Roz's Entries in Janene's Journal

Once again I apologise for taking so long.

Mon's entry in Janene's "The things that make you truly happy"

I have been working in Janene's beautiful journal: "The things that make you truly happy".

You'd think this would be an easy theme yet I struggled for a while. I started by gluing used (emptied) teabags to the pages and loved the worn, old look. Next I used my calligraphy pen to write down all the things that make me truly happy and there was no shortage of words to fill the pages with.

 

Next I started sketching the old mill I stayed in in France. My plan was to paint a scene from my recent holiday there but it took on a life of its own. The mill became the gown of my Muse, her long locks reaching out to various things that make me happy and inspire me.

 

 Lady Inspiration might not have a huge smile on her face but she is very happy.

 

The red butterfly has a red yarn thread attached leading my muse on to new inspiration.

Being inspired (among many other things) makes me truly happy :-)

xoxo

Just One More

Having Janene's lovely journal here and it having plenty of pages, I just had to have another play.

Janene's journal is themed

"What Makes You Truly Happy"

Art makes me happy-

I can usually lose all of my worries and cares in the play with colour and pattern.
 It is my own personal therapy at times and it is just an expression of joy at other times. 

Truly Happy - Louise's page

I have had a play in Janene's journal.
What Makes you Truly Happy.

Its funny how the different themes can really challenge us, I am going through a period of darkness in my life and being truly happy seems almost impossible but there are always those little moments when happiness finds you- moments of laughter or beauty or joy or love- these do make me truly happy so thank you Janene for helping me remember. 

I worked in layers on this spread, layers work well in moments.

A moment to tear the old book pages in readiness, a moment to do the collage.The next day when it is dry and beckoning I can do some washes of joyful inspiring colours and keep fiddling with washes when ever the moment strikes. Then a layer of journalling about what being truly happy means to me, but in a tonal pen, so I can leave my heart and soul right there but it wont be very easy for anyone else to read. Another moment on another day and I sketched in the flowers  then later that day I added a bit of white for its opacity  and to bring the flowers forward also covering up a little more of my journalling. Finally another moment with some spray inks and some inktense pencils to finish the page and bring it all together. 

This is the first month our journals are out in the big wide world, they are collecting their first input from our fellow artists- I can't wait to see what everyone else shares in our blog and look forward to some feed back on this spread. 

As I have a fortnight before our next mailing day and Janene has lots of pages I might even find another moment or 2 to play on another spread and I do know that art play does indeed make me truly happy, as does connection with like minded people and working collaboratively with my fellow artists in these travelling art journals.