Real life, art, and other fun stuff

Life is a journey, not a destination. Sure, we have all heard it before and it has become a cliche in our society. There is truth in that statement though. When one road is closed (and anyone that drives in and around the Toledo area can verify this), there is always another route waiting to lead you to where you need to be. I've learned a lot over the past few years and I plan to document both the good times and the bad. Hopefully, through it all, I can help some other poor, lost, lonely soul that is wandering on the road called life.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Journal Entry 4

For this entry I decided to skip around a litte bit. I had some pictures of cats from a day-by-day calendar that I trimmed out and made into a woven piece. It turned out kind of cool, but I still needed to add a poem that had a metaphor in it. Here is the poem:








I like how it all turned out. I didn't use the sealant this time and opted to leave it as is with just a coat of fixatif on it. Here is the page.



Doing the weaving was fun and it was inspired by a dear friend of mine. Thanks Haithe, you are such an inspiration. I hope that your art journal is going well too.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Journal Entries 2 and 3

Well, I haven't been able to get online and blog in a few days and I have had these entries done for a bit, plus some general rantings......

I am happy to report that the Woodville Mall (which had a grand re-opening) is getting a makeover....even if it is a little at a time. I was there yesterday and they have begun ripping out the carpeting. Much of it had been so damaged over the years that it was held in place with duct tape in various places. I can't tell if they're going to fix the roof that leaks or if they will just let it go, but there are some new stores. One in particular is a shop where local artists can display and sell their work. I am excited about this. The next time I stop by, I will have to chat more with the owner to see how it works, if it is done by consignment or whatever. It was nice to see some names that I recognize including Adrianne Stinson. That gal has some talent.

Anyway, I have digressed down memory land and the Woodville Mall long enough.....Journal entry two is all about my favorite animal: The Wolf. I have loved wolves since I was a wee little girl. The wolf and its paw print were drawn on antiqued paper.

For journal entry 3 I decided to also do a bit of drawing. The entry was suppose to be an animated letter. I took two different directions on this. At first I was going to draw a cartoonish letter, but went with a floral-ish  instead. I started thinking about this entry a little more and wondered....what about a written letter to someone that seems animated. Then I remembered an essay I wrote about Pearsoon Metropark. It was perfect. It is animated and hopefully (if you can read it, the font is tiny) can imagine yourself doing some of the activities I tried to capture.

Both entries were then covered in my favorite water based sealant.

The next entry that I do is going to be overlapping shapes. I have some ideas on this one and can't wait...but I also need to find a way to cut circles in thicker paper and need to make some trips to Home Depot. I'll try and remember to update more often. Anyway....enjoy:



#2
#3

Monday, May 16, 2011

A reason, a season, or a lifetime

It really is true that everything happens for a reason. At first, you may not understand it, and you may even be angry, or upset by events that are going on.....but one day, when you look back, it will all make sense. It will be like an epiphany!!! You will feel better than you have in awhile and be better off for it. Before my divorce in 2007, a co-worker gave me a poem. I have always remembered it, though sometimes I felt that the poem was wrong. I have always tried to envision what each person in my life was there for: a reason, a season, or a lifetime. It pains me to say that not everyone has been there for a lifetime (or will be there for a lifetime: don't worry, I understand), but the ones that have only been there for a brief time, I wouldn't trade it for anything. It taught me so much. It has taken me many years to feel good about where I am in life and I still struggle everyday. If life had ended up how I expected it to all the time, I would never have met the wonderful people in my life today. Looking back, I honestly don't want to envision what my life would be like right now if I had stayed where I was, never trying to better myself or my situation. I would like to share that poem with anyone that may feel like there is no hope; that life never goes the way it is suppose to. To my friends that feel that way: Embrace those feelings. Read this poem and realize that it will get better and you will be happy again. It may take time and a lot of self-exploration/soul searching.....but it WILL happen. Then you will understand why the person who had been your biggest confidant is no longer the person you run to. Someone else has stepped up to fill those shoes. Let them, and always remember:

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
~Unkown


I am grateful beyond words or expressions for all the people that are in my life. Thank you.




Sunday, May 15, 2011

First Journal Entry

Today I began creating the entries for my art journal. Today's entry is about summertime events. There are so many things to do in the summer here in Toledo that I tried to incorporate as many things as I could. I included my artwork from the Toledo Botanical Garden, baseball, bbq, The OWE Festival (Old West End for out-of-towners), sunshine, Metroparks, the various county fairs, roller derby, Cedar Point, and of course, my favorite hang-out.....WoodChucks. This is how it turned out:

I added a couple flowers and coated it all with a waterbased sealant (I love Mod-Podge). I also tried an adhesive spray that I was thoroughly impressed with. The stuff is sticky-icky!!! It's called 3M 77 Super Adhesive Spray.....wow.
I can't wait for tomorrow's entry...

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Summer Project

Wow, the semester has only been over for a little over a week, and I am still wired as if I was going to class....so, in an attempt to keep myself occupied and non-stagnated, I have decided to start an art journal. I have been thinking about this for several days now and I have created the journal itself.

This is the front cover. It is cardboard painted with acrylic paint, with paper label, and a waterbase sealer to hold it all in place.

This is the inside cover. It serves as a reminder of why I am undertaking this adventure. I am always looking for new ways to put creativity to use. I may not be a professional artist or anything even close, but I do it all for fun. It keeps me sane. It keeps the boredom from setting in too long. I enjoy it, and that's all that matters.

I have at least 70 random topics that will decorate the pages that are contained within the journal ranging from wall paper design to the Mona Lisa. There will be a variety of medium used as well. It is going to be an interesting hodge-podge to say the least. I will try my best to keep the entries posted on here. Tomorrow I begin my first entry.....A summer event. This will take some thought. There are so many wonderful summer events.