Gelli prints

There was a time I used to do a lot more Gelli prints - I was using them in Documented Life Project visual journals. At some point in my life, I moved away from that. But I still keep a journal. And I still use the DLP calendar templates. And I print on the reverse side. Each month, inspired by something different. I don't have dozens of templates, but I have enough (from Stencil Girl Products) that I can add variety to my prints, without a huge time investment. After all, my journals are just for me. But I want them to look good all the same!

More gelli prints

Another few examples of recovered Gelli prints. Gelli prints are great when I don't have enough time for other art pursuits. It's quick and creative at the same time!

DLP - book 2

I haven't posted much about the Documented Life Project this year, as I find that the ideas presented by the project leaders are just a rehash of what they've been doing for the last few years. That said, I'm still doing my own thing, art journaling in my own way. And I can see myself pursuing this for the rest of my life.

I had bought the package for the year, which included two folders, dividers, stickers, plastic envelopes, ribbons and other goodies. I never thought I'd need the two folders, but here we are, not even at the half-way point and I've just started the second folder. I opted for a simpler cover decoration this time.

MHBD's Fake Journal - Day 24

Odile jumps back in time, just for a walk on the beach.

And since I had a busy day, I used an old stamp I carved about two years ago for another project (it took me a while to find the post where I first showed this stamp. I knew it was for the Documented Life Project challenge, but what year, I wasn't sure, so I did a little time travel of my own revisiting these old pages!)

Full text here

DLP 2016 - a few sample pages

I'm sticking to the Documented Life Project, but not really following the challenges and prompts, I have to admit. Some weeks I'll do a good bit, others not much. The element I've enjoyed the most so far are the big black labels. They have really inspired me. They filled me with the need to write in a stream of consciousness. Don't read too much into them. 

I also loved colouring the satin ribbons!

By the way, for those of you who don't know the Documented Life Project, it's an art journaling idea that 5 (or was it 4?)American artists came up with, by which you combine keeping a journal and creating mixed media visuals. I discovered DLP in 2014 I think, and I was going through a bit of a dry patch in terms of creativity and I found it helped me go back to my roots and enjoy art for art's sake, without worrying about my drawing skills or actually creating a piece of art. Just play with colour, collage and Gelli printing. It was exactly what I needed. Right now, I've got plenty other art adventures going on, so not as much time for DLP. But it's still there as a comfort blanket when I need it. And it is lovely to go back over pages I created in the last two years (which of course you will find in this blog, by locating and clicking on the label "Documented Life Project" in the right-hand column or by typing in Documented Life Project in the search bar at the top left of my blog).

Here are a few sample pages and elements from recent weeks:

        

I'm struggling a bit with the week pages. But I liked the colours I picked for this one:

 

DLP 2016

Documented Life Project this year is a little different from previous years:

1. We are working in a folder, rather than a sketchbook. It makes it easier to work on individual pieces and then add them to the folder. The folder is about 25cm high by 20 cm wide. I had great fun decorating the cover, as you can see below!
2. You can buy all the foundation tools from the DLP website (link above): the folders, plastic sleeves, labels, ribbon, some cute stamps designed by Rae Missigman, printed pages, etc. It's quite good value, even with the shipping. The contents were not quite as artsy as I thought they would be, but I'm enjoying using them all the same.  One thing about the folder, though, it's not a standard system, so your normal two-hole puncher will not worked with it. I've ordered a one-hole puncher from Amazon, so hopefully that will help
3. To get the challenges, you now need to subscribe to DLP. It's only $12 for the year, so it's quite reasonable, although I still miss the challenges from 2014, which I thought were much better, focusing on different ideas and techniques, rather an idea. So I'll probably ignore the challenges and work with my own ideas.
4. No more guest artists, but that's ok. I like to do my own thing anyway.
5. Roben-Marie Smith is not taking part this year, which is a real pity. I really liked her style of journaling. She runs her own independent workshops now. Maybe next year? I've signed up for a free workshop on her website, so I'll have a look at that when I have a bit of time

So, let's get started. Here are pictures of the folder and the cover I created for it (basically gluing papers, filling in gaps with acrylics, adding colour with stencils, and protecting it all with a layer of acrylic matte medium)

DLP - Extra page

Sometimes, two pages isn't enough. Simple solution: add an extra page. A quick gelli print with bubble wrap. Punched-out circles. Ephemera. Photos from the week. And the reverse side is for personal journaling. 

DLP - Home

DLP June 20 Challenge - There is no place like home

What do you do when you have two places you call home?

This was my starting page:

Photo here is from Archives Photographiques Namuroises:

Photo here is from BB:

Gelli Babies

These girls may not be as colourful as their older sisters, but they worked out really well in my next DLP challenge. I have this thing - I can't stand cute female figures or children in art journaling. I don't know why. I just don't. But this sassy silhouette is different - womanly, confident, cheeky. I will be working with these Gelli babies again, no doubt

Documented Life Project - Taking the road less travelled

June 13 Challenge - Taking the Road less travelled

My libellules inspired me for this one. I covered a dark page with bright metallic reds and purples, and applied bronze acrylic with a couple of my favourite (and only) stencils from ArtistCellar.

A few bits of ephemera from our holidays. Little strips of newsprint that were used to clean my brayer for the Libellules project, on which I wrote words that meant something to me this week.

And I was done.

DLP June 6 Challenge - Illustrative Art Journaling and Travel Journaling - the end product

Well, not quite the end product. I have a couple more elements to add. But this is how I decided to tackle this challenge.
I started with a really dark page. Then I covered it in gesso, bits of paper (a page from a brochure, a paper invoice on which I wrote a list, and some yummy underpaper) and some off-white acrylic paint.
I used a coral stencil from ArtistCellar for my borders
I added my holiday dress with washi tape.
Added a few quotes and words from my week. In retrospect, they would have been better with an oval frame rather than squares. But I'll survive.

Documented Life Project -illustrative travel journaling

I don't know yet how I'm going to incorporate this drawing of a holiday dress onto my page for the DLP June 6 Challenge - travel journaling and illustrative art journaling. Or even which of the drawings I will use. No doubt it will all fall into place.

No prizes for guessing which of the three drawings I did while actually looking at the dress!