art journal

One of the things I love about my art journal

is that its pages are small (about 6"x6").

These small pages make it easier

to fit small sessions of art-making into short amounts of time.

They also make it easier to let go of my uptight perfectionism

and boldly try new things.

(For some reason it's much harder for me to let go

when I'm staring down a big, blank space.)

In short, it's a little safe haven

were I am brave and just have fun

with my art.

One of the ways I do this is by incorporating

whatever art supplies my kids have out.

The following two pages are experiments in wax resist

that were made on a rainy day

when they had their crayons and coloring books at the table.

I've been a little slow jumping on the washi tape bandwagon

simply because it seems like such an extravagance.

(No local stores sell it, so I have to pay shipping too.)

Last week I finally got some, though.

Well, Benjamin got it for me.

'Cause he's sweet like that.

 I love it just as much as I thought I would!

I think it would make great a great stocking stuffer.
Just sayin'...

While I was melting the boys' crayon nubbins

to make new heart crayons last week,

I decided to try some encaustic painting.

Okay, so technically encaustic painting uses

bees wax and powdered pigment,

but I figured that melted crayon wax

would make a fine substitute this time.

 My first try turned out pretty cool!

Melted crayon wax is hard to work with,

but the texture is amazing.

 My second try, well, lets just keep the 

brave and fun concepts in mind

because it's sure not great art.

For my third attempt I got a different paintbrush,

and it turned out pretty cool too.

And then there's this thing.

I sat down with my pens to make a

"one thing at a time" doodle

while focusing and organizing my thoughts.

But OF COURSE,

I didn't listen to my own advice

and jumped up to do something else.

When I came back, I discovered that my little Sweet Pea

had decided to edit my art.

Too funny.

I finished the words

and then added some of my own embellishments

around hers.

linking up with Jen's In the Studio again today