reward

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I’ve been rewarding myself for reading articles for my January class by letting myself paint after I read. I’ve been working small lately so I decided to change things up and work big.

 

To do this I cut open a paper grocery bag, squared it up, then used my create-a-color leads in my E+M holder to work on some BIG automatic drawings.

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After the auto drawing is completed I hit the paper with white paint plus one other color to create a scrubby textured background. I don’t try to fill every spot of the background, rather I brush until the brush is empty of paint. (I’m also listening to music while I do this, so each brush stroke works with the beat and sound of the music.

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After I get a base color down I start to layer in colors onto the drawing itself. This image is far from finished, I’ll work a bunch more on it to get it to a point that I can call it done.

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I was inspired by watching “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” a nifty little documentary supposedly about Banksy but really more about Mr. Brainwash. Neat stuff. i initially thought I might like to create these as a paste up but now realize that it would be a crazy amount of work to paste up on the free wall. So i’m still thinking of something I can put on the free wall, I think it’ll be something like this, likely on paper and not a stencil. Anyway, great movie and these are a lot of fun.