Adventure lies ahead

Or rather, the adventure is laying out now. As I prepare for the Amsterdam Discovery trip, I am already amazed at the growth and stretching that is taking place in my own life.
In celebration, Wendy’s trip costs have been covered by donations, plus she will have just enough extra money to cover the meals [...]

Circle Journal Joy

My dear friend’s inspiration has evolved into something grand. Alexandra invited many of her Artfest sisters to join in on a collaborative altered book project. Since then the idea has become a circle journal with a group of about 15 gals making and sending their journals around the group each with a distinct theme.
I was [...]

Clean = Inviting

Inviting and refreshing, that is how the art studio feels when it is clean. As we wrap up the school year, I have had very little free time to express myself creatively. To hinder me further, piles were accumulating and swallowing up my work spaces. Today I tackled the studio and won the match. Creativity [...]

A Handmade Life

Issue 4, Creative Community, is available.

Robin at Alchemy Studios puts out an inspirational zine, A Handmade Life, and she was so gracious to include some art and writing by moi. Other contributors besides Robin herself include Patricia Mosca, Dawn Rice, and Jim Dubois. Check it out, folks. And thank you, Robin.!
amanda ∞

Artfest

Artfest caused yet another shift within me. Surrounded by such beauty and so many others who think in ways similar to me, I felt that if I did have a place I fit on this earth, I had found it. I have never felt more comfortable around so many people I’d just met. Just being [...]

My daughter, the teacher

While I was away at Artfest filling my head with creative things, my daughter became the teacher for the art journaling class at VERONICA’s Voice. She did a wonderful job leading and teaching and guiding.  Here’s the mosaic collage technique she demonstrated that day:
She sketched out the tree for placement, then added the color. [...]

Round Robin Art Journal Invitation

I’d like to invite you all to join in on a Round Robin Art Journal. The theme will be Bible verses. My friend, Sheri, over at Blendedcolors is organizing the fun. If you’d like to join us, contact me at espressivo at sbcglobal dot net.
amanda ∞

Shift -ed

Towards the end of 2008, I felt anticipation, intuitively knowing that something was about to change. I found myself making concrete goals, taking affirmative action, becoming that artist I’ve been telling myself I am. My journal pages reflected this.

I do owe much of it to this book:
But something pushed me, prompted me to purchase the [...]

Art Journal Class

Today I was teacher to a group of women that have much to express. I had the opportunity to lead an art journaling class at VERONICA’s Voice. The enthusiasm was contagious as they set to work on their journals, personalizing and claiming them as their own private place for self expression. Profound and deep thoughts, [...]

Ringing in the New Year

I’ve really enjoyed this break from school and have spent much time in my art studio working on surprises for those who Chipped In. I’ll be sure to post photos after the recipients have received them. ‘Twill be just a bit longer as I finish up the details.
I’m so thrilled to report that the fundraising [...]

Journal pages & AEDM

Fly: I didn’t add much after all. It just seemed to speak this way. I just added more color to the tree and journaled in pencil.

Experimentation and Friendship sermon notes: On these pages, I was experimenting with how markers and water soluble crayons interacted. No wow factor, just learning. The sermon on friendship today was [...]

Here

I am here. And I am sort of not. Little things are slipping through the cracks, like laundry. Small steps are good, because there is movement.
Sermon notes from Sunday + journaling:

Page in progress:

I’m in a Tim Burton mood. We’ll see where that mood takes me with this page.
amanda ∞

Fighting it

It’s that time of year again for me. I’ve been arming myself in the battle against Seasonal Affective Disorder. Although I have not become depressed, I can feel it grabbing my brain and pulling in different directions. It has been difficult for me to focus and get normal activities done. I also feel myself withdrawing [...]

Grace

To kick off Art Every Day Month, I did a thorough cleaning of my art studio and the rest of the house. Some clutter had been giving me a total mental block. Now that the space is fresh and clean again, I am drawn to the room.
For Art Every Day Month, I am applying some [...]

the big draw day 6 & 7

Day 6: nail clippers, barrettes and hair band

Day 7: okra seed pod

My quiet weekend is over. A new school week has begun. I am glad to be able to fit in even the smallest of drawings. And did you know that okra grew pointing up on the plant? I always imagined it hanging down. I [...]