• • J O U R N E Y S • •

Exploration

2006-09-01T10:23:00.000-04:00

The book is in the back seat of my car...I keep forgetting to stop at the post office!

I'll pass it on to Sylvia ASAP.

I hope everyone is doing well. I can't wait to see more books. I almost hate passing them on because I love to look at everyone's creations and let my imagination fly.

It's funny how the themes always seem to be what I need to reflect on at that time.

Exploration - explore new things

2006-07-17T08:34:00.000-04:00

I was a mess. I started to panic that my style(s) throughout this book do not match. Being an artist means having a style. And in this book, each of my entries are so varied. But after pacing my dining room for about 30 minutes trying to figure it all out in my head, I decided that being an artist is about making art. It does not mean that every piece should always flow. Sometimes the messy, inconsistencies that occur along the way are good. And that is what this book is about. It is not an art book that is meant to have the same flavor. It is a book of exploration. So I just decided to go with it, and let new things fall onto the page.

Spirited Away!

2006-06-04T09:16:00.000-04:00

This is my contribution to Leeza's Spirit book. I have to say that I was so nervous about working directly on the pages without a plan that I just let the book sit and sit for weeks. I didn't want to ruin it! When I finally sat down to do the pages, I centered myself by remembering how energizing it was to work spontaneously on the mixed media pieces I did for the Inspire Me Thursday's Senseless Art and Five Senses challenges. So I just let go of any expectations and went the flow of my impulses and energy.

I gessoed the pages and stamped in texture, chose colors that appealed to my mood and rubbed them in with my fingers, sponged them around, removed areas of color with alcohol, collaged the horse (from a print of this study), scribbled with water soluble pastels...adding and subtracting until I felt like I was finished. Although I made a huge mess all over my work table, I thoroughly enjoyed the process... and I even like the product.

Engines.. late but finished!

2006-05-25T08:24:00.000-04:00

So sorry if I'm the holder-upper! I'm sending the Engines book to Sylvia today.
I don't know how it developed because it just came out, but I think it's ok.
I hope everyone is doing well. :)

Dandelion Cookies

2006-05-20T08:27:00.000-04:00

This is the recipe I mentioned in my comment on Beth's post below. I got it from Whimspiration who says they're delicious.

Simple Dandelion Flower Cookies

Ingredients:
4 cups vegetable oil
4 cups honey
8 eggs
4 tsp. vanilla extract
4 cups unbleached flour
4 cups dry oatmeal
2 cups dandelion flowers.

1) Preheat the oven to 375.
2) Mix the oil and honey and then beat in the eggs and vanilla.
3) Remove the yellow flower parts from the green parts (compost the green parts).
4) Stir in the flour, oatmeal, and dandelion flowers.
5) Drop the batter by tablespoonfuls onto oiled cookie sheets.
6) Bake for 10-15 minutes.
7) Let cool

This recipe is easily modifiable to make more or less cookies, and to add different flavors. Add cinnamon for a dash of spice, a bit of ginger for a kick, or even a bit of citrus zest for a sunnier flavor.

When removing the yellow parts from the green, we put the yellows in a jar of water to prevent wilting while we get them all separated. Strain & drain the yellow bits, and save the water for making tea to get the most possible benefit from the flowers.

Observations - The Lesson of the Dandelion

2006-05-16T11:04:00.000-04:00

My yard is full of dandelions. Lots of them. Despite my relentless efforts to rid the grass of these through organic anti-weed fertilizers, and painstakingly pulling them out by the roots one by one... they keep coming back. And multiplying. And now they've turned into their white puffy alter-egos and are taunting me even more as I cringe at the fact that each little seed that is lifted into the air is destined to plant itself and grow another.

Finally, I've decided to accept the fact that they share the yard with me, and let them be. Me and the dandies in harmony together.

Dandelions have always fascinated me. I remember playing in the school yard during the cherished recess break, popping the yellow tops off and using it's pigment to draw on the sidewalk. By the end of the hour, the cement was covered with little yellow hearts and stars. Some of the other kids would taunt each other with sayings of "Mama had a baby and it's head popped off" as they would flick the yellow dandelion head off into the air with their thumb. I never partaked in that. I just liked to draw with them, and stain my fingers with the yellow weed. Then one day I'd go outside and the yellow was gone and replaced by white poofs. My friends and I would make wishes and blow the little seeds into the air. They'd dance in the sky until they floated into the grass and disappeared.

This little weed made me think. Dandelions, like other weeds, flowers, trees and any living growing thing, change. They grow and transform themselves. Just like people. But underneath, it really is all the same. It is just in the appearance.

I've enjoyed the past few months, looking out my windows and seeing everything change. The tree that stands outside turned from a brown skeleton into being thriving & lush green. I no longer have the same view out my window, as I no longer see the house across the street, now I see leaf covered branches.

The dandelions have taught me to relax and not try to make everything perfect. To sit back and enjoy things, instead of seeing them as a burden. Everything the last few weeks has been focused around observing change, and accepting change and learning to let certain things be.

Thank you dandelions.

Bye Bye Balloon!

2006-04-29T22:17:00.000-04:00

Dear Hannah and Emma,

Sylvia sent me four jars that contained pretty yellow things...a fat bee, a little chick, half a lemon, and a balloon. Well, the bee and the chick got away, I ate the lemon, and then decided to set the balloon free. I wonder where it will go? Maybe a little bird will tell you!

Have fun,

Carla

Discovery from Elaine

2006-04-20T20:31:00.000-04:00

The Flow of Energy

2006-04-09T07:19:00.000-04:00

What a crazy month it's been! I was very happy to have the extension on the March book. I put the finishing touches on my drawing yesterday morning, but unfortunately missed getting to the post office on time. Dennis - I promise it will go out Monday the fastest way possible that doesn't entail having to sign for it.

This month I had Debbie's Energy as Movement book. I was really captivated by her concept description, especially when she wrote of how, as a martial artist, she is able to control and focus her energy for specific outcomes. I found that concept very intriguing, because energy is something I constantly struggle with. It was for that reason I also used the drawing for the March book for this week's Illustration Friday's topic, Speed. I wrote about it in my IF post:

Sometimes the energy of the universe seems to move around and through me with incredible speed. My senses become overloaded between processing the information I need to function in the practical world, and channeling the inspiration I need to create art. But when I can still myself and just let this energy flow, it's exhilaratingly beautiful.

I know that we will all illustrate this book, but I'm curious to read what you have to say on the topic of Energy as Movement. In fact, I'd love it if we shared our thoughts about each illustration we do for the various books - not just how we created the art, but what kind of conceptual process and meaning is attached to each work.

Elaine's exploration post

2006-03-22T17:19:00.000-05:00

A productive weekend

2006-03-13T13:29:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone, it was such a rainy day on Sunday, I had the luxury of staying home, in my pyjamas, and working on Elaine's Observations book. I had tried earlier in the week to create something, but it wasn't flowing AT ALL!. The colors were muddy and the composition was awkward. I got really mad and ended up painting over the entire thing and starting again. I had tried to work with some different colours in an attempt to vary up my work, but I failed miserably and fell back into my comfort zone. This piece signifies the move we made a year ago this month and how - since moving - I have elolved as an artist. Observing nature and all its elements throughout the past year have inspired me considerably and I see it in my work. I am in a happy place.

Still exploring, month two!

2006-03-08T13:07:00.000-05:00

Well, I think I'm getting into the groove of this. Now if I can tackle March's book and get it out early, will that be enough to redeem myself?

[click for larger views]

Here we see what Hannah and Emma found as they explored the night. They got this idea when they found Carla's book and saw the night time scene. They decided that they could discover some pretty cool stuff, and I think they just might have.

I just need to apply some photo corners to the pictures and then I'll be ready to send it off!

ONE MORE THING:
I just thought I'd include a picture I took of my first month entry. It doesn't look as good as the scan for this month, but I thought you might like to see what it looked like when I finished it.

Inspiration

2006-03-07T13:51:00.000-05:00

No, this is not my entry for the yellow cadmium balloon, I won't Beth's book for a while ... but I was browsing through Corbis looking for an image for a book cover I am working on and I saw this. Isn't it dreamy? The concept is "Sway" and it's by Takamura Megumi. Then I checked out some more works. They are so simple but so adorable. if you got to www.corbis.com and search for "Takamura Megumi illustration." Wonderful!

PS: I posted this beacause I thought it was relevant .. you know ... with the yellow balloon ....

Work Photo

2006-03-05T00:03:00.000-05:00

Well, since I've not posted any of my Journeys art so far, I though that maybe I'd post an image of me working, at least.

That handsome fellow with no shirt on isn't me, but is my son "Kaid Fin". He decided to do some painting with me, which was really nice. We don't do this enough, but at least Journeys created an opportunity for us to paint together.

Um no, I don't really do well with tidy work areas. It's just my style, or lack of discipline, I dunno. Dennis might remember my junkyard desk from the ancient "Webiness" days.

Anyway, these are the copper covers to my book, which have some additional painting on them. Actually, when I get my covers back, I'd like to work on them some more, and finish them up.

The wheels keep on turning

2006-02-27T15:57:00.000-05:00

I had Daniel's "Engine" book this month and it was tougher than I originally thought it was going to be. I had visions of cog wheels in my head and I knew my heart was my engine with my hands as tools and eyes as my flashlights to see the world around me, but I couldn't quite fathom how to put it all into an illustration. I liked the idea of the wheels and the notion of a machine, but I didn't want to be that rigid, sharp-edges-type of a machine. It had to be more fluid, with freedom of movement and energy that could change shape or action according to my moods. That's where the puppet idea came from, the wheel-cogs cranking on the left represent the way I operate on the inside (sometimes fast — sometimes slow). I'm not much of an engineer, but they sort of turn for real. I had tried to attach a band between the top wheel and the puppet mechanism, so that if you turned the bottom wheel it would swing the puppet around etc. It got too complicated and I feared it would make it harder for the next artist to work on her page, so I simplified it down and made it more symbolic. The body parts on the puppet move, though. It was a fun piece to work on and a true test of my patience ...

And the spirit goes on.

2006-02-27T13:16:00.000-05:00

Acrylic & Ink

Detail View

February, for me, was the month of the "Spirit Book". The idea is to clear your mind and allow yourself to create whatever comes to you, without thinking or planning in advance.

This was a bit scary, but after I allowed myself to relax and clear my mind, it all came naturally. It took a little trust in myself, but I got there.

I started by cutting 7 oval shapes from card stock and glueing them onto the pages. Then I painted in layers, building up texture over everything. Then I started very freely drawing shapes and objects all over the page. Everything from a ladder to a pear to a dress. The colors are a mixture of a blue-green background, topped with accents of peach & yellow with red line work.

I'm not going to analyze it or pretend that it has any deep hidden meanings. It is simply a reflection of what I was feeling on that particular day. If I were to do this same exercise on a different day, I believe it would have a different color palette, a different layout & different objects.

This painting is a snapshot of one small moment in time.

Can't wait to see what everyone else creates for this because it is such a honest & freeing topic.

Ready for March!

2006-02-25T20:25:00.000-05:00

The above illustration is acrylic, collage, and marker on paper. It is the piece I did for the February pages of Sylvia's Subconscious Dreamscapes book which Dennis now has. About half way through, I realized that the collaged grass at the bottom was too thick to go into the book, so I made a print and then colored in the flowers and the leaves, and all the other little embellishments. I also ended up cutting it in half so it would fit nicely on the two pages. I was pleased with the end result!

So how does this fit in with Sylvia's topic? I posted this piece on by blog with a narrative about how connecting the blissful moments in life helps me realize happiness. Whenever I dream of peace and contentment, it is either set by the sea or in the country on a warm, breezy summer's day. I created this mixed media piece with those ideas in mind. After I mailed the book to Dennis, I finished the original, and it will be among seven pieces I'm exhibiting at a gallery show in March called "About the Earth."

I am really incredibly energized by this project. I find it challenging to respond to another person's art and vision, but it is also tremendously inspirational. I feel my mind opening up to new ideas and new approaches to creating art, and that's exactly what I was hoping for from the start. I'm really looking forward to getting Debbie's book soon!

Traffic Jam

2006-02-24T13:07:00.000-05:00

Dang! Am I the source of the biggest traffic jam in our group? It looks that way.

I just sent my book off to Elaine (sorry that it was so late, I'll do better!) and I've been holding onto Carla's book from the first month that I've got to get a move on, and yesterday I received Sylvia's book in the mail (from Carla) too! So now I have two books that I really want to get done quickly so that I'm not holding anyone up anymore. Especially anyone who's expecting a baby. Fortunately, the book I received yesterday is actually March's book, so I have time if I want it. I have to give kudos to Carla for being so punctual.

So, why aren't we seeing more posts from participants? I'd love to see scans of people's work or commentaries about their expriences. I really think that discussion about the artistic directions that we're taking would be very helpful when I get someone else's book. Is anyone else struggling? Does anyone else suddenly have a ton of freelance work that's zapping all of their personal project time?

Well, I'd better get a move on!

Month Two

2006-02-15T18:51:00.000-05:00

I know almost everyone has the next book in the rotation now. I have Daniel's Engine book and twice I have sat down to work on it and twice so far, I have failed to come up with something. TUH! I am trying to get away from the mechanical notion of Engine. I try to think of my engine and think about it in a less cog-like manner. But that's what I keep seeing: cogs ... and lots of them.

My engine is my heart, my soul, my passion - those are what drive me to create art - my eyes are my flashlights to the worlds I encounter around me and my hands the tools to create what comes from my engine. Spirit is my fuel.

Hmmm, maybe I just answered my problem. Guess it's good to talk ...

How's everyone coming along?

Feel free to add more posts, there are still a few folks yet to add to the blog. That's okay, but if you are having probs or don;t have access, go ahead and send your images and text to me and I will happily post through the administration site on your behalf. You all have my e-mail.

Thanks, I look forward to seeing more notes!
Leeza

Observations 1 & 2

2006-02-07T13:31:00.000-05:00

Sorry I haven't written sooner about this. I just wanted to get across those little moments when something really strikes you as beautiful. The week I drew this I had just connected with my baby in a whole different color. I finally saw things and met this person who is growing week by week. Trees are significant to me in so many ways, I guess you will see that the journals progress. Thank you for all of your comments, it is very inspiring seeing all of your work and words.

Setting Out

2006-02-02T12:42:00.000-05:00

Today we, the intrepid explorers Hannah and Emma, set off from our home on a year-long journey to explore the world and all it’s sights, sounds and books. Our first stop is Pacific City, Oregon. What better place to start than at the edge of the Earth close to the unknown depths of the ocean?

First thing I need to do is check out my equipment. Yep, my camera works! Sorry for the extreme close up… can you see my brain?

Next thing, let’s explore where we are. Look! A crab! Hmmm. Where did Emma go? She doesn't seem to like creepy-crawlies but I think he's cute.

Well, here we are—at the edge of the world. That's Emma on the left with the binoculars and me on the right with my camera. What will we find? Who will follow behind us and what will they think of everything? Only time will tell!
—Hannah

The Cadmium Yellow Balloon: Page One

2006-02-01T20:15:00.000-05:00

Page One - Acrylic & Graphite

Detail View

Since Miss Leeza likes surprises, I decided to only show half of my page spread.

Normally I go over my pencil lines with ink, but this time I decided to leave it as is. To have the softer lines of graphite be exposed and not cover it up. I was attracted to the texture that showed through these lines. The color palette evolved from the apricot-orange background color... it was the first color that I mixed and then the other colors came after that.

After the painting was done, everything was sealed with a Gloss Medium/Varnish so that none of the colors would smudge through the multiple mailings this book will undergo.

It was sent off to New Jersey on Monday, so Debbie should have it soon! How is everyone else doing?

Turning life upside down?

2006-02-01T14:21:00.000-05:00

So here are my covers and first inside spread of Journeys: Spirit.

The idea with this book is to sit, close your eyes for 10 minutes, empty your mind and then let your inner self do the drawing, painting whatever. I started with laying down all the backgrounds and it came really easily. I didn't think about it all. I went with the flow. Everything felt right. Which surprised me because I always approach my work with planning or numerous sketches. I thought having an open brief like this was going to be a big challenge. I guess the mood was right.

Then I put it away ... because ... that's what I felt I should do. I didn't argue with myself. Just follwed instinct. When I came back to it, I started with the inside pages. I sat at my table, background painted in front of me and closed my eyes, pencil in hand and waited. And waited. Then I held the pencil to the page and drew. The marks of the arms came first, followed by head, body, then the lotus and match and before I knew it I had a complete outline of an image before me. It's a bizarre feeling, but a cool one, to make marks on a page and not know what it is going to become until it happens right before your eyes.

So, I approached the covers in the same way and it all came together. I like how the cover image continues on to the back.
My cover letter is J and the back letter is S.

Looking back at the work, I see the symbolism. The character (Yes, I guess it's me) is upside down. I think it's to do with the way I look at life and the world around me. From a different angle. Always searching for something different. The lotus flower is to do with happiness and peace ... for me: finding my happy place. the style/technique I used is a mixture of acryllic, pen, graphite, collage and linseed oil - and is a very good indicator to the way my working style is evolving as an illustrator.

It is a good day. Hope you like.

Book Crossing

2006-01-30T21:03:00.001-05:00

I sent the Discovery book to Dennis today, and when I returned home I found Sylvia's Subconscious Dreamscapes in my maibox. I can't even begin to describe the thrill I felt...it's happening! It's like all kinds of creative energy is being released. Can you feel it?

My first page (of the Discovery book) is dedicated to day and night and discovering ways to tap into the sensations and emotions they evoke in me. Both pieces are done with markers and collage.

The Cadmium Yellow Balloon: Book Cover

2006-01-30T20:58:00.000-05:00

The screen all taped up and ready to go.

The finished front cover.

My cover is composed of 4 main layers. First I added two additional coats of white gesso to the already primed surface. Secondly I added slight texture and color with acrylic paint & a tiny bit of newspaper. Next I burned a screen with my type and silkscreened the yellow type. Lastly, I created a stencil by cutting the letter "O" out of plastic film with an exacto. I then painted in the "O" with several washes of acrylic and topped with a wash of interference green paint (titanium coated mica flakes- sounds fancy) to give it a bit of illumination.

Since the 8 books are to spell the word "JOURNEYS" when they are all lined up, I wanted my letter "O" to read well. I kept the contrast between the background color and the yellow type to a minimum, wanting the type to act more as a textural element than as an instant readable book title. The "O" was painted over this in washes to let some of the underlying colors, texture and letter shapes show through.

I left out actual imagery (people, places, the balloon, etc.) because since the story is yet to be written, I don't have any concrete visuals on what the story as a whole looks like. I'll leave that to unfold within the book itself.

The font used is Gurnsey.

Sent!

2006-01-30T14:22:00.000-05:00

my scanner didn't really get the colors right, but you can get the idea still :)

I sent my book to Sylvia and I can't wait to receive the next one :)

Before and After

2006-01-28T10:16:00.000-05:00

As promised, I am reposting the "before" version of my cover...

...and the "after" version:

This one was done on watercolor paper. I printed the sun from a digital file and the drew the rest with micron pen and prismacolor markers. The biggest problem I had with the cover - in all its incarnations - was working with the canvas board. Paint is not my strong suit, so every attempt I made ended up in the bin. I finally decided to work with what I'm most comfortable, but I'm still not 100% happy with attaching paper on top of the canvas board. Anyway...the things I'm learning are all part of the journey, right?

Did I goof it up ... twice?

2006-01-27T12:23:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,

I think there may be some confusion on a couple of things.

A) I thought when I sent the letter (or could've been the e-mail) that I asked us all not to work on the inside covers, but if you have, please don't panic or jump in and redo them. I can find another way to put the books together at the end. I left the covers loose so that it would be easier to work on the inside pages and then I was going to put the books together when they came back to me at the end of the year.

I'm sorry if I didn't explain this well enough. But PLEASE don't create more work for yourself, there's other ways to bind the book - leave your beautiful work as it is.

B) The one time I should have been thinking backwards and didn't was on the table with the monthly schedule on it.
When you send your book to the next artist each month you will be sending it to the same person each time. The book J goes to O; O goes to U; U goes to R and so on. The point of the table for the year was really to see who had which book and when. Of course, I got the rotation back to front, so below is the new table. Sorry, my bad!

Cover for the Discovery Book

2006-01-24T21:09:00.000-05:00

Okay...I've taken the cover art down because I've changed it... The concept is the same, but I did it differently. And with that said, I guess I'll keep it a surprise as well. I can't wait to see the next book in February!

JOURNEYS: SPIRIT

2006-01-20T17:03:00.000-05:00

"A dark sky
Purple hues
Flashes of white light
A vortex
A void
The unknown
A galaxy rich with opportunity

This is my life

I wish to let spirit carry me on a new and exciting adventure
To discover me, discover the true essence of myself, my art

I see a path

Collage is my medium
Type is my texture
A dash of paint
A splash of happiness
My mind knows no bounds

Spontaneity is what I wish for my book
Switch off
Let your mind go
… and allow spirit to lead the way"

The illustration is not from my entry to Journeys but I liked the idea of space. I admit I am having trouble letting go, too, like Carla, I'm anxious, worried of crapping it up and failing to produce something worthy of my beautiful 'blank' book, and time is running out ..........

Sketches

2006-01-15T19:36:00.000-05:00

1st sketches for the back and front cover:

Welcome to my book: A story of "The Cadmium Yellow Balloon"

2006-01-14T22:07:00.000-05:00

The criteria for this project was that we each had to come up with a theme for a book that related to the main theme "journeys" and that could be added onto by each member of the project. I thought that it would be fun to create an adventure in collaborative storytelling. A story that has no pre-determined ending... a story that changes direction each month as each artist adds his or her own personal twist.

I knew right away that I wanted there to be one visual element that was consistent throughout the book. An element that could appear in each entry, in some way shape or form. To do this properly, the element had to be kept to a minimum. Something that could easily be drawn by everyone. A person or animal would not work, simply for the fact that I did not want to put pressure on the other artists to have this character look consistent throughout the book. I wanted each artist to keep their own personal style for their part. So it had to be an inanimate object that was simple in design that could be recognizable in any style or medium.

This inanimate object that was forming in my mind needed to be something that could travel. That could have an adventure. One thought led to another and the idea of a balloon came to mind. What if there was this balloon, with a message inside, that journeyed across the earth? Where would it travel? Would it have a mission? A purpose? Would it travel high above the Cascades? Would it float inside of a building? Would it fall down into Central Park and be pecked at by the pigeons? What would it endure? And in the end... how does the balloon finally break? What does the message inside read? Each artist will add onto the story, telling us where the balloon ventured. The final page spread of the book will reveal where the balloon ultimately ends up, and if it is broken, what the message says.

I realize that my book is more light-hearted than some other themes. It is also different in that it is the only one that really tells one story with each entry building on the last. But while this is one continuous story with the same main subject, I want it to reveal each artist's own personal life story. A balloon can be fragile, just like people. A balloon floating in the sky can easily change its path, just like our own lives. One minute you are simply floating along, and suddenly stormy weather can disrupt your life. Or the winds change and you find yourself in a whole new direction. Life is uncertain. Just like the trip of a balloon. Make the balloon your own. Draw from your own personal experience. Maybe it is as simple as seeing a place you've never seen (or want to see again), or doing something you've always wanted to do (or have done). Let the balloon show us that. Or maybe it is something deeper, something more.

The concept of The Cadmium Yellow Balloon is based on a real life experience I had as a child. One sunny day half way through elementary school, my classmates and I had an assignment where we all wrote down messages onto tiny pieces of paper. We did not share our messages with anybody else; they were our own personal words. After writing out our words, we placed them inside of balloons, inflated them and walked outside to let them go all at once. It was an interesting feeling to let my thoughts go. To let them float away from me. I remember staring up at the sky that day, filled with big fluffy cumulus clouds and wondering where my balloon went. How far did it travel? What did it pass by on its journey? When did it pop? Where did my message fall? Did anyone find it and read it? I wished that I could follow my balloon that day. To hold onto to the string and float high above the houses and across the town. And then to one day, when I was all grown up, to recall this magical experience and write a book about my journey that day.

Journeys: About this project

2006-01-12T11:04:00.000-05:00

Good morning,

I'm Leeza. I was inspired to create a travelling book project by another team of four artists that I had seen featured on Drawn! (www.drawn.ca) Their book was one that travelled back and forth between the Atlantic. (Ireland and the USA - check out www.lookatbook.com). I thought, "what a cool idea" and wondered if any of my art friends would be interested in doing something with me of a simialr nature.

HAH!

Before I knew it, I had generated a team of 8 artists including me to put together not one, but 8 books, (how else could we all keep a momento of the project?) and voila! the Journeys project has begun.

I wanted the 12-month project to be about personal development, teamwork, creative growth and a form of discovery - a journey within a journey within a journey that would then journey from the East Coast, to Chicago, to the west coast, to Arizona, to PA and back again.

The project is now in full swing and by the end of this month, we each have to complete the front cover and the first inside spread of the book. When we are done, we send the book to the next artist on the list . At the same time, we receive another book from the previous artist ready to work on spread number two of that book and so on .... keeping up?

Now what are we to paint? Draw? Collage? In each of the books?

Well, each book has a sub theme, which was submitted by each of the artists:

• Spirit
• The Cadmium Yellow Balloon
• Energy as Movement
• Subconcious Dreamscapes
• Discovery
• Exploration
• Observations and
• Engine

Each artist invites the others to explore their theme in their book continuing from the artwork that appears before it. A journey of art, if you will. Some of the themes are abstract while others evolve a story.

I was so excited to see each of the subjects. I know how differently we all view the world and perceive these subjects, so it will be interesting to see the artwork as a result.

I would like to thank each of the particpants: Elaine, Beth, Carla, Dennis, Daniel, Sylvia and Debbie for joining me on the Journeys project. With any luck at the end of the year, we will be able to celebrate with an exhibit and party for all the world to see.

Stay tuned for more .... and see where our travels lead us ....

Anticipation and Preparation

2006-01-10T21:27:00.000-05:00

Ah...what can I say...I was so thrilled to receive the package from Leeza...I sat right down and opened it, went through all the wonderful handouts and instructions, but was afraid to touch...the book! It looks so perfect, so clean, so full of promise. The covers are canvas boards! My goodness - I haven't really painted in eons. I am not going to say that I will never print and attach, because a lot of my work is mixed media...pen, marker, colored pencil, collage, photoshop...but the covers call for paint. So I've been playing around to reacquaint myself with the feeling of paint before I annoint the book. Compared to my trusty micron pens, it's wild and slippery, messy and fun. I had forgotten how much fun it is! I am sharing the first couple of layers of one experiment. I played with acrylic glazes using a brush and then a sponge. I ripped tissue paper and attached it with some lightly pigmented gel. I'm just trying things out...kind of training for my climb up Everest...all the while letting the ideas come into my mind.

Started my cover!

2006-01-10T09:11:00.000-05:00

I received my package last week and let me say I was so happy and very excited about the whole thing. I cannot wait to see everyone's work. I started sketches for my cover and can't wait to dig in!
I wish everyone good luck :)

Tabula Rasa

2006-01-08T18:30:00.000-05:00

Tabula Rasa, Latin for "scraped tablet", is often used to describe something that is a blank slate. Right now a blank slate is staring me right in the face, taunting me, enticing me, getting the wheels in my mind turning.

I received my well-thought out, concise project package from Leeza the other evening. Everything was just as I suspected from her. Every detail was covered and great care and love went into organizing this.

For as excited as I am about getting started, there is a small part of me that is hesitant. These are real books, being passed around to real artists, with real artwork inside. What if I create something that is terrible? There is no Open Apple-Z on my keyboard. I can't hide it away in my basement or throw it in the garbage. I can't rip out any pages. I can't paint over it (well maybe I can...). This means that I have to have trust in myself and just push through and create artwork that comes to me intuitively. For a while, I used the computer to layout my artwork, change colors, create vector art and so on. While some of my illustrations are still created on my trusty Macintosh, I find myself moving away from that and creating more things by hand. Somehow art created this way seems sexier & more honest. It is in that rawness that a piece comes to life. This project is the perfect in the fact that it will grow & evolve over the course of the year and embody all the things that excite me in the process of creating art.

It was back at the end of summer, that I was invited to do this project, Journeys. Now the time to begin has finally come. Looking ahead I see a year filled with great growth, trust, discovery, and as the name suggests- a journey. A true story of eight strangers, picked to live in a house and have their lives taped... oh wait, that is The Real World. (I knew it sounded all too familiar.) This here is a true story of eight people, both friends and strangers, picked to spend a year of their lives working on a collaborative project to learn about building relationships, creating new visions in art, learning about themselves and the world around them, and much, much, much more.

Now it is time to get some color onto these stark white book covers!

Package Arrives

2006-01-06T19:30:00.000-05:00

Well, I recieved Leeza's splendid package, for Journeys.

Immediately, my expectations have been taken up a knotch, with the incredible level of detail with all of the "parts"; the little booklet, the cover letter, the high-quality book elements, the bookmark, etc... it all just makes this project more inviting, interesting, and "special". (And hey, I'm not the kind of guy that says "special" very often without smirking.)

I was just really impressed.

Personally, I've been moving more and more towards being a fully digital artist the last couple of years, so I'm a little nervous about Journeys. I want this book to be a piece of art, so there's no way that I'm going to do some digital work, and just glue it over those fine watercolor pages.

Nope. Not gonna happen.

SO, I'm going to pull out my gouache paints, and see what I can do with more "traditional" media. But that makes me a little nervous... I love the speed, flexiblility, editability of digital art... I'll have no undo. I won't be able to revert. No saving different versions here and there. It's going to take longer. I'm gonna have to roll with the punches, pick up a real pencil again, and get the brush wet.

Interestingly, these are also the exact reasons I'm also so excited about this project.

Daniel
www.steamcrow.com

The Journey Begins

2005-12-12T21:16:00.000-05:00

What is about to unfold for eight unique artists during the twelve months of 2006 is a path unknown. Will it be surprising? Enlightening? Painful? Gratifying? Frustrating? Fullfilling? Or all of the above?

Follow Beth Berst, Daniel Davis, Leeza Hernandez, Carla Kurt, Elaine Melko, Sylvia Stambauch, Debbie Weber and Dennis West on their Journey in a project created to inspire and unite other artists throughout the nation and across the globe.