Round Two. Welcome to the Circus

I have always loved the circus. 

When I was growing up, the circus and carnival used to come to town every Summer. I think it is partly the memory of the anticipation and sheer wonder of it all that fuels my enjoyment of all things circus today. 

In order to further wallow in these memories, I have chosen vintage circus as my theme for round two journal swap. It is only a small journal with two signatures and a pocket at the back. I have put some 'admit one' tickets for everyone to include on their page.  Either use it in the background or somehow really creative. 

Please keep the colours a bit muddy in the vintage theme. 

Feel free to draw or collage or both. 

If you are stuck, check out the early part of the movie "Water for Elephants ". I love that film. Sad but so beautiful. If you are not movie fans, think of the strong man, the merry go round or the prancing ponies.  

I even love clowns. 

I hope you have fun

Sharon

Ready to go

Here is my book
The cover is boringly traditional I am afraid so

it's up to you to make sure the inside sings!...........................

Tash's Entry in Reniet's "Laughter in the Face of Pain" Journal

Hi everyone,

I am the "Hitchhiker" who was picked up along the end of this journal's journey, after a visit to Louise's, led to an invitation to contribute a page to this touching journal. I must say, I have felt truly honoured to be allowed to make a contribution in what is my first travelling journal and it was lovely to see everyone's entries along the way.

I was very touched by the backstory to this very personal journal and I wanted my page to be a celebration of light overcoming darkness and of survival.

I loved the quote by Josh James Redbook, which is exactly what I wanted to express in this page:

"Laughter is the Evidence that we are still here, the proof that our tragedies will not define us forever. Laughter is the language of the Survivor".

My page depicts Faith among a field of colour; happy, laughing and blowing the bubbles which have pushed the darkness away. I think anyone who is a parent can remember a time when their little one expressed immense joy and laughter at the simple act of blowing bubbles. This was the joyous scene that I wanted to encapsulate. Those simple pleasures that we all want to retain forever in our minds and hearts.

To Reniet, Faith and her family, I hope you enjoy this page as much as I enjoyed making it for you and may I wish you all Love, Light, Joy and Good Health.

Tash Daly

Faces and Figures is ready to be launched on its journey around Australia.

Well I have made another journal. It is a pretty simple one. 

Just some watercolour paper made up in to two signatures and stitched together with a Kraft card cover(an old drawing from a Tafe course I did over 11 years ago, great recycling!)

Here is the cover. it is 19 x 26cm so will not be too bulky or expensive to post. It has an elastic to keep it closed.

And here is a page inside.

I have created two pockets on the inside cover and included some stencils and masks that you can choose to use or not. Have fun!

Flowers is ready to travel..Wendy Mason:

Round 2 of the Australian Art Journal Swap

Our journals are being finalised

 in the next fortnight and being wrapped up safe to embark

 on their wonderful journey 

collecting art and wisdom and love

 as they travel around our beautiful country. 

We have 10 different artists working on 10 different themes

 and travelling through five states 

we might need artists to represent Tasmania

 and the Northern Territory in the next round.

Our journals will follow a circuit, we have 

Wendy with her beautiful Flowers journal, 

on the Tweed - NSW Qld border who will send to
Robyn in Tenambit NSW whose journal is Garden themed  then
Roz at Marangaroo with her Tattered, Torn and Treasured journal
Jan in Sydney with her journal Faces and Figures

 then heading down to Victoria
to our dear Rachel

 with her gorgeous journal The garden of my Imagination 

in Melbourne and we have

 Konni in Castlemaine and Gail in Victoria as well,
Then across the Nullabor to 

Jenny in Adelaide with her Ocean Life journal

 then further west to our very own Sharon in WA

 she has a gorgeous journal devoted to Vintage Circus and Carnival

and back to Queensland

 where Lee is sending out her lovely Evolve journal 

to  explore how we all came to be the artists we are today!

I still have a couple of spots

 but we are launching on September 1st 

so you do need to be quick.
  

Update-

We are rapidly approaching the start of the next round of the Australian Art journal Swap and you will be meeting all the new participants here on the blog in the next month or so. The artists are deciding on their themes and creating their journals and the excitement is building. If you are interested in joining us there is still time, the requirements are that you live in Australia and will connect on facebook and blog on this blog about your journal experience, contact me here or on The Australian Art Swap Group on facebook.

Our last round of art journals are making their way home, with quite a few home already and some just one stop away- thank you so much to all of the fabulous artists who joined us in the last round and please share your completed journals here.