My return to camp

I finished my first 2017 Slipper Camp Workout: 
"Printing out at least three great photos from 2017 and putting them in prominent places." 

In February 2016 I attended what we call "Art Camp" again.
This photo is from a walk with my dearest friends Lynn & Jill.
I digitally created a fun photo keepsake for them in Oct. 2016.
Now the photo is on the magnet board above my monitor. 

This Polaroid of Owen was already up. (Bonus for me--smile.) Interesting to note: Owen goes directly to that photo and makes a comment every time he comes in our house.

Owen is my grandson by way of my God-daughter Brittany. 

October 2016-- weekend in a cabin with my friend Nanette.
We hadn't seen each other in over 7 years.
Thanks to Slipper Camp exercise one I see this photo every day.
My dresser top looks like inspiration for another exercise, right?

I had my first birthday party in several years in 2016. The photo now happily resides on our fridge door.

Slipper Camp: A kinder, gentler boot camp designed to promote living well every moment.

Camp Motto: Being kind to yourself makes you strong.

Checkout my personal progress and all the tasks on http://www.artfultourist.blogspot.com/ (search key word slipper camp)

Follow along with the  Slipper camp tasks on the Live Safe, Live Well Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kNACkofit?ref=br_rs

Should I adopt another new year?

I might just need a summer new year. As I journaled and mediated and worshiped and prayed this weekend I realize that I currently celebrate three new starts during the year.

 

There’s January when the calendar year changes. There’s Easter when I celebrate the renewal of life with the resurrection, and there is September, which I’ve written about before—the back to school new year (something about those school supplies gives me a call to set goals, organize and start projects).

 

Chart from David Allen's GTD web site

For my spring new year I have been studying and practicing the methods David Allen promotes in his book, “Getting Things Done.” One of the most appealing aspects of his system is to release the lists that are spinning in your head and get more done by trusting your list.

 

I’m a big fan of emptying my head. That is one of the reasons I am devoted to journaling and journaling in the 80% written format. It empties my head. Now I’ve found a method that promotes me emptying my head. Is this the answer to my unquiet mind?

One of my recent journal pages- I write
more than I create designs. Artful lettering
and written work with ink/paint background.

So far, it’s working when I work it. My lists feel too long and jumbled. I want to go back and review how he explains making choices based on my priorities. He uses the analogy of a plane on the runway and increasing miles above the ground to explain this theory.

I have not been playing in my studio nearly as much as I desire. It’s a state of chaos in there which may be my biggest deterrent and not this new system.

 

Today I am home unexpectedly. I am going to empty my wandering brain and clear my inbox. Wishing you a joyful and abundant Spring.

 

Art Journal and Doodle Inspiration

Journal doodles are popping up on every page lately. At first I was working on doodle dollies and then I moved on to bunnies (from Noni Art) and bugs and flowers like this bee on a purple bloom.

I’ve been asked often where I get the inspiration for doodle shapes. Most of the Noni art is just Zen. I look at the painted area like I’d look at clouds to find shapes. On fancy artist days, I think of myself as a sculptor looking at stone before chipping out the statue.

Doodling on blank paper or newsprint is a bit more defined. I look online for inspiration, I practice, and I make it my own. I’ve traced photos in my journal to turn them into doodles, I’ve doodled photos, and I’ve looked at my rubber stamps for inspiration.

Some of the Zen-tangle things I worked on a while back are coming into play as well. I don’t concentrate on filling each space as much as I start with a few lines and work out. Next I “find” shapes in the doodles much like the Noni art process.

See http://www.artfultourist.blogspot.com/2013/04/noni-art-what-you-get-when.html for background on the Noni Art.

Long time no see journal pages

Used upcycled chip board for front and back covers.

I was asked the other day if I was still art journaling.  The art journal has become so much a part of me that I have neglected to mention it on the blog for some time now. So, here’s where I am this year:

·         I made my own spiral bound journal with the Zutter™

·         I adore using this journal with all the cool insert pages I put inside

·         I average 45 minutes daily writing, working, playing in my journal

·         I’m still more of a writer than an full page artwork kind of journal keeper

·         I have been experimenting more with original drawings and different mediums like Pan Pastels™

My only full page entry so far this year--
she is Naomi Jean.

Here are some recent pages from my “of course I’m still journaling” Journal.  Stay mighty-- arm yourselves with pens my fearless ones!

This is the bossy sitcom lady listing my pointless
complaints about the world, for example,
 knowing the difference between a butter knife
 and a table knife.

                                                                                                 

Yes--there is still time to register for the FREE wreath class in West Palm Beach.

Cubist ATC

Here’s an ATC that was cheery and fun to put together. My inspiration came from a You Tube video by Dick Blick featuring the packs of blank ATCs available now in stores and online.  The video reminded me of how much fun cubist and abstract drawings are to create. I’ve been looking for some inspiration beyond vintage collage and scrapbook style ATCs. I used a rainbow ink pad as background and solid card stock collage shapes for the figure. The shiny parts you see were done with my “way cool” gel pens from Sakura.

This card was traded away in the Easy Swap we do at all of the First Christian Church’s Scrap & Stamp FUNdraiser . Join us for the next one on July 27, 2013. Email scrapfcc@verchat.org for reservations or information.

There's still time to sign up for the FREE wreath making workshop on March 9th in West Palm. Click here for details: http://www.artfultourist.blogspot.com/2013/02/freespring-wreath-workshop-at-first.html

Now What's in my journal?

The first artful visual journal of 2011 is complete. I bid it a fond farewell in this video and also post my update for the Art Journal Every Day group on Julie Balzer's blog.

I had to make three version of this video because the first two were really too long to be considered a quick peek inside. I'm going to use some things from the longer one on my web site so it is also posted to You Tube. You can scan the bar at the bottom of the blog post to check out the long version. My advice--skip the long one and go journal--grin.

Art Journal Every Day with Julie Balzer

Style Options



Trying out a different style in my art journal. NAChattin.com


There's always another way to do things. I was fascinated by Julie Balzer's post on January 28th. She outlined a week's worth of art journal activities which was fun--but first she discussed the different types of journal styles:


"1.painty - love to splash paint and mist around and can't get enough gesso



 2.wordy - less of an art-er and more of a journaler and storyteller3.collage-ish - love patterned paper,     imagazine pages, and decoupage medium


 4.scrapbook-ish - used to using photos when you tell your stories


 5.doodler - can't stay away from the pens and markers "

She pegged me, I'm the wordy one. As shown in previous videos, I like to journal in books that I am "renewing" into journals. I layer on colors and magazine images, papers, stickers, and then layer on the words, words, and more words. Here are a couple typical examples:

My pages are prepped in advance. As I start to journal each day I will add embellishments and then begin to write and write and write. I've been writing in a journal since 1973. There has only been one real constant since I started--words. It works.

After reading Balazer's post I decided to challenge myself to each style of journal. This two page spread (at top) works the painty and possibly the scrapbook-ish styles. On the left I did a torn paper piecing technique that I employ on scrapbooks and cards. On the  right is a magazine advertisement for lingerie. I used gesso over the model and the painted in a new figure.

I really had fun trying new styles although it took me longer than my usual 30 minutes per day. Now I'm off to try the doodler technique.

Facebook Greetings-New on the web site-Take a peek at my journal

It hasn't been THAT long since my last blog post, but I've got lots of new ideas and links to share.



Facebook birthday greeting


***The Artful Tourist Facebook page now offers photo greetings you can use for your friends on Facebook.
Check out the photo album called Birthday Greetings to share on Facebook--there's lots of designs. Just tag a friend in the photo for it to show up on their profile. You can also right click to download the photo to your computer and then insert it into a page post.

****New on the Artful Tourist Web Site

Renew This Book Part One Tutorial and Video--http://www.nachattin.com/articlerenewthisbookcanvas.html

Renew This Book Part Two Tutorial and Video http://www.nachattin.com/articlerenewthisbookcutcolorspace.html

Flash Cards! New video and tutorial featuring double sided paper

Gallery--A collection of Florida inspired greetings http://www.nachattin.com/galleryflcards.html

Gallery--Recycled mail art http://www.nachattin.com/galleryrecycle.html

Article--Inspiration from Miss Betty--See how getting a beautiful card from my friend inspired me to create several more http://www.nachattin.com/article2scorefront.html

At left the cool thank you card Miss Betty sent me in December. She's always so on top of every card occassion...

Below is one of the cards she inspired from my studio. This birdie one is also featured in my latest Flash Cards! Video featuring double-sided papers from Rouge de Garance.

*** Are you curious about what's in my journal? I created a video to keep up with the wonderful group on Julie Balzar's blog. We're committed to "Art Journal Every Day."

Visual Inspiration

Ready to see some great photography? I met Robin Shepett last Thursday at a Scrapbook Meet Up. I knew I was going to to like this lady because she's a dog lover. Not only is she a cool person, she a gifted photographer. I was going to download one of her photos for placement here and I couldn't pick one. Check out her web site and buy her photos if you live far away or set up a session with her if you live in South Florida. THANKS Robin!