“In deze Nederlandse online workshop bind je een eigen ‘jaarboek’ om dat vervolgens te gaan vullen met wekelijkse ‘dagboek-achtige’ art journal spreads. Maandelijks krijg je een aantal tutorials voorgeschoteld waarin alle facetten van het ‘persoonlijk art journalen’ aan bod komen, want als je journal vol is moeten de pagina’s natuurlijk wel een afspiegeling van JOUW leven zijn.”

Misschien heb je ze voorbij zien komen – op facebook of instagram of zo: de spreads die cursisten maakten (en nog steeds maken!) n.a.v. de grote Kronieken workshop. Gedurende het jaar kwamen er een aantal deelnemers bij die ook vol enthousiasme aan de slag gingen, zó leuk! Vanaf juli heb ik de workshop echter ‘dicht gezet’ omdat instappen halverwege het jaar niet zo leuk meer is, maar er kwamen toch nog regelmatig verzoeken van mensen die óók deze workshop willen volgen/starten. Na enig beraad heb ik besloten dezelfde workshop in 2022 weer aan te bieden. Dat betekent dus dat je je vanaf nu kunt inschrijven voor de 2022 editie – en schrijf je je nog in oktober in, dan profiteer je van de VROEGE VOGEL KORTING! Je vind alle info HIER IN DE SHOP

LET OP: heb je deze workshop in 2021 al gevolgd en wil je ook in 2022 aanwezig zijn en meedoen? Schrijf je dan NIET in maar stuur me een email!

… week na week, jaar na jaar… alle journals gevuld met pagina’s als deze…

… MIJN belevenissen, MIJN emoties, MIJN gedachten, MIJN leven vastgelegd op MIJN manier….

Wil jij dat ook?

DAT KAN!

Je kunt je vanaf nu aanmelden voor mijn online workshop KRONIEKEN… en omdat het nog even duurt vooraleer we starten (december 2020) kun je je nu met VROEGE VOGEL KORTING inschrijven. Je betaald nu maar €100,- Deze prijs staat tot 16 oktober. Daarna betaal je €125,- dus het loont de moeite om er vroeg bij te zijn… Eens?

Surf dan snel naar mijn WEBSHOP en schrijf je NU in!

KRONIEKEN (de grote, online art journal workshop)
Deel I: December 2020 – Juni 2021

Jaren van art journalen hebben een schatkamer aan kennis en ervaring opgeleverd. Ik vond het tijd worden om dat alles nu maar eens in een ‘grote Kronieken art journal workshop’ te gieten en mijn schatkamer open te zetten…

In deze Nederlandse online workshop bind je een eigen ‘jaarboek’ om dat vervolgens te gaan vullen met wekelijkse ‘dagboek-achtige’ art journal spreads. Maandelijks krijg je een aantal tutorials voorgeschoteld waarin alle facetten van het ‘persoonlijk art journalen’ aan bod komen, want als je journal vol is moeten de pagina’s natuurlijk wel een afspiegeling van JOUW leven zijn. Je leert in deze workshop hoe je een eigen art journal bindt en hoe je vervolgens je persoonlijke herinneringen en belevenissen daarin kunt verwerken. Er is dus aandacht voor beeld én tekst (schrijven) en hoe je die twee met elkaar combineert op een art journal spread. En, óók belangrijk, hoe je het creëren van die wekelijkse spreads vol kunt houden.

De lessen en video-tutorials besteden aandacht aan allerhande creatieve technieken, materialen en mentale processen (gedachten, gevoelens en emoties.) Van boekbinden tot compositie. Van ‘wilde achtergronden’ tot dromerige spreads. Van ‘boze dagen’ tot ‘zwoele zomeravonden’. Van verf tot collages. Van stempelen tot handlettering. Van gelli-printen tot mark-making. Dit alles afgewisseld met ‘schrijfsessies’ waarin je handvatten krijgt om creatief te schrijven met een ‘eigen touch’.

KRONIEKEN wordt aangeboden in twee delen, je schrijft je dus in voor een half jaar. Dit geeft je de gelegenheid om te ‘proeven’ en te kijken of deze manier van art journalen je bevalt. Je kunt na een half jaar dan beslissen of je wilt stoppen of dat je je ook voor deel twee wilt opgeven.

En dan de grote vraag natuurlijk: wat gaat dat kosten?
De prijs zal 125 euro bedragen en inschrijven zal mogelijk zijn vanaf oktober 2020 – er komt een vroege vogel korting dus wil je op de hoogte blijven en niet te laat komen? Schrijf je dan in voor mijn nieuwsbrief

Here’s the haiku I wrote today

Friday haiku

The photo was taken on the last day of 2019 by my friend Lena Schreijenberg

I submit this haiku to Recuerda Mi Corazon where our lovely hostess Rebecca brings us all together to share a haiku on Friday: Haiku my Heart.

We’re in the second week of 2020, this new year is on it’s way, and every year again the same question pops up: “Did you make New Year’s resolutions?” People who know me longer don’t ask me that anymore. Instead, they are curious for what word I chose for the New Year. Yes, I choose a word. Do you know that tradition? It started with Ali Edwards, an American artist (especially Memory Keeping related projects such as “December daily” albums etc.) In 2006 she began a tradition of choosing one word for herself each January – One Little Word – and pretty soon, a whole lot of people followed her in that tradition. I learned about it in 2009 and got fascinated by this idea, so I chose my first word in 2010 – “a word to focus on, to live with, to investigate, to write about, to craft with, and to reflect upon as I go about my daily life.” That year, I found out how powerful that one little word can be. Therefore, I treat this tradition with care and think about it carefully before I make a choice.

In December, I always take a moment to reflect on the word I chose in the past year: what did it do for me? Did it influence me in any way? Did I ignore it and did it come back to hit me like a boomerang (that happened to me once… like I said: one little word can be pretty powerful!) I also think about a new word to select. What do I want to focus on in the year to come? What do I want to learn?

My word for 2020

Last month the word “Prioritize” came to mind when I thought about my word for 2020, but bleh… I don’t like that word! Way too cold and business-like… but it does sound like something I need to focus on, now that I have a job and my days are filled with new impressions and inspiration and less time to spend in my atelier. I need to prioritize and find a balance in… oh, hey: BALANCE. Now thát is a nice word. It sounds much more friendly and usable and applicable in many areas: work vs. play, privacy versus public, balanced eating and drinking and so on. I like it! What’s more: around the corner where I live is a beautiful, little courtyard with a fountain, where I walk past when I go to work … what it’s called? “Balans” (balance.)

Like all years before (since 2011) the first page of my new Chronicles art journal is used to create a page with my ‘one little word’. My ‘Chronicles’ is my weekly art journal so it’s on my desk every week… the word is never far away. I bind a brand new “Chronicles” art journal every year, and here’s how my 2020 journal looks

I am happy with the size of this journal, with the first page I created in it and with my word “Balance.” This word has also a lot to do with “letting go”… there simply are only 24 hours in a day and although I can manage with little sleep, I can not work on all the creative projects that are on my wish list. In fact, working at “Zeeland Archives” brings me more inspiration, so the wish list is only growing! Fortunately I have learned to let go – although the ‘letting go’ had more to do with the way I make art. I even taught an online workshop called that way and – now for the good news – I offer this online workshop again next month!

Online workshop “Let it Loose”

This online workshop starts on February 20: six weeks – 12 lessons. Available in English and Dutch.

Did you just dipped your toes into art journaling and are you insecure how to prceed? Do you see so many examples, techniques and materials online that you don’t know where to start? Are you getting a little intimidated by all those wonderful pages that people post online, and does it make you wanna quit? Did you make some art journal pages but feel ‘stuck’ right now?
In short: do you want to break LOOSE??? Then this workshop is for YOU!

DUTCH go HERE and ENGLISH go HERE for more info and registration.

My online workshops take place in an online community that was especially built for this purpose. Lessons are uploaded twice a week and there’s a clear structure in the assignments. The community is where the students and the “teacher” (I) come together, where you can chat and where additional information is shared. You can also upload photos of your work.

I chose to work this way because I feel that jointly attending a workshop gives a boost to self-confidence and brings a lot more inspiration than when you get some lessons by email to work with ‘home alone.’ Being able to login to a save and private group, where you get feedback and encouraging comments is so much inspiring and rewarding!

Pfew, this was a pretty long blogpost… did you read it all? Thanks for that, and have a wonderful weekend!

Je t’embrasse

Anyway, YOU can still join this workshop too! Registration will stay open until April 24.

ONLINE workshop Let it Loose €35.00 April 4 – May 12 2016 This workshop will loosen you up and take you a step further in creating your own, unique art journal pages. You’ll learn some basic writing techniques to improve your journaling and you will get tips and techniques to use your own handwriting. Furthermore, you will learn art techniques like working with collages, paint, colors, gesso and gel medium.

This is what former students had to say about Let it Loose:

“I had such a wonderful time with this workshop. I learned so much. I am still using all that I learned everywhere I go! Marit is a wonderful teacher, and if she is offering this workshop again, I highly recommend it!!” ~ Danielle

“I’ve just started a super cool art journal class with Marit – I wish I’d had teachers like her in school! When you visit her blog, check out her work – wow! And if you have the chance to take a class with her – do it! You won’t regret it.” ~ Anne

“Let it Loose has been such a fun and inspiring class! I highly recommend it – whether you have never tried art journaling, or you’ve been doing it for awhile. The lessons are fun and easy to follow, open enough for interpreting in your own style, and the atmosphere is super supportive!” ~ Michelle

Hope to see you in my workshop!

Yes, that’s right – you heard well:
READY.TO.GO.TO.THE.PRINTING.OFFICE

Because the second issue was later then we originally scheduled,
we worked our *** off to catch up so that we can bring out this third
issue before Christmas. I’m so proud of my team, my beloved designer
and all the contributors who pulled up their socks to make it happen.
And you know what? There’s just some finishing touches to take care of
and then we have a go!

I recommend you keep an eye on the FEATURING site or follow us
on facebook, so you won’t miss the release.

You may not believe it, but I managed to get some art journaling done
in between. Just a few minutes here and there… but the result is that
I can show you two pages in my ‘weird journal.’

Two Lost Souls

This background with silhouettes was laying around, waiting to get finished
for weeks now. Finally, I journaled some text, gave it some splashes and
called it finished. I still don’t know what to think of it. “Weird” maybe?

24 or 6 to 9

I know… I know… the song by Chicago is called “25 or 6 to 4”
That is the joke! (This is a spread in my “weird journal,” remember?)

I painted the face over a photo and it is kinda all right, but I found it a bit easy
to do it this way (use a photo as a basis I mean) so I challenged myself to paint
a similar face without the help of a photo. That painting is on my Chronicles
page – but I cannot show it to you as the journaling on that spread is not done
yet. I will definitely post it next Friday!

On another note I want to remind you about my upcoming Art Journaling workshop with Michelle LaPoint Rydell. It runs from February 4th through March 14th, 2013. It’s called MIXED EMOTIONS, and it’s all about expressing your emotions through art journaling. We are going to have tons of fun!!! Here’s what you get…

• 12 lessons with assignments in pdf format. Each lesson will focus on a specific emotion and an art technique that goes with it. Techniques will be clearly shown through photos or demonstrated on video. Both beginners and advanced art journalers will find pleasure in working with the lessons.Access to inspirational videos to inspire you and help your creative juices flow.

• Extra printable collage sheets with photos, illustrations and quotes to use in your work.

• Access to a private group discussion forum where you may share, ask questions and interact with the teachers and other class participants.(Access will be activated a few days before the workshop starts or within 24 hours of payment.)

• Access to group albums for posting your completed assignments and seeing what others have done. (Access will be activated a few days before the workshop starts or within 24 hours of payment.)

Click here, to find out more details and/or to register! I hope you will join us!!!

It’s evening in The Netherlands and there’s an action movie on TV
in 15 minutes. Just what I need after a day’s work… so I’m off to relax
and watch – what’s his name again – oh yes, Bruce Willis.
Thanks for stopping by dear ones, I see you at the end of the week!

So much so, that now the workshop has come to an end, I want to show
you – my blogreaders – some of the art that was made in the classes.
It is just a grip from each workshop but there is more to see in the gallery
on the website (see the link at the end of this post)

So today’s post has no art made by me – I did create last weekend (yep,
my Muse returned but she needs pampering and petting to get back to work…)
I will show you that on Friday.

I could not find all the links to these students blogs (if they have one)*
but when I did, you can click on their names to get there.

*If you recognize your name/art and you do have a site I can link to
send me an email and I add the link.

The following art works were made in this workshop:

This workshop loosens you up and takes you a step further in creating your own, unique art journal pages using basic writing techniques and art techniques like collages, paint, colours, gesso and gel medium.

“Changing Colours” – Made by Mazina

I love how the happy photo looks even more joyful due to how Mazina
coloured the portrait. It looks as if this woman is enjoying a day in nature,
surrounded by flowers and butterflies.
This page makes me smile when I look at it.

“Handwriting” – Made by LilyLoesje

This page has a beautiful balance and there is so much to see, read and enjoy!
The way Lilyloesje used all different kinds of letters and the fact that she used
different colours and all sorts of pens to write the text makes it an exciting page.

“Bind your pages to a journal” – Made by Belinda

Belinda says that she isn’t the neatest working person and that she struggled
to get the binding right… ‘the holes aren’t all equal or on the right place’…
but that was the fun of this workshop: it was all about ‘letting it loose’ and this
type of binding looks even good when you are not that neat! (that’s why I
picked to teach this one in the first place!) Now that Belinda finished her book
she is very proud of it, and she should be! Don’t you love her journal?

The next art was made in this workshop:

Each lesson concentrates on a specific art period, handling the characteristics and showing the artists and highlights. Every lesson comes with multiple prompts – inspired by the specific period/art – from which the students can choose which one suites them best.

“Ancient Art” – Made by Yvonne

From the ‘Ancient Art’ period, Yvonne took masks as her inspiration.
I’m in ooh and awe over this image. The face seems to rise out of the
mud and has that sort of ancient look to it. Wonderful!

“Baroque / Rococo” – Made by Marleen

Marleen was inspired by the Baroque painter Rubens, who’s ‘fat ladies’
are famous. I love Marleen’s painting style – she managed to get the pose
and feel of this lady on the page (canvas?) with a few, well placed strokes.
The shadows and highlights are amazingly well placed too.
It’s a very strong painting.

“Cubism” – Made by Inge

Cubism isn’t an easy (or much-loved) art style, but once the students learned
more about the concept and the thoughts from this particular period, they got
enthusiastic and made the most beautiful ‘cubistic artworks’.  This page is just
one of them. I love the colour combination and the still live that makes you
look twice.

I hope you enjoyed to see work by others on my blog this time.

You can view a bigger selection of the students’ art on the website
in the public gallery

To all my friends in New York: thinking of you! I hope you are save!

To all the people who gave me a like on facebook: Thanks – luv ya!

I’ll be back on Friday.

After all the hard work last weeks, I needed a little break.
My ‘men’ and I stayed with my parents.
We visited an art exhibition and ofcourse I had to say hello
to my beloved waves…

I started working on a big art journal page last week.
I finished it this morning.

Alle dinge zijn mi te inge

(Miscellaneous big art journal: 25 x 35 cm - 9.8 x 13.8 inch)

Used materials: dictionary book page, distress ink, adirondack color wash,
clear embossing powder, white sharpie

The poem on this page is written in in the 13th century by Hadewijch (c. 1240)

Here’s a little ‘history lesson’

Hadewijch is at the very heart of literature from the low countries.
This mystic from Brabant occupies a lofty seat in the throne-room
of spiritual courtly poetry and was the first woman in Europe to risk
singing of mystical love in pure love poetry.

In the late Middle Ages, Hadewijch was deeply admired in religious circles.
When her work was rediscovered in the nineteenth century, people were
initially astounded: was it erotic or spiritual love that was being celebrated
so ardently? Soon a new fascination developed, no longer kindled by religious
sentiment, but by Hadewijch’s linguistic virtuosity: at the dawn of Dutch
literature stands a woman who, with astonishing craftsmanship, gave shape
to a passionate mysticism of longing.

(source: national library of the Netherlands)

The poem is almost impossible to translate.
I know there are English translations available, but I don’t have them and
I don’t dare trying to translate it myself. This poem is in ‘ancient Dutch’
(from the 13th century) and already hard to read for Dutchies today…
the poems of Hadewijch belongs to the Dutch literary history and is still
learned in high schools

Alle dinge, zijn mi te inge
Ik ben zo wijd, om een ongeschepen
Heb ik begrepen, in eeuwigen tijd.
Ik heb’t gevaan, het heeft mi ontvaan
Widere dan wijd, mi es te inge al el
Dat wette wel, gi dies ook daar zijt.

Summer vacation in Holland is almost over… some of the schools
already started and next week, most kids will be back to school.

Time for moms to find some ‘me time’.

So here’s a reminder for you:

My (online) workshops in Autumn!

Registration for these workshops is now open.
Click on the images to get all the information on the website.