Hiking your way to Happiness

Happy New Year!

Well an entire month slipped by...rushed by...and we're already into the end of Dec. 2013. Not sure how that happened but although I missed shouting out Merry Christmas here-it was definitely on my Facebook pages and newsletters!

The rush is over and now is when I regroup, rethink, plan and relax (as much as I am capable of!)
I gave Steve his Christmas present (and the same to me) to enhance our artist rejuvenation..trekking poles! Yep- hiking poles to get us out of the studio and onto the many trails in our area.

It's been in the 30's but the freezing rains and snows across the midwest missed us and went north.

So what do you do with a new backpack and trekking poles on Christmas evening and the following day? You hike :-)

It's a good place for an artist.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The path less traveled-on a very cold day!

Gold leaf in Art

The beauty of art journaling is that it is your creativity when it comes to your art in whatever form you decide to take it :-) My husband, Steve, is an oil painter with a large following of dedicated collectors. But in a previous life (ie: before the computer) he was a sign artist and painter. 
He still does beautiful handlettered work in one of his specialties, Goldleaf, and recently took one of my journals and began to play around with the cover. The results of the brilliant gold and the colors he chose to use can be seen (so much better in person!) below.  He calls this "The Golden Forest"

Goldleaf with colored inks

On the back, he opted for silver-a metallic patina of which he is deciding whether or not to add any artwork. The metals are more than paper thin, so imperfections in the surface will be seen and can be used to one's advantage to create!

Keep an eye out for additional art that he will be creating using Gold and silver leaf. IN his lettering he uses the real thing 22 KT gold. In May we will hold a workshop at our studio where he'll share his tips and techniques for adding this beautiful look to your art!