Online School

I am taking my very first online workshop. I saw the ad in my Artist's Magazine offering a free online class on art journals. I have seen some VERY impressive journal/sketchbooks in my day but none of them have ever been mine. My sketches look like a kid got a hold of the pages. I always understand the idea even looking at it years later but it's a bit embarrassing!

The lesson you see above was my first class. The idea was to print out some images of your own art and recreate the work through different compositions adding magazine clippings. At the time we were having one of Alaska's HORRIBLE wind storms ( think 75-85 mph winds). My brain seemed to naturally choose the peaceful, soothing images of flowers and birds. The phrase, "He looked at her and said, 'Just think of flowers and bird songs' popped into my mind. Again, I am sure a thought inspired by my current circumstances.

Truth be told this was my second attempt. On the first page I used the suggested collage glue which made the painting cutouts bleed. The instructor warned about this but stated you could creatively blend it in. Nope. Black (from the bird and brown flower) do not 'blend' into yellow. I tried to just leave it but I couldn't stand it. I started over and used a UHU glue stick which I liked working with much better.

I am already excited about next weeks class and hope to create another journal page tomorrow. It was interesting to me how a very structured project still couldn't help but reflect what I was dealing with at the time, crashing limbs and howling wind. Of course, that is the whole idea. It becomes a diary of sorts with art. Keep your eyes peeled to the blog for next weeks lesson.