Of Collages and Art Journals

Convinced that being able to interpret everything I’d love to do and say visually and in color would help me create better beads and jewelry,I began looking for books and ideas about creating collages and art journals.I’d picked up a book on altered books about two years ago but that was not what my muse was craving for.

I finally found what I wanted ….and luckily,I found a whole bunch of books that told me everything about just what I wanted to know and I’ve been on a roll ever since:)!

The first treasure that revealed itself to me at a super craft store in the US is titled “Artists’ Journals and Sketchbooks” by Lynne Perrella…..a visual treat and feast for the mind and the soul.I loved it all the way for everything has….from images ,to ideas,to suggestions,to variations and much more.I wanted to sit down and get going with whatever material could lay my hands on-paper,transparencies,vellum,pens,ink,acrylics,crayons…..everything works:)!

The book has artist profiles along with a page from their journals along with a detailed description of what inspired the artists to create what they did and what they used to do so.

The other book I’ve been lapping up is “Collage Unleashed” by Traci Bautista….I think it is a brilliant book with amazing ideas and awesome inspiration:)….and has lots of very pratical tips to work with and on:).

In fact,these two books are a major high together…potent:)!!

Here is my scribble sheet.

The images in the collage are ones that caught my fancy in a fashion magazine and had been waiting in my folder fr a long time:)……I textured and painted a base to stick the photos on……added various kinds of tape…and on top of it all,wrote messages from my friends :)….happy,inspiring,encouraging notes:)…..

Both these works are in my studio and I am exicted about what will follow:)…many more…mainly images and words..messages……the focus will be on adding more layers and texture and create more “depth” in the next works:).

I spent all of today in my studio.Began the day with making some beads….with dots:)….and then,annealed a whole batch of beads made in the last few days.Then,there were the Silver clay pieces waiting to be created …..they will be finished and fired tomorrow and then,I must enamel them,before I leave to participate in a show ,with some beads and jewelry,in Mumbai.Of course,I worked on my second freeform bead embroidery piece too:)!That’ll all be here as it gets done…..

For now,I’m off to read some Zen food for soul:)……Zen Flesh Zen Bones:)….