Author: Dina

You really can. What are you waiting for?

Materials used:

• Dylusions Creative Journal
• Dylusions ink sprays (new color!! Funky Fuschia)
• Pan Pastels
• Stencils from The Crafter's Workshop
• Gesso
• Neocolor II crayons
• My rubber stamps from Stampington

If you're working on something & not happy with it, it's not done yet. Sometimes you just have to keep layering!

Materials used:

• Dylusions Creative Journal by Ranger
• Gesso
• Acrylic Paint
• Stabilo All pencil
• Neocolor II crayons
• Stamps
• White Sharpie pen
• Dylusions ink sprays
• Stencils from The Crafter's Workshop (do you spot my Mosaic and Roman Letters?)
• Dylusions stencils by Ranger

Sue Altman and I have been friends for a number of years now. We're both docents at The Phoenix Art Musuem. In fact, we're from the same docent class (it takes 2 years of study and practice to become a docent, so you get quite close to your classmates). Sue is a textile and fiber artist and has been published in Sew Somerset many times. She's also a jewelry artist…take a look at these pieces she made for me! She downloaded and printed some of my art work (including the cover of my book…can you spot it?). Then she made the print-outs into these amazing necklaces and earrings. When she brought them over, I couldn't believe my eyes! So gorgeous. I just wanted to share her talent with you. If you're interested in her jewelry, check out her site. I'm sure she'll take custom orders, too.

It has been so fun to see my book, Art Journal Freedom, landing in your hands. I so appreciate all of you who have bought my book. It's been a thrill to get your emails & positive encouragement, and to sign your books.

Where can you get Art Journal Freedom?

• Ask for it at your local store!

• Buy it from Barnes & Noble: Art Journal Freedom 

• Buy it from Amazon: Art Journal Freedom: How to Journal Creatively With Color & Composition

Recently I got all of the journals and pages that appear in the book back from North Light (my publisher). It was fun to hold the art again and remind myself why I am so passionate about Art Journal Freedom.

Why did I write this book?

Because I want you to feel good about your art. I want you to have the freedom to express yourself confidently and strongly. If you make something you're not thrilled with, I want you to be able to figure out what's wrong. I want you to grow as an artist. I want you to make your mark on the world.

That's why Art Journal Freedom exists.

just look.

Materials used:

• Gesso
• Acrylic Paint
• Stabilo Marks All Pencil
• Neocolor II Crayons
• Stamp by Pam Carriker

Do you ever feel like this…like all you're doing is juggling!

Materials used:

• Vintage Leder
• Gesso
• Acrylic paint
• Lots of stencils from The Crafter's Workshop…including my new silhouette!
• White water-based poster-paint Sharpie in extra-fine point
• Resin paper I made last year

I taught a class at Whim So Doodle last month where I had people trace faces onto their artwork. This was the face I traced when I demo'd…it's by Terbywonder Moritz. Mine looks a little different than his because I have a different hand. Tracing is a good option for getting imagery into your journals. Just remember to give proper credit if you're tracing someone else's artwork. Often I'll write right on the page who the artist is. Try tracing images from magazines, books, etc.

Did this page with JBS goods…the large clock is a silhouette file that sweet Doris cut for me and mailed me. The blue tags in the background are in Feb's Antiquarian kit.

Materials used:

• Gesso
• Vintage ledger
• Blue tags from JBS Antiquarian Kit for Feb
• Stabilo Marks All Pencil
• JBS Digital Cut File
• Acrylic paint
• Neocolor II crayons
• Fudeball 1.5 pen

I'm honored to be part of Dawn's blog hop for her new book, Art Doodle Love: A Journal of Self-Discovery. Be sure to visit Dawn's blog and enter to win her giveaway–a free book, a handmade journal, and more!

Art Doodle Love is a journal that prompts and nudges you to create, to think, to express. The pages give you a headstart–they have color and quotes and words from which you can springboard your creativity.

I flipped the book open and it landed on a page that said, "Today I learned…". Immediately I started thinking about a few things that happened today, and I grabbed some paint and a pen and started adding my mark to the page.

Love the result. It came out so easily! Then I flipped to another page, which invited me to start scribbling. I scribbled on a face…

I flipped the page again and the journal invited me to use the drips on the page as a starting point. I did this:

I really enjoyed working in Dawn's book. Whether you're an experienced art journaler or new to art journaling, this book is serious fun!

Be sure to visit the other blog-hoppers:

Feb. 2: Pam Carriker, http://www.pamcarriker.com/blog/
Feb. 3: Samantha Kira Harding, http://www.journalgirl.com
Feb. 4: Aimee Dolich, http://artsyville.blogspot.com
Feb. 5: Jane Davenport, http://www.janedavenport.com
Feb. 6: Carla Sonheim, www.carlasonheim.wordpress.com
Feb. 7: Tracie Lyn Huskamp, http://www.thereddoor-studio.blogspot.com
Feb. 8: Tammy Garcia, http://www.daisyyellowart.com
Feb. 9: Carissa Paige, http://www.carissapaige.blogspot.com
Feb. 10: Mindy Lacefield, http://www.timssally.com
Feb. 11: Dina Wakley, http://dinastamps.typepad.com/
Feb. 12: Tamara LaPorte, http://www.willowing.org/blog/
Feb. 13: Jill K. Berry, http://jillberrydesign.com/blog/

I love Pam Carriker's Poetic Portraits stamps! The background is Pan Pastels…love 'em.

Materials used:

• Ranger Archival ink pad.
• Stencils from The Crafter's Workshop.
• Fudeball 1.5 pen
• Pam's stamp!
• Manila tag
• PanPastels
• Dylusions Journal by Ranger (you need at least two of these journals!!)
• Dylusions Ink Sprays by Ranger
• Stabilo Marks All Pencil
• Neocolor II crayons