State Of The Union

I have a confession to make. I’m web 2.0 illiterate. Okay, well perhaps I’m not really that illiterate on the networking front. How about I’m allergic to it? That just sounds terrible doesn’t it? I know it does to my eyes as I read it. Words have always been difficult. Not in terms of expressing myself. I’m good at that. I have a vernacular that can go on for days. My problem is that even for all of my outgoingness, I’ve always been someone inside of my own head, keeping my thoughts and innermost feelings encapsulated in an air of aloofness that all but proclaims, “Nah, it’s all good.”

Words are difficult because they make the expansive ideas on my head small and invalid. I can’t fit everything I feel and think in a paragraph or two or hell, a novel for that matter. I’m not sure how this came about. As a child I loved writing in diaries and as a tween, I use to write elaborate stories in a composition books with my cousins. Then things happen (like parents invading your privacy and others belittling your literary efforts into non-existence). This has all but carved my path on the creative front. I am more comfortable expressing myself in a creative manner that doesn’t involved words, than I am speaking or writing. This is probably why my art journal entries are less words and more art. A small quote and a meaningful visual create a secret language of the heart that only I can decipher. The fact that people can feel and relate to something in that nature is a bonus. I mean is that not the reason we interact on the world wide web?

But getting back to my point.

I’m a horrible at networking and this is something I need to work on. I have intentions of swimming in more turbulent waters artistically and begin selling my artwork. This is both an exciting prospect as well as a frightening step toward gaining confidence in my creative journey. I cannot do that though if I do not create an online presence. The business of Art, as they like to call it, is a necessary evil and one I know I need to master. The problem is, I don't want to create what is a hard sell. Do you know what I am talking about here? I know I hate it when I feel that people are only trying to sell my something. It turns me off. There are a few people I’ve stopped following because of this. I want a sincere connection with someone and I wish to convey that as well but how do I do that?

*SIGHS* See where I'm getting at? In the end, the visual is great but to connect to the artist you need the words. Words are the bridge you need to tie the experience together. It is what allows the reader and watcher to say, "I get it, I get you" and once that happens, you're on your way to truly saying something.

So, I’m here to say to you dear reader this: Perhaps you’ll see more of me around. I hope you enjoy what I have to say, I hope you connect to it on some level and that you take this journey with me into the unknown.

Cause you know, I need someone by my side to help me read the map since the last time I went left on twitter, it took me months to find Blogger again.


Such is life. Live it.

-Jazmin

Until such time

As I can actually write something intelligent, I leave you with the music that's been playing on repeat for me in the studio.

WIP 8_13_10

State of Emergency

The title for this page came from the fact that I was listening to Bjork's Joga on continuous repeat the whole time I was drawing.

Once again, I found an old sketch to redo and refashion. I took three days to complete it and am pretty happy with the result although let me tell you, the process was flippin' fantastic too. I redid the girl in acrylics, then her face with colored pencil. The background though was where I got stuck. What to do? Keeping that in the back of my mind, I decided to tune into Blade (The Artistic Biker's) Ustream when I began to doodle Mehndi designs with my micron pen. I got so lost in the process that I didn't even realize I had spent two full hours just doodling various designs against the teal background of my newly painted muse.

A prompt for your own page: When you journal, take your sweet time. Take not one but two or three days to complete. Do it in stages. Fill every corner with something small, new and interesting. Then let it sit for another day or two. Then look at it, does it feel done? Then it probably is.

The Good. The Bad. The Second Chance.

One of the things that I had to learn with Art Journaling is the fact that not everything has to be pretty or even finished. I can stop mid page, decide I'm not feeling it and move on to the next. This is liberating, this is creative freedom. In my mind, art journaling doesn't have a destination in mind, just a journey to take you on. Lately, I've been looking over some unfinished sketches and abandoned ideas and making them into something new. Old thoughts creating a new creative path.




The above page was done over a year ago. I was experimenting with my water soluble crayons and antiquing technique, throwing a quick but utterly uninspiring sketch up there for good measure. Then, I was done. I moved on. Over a year and a half later (by my estimation) I was flipping through that old moleskine (now about two/three years in the making) and found many old sketches and abandoned pages that I was beginning to see with new eyes.




Imagine if I just said, "Well, can't do anything with this. It's been over a year and what's done is done?" Yeah, I can't either. I'm very happy with the result and am now looking into recreating a few more pages just for the fun of it.

Lesson to take away from this: It's not over until you say it's over. Don't limit yourself just because you put it away. Find inspiration in old ideas and refashion them into something new. You'll be glad that you did.

Sparkly rainbows and gumdrops am I

I started a new journal. Well, started in the usual ways I start things, which means that I have two or three in the process of being finished right now. In an attempt to be a little more autobiographical (I'm never good with "writing" things down in my art journal, which is why I let my imagery speak for me.) So, I decided to make the writing more like a short but cryptic snippets of the thoughts in my head at any given time. I should warn you that sarcasm is a huge part of my internal monologue. Oh wait, you'll figure that out for yourself, real quick. Never-you-mind.

(Other pages in this journal)





1. 07_31_10, 2. 07_30_10, 3. 07_28_10, 4. 07_29_10

30 Journals 30 Days Interview

How long have you been Art Journaling?
I have been art journaling for a little over three years now. I had to take a small break from it when I moved to a new home but picked it up again recently.




How has Art Journaling impacted, changed, or enhanced your life?
Art journaling has been a wonderful experience for me. Due to past experiences, I'm always reluctant to write my thoughts down in a book, afraid that someone will not respect my privacy and read them. With Art journaling, my message can be hidden or blatant. Simple or complicated. I can write a whole page of feelings and then just paint over it. Art journaling has basically freed me and allowed me to express myself fully. Another wonderful side affect is that it has strengthened my creative voice and has made me more confident in my desire to paint and draw.





What are a few of your favorite Art Journaling materials to use?
I fluctuate. When I first began it was cheap colored pencils, crayons and craft paints. As I began to really get into it, I continued with collage and extended paint elements, personal illustrations and more expensive paints. When I began my move, I pared down again to just graphite pencil, watercolor, and micron pen. I'm back to using some collage elements in my work once more and so I'm always changing up the arsenal.




Who are some of your favorite Art Journalers?
There are so many! I am in love with the work of:
Teesha Moore
Milliande
Ink Smear [2] [3]
Pam Carriker
Willowing
Recent Finds:
Marizateria
Comfortable Shoes Studio




What kind words of encouragement would you say to an Art Journal newbie?

Art journaling is about process not results and it is a personal expression of self. Don't worry about getting your pictures up on line, making videos, buying the latest and greatest just because someone said so. Start simple. Begin with glue stick and collage, add doodles .. give it a soft wash of color with some kiddie watercolors. By keeping things simple, you really begin to define and project your very unique creative voice. Also, learn technique not style. Style if something you personally identify with, it's what makes your art or your journal pages authentic. Technique is what allows you to express your style. Don't work on making your pages look like someone else, instead, use inspiration to propel your own style forward.



Where can we contact you...give us some link LOVE!!
Blog
You Tube
Flickr
Twitter
Esty





Short Bio.

I am a 35 year old mixed media artist. I have absolutely, positively no formal training in fine art. I have a creative and artistic 9 year old who is my muse and reason for finding the joy of self-expression in art.

The majority of my artwork and journal entries are heavily influenced by my daughters daily life and my personal insight on my life. It is my opinion that art is an important and viable form of expression available to ALL. It strengthens and refines your artistic voice and becomes a snapshot of your life at any particular time.

My artistic statement is that art is life. Circular, it is a wonderful give and take. If you find inspiration in what I do, that in turn inspires me. Art is not an elite club that you are shut out of but an open invitation to your own unique voice in the world. You are valid. Let your voice be heard.

Inspiration Wednesday

This is what has me inspired this week.






1. lantern fest, 2. these shoes are made for walkin', 3. 2/365 Berry Nice, 4. Togetherness is Happiness ( x p l o r e :-D ), 5. C H E R R I E S ♥, 6. Sneak Peek 1, 7. her style, 8. None can have a healthy love for flowers unless he loves the wild ones, 9. Untitled, 10. Untitled, 11. {177} half gone, 12. Finally ... a hummingbird !, 13. Day 1271, 14. tavirózsa, 15. ZEN rocks, 16. Can you walk on water? *Explored*

I really need to

Work on my blog and my networking. *sighs* I am so not cut out for this.



1. artjournal_07_20_10, 2. 07_18_10, 3. artjournal_07_17_10, 4. 07_05_10, 5. 07_07_10, 6. artjournal_07_10_10, 7. artjournal_07_09_10, 8. Painted papers 4

Serendipitous

Journaling is not about the destination but the journey it took you on to get you there.

K.I.S.S.

So much time has past since I wrote anything of substance in this journal. The words seem to play in my mind, changing places to better suit the image I wish to create but to no avail. The moment I set fingers to motion on the keyboard, the scramble off like children, laughing at my inability to collect them all in one swoop.

This year has been one of change.

Illustration Friday: Giant

Illustration Friday strikes again. I began with one of my photographs of a small black bug on a flower. Then I was bored so I drew the girl. I guess the whole point is, who is truly the giant? Is it the flower, which the girl uses as a hat, the girl, who dwarfs the bug or is the bug a giant of some unknown? Everything is perspective.

I really need to work on my noses and the right eye is a bit wonky but that's something I need to work on.

Illustration Friday: Satellite

Well, this has been a very long hiatus. I wish I could tell you that all of this time has been spent creating and living the artist life but alas, no. Instead, I will tell you that in the past year I have been seeing my children flourish and become supernovas. If that is not Art, then I don't know what is.

My daughter and I have begun to participate in Illustration Friday and so this is where this lovely being came into existence. I feel extremely rusty but my fingers itched with excitement as I saw her come to life.

Illustration Friday Website