Getting back in the groove -with Kirsten

While I really enjoy my job being an elementary art teacher it does feel like I need to ooze creativity at every turn. Since we've been on winter break I've enjoyed the time spent at home with my family watching Christmas movies and trying to catch up on household chores. My creativity has enjoyed a short break as well but it is time to make some more messes in my newly organized creative cave and, as expected, it is a little sluggish to start. So today I am sharing with you the tale of two pages in my art journal, a place I can make really great and really NOT great art.

I started with a surface that has a thin layer of gesso on it. When dry I picked out two 12x12 stencils from the Coral series and using a few of Dina Wakley's new paint colors I laid down a messy layer over the whole page.

Then, before the paint dries too much I lay down my chosen stencil and taking a baby wipe I gently wipe over the surface lifting the wet paint through the stencil. The result is beautiful but remember you need to start with a dried layer of gesso for it to work. I repeated this technique on the neighboring page with a different stencil and colors. 

When this was dry I wondered and wondered what to do next. I grabbed a couple manila tags and painted them and then used one of the stencils again to put another layer of color.

I decided to create a face on one of the pages and using a sketch of mine with carbon paper I transferred it to the stenciled surface. Then using water soluable graphite pencils, distress crayons and various colors of Dina Wakley acrylics I attempted to bring the face to life.

Unfortunately I wasn't feeling it and I ended up wiping the whole thing off. It has left a pretty interesting surface with the face still showing so I think that all is not lost. I need to just leave it be for now so I turn my attention to the opposite page.

The tags I painted fit nicely on the page and I glue them down. I then decide that I need to switch gears before I get too frustrated. I decide to make my tags into houses so I pull out my stash of handmade paper scraps and start creating a cut paper collage. Houses are a familiar trend in my work and I tend to create them when I am at a loss. I am using a gel medium to glue down my papers. 

Here is where I have ended up and you know what? I like it. It's simple and whimsical and makes me smile.

It's okay to create something simple especially when you are getting back into a creative routine. I tend to overcomplicate things so this was a nice reprieve. When you choose a familiar theme and medium to create in, it will rev up your creativity and help get things running smoothly again. What would you choose?​

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