I ADORE STRIPES

Art Journal

Acrylics, Pen

I had a lot going through my mind when I created this page in my art journal today and when I started it, I wasn't sure about painting it without the upper half of the body.  But it is the lower half that speaks to me more.

I have a new colleague at work and she's downsizing.  She is having trouble parting with some of the sentimental things, especially from her daughters childhood.  I told her how I always loved Raggedy Ann...although I never had one.  I wasn't a "doll" person. But Raggedy Ann is in a class of her own. She's more than a doll.  She's whimsical....and she is "artsy"... a girl who truly has her own style.

So I am now the possessor of this Raggedy Ann and she inspired me today. 

What do I love absolutely the most about her?  The painting tells you...her striped leggings.  I ADORE STRIPES.  I even have a Pinterest board by that title.  I think I can credit Raggedy Ann with my love of stripes from an early age.

Fast forward to June 2014, and my thoughts turn to all of the graduates...they're in this week's paper.  How could it be 8 years since my son graduated from high school???  This painting is a message for these graduates.  Put your best foot forward...find your passion....be true to yourself.

GENESIS

Art Journal 

Collage, Acrylics, Washi tape, Business Envelopes 

The DLP (Documented Life Project) prompt for this week is to use a biblical quote or quote from a favorite, book....etc.  So I chose Genesis...the story of creation.  My interpretation is a little bit funky with the mermaid in the window.  

A closer look at the left side page.  The bottom half of the page has pieces of bank envelopes torn to create the water....

I took some artistic license by adding the bank envelope window and putting a mermaid in there...there are no mermaids in the story of creation.  I put her in an aquarium...And you see the Holy Spirit in the middle of the page.

Here is a close up of the mermaid with a large sea shell in the "aquarium".  I found her in a Coastal Living magazine. God, after all, has a sense of humor.

SUNSHINE DAYS

SUNNY FLOWERS - SUNNY DAYS

DLP - Art Journal

Acrylics, Collage, Rubber Stamps

My friend, Jan, inspired these pages.  I don't know if she knows how much joy she brings to the life of the people around her. The envelope on the right side of the page was a plain white envelope that holds a thank you note she wrote to me after her birthday this year. The envelope has a sunflower stamp on it....thus the pages began.  I altered the envelope and glued it to a flap that is attached to the page with washi tape.

This page includes a painting of a sunflower that I found on Pinterest....love it; don't know who painted it.

Underneath the flap is another painting I found on Pinterest and added to this page.  

When the flap is open, you can see that I wrote "My friend, Jan, brings sunshine into the lives of others."

And when all three pages are open, it looks like this....the flap is from a file folder that I had cut up, and sprayed with acrylics using stencils and then painted the flowers on top.  

I've been "sort of" following the Documented Life Project using some of the prompts...but sometimes you just have to go with what inspires you...that's really what a "documented" life is all about.