If you're new to Art Journal Every Day, all the posts can be found here. Please read this post first. There is a flickr group for sharing right here. Remember, it's just ten minutes of nourishing your creative self every day! No need to finish anything or even like it. If you've done some art journaling this week and you've blogged about it, or put it on flickr, please leave a link in the linky list at the end of this post. Thanks!
Today we have a guest post from Michelle Mathey. She shares how she uses Watercolor Crayons to create a face and then bravely chops it in half! And don't miss the peek into her "creative kitchen!"
“I am a crafty person not an artsy person. I can’t draw or sketch. I love to look at other people’s art but I could certainly never do that so why even try?” Have you ever said those words to yourself? I have – lots and lots of times over the space of years and years. Then I started following Julie’s blog and discovered Art Journal Every Day! The whole idea of an art journal was freeing to me and as I began to create I discovered things about myself that I never knew – my inner artsy side began to emerge with play and practice.
One of the first things I did (January 2011) was to make an art journal from a composition notebook and decorate the cover with an Ode to Julie.
Since then I’ve been taking online classes, participating weekly in Art Journal Every Day and the new Second Floor Challenge. Reading Julie’s blog helped me to realize that things don’t need to be perfect – they just need to be!! I am a person who never took Art in school, never kept an art journal until recently, never sketched on scraps of paper, never doodled through class and yet I am having a blast creating, learning, trying out new techniques and not restricting myself to any genre or preconceived idea of “what is correct” with an art journal. If you are on the fence about keeping an art journal, I encourage you to jump in and CREATE!! You won’t be sorry!
Recently, I’ve been fascinated with drawing faces. For this layout, start with a pencil sketch and something to color with – I chose Neocolor II Water-soluble wax pastel crayons. Don’t be afraid of limited supplies. I only have 15 Neocolor crayons (so far) but that was plenty for this project.
Start adding shading with your Neocolor crayons, this is where it starts to get scary. When you were a child and colored with crayons, one layer was usually all we ever did. This is a different situation – one layer is not enough!!
An aqua pen “melted” the first layer of crayon together and a black marker added definition to the eyes. Not pretty at this point. In fact, it reminds of a favorite Napoleon Dynamite quote, “It took me like three hours to finish the shading on your upper lip. It’s probably the best drawing I’ve ever done.”
Be brave!! Add another layer of crayon and then melt with the aquapen.
Much better but not finished yet. Use the aquapen and crayons alternately until you end up with an image that makes you happy!
Highlights to the eyes and lips were added with a white paint pen. I like the crayons because I was able to add a layer of “unmelted” crayon to the top of the hair for texture and movement.
In the spirit of trying new things, I whacked her head in half. This would normally intimidate me but I reminded myself that if I didn’t like the results I could just draw another girl. Switched the two “head pieces” since separating her head straight across wasn’t working – my eyes kept trying to draw the image back together again. The Vasarely-inspired (particularly this piece) background I painted is available here.
A painted gray background in my art journal was embellished with a stencil and white spray ink. I added a bit of journaling and then finished with washi tape and clear glitter.
The sentiment, “She was beginning to break free from the boxes of her insecurities,” completely expresses where I’m heading on my creative journey.
Before I go, I wanted to share what to do if you, like me, don't have an art studio to work in.
As a “kitchen crafter” all my work is done there and on our dining table – which necessitates me cleaning up my mess for the family to eat. For some reason they feel their sustenance needs outweigh my creative needs…sigh (LOL). A bedroom armoire in the corner of my kitchen contains all my “go to” crafting items and the door can be closed so no one is the wiser…
…to the controlled chaos contained within. In the interest of honesty there are crafty items stored all over our house but the most important ones are here within easy reach of the dining room table.
I’ve had my cabinet for about 5 years and the contents have changed with my interests. Lots of mixed media items reside here now including – paints, brushes, adhesives, sprays…
…stencils, stamps, inks, tools, washi tape, patterned papers, ephemera, etc.
Small items are stored in labeled photo boxes and more bulky items hang out in the wire locker baskets on the top shelf. This is an arrangement that works for me and allows me to craft at a moment’s notice.
Thanks Julie for this opportunity to hijack your blog and for your continuing artsy inspiration!
Here's the linky list for this week:
Thanks for stopping by!
Michelle Mathey lives in Kentucky with her husband of 20+ years and their two sons. She loves doing crafty things and spent years teaching rubberstamping and papercrafting at local stamp/craft stores. Several of her card designs have been featured in magazines, including Paper Crafts and Stampington publications, and the a•muse|studio 2011 Catalog and Inspiration Guide.
Her blog is Pigment of My Imagination.
I love your journal page Michelle! And your story too! Thanks so much for sharing!
I love your journal page Michelle! And your story too! Thanks so much for sharing!
I love your journal page Michelle! And your story too! Thanks so much for sharing!
I love your journal page Michelle! And your story too! Thanks so much for sharing!
I love your journal page Michelle! And your story too! Thanks so much for sharing!
WHOO HOO – I am so excited to be part of your blog today! Thanks again, Julie, for this opportunity!
WHOO HOO – I am so excited to be part of your blog today! Thanks again, Julie, for this opportunity!
WHOO HOO – I am so excited to be part of your blog today! Thanks again, Julie, for this opportunity!
WHOO HOO – I am so excited to be part of your blog today! Thanks again, Julie, for this opportunity!
WHOO HOO – I am so excited to be part of your blog today! Thanks again, Julie, for this opportunity!
I LOVE the first paragraph of this post. Michelle said it exactly as I feel it. *HUGS* to both Michelle and Julie!!!! Thanks for all you do. 😀
I LOVE the first paragraph of this post. Michelle said it exactly as I feel it. *HUGS* to both Michelle and Julie!!!! Thanks for all you do. 😀
I LOVE the first paragraph of this post. Michelle said it exactly as I feel it. *HUGS* to both Michelle and Julie!!!! Thanks for all you do. 😀
I LOVE the first paragraph of this post. Michelle said it exactly as I feel it. *HUGS* to both Michelle and Julie!!!! Thanks for all you do. 😀
I LOVE the first paragraph of this post. Michelle said it exactly as I feel it. *HUGS* to both Michelle and Julie!!!! Thanks for all you do. 😀
Wow. I just started art journaling and sketching faces and I made a page last week where I split the face in half too but glued them differently to do a spread about the part of me that sees through rose colored glasses and the other that sees the truth as it is. So freeing to cut that face in half! I love your page. May you get a studio at some point. You deserve it. : )
Wow. I just started art journaling and sketching faces and I made a page last week where I split the face in half too but glued them differently to do a spread about the part of me that sees through rose colored glasses and the other that sees the truth as it is. So freeing to cut that face in half! I love your page. May you get a studio at some point. You deserve it. : )
Wow. I just started art journaling and sketching faces and I made a page last week where I split the face in half too but glued them differently to do a spread about the part of me that sees through rose colored glasses and the other that sees the truth as it is. So freeing to cut that face in half! I love your page. May you get a studio at some point. You deserve it. : )
Wow. I just started art journaling and sketching faces and I made a page last week where I split the face in half too but glued them differently to do a spread about the part of me that sees through rose colored glasses and the other that sees the truth as it is. So freeing to cut that face in half! I love your page. May you get a studio at some point. You deserve it. : )
Wow. I just started art journaling and sketching faces and I made a page last week where I split the face in half too but glued them differently to do a spread about the part of me that sees through rose colored glasses and the other that sees the truth as it is. So freeing to cut that face in half! I love your page. May you get a studio at some point. You deserve it. : )
So very fun to see how the beautiful drawing is growing into a face, lovely face and background, so fun that you split the face! 🙂
And so many delicious tools you have in the cabinet! WoW! 🙂 Smart! It’s rather quite messy at my home.. ;))
So very fun to see how the beautiful drawing is growing into a face, lovely face and background, so fun that you split the face! 🙂
And so many delicious tools you have in the cabinet! WoW! 🙂 Smart! It’s rather quite messy at my home.. ;))
So very fun to see how the beautiful drawing is growing into a face, lovely face and background, so fun that you split the face! 🙂
And so many delicious tools you have in the cabinet! WoW! 🙂 Smart! It’s rather quite messy at my home.. ;))
So very fun to see how the beautiful drawing is growing into a face, lovely face and background, so fun that you split the face! 🙂
And so many delicious tools you have in the cabinet! WoW! 🙂 Smart! It’s rather quite messy at my home.. ;))
So very fun to see how the beautiful drawing is growing into a face, lovely face and background, so fun that you split the face! 🙂
And so many delicious tools you have in the cabinet! WoW! 🙂 Smart! It’s rather quite messy at my home.. ;))
I loved your post Michelle, you related so many important things you learned from Julie, like just jumping in and trying. I can see how it has helped you to do what you want to do with your art, especially since you say you never felt like you were artistic before! And your “kitchen studio” is fab, thank you for sharing it with us. You look very organized and I like how you have lots of drawers and baskets you can pull out and work with. great post!
I loved your post Michelle, you related so many important things you learned from Julie, like just jumping in and trying. I can see how it has helped you to do what you want to do with your art, especially since you say you never felt like you were artistic before! And your “kitchen studio” is fab, thank you for sharing it with us. You look very organized and I like how you have lots of drawers and baskets you can pull out and work with. great post!
I loved your post Michelle, you related so many important things you learned from Julie, like just jumping in and trying. I can see how it has helped you to do what you want to do with your art, especially since you say you never felt like you were artistic before! And your “kitchen studio” is fab, thank you for sharing it with us. You look very organized and I like how you have lots of drawers and baskets you can pull out and work with. great post!
I loved your post Michelle, you related so many important things you learned from Julie, like just jumping in and trying. I can see how it has helped you to do what you want to do with your art, especially since you say you never felt like you were artistic before! And your “kitchen studio” is fab, thank you for sharing it with us. You look very organized and I like how you have lots of drawers and baskets you can pull out and work with. great post!
I loved your post Michelle, you related so many important things you learned from Julie, like just jumping in and trying. I can see how it has helped you to do what you want to do with your art, especially since you say you never felt like you were artistic before! And your “kitchen studio” is fab, thank you for sharing it with us. You look very organized and I like how you have lots of drawers and baskets you can pull out and work with. great post!
I enjoyed your post Michelle. You seem to fit quite a bit in your cabinet and I love that you were honest with us about supplies also being in other places in your house.
The face is wonderful and I like how you showed us the stages of getting the color just how you wanted it. Thanks!
I enjoyed your post Michelle. You seem to fit quite a bit in your cabinet and I love that you were honest with us about supplies also being in other places in your house.
The face is wonderful and I like how you showed us the stages of getting the color just how you wanted it. Thanks!
I enjoyed your post Michelle. You seem to fit quite a bit in your cabinet and I love that you were honest with us about supplies also being in other places in your house.
The face is wonderful and I like how you showed us the stages of getting the color just how you wanted it. Thanks!
I enjoyed your post Michelle. You seem to fit quite a bit in your cabinet and I love that you were honest with us about supplies also being in other places in your house.
The face is wonderful and I like how you showed us the stages of getting the color just how you wanted it. Thanks!
I enjoyed your post Michelle. You seem to fit quite a bit in your cabinet and I love that you were honest with us about supplies also being in other places in your house.
The face is wonderful and I like how you showed us the stages of getting the color just how you wanted it. Thanks!
Great post, Michelle! I keep a little Julie on my shoulder when I create sometimes, and I hear her whisper the phrase, “Keep going.” Seeing your face start from a sketch and come to life through those many layers was a great experience for me, and I realize that I need to listen to that voice even more! Beautiful page you’ve created! I am also a kitchen table creator, but, my dirty secret is…we eat dinner in front of the TV when I have a big project in the works. More truth: I always seem to have a big project in the works. I keep a spot reserved for 2 to share breakfast together, but dinner for 4 is in the living room.
Great post, Michelle! I keep a little Julie on my shoulder when I create sometimes, and I hear her whisper the phrase, “Keep going.” Seeing your face start from a sketch and come to life through those many layers was a great experience for me, and I realize that I need to listen to that voice even more! Beautiful page you’ve created! I am also a kitchen table creator, but, my dirty secret is…we eat dinner in front of the TV when I have a big project in the works. More truth: I always seem to have a big project in the works. I keep a spot reserved for 2 to share breakfast together, but dinner for 4 is in the living room.
Great post, Michelle! I keep a little Julie on my shoulder when I create sometimes, and I hear her whisper the phrase, “Keep going.” Seeing your face start from a sketch and come to life through those many layers was a great experience for me, and I realize that I need to listen to that voice even more! Beautiful page you’ve created! I am also a kitchen table creator, but, my dirty secret is…we eat dinner in front of the TV when I have a big project in the works. More truth: I always seem to have a big project in the works. I keep a spot reserved for 2 to share breakfast together, but dinner for 4 is in the living room.
Great post, Michelle! I keep a little Julie on my shoulder when I create sometimes, and I hear her whisper the phrase, “Keep going.” Seeing your face start from a sketch and come to life through those many layers was a great experience for me, and I realize that I need to listen to that voice even more! Beautiful page you’ve created! I am also a kitchen table creator, but, my dirty secret is…we eat dinner in front of the TV when I have a big project in the works. More truth: I always seem to have a big project in the works. I keep a spot reserved for 2 to share breakfast together, but dinner for 4 is in the living room.
Great post, Michelle! I keep a little Julie on my shoulder when I create sometimes, and I hear her whisper the phrase, “Keep going.” Seeing your face start from a sketch and come to life through those many layers was a great experience for me, and I realize that I need to listen to that voice even more! Beautiful page you’ve created! I am also a kitchen table creator, but, my dirty secret is…we eat dinner in front of the TV when I have a big project in the works. More truth: I always seem to have a big project in the works. I keep a spot reserved for 2 to share breakfast together, but dinner for 4 is in the living room.
So excited and happy to see Michelle’s work featured here! She is a very dear friend and extremely talented! I’ve enjoyed following her progress in her art journals, and LOVE her organized crafty cabinet! Michelle is a wonderful artist and one of the best craft instructors around! She is an amazing person, and a perfect guest for Julie’s fabulous blog!
So excited and happy to see Michelle’s work featured here! She is a very dear friend and extremely talented! I’ve enjoyed following her progress in her art journals, and LOVE her organized crafty cabinet! Michelle is a wonderful artist and one of the best craft instructors around! She is an amazing person, and a perfect guest for Julie’s fabulous blog!
So excited and happy to see Michelle’s work featured here! She is a very dear friend and extremely talented! I’ve enjoyed following her progress in her art journals, and LOVE her organized crafty cabinet! Michelle is a wonderful artist and one of the best craft instructors around! She is an amazing person, and a perfect guest for Julie’s fabulous blog!
So excited and happy to see Michelle’s work featured here! She is a very dear friend and extremely talented! I’ve enjoyed following her progress in her art journals, and LOVE her organized crafty cabinet! Michelle is a wonderful artist and one of the best craft instructors around! She is an amazing person, and a perfect guest for Julie’s fabulous blog!
So excited and happy to see Michelle’s work featured here! She is a very dear friend and extremely talented! I’ve enjoyed following her progress in her art journals, and LOVE her organized crafty cabinet! Michelle is a wonderful artist and one of the best craft instructors around! She is an amazing person, and a perfect guest for Julie’s fabulous blog!
Michelle: Thanks for sharing the steps you used in creating your lovely lady . . . and thanks for sharing your art armoire. It’s packed yet organized – love it!
Michelle: Thanks for sharing the steps you used in creating your lovely lady . . . and thanks for sharing your art armoire. It’s packed yet organized – love it!
Michelle: Thanks for sharing the steps you used in creating your lovely lady . . . and thanks for sharing your art armoire. It’s packed yet organized – love it!
Michelle: Thanks for sharing the steps you used in creating your lovely lady . . . and thanks for sharing your art armoire. It’s packed yet organized – love it!
Michelle: Thanks for sharing the steps you used in creating your lovely lady . . . and thanks for sharing your art armoire. It’s packed yet organized – love it!
So inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
So inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
So inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
So inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
So inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
It’s always a pleasure coming here. I always get inspired. Particularly enjoyed the lovely face you have done and your writing.
It’s always a pleasure coming here. I always get inspired. Particularly enjoyed the lovely face you have done and your writing.
It’s always a pleasure coming here. I always get inspired. Particularly enjoyed the lovely face you have done and your writing.
It’s always a pleasure coming here. I always get inspired. Particularly enjoyed the lovely face you have done and your writing.
It’s always a pleasure coming here. I always get inspired. Particularly enjoyed the lovely face you have done and your writing.
Your work is awesome,and the cabinet is a really great idea! I might have to convert an unused computer armoire for just such a thing!
Your work is awesome,and the cabinet is a really great idea! I might have to convert an unused computer armoire for just such a thing!
Your work is awesome,and the cabinet is a really great idea! I might have to convert an unused computer armoire for just such a thing!
Your work is awesome,and the cabinet is a really great idea! I might have to convert an unused computer armoire for just such a thing!
Your work is awesome,and the cabinet is a really great idea! I might have to convert an unused computer armoire for just such a thing!
Thanks for the great step-by-step of your journal page AND for the studio in an amoir. I have recently acquired a 12 x 16 studio space but I plan to stock my supplies in a cupboard much like yours. The visuals are an inspiration and illustration of things I will need (baskets, boxes, drawers, etc).
Thanks for the great step-by-step of your journal page AND for the studio in an amoir. I have recently acquired a 12 x 16 studio space but I plan to stock my supplies in a cupboard much like yours. The visuals are an inspiration and illustration of things I will need (baskets, boxes, drawers, etc).
Thanks for the great step-by-step of your journal page AND for the studio in an amoir. I have recently acquired a 12 x 16 studio space but I plan to stock my supplies in a cupboard much like yours. The visuals are an inspiration and illustration of things I will need (baskets, boxes, drawers, etc).
Thanks for the great step-by-step of your journal page AND for the studio in an amoir. I have recently acquired a 12 x 16 studio space but I plan to stock my supplies in a cupboard much like yours. The visuals are an inspiration and illustration of things I will need (baskets, boxes, drawers, etc).
Thanks for the great step-by-step of your journal page AND for the studio in an amoir. I have recently acquired a 12 x 16 studio space but I plan to stock my supplies in a cupboard much like yours. The visuals are an inspiration and illustration of things I will need (baskets, boxes, drawers, etc).
Thanks for the glimpse into your armoire. I’m looking for something similar to corral all my supplies. Can you provide information on your armoire, if it’s still available on the market? Thanks.
Thanks for the glimpse into your armoire. I’m looking for something similar to corral all my supplies. Can you provide information on your armoire, if it’s still available on the market? Thanks.
Thanks for the glimpse into your armoire. I’m looking for something similar to corral all my supplies. Can you provide information on your armoire, if it’s still available on the market? Thanks.
Thanks for the glimpse into your armoire. I’m looking for something similar to corral all my supplies. Can you provide information on your armoire, if it’s still available on the market? Thanks.
Thanks for the glimpse into your armoire. I’m looking for something similar to corral all my supplies. Can you provide information on your armoire, if it’s still available on the market? Thanks.
You might want to contact Michelle directly. Im not sure shes reading the comments here. 🙂
You might want to contact Michelle directly. Im not sure shes reading the comments here. 🙂
You might want to contact Michelle directly. Im not sure shes reading the comments here. 🙂
You might want to contact Michelle directly. Im not sure shes reading the comments here. 🙂
You might want to contact Michelle directly. Im not sure shes reading the comments here. 🙂