I like how I used the color copy of the blurry late 1970's photo of my parents with me sitting on my Dad's shoulders (I always loved piggy back rides on my Dad's shoulders. I felt so very, very safe up there and loved how much I could see.) I like the simpleness of this page. It speaks volumes as to how I've been feeling these last few months. |
Did she know how to laugh! Missing her and her wicked sense of humor today... |
Small Ziploc bag of collage goodies, favorite pens, glue stick, tape, baby wipes and journal on my lap. I'm all set! |
Trying to take everything day by day... Was hoping to share something today but it hasn't arrived yet. Hopefully tomorrow! |
| Many moons ago (I was a teen) when we were living at 152 Beale Street in Wollaston, MA, I was in Dad's car and he was pulling into our driveway. As he started to swing the car around into the driveway (turn signal was on), this asshole comes speeding from out of nowhere and decides to attempt to pass us on the right. Did I mention that we were turning into our driveway which meant turning RIGHT to get into it? He almost hits us. As he speeds around us, he lays on his horn and flips off my Dad (who again, was legally taking a right into his own driveway. This guy was totally in the wrong.) Dad says, "Hold on." He quickly goes from pulling into our driveway into full blown Man on a Mission Mode. He flips his siren on and chases after the guy. Dad pulls the guy over on the corner of Beale St and Newport Ave. Dad goes over to the guy's car with a seriously pissed off look on his face and proceeds to read the guy the riot act for a few minutes. Dad finishes, turns and proceeds to walk back to the car with the biggest, shit eating grin on his face. I can still see the look on his face to this day. It was pure awesome and pure my Dad. "I bet the guy will never do that again...and I bet he has to change his underwear." |
"Creativity belongs to the artist in each of us. To create means to relate. The root meaning of the word art is "to fit together" and we all do this every day. Not all of us are painters but we are all artists. Each time we fit things together we are creating - whether it is to make a loaf of bread, a child, a day."-Corita Kent |
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| My Great Uncle James Albin McLean sitting in the chair, and my great grandfather Edward Alexander McLean standing beside him. |
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| Joseph Bernard McLean and Edward Alexander McLean |
Met up with a friend for a couple of hours at the Farmer's Market. It was a nice way to spend the morning. Here's a shot of my side of the table. I had my collage stuff in my lap for easy access (as well as the fact that I have the bag so stuffed that it won't close properly. Time to to clean it out!) I hope that your weekend is a good one! |
Lianne asked me about my thought process as I journal my way through the last couple of months. It hasn't been any different than the way that I usually work except that there are certain things that I keep thinking about again and again and no amount of writing them down will ever make them go away or get out of my head. Things you wish you had said and things you wish you had done. Things you had no control over and things you'll never be able to change. Such is life. I tend to treat my journal as a way to process and help me think and work through things. Yes, at times I use it as a dumping ground but the main reasons I journal are to process, document and explore. I figure that trying to work through my own grief in my books may help others (including my son who I plan on passing these books down to someday) as much as it helps me (in small ways.) I post my pages to encourage others to think about opening up in a journal...if I can do it, so can you. I rarely sit down and plan anything out. I might have something in mind (based on a feeling or a thought) as I start to work on a page but rarely do I sit down and say, "I'm going to journal about this!" I start by working on a page, picking my background papers, colors, focal images and pens based on how I'm feeling as I make the page. Contrary to what some teachers say, I don't just "glue shit down". I'm picking out things that resonate and that have meaning to me. I tend to complete a page in one go, meaning I won't move onto the next page until I'm done with the one I'm working on at the moment. When I go to pick up my pen, it's all about how I'm feeling and what I'm thinking right at that moment. Some days I have a lot to say (like the page above) and others it's minimal. I don't go back to my journals (usually) right away after I've finished them. I'll revisit them later (and usually it's much, much later.) I'm more "get it out and think through it as you work" though lately I seem to be revisiting the same thoughts and themes repeatedly. I know it's part of the grieving process and I'm just trying to process my thoughts, allow them to unfold and see where my journey takes me. |
| Uni-ball Jetstream Color Series Ballpoint Pen - 0.7 mm - Red Body - Red Ink-I am also a fan of the Uni-ball pens. This is a finer tip than what I usually use from Uni-ball (I usually use the Uni-ball Signo Broad UM 153, which I LOVE)
but I liked how smooth and RED this pen was. It also seems to be a good
pen to color with. I'd love to play with more of these in different
colors and tip sizes! |
 We hope that Sophomore year is good to you and that your first day of school is a happy one! We love you! XO, Mom and Dad |
A friend dropped off some unwanted art supplies so I decided to take the pen box she gave me and cover it with Allison Kreft's line of "Everyday Eclectic" paper, washi tape and deco tape. Now I have (another) new pen case. Fun! I may add more to it. I'll post if I do! Hope your weekend is going well. |
You see this page, it will be different! This is a page still in progress. More soon. |
My blog (and facebook posts) of late aren't meant to evoke sympathy or sadness. They're meant for two things: 1. Documentation (it's my blog about my life experiences and the world as seen through my eyes.) 2. Encouragement My attitude has always been if I can do it, so can you. If I can keep a journal, you damn well can, too! If I can pour my heart and soul out onto the pages, so can you. Keep it real. I keep thinking of the peeps who say that journaling should only be about happy things. Are you fucking kidding me? Seriously? Journaling should be about your LIFE and life ain't always gumdrops and roses. Keep it real. Keep it you. If I could offer any words of advice to a journal artist just cracking open a book for the first time, there they are. Of course "'dems may be fighting words" to some but I always stand by what I say (as well as by what I write.) Try it. Crack it open. See what happens. |
I'm working on my Fall/Winter schedule as we speak. I'll know more next week once Tristan starts school. I'm looking forward to: October 5-7th Fremont, CA classes TBA November 9-11th Frenzy Stamper Scottsdale, AZ Classes TBA sometime in late December: Ink About It Westford, MA Local classes: TBA next week! I have two wide open weekends in October and November that I'm looking to fill with a road trip. If you know of a venue that may be interested in having me teach, please let me know asap! Thanks!!! |
I promise that all of my pages won't be so sad like this one is. It's just how it is right now (and I am NOT apologizing for it.) It's just one minute, I'm sad. Later, I may be happy but then I get slapped back into reality with, "oh yeah..." Such is life and its roller coaster of emotions. |
Still unpacking and finding space in my home for the various things I brought back from my parents' home. I'm thinking of downsizing again. Books that need new homes. A new sewing machine I've used twice. Stuff like that. Having to sort through my parents' stuff has made me think again about what's important and what isn't. I have no problem getting rid of MY stuff (that said, I brought back a small bag of toys that I loved as a child and two stuffed animals. I may have seen Toy Story one too many times. I have three bags of stuffed animals in my closet. Art stuff I can get rid of. Quite easily. I've done it a zillion times. Toys from my childhood, not so much.) It's just making the time to do it. Baby steps. |
I worked on the above page while attending San Diego Comic-Con 2012. One last shout out for my classes this weekend at Scrap 2 It in Fort Collins, CO. Registration closes at 6 pm tonight. |
I had a great time teaching at Art Unraveled 2012! I always say that I have the best students and I REALLY mean it. I hope you guys enjoyed every moment of it. It's been a hard week for me as Dad was supposed to be here. Trying to be gentle and am taking baby steps as much as possible. Thanks for understanding. Last call for sign-ups for Scrap 2 It in Fort Collins, CO! Fingers crossed to see YOU there! Tristan and I are heading home in the early morning. I'll have my tunes blaring and my iced tea ready. |
Journey with me in a project years in the making. Dear Vincent Updated July 15, 2019: The Dear Vincent Project has bee...
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