'Never give up - Never surrender!' Art Journal #2 - with ribbon fringes and texture!

Howdy and Welcome!

I'm back for a hot minute...
Been feverishly working on pieces for my September 2010 art show and haven't posted for a while.

Here are some pix of my first art journal. Started it a year ago in July 2009. It contains a mish-mash of pages. Tests of paints and image transfers, calligraphy, zendoodles, gel pens, Sharpie paint pens - just a lot of different things. The subsequent journals I've started have themes so I can focus on specific processes.

For example, I now have another  moleskine journal dedicated exclusviely to practicing my calligraphy. I love, love, love calligraphy - ever since I took penmanship class in grammar school, I've enjoyed writing, pens and stationery. I'm one of those throwbacks who enjoys writing long 10 page letters with a fountain pen and sending them off to friends in the post. Must be the poet in me!

Closeup of cover of journal #2.

Ingredients: white gesso, tinted gesso, gold and other colors of acrylic dabbers applied via monoprint from deli wrap paper, Golden fluid acrylic (Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold), italics calligraphy font using purple ZIG calligrapy pen,  Ranger Distress Crackle 'Clear Rock Candy', various acrylic washes, diluted Liquitex matte medium between layers, diluted Modge Podge gloss to seal.

Cover of journal #2

Art Journal #2 - with ribbon fringes and texture!
Photo showing ribbons on coil binding of journal #2.

Really had fun adding the ribbons. Up until now, didn't think I was a ribbon lover - but they have grown on me.

Technique: cut ribbons in advance 6"-10". Tied ribbons mixing colors randomly. Fyi, I no longer keep ribbons on spools. While watching TV, I unravel the spools, cut to shorter strips and affix them to those little plastic ribbon cards. Spools take up too much space in my studio and crop bags...

What do you think of this cover. Aren't the textures yummy? That clear Rock Candy is an incredible crackle product. Have you ever used clear Rock Candy crackle paint?

Thanks for visiting - please leave a comment and stop by again soon!

Peace,
LuLu