MessyJessyCreatesArt

Materials and Processes: Water Color Crayons (first layer) Pitt Pen (outlining and detail work) Matte medium and Collage Papers  and Washi Tape (next layer) Art Anthology Paints (next layer)  Aqua Markers and White Sakura Pen (more details) Stickers (words, letters, and numbers) Glass Beads Medium and Star confetti (background) Butterfly cut outs and Pop Dots (finishing touches) For 2016, my word that I chose to concentrate on is HEALING.  With my best friend at my side (my kitty) and my spirit animals, the butterflies (technically these are moths), I intend to "Begin a Healing Journey".

www.willowing.org Lifebook 2015 Week 46 with Violette Clark Childhood Memories

As I sat in my studio listening to the moaning of our 18 year old do who is in 'hospice' in my studio because she can't get up and down the stairs to the house and has no bodily function control, I painted.  This week's lesson was titled "Reach for the Stars" with Jenny Wentworth.  But all I could do was think about Chi Chi.  I listened to her in pain and thought about all of my memories with her.  I tried not to cry.  I talked to a couple of friends about the grief I was feeling and how to decide when it was time to have her put to sleep or just make her comfortable until she passes.  I painted all of the beautiful flowers thinking about these things.  As a family, we decided that it was time.  The decision, and the thought of loss for our beloved pet of 18 years, weighed heavily in my heart.  But it is time.  For Chichi.  So I dedicate this piece, not to reaching for the stars myself, but to the memory- the life and death- of Chi ...

Having found out in therapy that I needed to give my inner child a little more attention, I signed up for Effy Wild's Book of Days:  Self-Love Edition (like, the only one I have NOT taken LOL).   www.effywild.ning.com  My usual style of art journaling is quick and messy.  However, I felt the need to take my time and really do the work on these spreads.  It really does help! Cover Page for my art journal Week 1:  Setting my intention Week 2:  My True Colors I own a print of Tamara Laporte's and it inspired me to do this spread.  I just love the colors and it seems like this girl could be me :-) Week 3:  Self Love Primer I go the information for this spread from a wonderful article https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evil-deeds/200806/essential-secrets-psychotherapy-the-inner-child Week 4:  Flower Moon Boon- A Wish upon a sunflower Week 5:  Self Care steps I own a copy of the book by Jane Davenport "Drawi...

I finally found a bit of time to do week 26's lesson and I enjoyed it very much!  As some of you know, I have fibromyalgia and everything that goes with it.  The lesson's theme was about expressing our inner male archetype, our strong side.  For me, nothing says "I m strong" other than being a FIBRO WARRIOR PRINCESS :-)  As with Lupus, the symbol for fibromyalgia is a purple butterfly.  Therefore, I repeated the purple butterfly in the background using a stencil by Tamara Laporte, modeling paste, and Panpastels.  I continued to include a purple butterfly embellishment into her 'thorny' crown, as well as a purple ribbon to show support.  The journaling around her head is done in white Posca Pen and says:  If you are in pain, don't feel down.  Simply smile and pick up your crown.  Princess of Pain you now are.  A positive attitude will get you far.  I found this on the internet by there was no author to give credit :-(

So I'm in my second year of Lifebook with Tamara Laporte ( http://www.willowing.org/life-book-2014/  ) and have learned so much from Tam and all of the other artists.  They have helped me grow as an artist and as a person. This week's lesson was from Catt Zelda Geller ( www.streetlightpeople.org ) and MAN am I so excited!  I have been thinking about how to go about the whole Art Therapy Journal and this method was perfect!  I LOVE the way she puts together her smashbooks and makes them so personal. I used two of my pieces of art for the front and back cover.  I glued them to a plain composition notebook and reinforced the spine with some washi tape.  Since the art was printed on my printer at home, I sprayed them with fixative and then, after that dried, went over it with matte medium.  I then glued two of the interior pages together at a time using a glue stick.  One thing I love is texture.  Catt showed us how to crumple up the glued pa...

Week 16:  In the Moment with Traci Bautista   http://www.treicdesigns.com/ Abstract- collage,acrylics, alcohol inks Week 17:  Gratitude in the Now with Tascha Parkinson   http://timewithtascha.blogspot.ca/ Gouche, Pitt Pen, Collage Week 18 was an artist interview with Carla Sonheim   http://www.carlasonheim.com/ I have taken a few of Carla's online classes so I opted to not do a piece for this week.  The interview was very good.  She talks about her experiences as an artist, writing and publication of her books, teaching children art, and about dealing with depression. Week 19:  Honoring your Inner World with Danielle Daniel   http://danielledaniel.com/ Spray Inks, acrylics, stencils, india ink, faber-castell markers, charcoal, graphite, collage Week 20:  Honoring your Inner World with Serena Bridgeman   http://www.serenarty.com/ Spray Inks, stencils, collage, graphite, acrylics, gesso, watercolor ...

Week 11:  Tree of Life with Tamara Laporte  http://www.willowing.org/ This one was done in only tinted charcoals (I LOVE THESE)  http://www.dickblick.com/items/22079-1024/ Week 12 and 13 are in progress LOL Week 14:  Spring Time Journaling with Dyan Reaveley   http://www.dyan-reaveley.blogspot.co.uk/ Spray Inks Collage This one was so easy and great for an art journaling page. Plus, Dyan is a hoot to watch!   Spray inks, Stencils, Collage, Black Pen Week 15:  Quirky Animals Spirit Totem with Tamara Laporte I went to  http://www.spiritanimal.info/  and took their quiz.  I found out that the butterfly was my spirit animal :-)  Watercolor crayon, acrylic, faber-castell markers, india inks, collage

Week 6:  Spray Ink Love with Tamara Laporte   www.willowing.org Warm-Up- Negative Space, Composition, Spray Ink, Stamps, Collage, Washi Tape, Gesso Main Lesson- Positive Qualities- Spray Inks, Stencils, Stamp, Charcoal, Acrylic, Watercolor Crayon Week 7:  Pop Up Positives with Jane Davenport   http://www.janedavenport.com/ 3 qualities I value in Myself and Others-  (1)kindness, thoughtfulness, a big heart (2)Creativity (3)Intelligence Creating a Pop Up Page, Watercolor, acrylics, washi tape, collage, scrapbook papers Week 8:  The Joy of Intention with Alena Hennessy   http://www.alenahennessy.com/ Mix of abstract combined with flowing natural shapes Acrylics and collage Week 9:  An artist interview with Claudine Hellmuth   http://www.collageartist.com/ Since this week was an awesome interview, I decided to do a piece in her style- retro whimsy Week 10:  Positive Life Connection with Tamara Laport...

Week 1:  Warm-up with Tamara Laporte   http://www.willowing.org / Color Theory (Primary Colors) Watercolor Crayons, Acrylics, molding paste, collage, stencil Week 1:  Art Guardian Portrait with Tamara Laporte   http://www.willowing.org/ Meditation and "Word for the Year" Watercolor crayons, acrylics, collage, graphite, charcoal, Liqitex iridescent medium Week 2:  Bonus Lesson- A Happy Affirmation with Micki Wilde   http://thesecrethermit.blogspot.co.uk/ "What I want more of in 2014" Watercolor crayon, Sakura gelli roll pens, washi tape, collage elements Week 3:  Creativity and Play with Carla Sonheim   http://www.carlasonheim.com/ Creativity Exercises in page pocket and creating a Textured Background Gesso for texture, chalk pastels, collage papers, washi tape Week 4:  Be True to You with Kelly Hoernig   http://www.kellyhoernig.webs.com/ Using 3 elements, Acrylics, collage elements, washi tape, ste...

This week I used a headshot to create a mixed media piece to represent myself.  The message was to follow the yellow brick road because you never know where the path will take you...... I'm Glenda, the good witch :-)

The focus of this piece was printmaking. First, I used lino and chisel to carve my leaves.  It's very simple to make your own stamps :-) Next, I used my Gelli Plate to create mono prints with acrylic paints on deli paper in fall colors. After that, I used matte medium to glue down my mono prints onto my piece of mixed media art paper. Then, I used black acrylic paint (because my stazon ink pad ran out) to stamp random leaves along most of the border of my piece. After drying a bit, I used my Luminart shimmering watercolors to add a little sparkly fall color (persimmon, alfalfa, and autumn butternut) around the page and leaves. Next, I used my black china marker to create a border around the page. Then, having found a suitable poem about fall, I printed it out on regular printer paper and used matte medium to attach it to my page. Finishing touches:  Ok, so I can't just leave it without a little bling ;-) so I added a little embellish...

This Lifebook 2013 Lesson was one in which I was in need of (thank you Tamara LaPorte xoxox) I think that most people chose a lesser issue to practice with and as a piece of public artwork.  However, I had already done much of the internal work for this and was ready to move on and let it out! Tam uses "Non-violent Communication" or "Compassionate Communication" in this lesson..... so, here goes the process First comes Self-Empathy.... Observation- Cause of distress is failed marriage/relationship I know all of the why's and how's of this.... spent the past two years on this so identifying the cause of my distress was the easy part. My Feeling- hurt, betrayed, enraged, depressed, disappointed, exhausted, worn out, embarrassed, ashamed, hate, animosity My Needs-  understanding, shelter, love, connection, safety, stability, harmony, peace, honesty, authenticity, joy, communication, closeness, security, TRUST My Requests- to take time for my...