Journal Week 52: Holiday Celebration and Happy New Year

We do celebrate Christmas, but we always gather on Thanksgiving. One person (grandson) was missing. We all had a great time. My 2 daughters Debra and Tambra in top photo.
Bottom photo: Andrew, Meghan, Tambra, Amanda, Me, Stephanie and Kayla.  Andrew is Tambra's son. The rest of them are Debra's including the missing Christopher.

Thank you Kristin and Eva for a great Paint Party Friday. A wonderful way to celebrate your art.

Happy New Year.

Blessings,
Janet
 When writing the story of your life, don’t let anyone else hold the pen.

Journal Page ~ Arrows

For Week 51 our assignment was Arrows.

You all know I want to live in the country . . . here is my barn with a weather vane pointing the direction the wind is blowing. I used Pan Pastel, Prismacolor Art Markers, Faber-Castell color pens.

Thank you Eva and Kristin for the wonderful weekly Paint Party Friday. Giving artists an outlet with feedback is a joy.

Blessings,
Janet
Fantasy asks us not just who we are but who we want to be.

Week 50: Fantasy Vacation

Week 50 of our Documented Life Journal: Fantasy Vacation: Scotland and my ancestors Buchanan Castle.  I would pack a camera, maps, art diary and walking shoes.

The castle is in poor shape. They had to take the roof off for taxes.  Six months later the law was rescinded but it was too late.  The castle has trees growing out of it. The latest pictures show it crumbling. I sketched it, and added pictures from the Internet. I had put a few pictures and the flower on fabric, then put it in a picture frame.  The maps show Scotland in relations to England and Ireland (my ancestry came from Ireland) plus the 2 maps on the right show where the Buchanan lineage is in relation to other lineages.  The tartan plaid is on the right and the Buchanan symbol on the left.

This was a fun journal page.

Thanks to Kristin and Eva for a great Paint Party Friday and all the artists for the tips and creative energy that gives me the incentive to stay active in my art.

Blessings,
Janet
“I can do nothing about it if my paintings don’t sell. The day will come, though, when people will see that they’re worth more than the cost of the paint and my subsistence, very meagre in fact, that we put into them.” ~ Vincent van Gogh (personal letter to his brother Theo; 25 Oct 1888)

Journal: Trace Hands

Week 49 for the Documented Art Journal is to Trace hands.  I decided to trace a Ranch Hand. I watch the Rodeo on TV.  This week they are in Las Vegas for the Finals. . .and All next week with the winners at the end on Sat. Dec. 13.

I used Pastels, Watercolor pencils and Faber Castell Pens.  I also used clip art and cut outs.

Thank you Eva and Kristin for a wonderful way to show our art and reap the benefits of advice, critics and help.  Paint Party Friday is quite an art party. Be sure and visit all the artists.

Blessings,
Janet
 Each day provides its own gifts.

Fashion Illustration

I always wanted to be a Fashion Designer.  They also have to be able to illustrate their designs. I took a college night course in Fashion Design.  Illustration Board is a totally different type of material. I made 2 different designs and couldn't seem to get the face right, so he said to practice  up top. . .which I did. So this is the result. This was quite a long time ago at Illinois State University. I eventually went back and graduated with a B.S. in History.

I remember the professor had been through a 'bad' divorce and he was favoring one of the lady students (at the time I was married withe 2 children). There was a 'projector' that 'she' used that projected the image and you copy it. I felt that was 'cheating' at the time. However, I realized how useful it could be much later.   I do not use it now, I do all my own drawing as I did at that time.

One of the drawings where I did use the projector was one of my favorite people to read Zelda Fitzgerald.  It has been told that F. Scott, he husband, used some of her writings to write some of his books.  She was an author herself, but not prolific or widely known. That was then, this is now. I thought she was amazing.  I'll look up the drawing and put it up here at some point.

Thank you Eva and Kristin for a marvelous and creative place for us to meet, discuss, and show our art.  Please visit Paint Party Friday and the variety of talent and cleverness of the many artists.

Oh, Dear, I just noticed the date.  Today is my anniversary. . . had he lived.

Blessings,
Janet
“I wish I could write a beautiful book to break those hearts that are soon to cease to exist: a book of faith and small neat worlds and of people who live by the philosophies of popular songs.”
― Zelda Fitzgerald

Pan Pastel Blue Bird

I experimented with gesso first on Bristol. . .a stencil, pan pastels, Prismacolor pencils and Faber-Castill Pitt pen on an ACEO card.  I haven't used many stencils except as part of a drawing. This is all stencil.  I was thinking about the wall, not the art. Having fun playing with different ideas. 

Thank you artists.  Thank you Eva and Kristin for a wonderful place to learn and be a part of Paint Party Friday each week.

Blessings,
Janet
Today your book begins, the rest is unwritten.

Watercolor (practice) Ocean, Palm Tree and Turtle

I didn't use watercolor paper, so it is a bit wrinkle.  This is purely practice. Watercolor is a mystery I want to solve.  I just took out 4 watercolor books from the library and I watch PBS every noon for my painting exercises.

My favorites are Bob Ross, Frank Clarke (PBS took him off . . he is a fave watercolor) and Jerry Yarnell (watercolor and acrylic).

Thank you Kristan and Eva for a wonderful place to hang around with so many creative and challenging artists at Paint Party Friday.

Blessings,
Janet
 Live intentionally. Have an aim, a plan and act on it.