Art Journaling

     I think it was about a year ago when I was browsing Barnes & Noble and discovered a magazine called "Art Journaling."  I was immediately drawn to the colors, media, and text--it was a glorious discovery!  Since I don't really take pictures, I don't scrapbook, but the idea of capturing an experience or thought visually has a lot of appeal for me.  Over this past year I've tucked the idea of art journaling away in my mind, pulling it out every now in then as I thought of themes I might want to chronicle.  This past week I decided it would be fun to do an art journal with a partner so we could play off each other's techniques and ideas.  And so I decided I should just start in on it, or else I might end up in 2014 still wishing I'd gotten started...  Here's my first attempt--it's not amazing or groundbreaking, but its out of my head and onto the page!  Hooray!
      First I started with a general thought I wanted to use as my text, in this case it's a paraphrase of Matthew 15:18.  I roughed it out using a pencil before going over it in black pen.  Next I loosely sketched the flowers in the same pen, adding color with oil crayons (purchased by my mother at a garage sale--she's always finding something for someone at a garage sale--makes me giggle).  I used a black sharpie to add a little depth and variation.  Finally I used some colored pencils and a marker or two to bring more subtle color to the background.  It's kind of fun, and I'm glad I started!  I hope I get better, and I'm looking forward to see what my friend will create with me.