Sunday 18 March 2012

My first art journal, Page 1!

I think I've turned a corner.....or been hit by a truck carrying acrylic paints and inks.

I went to GNPE (Great Northern Papercraft Extravaganza) in Harrogate on Saturday (yesterday) full of crafty excitement looking to spend a fortune on stamps and things. However, I had to leave the madness of argy bargy women and tiny stalls. I decided seeing as I was in Harrogate I'd go to Art from the Heart. I'd been meaning to go for a while.

I can't stress this enough...I'M SO GLAD I DID!
What a wonderful place to be, why did I even bother going to the GNPE in the first place!
If you're remotely arty you could easily get lost in all the wonderful samples of art, it's better than any art gallery. There are samples everywhere, they're displayed in a way that encourages you to have a closer look, feel it, read it, admire it. The atmosphere is so welcoming too, brought on firstly by Dyan Reaveley who is wonderfully chatty, and passionate about her arty craft and secondly Kate Crane who is equally as friendly and talked to me for ages about Posca pens. Thanks for the advice girls. And thirdly all the staff are very chatty and helpful.

Here I bought my first journal, a red Pink Pig spiral bound book, recommended by Dyan herself. I couldn't wait to get it home, but first I needed some of Dyan's wonderfully bright dylusions inks. I could only afford 6, but I wanted the lot! In fact I wanted the entire shop, but I would be destitute if I did. So page 1. of the journal happened in the space of about an hour, a rampant splurge of 20 years of suppressed creative expressiveness. Needless to say it was very liberating! The results of which are below.



I just couldn't wait to get started. My first page in my first art journal.


Maybe I'll break it down so you can see what it says.


Why has it taken me so long? I'm 41 and only just realised, "hey I’m missing out on something here".  Aimlessly blog hopping, I happened upon Dina's blog. There I stopped and indeed pondered for .......quite a while, 2 days in fact! 



I felt a stirring, something was moving.... hang on a minute Michelle, you went to art college, there's a reason why you love this...remember. With a rush of excitement an arty mojo engulfed my mind...The return of an old friend.  I want to do this too!  Now I have a head full of jumping hyperactive ideas. A trip to Art from the Heart sorted me out, I felt like Alice in Wonder-art-land, a journal was bought and an evacuation was about to commence.



After a frenzied affair with colour I could have sat back with a long sigh and lit a cigarette (if I hadn't packed in 5 years ago), looking at it from afar I realised that here is where I wanted to be, not suppressed by a mundane number crunching job.



I was eating a yellow (gouda) Baby Bell, and was playing with the wax, when I thought, right you're going on too.



This is my happy face! Thank you Art from the Heart. xx


Posted this in Simon Says Stamp challenge
Just found My Mojo Monthly very apt for this post, seeing as I found mine again.

24 comments:

TAM said...

WOW what a fabulous first page - must admit I've been thinking I'd like to "dip my toes" for some time now - perhaps a trip to Harrogate is called for (mind you that's quite a journey for me living in the Midlands.
Off to the NEC next week will have to see if I can find any inspiration there
Well done - looking forward to seeing future pages

Lynne Moncrieff said...

Your enthusiasm is radiating and it is infectious. Bravo to you for following your heart, this is obviously what you wanted to try and here you are, first page in your new Art Journal, a new path you are on and you are going to have fun and it sounds as though you have re-discovered a part of yourself.
I felt the same way when I started to craft,it is the strangest feeling but it is as though you have found a lost part of yourself. That is why creating is so vital to us and we should never under-estimate it.
Now for page 2 of your Journal, I wonder what that will reveal.
Wishes
Lynne

Dawn said...

WOW, fantastic page. x

Wendy Fraser said...

Wow, what stunning work!!! Love it. Sounds like you had an amazing time. xx

Wendy L said...

goodness you have been attacked, you sound so enthused, it,s great. xxxx

Evil Edna said...

that is wonderful, colourful and personal, I look forward to seeing many more pages.EE

annesyme said...

Fantastic page, I look forward to seeing more!
Anne x

Chris said...

This is fabulous well done. Chris xx

Heike said...

A fab project. Enjoy continuing your art journal.
Heike xx

Carolk said...

a great page and wonderful idea x

MissyG said...

Wow - you sound like you had great fun making this - wish i could bottle your enthusiasm! lol Fab!!
Linda

Unknown said...

Brilliant - that's just how I feel too! Fabulous pages!! My new dylusions sprays just arrived and I haven't had time to play yet, but can't wait. Wish I was able to vist AFTH in person too. Good luck with the rest of your journal, and congratulations on rediscovering your arty side :-) Maddy x

applejack cards by sue said...

Hiya, this is fantastic! I'm really looking forward to see how this creative side will express itself.

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

So glad you were inspired to start a journal, your first page is fabulous, wonderful colour palette. Thanks so much for joining in the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge. Tracy x

Anonymous said...

fab work your first page is brilliant xx

Dina said...

Very cool, and I am honored that I inspired you!

thekathrynwheel said...

This is totally fabulous! The colours are awesome. I can't believe this is your first journal page - looks like you've been at it for years! Nice to meet you on Saturday :-))

Laura Thykeson said...

Congratulations! Now you will never be the same...lol! I have become an art supply "junkie", and have a fierce craving for anything "paper". Your page looks wonderful and I know you will enjoy many an art journal hour with your new journal!

Linda M. Cain said...

OUTSTANDING! Great job here!

~Linda

Sharon said...

You did a fantastic job on your first page. Love the photo figure!! Looking forward to seeing more.x

Sarah said...

A really great post and so good to hear how much good the journalling has done you. Fabulous colours and zingy tones...great stuff! Thanks so much for joining in with My Mojo Monthly!!!

Sandra Botham said...

Hi there,
I did exactly the same as you, lol. Went to GNPE on the saturday, got pushed and bumped around for awhile then headed to AFTH and thought why did i even bother going to GNPE. The shop is awesome and so inspiring. I found Kaz Hall's blog by accient and from there i found AFTH and wondered where this style had been all my life. How addictive is it? lol. I wanted to buy the whole shop but had to settle for 3 inks and 2 stamp sets, but oh boy do they open a whole new world for us. Good to see you having so much fun with them too.
I've joined your site to see where your new journey takes you.

Sandra. x

tekapotig said...

You are a total inspiration Michelle!
To have so much enthusiasm after a long day at work in the world of a data anylist to be able to produce work of such high quality tells me that your craft desk is where you should be!
I love your use of colour on your first page of your journal. It too me back to my childhood of fruit salad sweets and pick and mixes. Ive no idea why! Incorporating baby bell wax was a stroke of genius too! I laughed so much!I love it!You've stamped your personality on a page as you do so many times with your work.
I was very taken with your Tags also, particularly the creative chemistry 101 tags. They look terrific Michelle. Keep up the creativity. You are awsome.
xxx M xxx

Sarah said...

This post made me grin from ear to ear :) sounds like you've found your way home :)

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