Inspired by Nature and keeping it all simple!

I am one of those artists and art journal individuals inspired by simple pleasures :-) It can be as spectacular as our recent art show location near Boone, NC or the light bouncing off a hanging basket of flowers on my front porch.

My husband absorbing the wildflowers on top of an NC Mountain

An art or travel journal is supposed to be fun! It is not all about new techniques or the latest fad.  Make your journal as creative as YOU want to make it.

There are so many magazines now out there with a gazillion "do this" to be creative articles that it is easy to be overwhelmed. Remember that most of the authors are paid to come with new ideas! Do what comes naturally and creatively to you.  If a new method or idea "despires" instead of "inspires" then
wait for another day!

Traveling light-markers, white crayon, couple of brushes and water bottle! 

Often while traveling your supplies are limited by what can be easily carried and used. Stick with the basics and keep it simple!

The Garden Art Journal

Cultivating a garden of any size, whether it's a plot of land or a patio pot, is work at some level :-). But behind that work is the promise of a reward and so we pull on the gardening gloves, bring out the trowel or shovel and commence to plant promises.

Even the most novice of gardeners takes pleasure out of the seed actually turning into something! Starting with a plant, a seedling, is one thing. But taking those tiny dry "nothings" and seeing results start after a week or so truly borders on amazing :-)

I have also taken great pleasure in recording random vignettes in my art journal. There is no order or reason to it. With a bit of watercolor, ink and  crayon, I created a page of color. No serious painting or drawing or attempt at painting what I was looking at...just the randomness of expressing what it was that I saw and felt and making swirly lines that began to look like a flower. Not a journey of anything but the fact that I felt like making a permanent image of what I was feeling.

And that is the pleasure of art journaling. Add a beautiful morning on the art studio porch, a cup of coffee and a box of assorted art supplies and allow your thoughts to simply ....expand on that journal page in front of you!

front of studio

What do I need to start an Art Journal?

My trip to the Scrap Exchange netted several books filled with wallpaper and fabric samples. Finds such as these can offer a huge assortment of colors, textures and opportunities to simple experiment. After all, nothing happens if you don't try it!
But  don't underestimate what is already in your home. Markers, crayons, colored pencils, poster paints are usually in the art corner or drawer of every home. Did you know that scribbling on a page with markers and then lightly brushing over it with a wet brush will cause the colors to spread and blend into a beautiful random design?

An inexpensive box of markers

 As school begins to start back (yes I know, it's hardly out) the big discount stores will offer HUGE savings on basic art supplies such as Markers, Crayons, Glue (when was the last time you paid .17 cents for a bottle of glue? Rulers, colored pencils, puff paints, craft paints....
and the all important ways to organize them all!

Check the fabric sections in the same stores for sales on ribbons and buttons, zigzag material...KEEP IT SIMPLE!
Running around and around collecting "stuff" can block your creative abilities. Just use what is there, in front of you. The rest will come in good time!

Blending colors. A super background effect!