{ BOOKMAKING AT FLOYDFEST : JULY 26-27, 2019 } //

August 7, 2019

It will never cease to amaze me the wonderful opportunities that are presented to me for being a Book + Paper Artist Teacher. This summer my weird skill set allowed me to attend Floydfest—a large outdoor music and art festival held annually in the beautiful mountains of Floyd, VA.

Rebecca, an art teacher from Roanoke, joins me for Mini Accordion Album

It has easily been 8 years since I attended any music festival. One thing that I forgot—music festivals are SO MUCH FUN.

A young Artist Friend joins me Mini Flower Fold

I taught two variations of mini handmade books—the Flower Fold and the Accordion Album. I had several repeat visitors. It was GREAT to see the interest that young Artists have in book arts!

When one Young Artist does it, the others often join in…

While the Mini Accordion Album can be a bit tricky for my younger Artist friends, once they get the hang of it, they love to keep adding more and more pages. Rainbow Accordions are always a huge hit!

We had a full house for Mini Accordion Session 2!

A dedicated future book artist joined for me Mini Accordion Album Session 2

After a weekend of teaching, the rest of the weekend was mine to enjoy! I danced into the early hours of Sunday morning. I came home with a stack of CDs from great new Artists, sunburned, exhausted and hungry. Decompression can be hard after such a fun-filled weekend of friends, art and music, but memories of spending my weekend teaching an old world art form that I love is absolutely priceless!

{ I RULE MY DESTINY } : A Summer 2005 Art Journal Revisited

May 29, 2017

I distinctly remember this summer. One of my last true hurrahs while in my 20s. Way too much drinking, smoking and dancing my ass off. I had a great summer with a man I am still in touch with online. Every weekend (and let's be honest...sometimes we bailed on work, too) we would travel to wherever the music was to take it all in. I lived right outside of Asheville, NC at the time, so music and art were easily accessible and we took advantage of it often. We traveled to San Fran to check out a 3 day WSP show, went to Charleston, SC to see Rusted Root and Atlanta, GA to check out Spoonfed Tribe. The music was endless and so were the nights!

In my first art journals, I would burn the edges of my paper prior to gluing them. I did not want the straight edge of cutting but I had not learned to appreciate the wabi sabi of torn edges.

I had not developed my own style yet and was looking in books to copy other artists. At the time, I lived in the middle of nowhere and the internet was not something people had in their homes yet. I do remember this hand drawn guy. I had said, "Gravy, Baby" to a friend of mine who thought I said, "Groovy, Doobie." We thought this was hilarious.

Even back then, I was drawn to weird and freaky images. I have embraced them more as I grow more confident with my style. I think getting older has helped me too. I make art that I like and am not so worried about what others think (or what will sell).

My love of stamps is obvious in my earlier work. The only stamps I use now are handmade and I never use letter stamps. I have grown more confident with my handlettering.

The one and only time I ever used feathers in an art journal spread...

Don't really use the ribbon or fibers techniques either...although I think children would love to use them in their art journals they make with me at camp this summer!

And finally, my life long love, Keller Williams! Have not seen him live in years. I grow more introverted the older that I get and going to large music events with lots of people is not as appealing as it was when I was younger. But the summer of 2005 was a good one.

Does the simplicity of this art journal inspire you? It's small, portable and easy to fill. I am taking a trip to CA this summer to visit family and I think it might be time to try this again...this time with my lovely 6 year old in tow...

{ THE RED BOOK } : An Art Journal Revisited

May 11, 2017

This is my very first art journal. I know...isn't it hilarious? I had no idea what I was doing. I thought that red pleather cover and pages full of cheap, lightweight graph paper was the perfect book to begin my life in art journaling.

I remember going out and buying all these gorgeous scrapbook papers and cheap watercolor paints.

I was compelled to burn the edges of the paper. I do not know where I came up with that idea but I do remember not being happy about "torn edges." I spent hours with a lighter to the effect. I sure am glad I gave up on that technique.

I lived in WNC at the time and was incredibly inspired by the art, the people and the town. I began collecting everyday minutia to use in my journals. This is a technique I still embrace today. Shouldn't everybody embrace a parking citation?

At this time, I started scouring thrift and antique stores for old books I could tear apart. I remember a friend at the time once telling me, "So you buy books to tear apart to glue into new books?" It was probably one of the most honest things anyone has ever said about my art.

I was afraid of my own handwriting (which I lovingly embrace in my current art!) so I used a lot of rubbings and stamps (something I NEVER to today). In fact, I donated all of those supplies to the thrift store recently so they could be enjoyed and not just gathering dust in my already over-crowded studio.

I wrote a lot back then. A LOT. These days, my daily writing journals are kept separate from my art journals. As a single mother of a 6 year old, I do not have the time to write like I used to (although my daughter and I do share quiet time in the morning writing together). I was also BIG into song lyrics and I incorporated those into my journals. I have always had a love of sharpies!

I cannot believe how much my handwriting has changed since 2006. When I moved to Virginia, I did not know anyone so I would spend most of my time alone making art in the evenings and weekends. I started finding more and more books about art journaling at my local bookstore and would spend hours trying to emulate certain artist's styles. I know that had a huge impact on my current handwriting.

This journal was full of ticket stubs. I do not do live music much anymore. After I had my daughter, I became more of an introvert and more focused on my art career. I had to admit to myself that I had enough camping in my 20s to last me the rest of my life! Give me a quiet studio or an afternoon with my daughter over a loud music hall!

I see so much of my current style in these old books. I learned a lot over the years...such as binding my own art journals and making my own papers (a concept I will share with you at a later date). I learned that the binding and the weight of the paper are critical to making the book close properly. My collage process is more evolved and I work in books that are more portable. I mean, seriously, look at this monster!

I hope you have enjoyed taking a peek into one of my very first art journals. As an artist, I find it important to revisit older work. Sometimes you cringe, sometimes you find it endearing, sometimes you want to run and hide.

Would you like to see more of older work? I have loads more that I would love to share about my ever evolving art style!