1st Art Journal Pages - Oh My!

2016 is my year for taking on-line art classes and learning new techniques. I want to venture deeper into art and begin to understand the process of art journalling.

After taking Jane Davenport's Supplies Me class I have gathered many of the products that are needed, such as gesso (white, clear, black), gel mediums in both gloss and matt, a variety of acrylic paints and of course watercolour paints.  Thanks to all my stamping and card making years I have plenty of paper, pens, markers and embellishments.  So I am off and running......

I picked up an 8x8 watercolour journal - the hand book paper co (Global Art Materials) from an art store in Nashville (I was just there for a conference).  

• Started by applying raised sections of wild flowers and random shapes on the page with several stencils and modelling paste (Tim Holtz and Balzer Designs)
• Added a light wash of three colours.

Okay now the real fun begins....

• I wanted lots of colourful flowers so I dabbed acrylic paint onto a large Donna Downey stencil in both red and green (then added a little bit of yellow).
• I outlined all the flowers and stems with a xs Pitt Pen.  I tried to smudge it but it didn't really work.
• Next I randomly added some stencilled words with Distress Forest Moss and the words Inspire Yourself in black.

My journalling phrase is from Leonardo da Vinci:

"I have been impressed with the urgency of DOING. Knowing is not enough, we must APPLY. Being willing is not enough, we must DO!"

Lastly, I added a few stencilled butterflies and spatters.

What do you think of my first ever journalling page?  I guess all those classes and YouTube videos did come in handy.  I plan to fill the whole 60 pages with art journal spreads so stay tuned for more!

Have a great day!

NancyD