I’m full of energy and have a lot of plans – both big and small – which will
unfold this coming season. One of the smaller plans was, to bind a book
with the blackboard covers that Phinner send me some time ago. (Thanks
sweetie!) I stood in doubt about the shape though… the blackboard covers
were square (6 x 6 inch) and I somehow have difficulties working on a square
surface lately. I thought about cutting it to a rectangular shape but then
again: it would be a shame to make it smaller…

…last weekend I found the solution to this ‘pr0blem’.

It shot through my mind that there’s one thing that really NEEDS a square
page to work on: grids! I’ve seen a lot of grids popping up on blogs in the
last weeks (Julie, Annemarie) and while thinking about it, I got more and
more excited. A little book filled with grids would be lovely to work in ‘on
the sideline’. No ‘heavy’ journaling, no deep feelings or raw themes…
just plain, simple grids to fill in, to keep my hands busy on a rainy day!

I started binding the small book right away!
Here’s the cover.

(Note: You can click on any image in this post to enlarge)

("Grids-journal": 15 x 15 cm - 6 x 6 inch)

I used long pieces of ribbon for the binding, so that I could use the extended
parts to turn into a grid on the front cover. The lemon-green chipboard alpha’s
have been in my stash forever… they really shine against the blackboard!

I already knew what I wanted to do on the first page: letters!
I’m a letter-junk. Drawing letters, writing, reading… I can get exited just
from seeing a nice font. I brushed watercolour paint on the page to give it
some colour, sketched my first grid and draw an alphabet.

I didn’t use an existing font, I didn’t think to hard about it…
I just sat at the table and sketched a letter in each square with a soft pencil.
After the sketching, I traced the shapes with my dip pen and Indian ink.
It felt a bit like zentangling: meditative!

So here it is: my self made alphabet!

Grid: Alphabet

Later I thought that these letters should be fun to carve stamps from too.
I might even do that sometime!

I couldn’t get enough of playing with my grids so after I finished the alphabet,
I drew another grid. This time, I choose to fill it with faces. I had a fun time
flipping through my old magazines, cutting out small faces and ‘puzzling’ them
into a nice mosaic.

Grid: Faces

More ideas swirl through my brain now.
I hope I bound enough pages into this book to make all those grids that I
can think of. (Oh what the heck! If there aren’t enough pages in this book,
I can always make a second ‘grid-journal’.)

By the way: I think filling grids this way will also be a fun thing to do for
the ones who lost their mojo. It’s a structured technique, it doesn’t require
much thinking, you keep your hands busy and still you play with colours
and shapes… try it!

You all know this: each weekend I finish my ‘weekly page’.
This weekend was no different, here it is

The Chronicles of Marit 2011 – Week 35

(30 x 21 cm - 11.8 x 8.3 inch)

I somehow got tired of making collages like this one for a while.
It’s been Months I think. But last week, a collage-lady appeared on this page.
Oh, OK. She can stay.
The sewed squares (what IS it with squares and me today?!) are made by Rosie.
Thanks dear, they look wonderful on this page!!!

Last but not least: I have been chosen to be in the Altered Page’s
“Style File” this week.

Some of you might know/visit Seth and his blog The Altered Page already
(if not: pay his blog a visit, it’s worthwhile!) Style File is the 5th edition of
The Pulse — The State of the Art — a survey in words and pictures of the
online artist community.

“The Pulse is a collaborative project that aims to introduce you to new
artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and allow you
access into the creative hearts and minds of a very talented crew of
individuals. More than 130 artists have answered a series of questions
which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented in a series
of online posts which will run every Sunday.”

When I look outside, more grey clouds seem to appear.
I think I will turn on the lights in the living room and spend the rest
of the day at the big dining table, creating.

Have a wonderful week dear ones, stay warm!

This 5th edition of The Pulse — The State of the Art –is a survey in words
and pictures of the online artist community. The Pulse is a collaborative
project that aims to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know
familiar faces even more, and allow you access into the creative hearts
and minds of a very talented crew of individuals.
More than 130 artists have answered a series of questions which make up
The Pulse. Their responses will be presented in a series of online posts.

To start things off with a bang, postings from The Pulse will begin Saturday
July 2nd and continue on Sunday July 3rd and Monday July 4th.
Regular weekly postings begin on Sunday July 10th and will continue
every Sunday thereafter.

You might find lots of familiar artists participating, but I already spotted
some unfamiliar (to me) names of artists who I certainly will check out!
I’m not sure when my name and stuff will be published, I’ll let you know.

I’m not used to blogging on a Sunday, but while I’m here – let’s make this
extra blogpost a fun one and stuff it with my latest artwork…

(Click on any of the images in this post to enlarge for a better view)

..

This journal page, for instance…
The new prompt at A Year in the Life of an Art Journal came up this week.

THE PROMPT: What’s the deal?
THE SONG: Running Up That Hill by Placebo (or Kate Bush)
PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: Playing Cards

I LOVE the Kate Bush version and I was happy to see this come up as a prompt.
The sentence ‘make a deal with God’ had my attention right away.
I imagined shaking hands and made this page in no-time.
‘What deal would you make then?’ my beloved asked …
I’m not going to tell though.
I’ll leave it up to each of you to give your own answer.

What’s the deal?

(19,5 x 21 cm - 9.1 x 12.2 inch)

I used pages from an old book (it is an old history book about human rights,
changing society, emancipation of woman etc. – some texts shine through
and I find it very appropriate) cut-out photo (hands) used as a mask, spray ink,
acrylic paint, circle template, stamps, stazon ink.

Happy mail!

The sharpies Julie
bought for me in
America arrived
yesterday!

She also included
a pack of ‘Painters’.
Thy work the same
as the Sharpies do.
I tested them
immediately and
they’re awesome!
Thanks Julie!

And did you see
that lovely card
Julie made me?
‘Gutsy Lady’ it
says… Me? Wow!
I’m honoured!

Thanks so much Julie for taking the effort to buy me my much-wanted
Sharpies ánd for spoiling me with the extra’s! Here’s in your honor:  🙂 🙂 🙂

Black posterpaint Sharpies with an extra fine point… so now I could finish
that last page in my ‘Chronicles 2’ journal! The lines/dots were stamped.

(15,5 x 23 cm - 6.1 x 9.1 inch)

And here’s the first page of my new ‘Chronicles’ for the second half of 2011
(I showed the cover and binding of this handmade journal in this post)

(Double pages: 30 x 21 cm - 11.8 x 8.3 inch)

The left page/inside of the cover is a cut out image from a magazine.
The text was already printed on it (‘It’s lovely to flutter outdoors”)

The image behind the journaling on the right is a freebie from Robin.
I met her the other day on the Art Journal ning group and when I
checked out her blog, I discovered (besides inspiring artwork!) that
she publishes a free download every Friday. I fell in love with this
bright and colourful one.. thanks Robin!

I hope you liked this extra ‘Sunday post’.
I will be back on Tuesday with the winner of my giveaway – you have
until then to comment if you want to be in the drawing. Go check it out.

Enjoy the rest of the day dear ones!

..