{ Night * Walker : Art Journal Spread #1 }

This journal spread is now complete. Or complete enough...

These weird and creepy Giraffes are fun and I look forward to their evolution.

I want to thank Roxanne Coble for her insanely fun online class entitled, 'Creatures' for their inspiration. I look forward to my continual art evolutionary process thanks to her techniques.

One thing that is definitely missing is some hand lettering. I know that will find a place in later spreads...

Previous Post: I have been playing around in my art journals a lot more lately. I typically have at least two (but usually more) going on at one time.

I have learned some new techniques and have been eager to work on them.

While I usually work in blank books,

I am challenging myself by altering a book I found at the thrift store.

I am making the intention of sharing more 'works in progress'...

...with the hope of encouraging the creative process as an achievement within itself.

{ New Works from the * Bimbur Books * Studio }

'Intention' : 5 x 8 1/4" (Spine View)

'Intention' : 5 x 8 1/4" (Back Cover View)

'Intention' : 5 x 8 1/4" (End Cover View)

'Intention' : 5 x 8 1/4" (Front Cover Detail View)

'Laurel's Book' : 6 x 8" (Spine View)

'Laurel's Book' : 6 x 8" (Back Cover View)

'Laurel's Book' : 6 x 8" (End Cover View)

'Laurel's Book' : 6 x 8" (Front Cover Detail View)

'Enlightenment' : 5 x 8 1/4" (Spine View)

'Enlightenment' : 5 x 8 1/4" (Back Cover View)

'Enlightenment' : 5 x 8 1/4" (End Cover View)

'Enlightenment' : 5 x 8 1/4" (Front Cover Detail View)

{ More NEW Works from the : Bimbur * Studio }

Sunday Solace //

Happy 4th of July! I had the opportunity to go to Ohio to visit family this holiday weekend. Loads of fun but I definitely put work on the back burner and enjoyed the time with my family. I did, however, make time to work on Sunday Solace...which is quickly becoming a way for me to ground myself in blogging. I am opening a paper bundle this week...as well as working on tons of new projects...all of which I will be sharing as they develop. Happy 4th to you and enjoy your Solace.

Irit Dulman is quickly becoming one of my top fave eco-printers. Just have to see more? Check out her blog and you can drool right along with me at her exceptional work...

I just love this back cover of one of my handmade books. It is super special to me since it is the book I gave one of my artist hero, Mark Maron. Yup...this is a picture of me giving him this very book! A friend of mine introduced me to this comedian several months ago...I am hooked!

I am so into rust these days! I use it in my bundles and dyepots but I also see the artistic beauty in it as well. I am hoping to get out with my camera this week and capture some rust right here in Blacksburg.  If this rain ever stops...I am making a promise to myself right now to take myself on an artist's date to do just that very thing...

Like I said, I am in love with rust! This textile piece by Julie Wright is fantastic! I enjoy how she uses holes and other imperfections to enhance the piece. I think I am going to look into adding textile work like this to my books. Maybe some wax too?

I am obsessed with art journaling. I would love to add more abstract flair to my journals. When I saw this spread by Alison Worman, I feel in love. I love when artists use paint splatters and drips to build their spread. I also like the use of black in art. It is such a daunting and dynamic color and I appreciate it when an artist has the courage to go for it!

And no Solace would be complete without a great example of handlettering. This exemplar by Fiona Dempster is mind blowing. She actually burns the paper to get this effect!

Good news...I finished up another round of handmade books and photographed them last night. If I can focus on some computer work and pull myself out of the studio, I will get them up prior to my next Solace.

Do you want to be featured on Solace or know someone that would make a good fit? Leave it in the comment section...I welcome any and all input!

Sunday Solace //

My week has been crazy in so many great ways! Summer is like that around the Bimbur Studio. The fact that it is Sunday again will never cease to amaze me. I found some great stuff this week and I am excited to share. I hope to get some more of my own personal art work up soon but until then, enjoy these pretty little things... I just love this little scrappy books that I found by 'The Exquisite Eccentric'. It has inspired me to make little handmade books with all the scrappies I have in the studio--handmade papers, found/purchased papers and vintage scraps. Aren't these just delightful?

I am on an incredible journey these days. It is one that I don't talk about too much in detail...maybe one day I will be brave enough to voice it on this blog but for now, it is a private journey. That is why I love this quote by Rumi that I found on 'Ignite Light'. Some people will get your journey, others will not. Seek out those that have set their own life on fire and follow their light until you make your own...

I just had to show off one of my new leaf ecoprints from my most recent bundle. I will be writing a full post that will showcase the best of my prints...but for now, this one will have to satisfy your craving for ecoprints!

This handlettering by Kristen Nohe that I found on Flickr makes me want to break out the Tombow brushtip markers and start practicing. Not only do I love the lettering, I love what it says...I am truly living my adventure!

In my own personal art journals, skulls make an appearance regularly. Definitely part of my own personal imagery...perhaps that is the attraction to Isidro Ferrer's art journals on 'cuatro cosas'. I am just digging the skeleton that is boxing...

And finally, 'Owning Our Shadow Self' on Rebelle Society. For a majority of my almost 40 years, I have tried to perpetually please other people. It caused me to become sick--physically, mentally and spiritually. I thought I had to be happy all the time for people to like me. I am in recovery for that now but it is a hard habit to break. I work hard to not only embrace my Shadow Self but recognize that it is important to who I am as an artist. This is such a powerful article...

What are your thoughts on your Shadow Self?