Art Journaling with Dina Wakley: Pt1

Hi you. It's me.

Unlike last time I blogged, this time I am here. Right here, can you see me?

Yoo hoo. Hello, over here, on the sofa. The one with freshly dyed hair wearing the pyjamas [Light Auburn and marl grey jersey respectively, since you ask]. You see? I told you I was here.

I've safely returned from the far flung corners of Harrogate, where I was living it up with a room full of art journalers and the ever fabulous Dina Wakley.

Here I am, ensonced in the new workshop at Art From the Heart [note the hand in a blur of action and the apron ... bit essential for a 9-5 day of creating ... with spray inks!]:

And here's the lady herself:

In the bottom corner is Kate Crane from The Kathryn Wheel who it would seem I was duty bound to meet. A friend had left a comment on Kate's blog telling her to say 'Hello' to me at the workshop... but Kate didn't know who I was ... that is until she looked at my name badge and declared 'Oh, so you must be Julie'. And I was. Then, upon my return, another friend asked 'Did you see Kate Crane there?'! Well then, why, yes I did ... in fact, it just so happens that I'd sat myself right next to her without either of us realising that everyone expected us to meet! It was certainly a pleasure to get to watch her at work - amazing how we were all following the same processes yet producing widely varying end results. I think there's going to be a Flickr group for us all to add our work to - which willbe a great way to view them, and our individual differences, side-by-side.

The workshop focussed on using masks and stencils, layering up paint and spray inks, then adding the journaling: I made four individual pages which I'll show you throughout the week [or else it' dbe photo overload].
The white spots where were made by painting gesso onto a piece of Dina's sons' Lego which she carries around in her art box! I was aiming for a muted look combining using several 'natural' colours: ... and I'm really happy with how this one - my first of the day - turned out:

[You can click on the photo for a closer look ... if you're that way inclined. Which I'd be happy if you were ...].

Anyway .... I'll be back tomorrow with some more photos of my productive day. I'll show you the second page I made ... the one inspired by a song I warbled along with in the car on my way to the workshop. The page which I'm contemplating getting framed for my bedroom wall. [I'm so happy to have made something I like that much!!].

Oh and, for those of you wondering how James got on on his own while I wasbusy being arty ... he wandered around town; had a ham + cheese toastie; found a passport in a flowerbed; handed it in to the police ... and photographed some gargoyles. A typical day really ...

Right then. Enough for one night! I'll see you very soon.

J :D