Photography Play

I have an old (circa 2005) point-and-shoot Canon Powershot, but I've found that my iPhone 3 actually takes better pictures sometimes!  One advantage of the Powershot is the macro mode that allows easy focused close-ups.  I played with the two cameras to make this little series of pictures that explore texture and pattern over a landscape.












Another Face

I've re-faced another composition book for the purpose of taking notes when I'm stuck in the house and heated political discussions are sparked.  I normally get very flustered over anything on television, news coverage (as poor as it is in general), and politics (all of it, all sides).  I've decided that having a journal in the house, since I'm now sharing a common home with others and can't control my exposure to any of the aforementioned elements, specifically for writing down my frustrated blurts, questions, and worries will help me deal with the anxiety.

So here's my collage cover:

Thoughts and Pictures

Whew!  It has been a while since I've been here!

In my recent move I lost my office and visual journaling workspace.  In fact, I'm squeezed into my own private bedroom, with a single bed, books stuffed everywhere they'll fit, shared clothing space, and all the benefits, but also drawbacks, of a communal living space outside the room.  Otherwise known as: living with your parents.

For the next year, prior to heading off for another graduate degree, I'll be living here and studying philosophy and religion as a foundation for the advanced degree.  I'm still working on my visual journaling, though!  And I've created a second blog!

I Seek the Greening
http://seekthegreening.blogspot.com/

This summer I'm revisiting Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, which I discuss in the Synchronicity entry on the other blog.  Here is the cover I collaged for the companion journal I'm using:


I'm also posting photographs to a new account I've created on the 365 Photo Project:


Busy, busy bee!  

Graffiti--Knitter Style

I've seen pictures of knitted graffiti in recent years, usually in the form of knitted sleeves attached to urban trees limbs or statues.  But this article and the related photo gallery in the New York Times shows what can really be done with imagination, string, and two sticks.  Oh, and a team of graffiti-hitmen/women.

Art-Is-Try

Absolutely gorgeous blog from a real artist who also shares her visual journaling pages.

http://art-is-try-artistry.blogspot.com/

She also has beautiful, hand-made books that would make the perfect take-along visual journal...they may be available for purchase, but I would recommend contacting the blogging artist herself.

Joanna Neborsky

http://www.joannaneborsky.com/Projects/ThreeLineNovels.html

Fantastic collage and drawings!  Neborsky is the illustrator of this collection of novellas by Félix Fénéon, Illustrated Three-line Novels.


I made a mistake (I think)... NOT at Michael's

The Strathmore Mixed Media visual journaling books must have been at A. C. Moore.  At least, they weren't at the Michael's I visited today...

visual journaling gets some props

I have the word of a far more accomplished and talented visual journalist than I, that the Strathmore Mixed Media journals are the bomb for visual journaling (the art form I celebrate because it doesn't require talents, I realize, but the visual journalist informant in question deserves to be recognized as wayyy-talented).  BUT, the Strathmore Mixed Media journals haven't been readily available in the civilian craft stores.  For many moons they lived in the upper echelons of studio art stores and online supply sources, I believe.  As you can see, our on-the-spot visual reporter has evidence that they are not only now carried in your local Michael's craft store, but also featured on an end-cap with a great-big colorful display sign.  You can even see their size, prices, and other attributes in some of these photos, of which I'm pretty impressed because they were all taken with my iPhone, Irene.





one earth mama, one earth papa...Michael Franti

These are pictures taken of an interfaith display in the chapel in St. Joseph's Hospital.  A glass case divided into at least six glass shelves holds artifacts held sacred or representing aspects of world religions.  A single folded piece of paper is among the artifacts on each shelf.  On each paper is written a quote from that religion's Holy Book or a piece of their sacred oral belief system.  Each quote communicates the same message.











a stylish lady...

I value personal style over high fashion, but this book featured in the New York Times Style section captured my imagination with its collaged illustartions:

http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/fashioning-fiction-camilla-mortons-fairy-tale-memoirs/?ref=style

(There are 5 sample illustrations in the slide show at the top of the article, don't miss those!)

Basically author Camilla Morton mixes a real life fashion designer (Lacroix in the featured memoir) with a fairy tale.

aus Deutschland


beneath this...voila!




The earrings are beautiful, the scarf perfecto, and the dark chocolate is already a wonderful memory (best eaten with good, strong coffee.