Poetry journal! Artistic Mothers Group

Well, here it is, a month since I last posted. Of course, I wouldn't be me if I didn't feel guilty. Although, this time I don't feel that bad since I was dealing mainly with a family emergency that required much of my time and energy. I won't get into it on this blog, but let me just say that this past month has been very difficult. I did, however, find time for art, and I even took a small art journaling workshop that I will have to write about later, because tonight's post is all about my Poetry Journal. I've written before about the online group that I've joined through Trudy Callan's blog , the Artistic Mother's group. We are completing a series of projects in the book and posting about them on our blogs. Of course, I am finding myself very much behind now, but it's all about the journey (or passage, should I decide to be oh so clever). The book is written by Shona Cole, and I can definitely say that having Trudy host this group is a blessing because it is giving me the impetus to actually do the projects and not just look at the pictures. So, here it is, my Poetry Journal. I used a picture of me at two years, with my brother, probably about 6 months old here. I'm not really sure why I picked this picture, but it brings back all sorts of emotions, as my brother and I are not close. The color of the photo was altered in photoshop and printed on Fabriano Artistico paper that was first treated with the new Golden Digital medium in clear over a watercolored background. I colored in my dress with Caran d'Ache Neocolor 11 crayons. So, even though I'm feeling a little trepidatious about actually writing in the journal, I loved making it!

Background papers- Artistic Mothers Group

I just got finished making my backround papers for week one of The Artistic Mothers Group hosted by Trudy Callan. I'm so glad that I joined this group because I never would have pushed myself to paint these papers if it weren't for the fact that I committed myself to finishing the weekly projects in the book. The last time I painted anything besides a wall, was probably when I took an oil painting class. I liked the class, but it was frustrating for me because I was trying to make a realistic painting and I couldn't get the paint to do what I wanted it to do. These papers, on the other hand, were so much fun to paint and stamp because I was just playing. The papers I used were cardstock and grocery bags- I loved seing the transformation from humble brown paper to decorated art paper. I can see myself making a lot more of these in the future.

The Artistic Mother

I recently read about a new book, The Artistic Mother by Shona Cole. And then, of course, I had to search out her blog, (hmmm, the title of her blog is similar to mine, how cool is that?)which led me to a online group on Trudy Callan's blog. This is one of the reasons I'm so in love with blogs and wanted to start one - the information is priceless.

The timing couldn't be more perfect for me to join this group of women with similar goals. Here I am, floundering around in the blogosphere, trying to reinvigorate my love of art, or rather trying to squash down the feeling that if I don't make perfect art, then it is not worth making. On my own, I have been challenging myself to make a little art every day, by participating in swaps and starting an art journal, but this is going to be even better because I will be part of a group of women who are trying to do the same thing together. For me, knowing that other people are keeping tabs and rooting each other on is a big motivator. So, I look forward to getting my book, which Amazon very graciously emailed to tell me is already on its way, and going on a new adventure. Please join me.