The Heart of Art

Art takes time. Reflecting takes time. These two together taken even more time. When I don't have time for art or reflecting then my default setting is doodling or Zentangling.

It's often nothing super creative or special or interesting, but I figure it keeps my fingers in the art supplies and that surely is a good thing. 

Layering Art; Layering Reflection

 I filled the background of this journal page with a zentangle doodle called "blossom." Laying down the simple pattern using various colored micron pens filled a pleasing and relaxing art session. As my art journal became more and more full, this page consistently came up as an option to "do more." But I was never quite clear what that "more" might be because I liked the basic zentangle/doodle background. I decided to step up and embellish the doodle with oil pastels. Early into this action I was less than pleased because I had "ruined" the original base layer. Put bluntly: I didn't like the "new" art I had added. Major bummer.

 An important point in art journaling is to press on; don't stop once you do something that you don't particularly like. Keep going and see what evolves. So I continued my concept of adding oil pastels to all of the previous "blossom" doodles. It felt a little better...but I still liked the original (non-altered) page much more. Next step: do something radical and/or cover up significant portions. I chose a combination: radically cover up the altered background with something new so that the overall image changed considerably. I added collage pieces of flowers to repeat the theme of the flowers while also covering up what I didn't like while drawing attention to something new. NOW it is ready for a middle layer or artful reflection.

Correcting Art "Typos"

Spelling has never been a strength...ever. I have kept a "Bad Spellers Dictionary" next to my computer for years. Unfortunately, that doesn't translate to art which incorporates words. "Typos" are not so easily corrected. BUT they can, in fact, be corrected. In the example here I had misspelled "young" and included an "e" at the end of the word. I used the art piece as an illustration during preaching and had the image projected for the congregation to view. Afterwards my husband asked me what was up with the "English" spelling of "younge" with the "e" added to the end of the word. YIKES. Art typo! I thought, "How do I cover up micron pen on specialty paper?" I rubbed off the ink with an eraser and then duplicated the colors on the specialty paper with micron pens to simulate the look of the art paper. It's definitely not perfect, but it is a huge improvement from the major (art) typo!

More Doodling

Micron pen on watercolor background.

Doodling is my current "go to" journaling when I don't have time to journal. It's a low pressure way to continue to use my art supplies which are always nearby without feeling like I've got to produce something finished or "profound." I also expect the concept of doodling will make it's way into my "regular" art journaling as more time & space allow. Meanwhile I'll continue the low rent "artful reflection" of simply journaling in my mini journal.

Micron pen on watercolor background.

Souffle pen on black gesso background.

Micron pen on watercolor background.

Doodling for No Particular Reason

One of the hardest things for me to do is...nothing. I'm not a sitter. I don't idly pass life away doing nothing. As an exercise in "being" (which also means DOING NOTHING) I've been doodling for no particular reason. Just to doodle.

Flower doodles. Micron pens on a previously painted page (watercolors) in my mini art journal (3-1/2x5). 

Paisley shapes: micron pens in multiple colors. 

Unwinding at the end of the day doing a page of mindless doodles is unexpectedly relaxing. No stress. No need to "produce" something profound or "artistic."  Just doodling for the fun of it.

PEACE+

De-Tangled Stress Relief with Zentangle

Summer VBS week is wonderful for the ministry, mission, hospitality, and community building but it also is super hectic; super busy; and super stressful. Zentangle doodling in the evening is an excellent way to unwind. There's no pressure to "get it done" or to make it look "good." Simply doodle away the stress a little bit at a time... I used my pocket journal that is 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" because the small size makes it a low commitment project. I did both of these tangles on pages that I had previously water-colored (another stress-reliever with no commitment to "just" watercolor backgrounds for no particular reason but to have on hand for future use). I used two colors of micron pens for each and slowly added bits of tangling over the course of 5-6 evenings. The ideas for the design are from the Zentangle untangled workbook by Kass Hall. I challenged myself on the floral design to fill every nook and cranny with tangles...when it looked "full" to add even more!