Diana Trout's blog

Coloring Books: Share the Love

Coloring Book Page by Susan Cohen

Last week I facilitated a Coloring Book program at my local library and it was a huge success. Around 30 folks joined in the fun. I want to share how things went and what I brought along. Maybe you'll call your local library and volunteer your services.

I brought a variety of coloring materials: colored pencils, spectrum noir markers, regular markers of every type, gel pens, colored pens. I put a set of each type of media in a cup. AC Moore had coloring books for 5 bucks each I grabbed a couple of those.

I cut the pages from the coloring books and as everyone was coming in they were invited to choose a page and a media. 

Lots of people were very timid, wondering which media and page were best for beginners. Some folks had arthritis and I was glad to have the large markers for them. My facilitation was really just to encourage a relaxed attitude and give permission. 

This little cutie pie needed no permission (she snuck in with her mom and aunt ;) and was an excellent example. Later in the class, I walked Susan's coloring (see the first photo) around and pointed out the different media she was mixing. It was important to show that Susan was not being "SUPER CAREFUL" and even went outside the lines now and then.

It was a fantastic evening. Everyone left feeling empowered about their ability to make a little art. You may be able to scrounge up the materials. I am wondering if your local library and art center could partner up to help you pull off a program. Talk to them. Make some community.

Journal Flip & Molotow Masking Pen

I flipped through some old journals yesterday from 2009. 

Isn't that funny! It really cracked me up. And so does this one: 

Over the years, my critic (Stewie) has really taken on a full personality and is sympathetic in a way. Surprising. But really. Look at this guy! I also stumbled across some flowers that have been an obsession for a long time. I dreamed of a field of them once. They are Chiming Bell flowers and make lovely music! 

I played with the Molotow Masking pen in this video. I am enjoying this pen. It's a very easy way to mask with much less mess than the liquid frisket. Here's the video. 

Here are some of the supplies I used (affiliate links). I'll try to keep up over here but am working on another Curious class. It looks like I need to have another surgery and so am trying to meet that deadline. Thanks for all your support gang. You folks are the best.

 

First Friday (on Monday: Shannon Green

Hey gang, I'm so pleased to introduce you to Shannon Green. She's quite the YouTube star and many of you have likely found her. I just fell in love with her Texas drawl, humorous observations and willingness to make art from just about anything just about anywhere. She came up with a journaling system called Journaling by 5's that's just awesome! (Video is linked below). Here's Shannon.

***

Back in January I was watching some art journaling videos on YouTube. I’ve been a paper crafter for as long as I can remember and although I do like to dabble in other areas. paper will always be my first love. I watched one of Diana videos where she used a composition book in a way I’d never seen before. She simply did what she wanted on random pages for no good reason. She wasn’t trying to create an art journal page or a themed book, she was just making marks and gluing down images that made her happy. This spoke to my soul. 

A few minutes after watching Diana’s video I watched a few of Rae Missigman’s 15 Minutes of Mixed Media videos. My brain sort of meshed Diana’s freestyle composition book journal with Rae’s 15 minute pages and that’s how Journaling By 5s was born. It’s a simple process but can have profound results, especially for those who have trouble facing a blank page or who are intimidated by their inner critic. 

Journaling By 5s is not about the end result, it’s about the process. At the end of the 75 minute process you will have a 20 page journal that you might consider complete but it’s more likely that you will have 20 pages that you are dying to continue working on! 

Here's the formula for Journal by 5's

5 sessions
10 different media options, 2 per session
15 minutes per session
20 pages

Session 1-Background
Session 2-Texture
Session 3-Pattern
Session 4-Focal Point
Session 5-Details

Each session is a basic element of an art journal page. Breaking them down can help to demystify the process for some left brain creatives. You’ll be surprised what your creative instincts can accomplish if you get out of the way and let them!  

JB5 blog post

JB5 facebook group

Thanks so much for joining us today, Shannon! You are inspiring. Let's get back to Journaling (by 5's) or anyway that keeps those creative muscles pumping.

Jump in Journal, Ephemera

Those pictures, scraps of papers, wine bottle labels,  scrapbook papers, junk mail, small paper bag that says "True Value." The stickers, old books and maps, old doodles or scraps from projects. 

Ephemera: things that exist or are used or enjoyed for only a short time.

• items of collectible memorabilia, typically written or printed ones, that were originally expected to have only short-term usefulness or popularity.

What to do with it all? Take a handful, cut it up, trim it down, punch shapes from it or run it through your die cut machine and USE it. 

Enjoy it. This is a long weekend for those of us State-side. I'll probably not be partying and singing the Star Spangled Banner the entire time. Hopefully the tendonitis in my hand gets better enough to cut/write/draw. But anyhow, let's get cracking on our stashes! 

I got some very fine stickers to add to my stash over at Scrapbook.com (no affiliation). Make your own paper ephemera kit and store it with your journal stuff. I used some Avery Elle packets to organize. I use them for clear stamp storage. Little sandwich bags would work just as well. So would a paper clip. 

Jump in with me. Have a great weekend everyone. I'll be sipping Apricot Sangria come the Fourth! 

"Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun."
Picasso

Writers Gotta Write

Who needs something else to do? I thought so. But how often do you get sucked in anyway? Yep. Me too. 

YouTube is killing me, man. I've got a case of sticker envy after watching The Reset Girl's video and browsing through her online shop. She's got a challenge called Listers Gotta List. I'm not a lister but I do love to write!

After watching her video, I remembered that I know how to bind books! Despite the array of books that I already have, I was up in the studio late last night binding.

So, I'm going to give it a turn and see if I can get some writing done. The first prompt was Why Do You Love to List? Well, I don't love to list so I'll be answering that question in a way that might make me think a little bit. In fact, lists scare me a little. Do I have to accomplish all of those things? Aaaaaack! 

As far as stickers go, I do have stamps, avery labels and punches so ... stickers. 

So Happy Monday all. As usual, your thoughts and teasing will be full appreciated. 

Art in Layers: Coming Soon Online

Coming May 1. Sneak peek: This is it! The Very Beginner Art Journal class. You've been asking for it and it's coming. 

 
The great mystery of layering that is The Look of Mixed Media provides you with a basic template for any artwork. We work in five basic layers: 

Start with writing (or not, it's your art), move into color, stamping stenciling

to collage and the final flourishes. Projects include art journaling, ATC's, tag art, card art. 

 A simple supply list gets you started. Gain the confidence to make your marks in a creative, supportive atmosphere with a private Facebook group and blog. 

Coming in the next week or so. $15
This class will be included with your Curious+ membership shortly. 

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In My Sketchbook

First Friday Artists | Megan Greenholt.Brenda Howell

Art History | Lyonel Feininger

Public Art; Chicago's Big Bean

There is something very special about public art it's truly for everyone.

Chicago's Cloud Gate, better known as The Bean made me want to dance. It was such a joy to see everyone crowded around looking at it, themselves, their friends. Strangers smile and point to each other.

It's a magical moment. 

I get a sort of spiritual feeling when this magic occurs. It makes me aware of just how powerful human creativity can be. It took a vision and engineering to create The Bean. 

Public art that is so big and engaging crosses us over from viewers to participants. We are a part of the drama or comedy that is playing out across a mirrored surface, beneath a giant shadow.

(I love The Clothespin in Philly. It always makes me smile.)

I'm feeling pretty lucky to have visited The Bean. Don't you just love our little world?

Have a fabulous weekend everyone. Take a moment to laugh. Or dance.

Photo of The Clothespin, Claes Oldenburgh, Link

ArtEscape

Last night was my final ArtEscape program at my local library. I love the above photo! That table was hard at work but laughing and sharing their discoveries. All the kids do this. There is a easy joy in their artmaking. 

Last night I read When Pigasso Met Mootise which was a huge hit. As the kids were coming into the room, I was showing them Picasso's and Matisse's artwork and there was a lot of talk about lines and shapes: organic and geometric. 

Oh! We had fun. Laying on the crayons, thick and fast. The wetting papers and laying on Spectra Art Tissue (see video below) and letting the colors bleed (ha! the boys LOVE that word). 

Parents are always interested in what we are doing and happy to see their kids having such a blast. I do try to teach them an art concept along the way but my mission is to give them first-hand experience of how much joy there in making marks and colors everywhere.  

I wish we could have ArtEscape for adults. Well. I guess I can! Sounds like a Meetup to me.

PS: I gave my two teenaged volunteers to join in the fun :) Don't tell 

In case you didn't catch the Bleeding Art Tissue vid a couple of weeks ago 

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Supplies: Tissue Paper

When Pigasso met Mootisse

You Can't Draw

Or can you?

It's hot and humid here and most extraneous thoughts are just blowing in and out of my head. I had an interesting discussion with a friend the other night though. We wondered (again) why people "can't draw."

Here's one story of why I thought I couldn't draw:  

One Halloween, when I was small (4 or 5) my mother asked whether "someone" would make a drawing of a witch on a broomstick. The idea was that she'd have my dad jigsaw it out of wood, put it in the window and backlight it. OOOOO scary ;). I was jumping up and down: "I'll do it, I'll do it." 

The job was given to my 14 year old brother. And so it begins. Chipping away at our natural confidence in mark making. I could go on but the real point of the story is that we all have these stories. Lots of them. That's at the base of why we "can't draw." 

What's your story? Can you think of one? It's helpful to start writing - pull out your journal and write. See if any memories come up. 

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sheesh

Birdies Again

Way Way WAY Back Machine

What is that lurking in the bottomest slot of the blue bookcase? 

Evidence of a zine addiction. 

Capacity by Theo Ellsworth was wonderful. More of a well-illustrated story than a zine. I treasure mine. My other #1 favorite was Pisces Rising by TL Getz. 

and a bit further down in the pile

Academic Excellence. Have an excellent weekend, my dear friends. I am busily shooting and editing videos for Watercolor Wildflowers. I've finally cracked the code to my new video app and the new iMovie app. App AAAACK! (Oh Goodie! This posts goes into the Unruly Posts category. I love putting things there. Much betterr than Etc. or Miscellaneous. Unruly is a very good thing to be. Except for hair. Especially in the summer. But other than that, unruly RULES :) That was a run on sentence in my mind. I just threw in some periods out of a sense of respect for you. 

Good grief. I better stop writing now