Here is August, all 31 days of it, and how disappointingly wet it has been. I always find looking at my completed month interesting - for example it seems ages ago I had lunch with my friends, and yet it was only last week, but on the other hand only a blink ago I was planning the colour scheme for the page and here is the month complete.
What will be in store for September I wonder. It can be one of the most beautiful months. Don't you just love chilly bright mornings, when the air is crystal clear and every shrub and twig is decorated with a sparkling spider web?
For my September calendar I have gone a bit 'mad'. I have been sitting at the computer for hours - more work on setting up my shop. It will be such a relief when it is done. I have been taking photographs of the things I shall be selling. I even went and cut the grass as an excuse to flex my muscles after sitting about for so long. I needed to flex my creative muscles as well especially as I have been hand sewing and drawing those little illustrations for my memoirs. When I realized it was the end of the month it gave me an excuse to clear my desk and get out the paints. I went a bit fauve and built up my autumn scene in orange and mauve - the colours haven't scanned very well. No stamping, no pens, but I did a pit of junk printing and stencil work. What fun, and I definitely felt a bit loosened up (although I could probably do with a few more days of sloshing the paint about). However I didn't want to lose my paint effects when I stuck down the squares for the calendar, so ...
I scanned one of the pages, desaturated the colour and blurred it a bit with Picasa and printed out a couple of sheets which I cut into 4cm squares. I stuck these down in a slap-dash way and added the numbers and weekdays with a dip-pen. Everything is a bit blotty and smudged, I even started misnumbering the days and had to do a quick cut and paste job. But overall I have ended up with a rather effective page.
It is great to look back at last September's page when I was just staring out on my Art Journal quest. Everything was rather tight and restrained. I was very cautious about expressing myself artistically. I cannot emphasise enough how far I have come, mentally as much as artistically in the last twelve months - and now I am about to set up my own shop. I would say to any of you who feel unsure of your talents, just let go and enjoy yourself - it doesn't matter, it has taken me 60 years to gain the confidence to share something like this sploshy page, and know some of you will like it, but if you don't, it doesn't matter
20 comments:
Congratulations on what you have achieved and on how far you feel you have come. I am in awe at your art work and photography and your stitching too - you are so clever and artistic. And your little drawings for your memoirs are brilliant and so evocative of the time you describe. Keep up the good work.
How is Mr T doing these days?
Jane x
I like the colours that you have put together, they really sing of a warm and happy September.
Ooh, your page looks fab. I love your sploshy pages :-) Now, it is worrying me a little that today is the last day of August and I haven't started September yet. I think I left my mojo behind in Spain...
Good luck with your shop :-)
I just love your little drawings, they are lovely, nice bright colours for September. Good luck with the Etsy shop.
Love your August pages all the little drawings you are so good at. We have been lucky here in the north for a change the weather has been quite good for August.
What a brilliant idea to scan and blur your pages for the little squares. I need to get on with mine now but I keep being interrupted by a person wont say who but you can guess I'm sure.
Pat xx
Your September spread is fantastic Jill - the journal squares look great - and guess what - mine has orange and purple in too - I was going for an autumnal feel! I shall post tomorrow. Your August might have been a washout but mine was a celebration! Your drawings are a wonderful addition (sigh...I wish I had that talent!) x
I love the hotter colors under the cooler colors - that sums up September to me! If I didn't love your work so much, I would be hating you for accomplishing something this month. Great luck with the Etsy store.
I LOVE your calendar and this post! I too have learned so much this year...and I post my art journaling (which was a huge step for me). It's really very freeing, isn't it?! Happy September!
~Kathy
I'm newer to your blog so I have only known your loose and splotchy pages--hehe! Go for it! Yes! I love your calendar idea. Best of luck with the new etsy shop, too. :)
I so agree with you re ENJOYING the artistic process..... and how lovely that last year's journal shows how far you have come. Great colours and approach to September's pages. What a shame August was such a wash out. September often is lovely for the first couple of weeks. Let's keep our fingers crossed!
Jill,
I'm with you about September. Along with May it is a favourite month. I've been saying for months that we're going to have an Indian summer in September. We always take our main holiday now to make the best of it and I'm convinced the weather is going to be great. The shop sounds like it's going well but glad you're still finding the time to play. Pace yourself at that PC! Lesley
I love September, the weather today is such an improvement over the last two dreary weeks. Although I can no longer pack husband off to start a new term, I still get that starting anew feeling. I think your September pages are great, and you're streets ahead of me with getting an Etsy shop up and running. Hope all is well with Mr T.
Thank you everyone for remembering Mr T. He is doing fine and today has been making plum chutney - however it is me who is shattered!!
ah, but we do like it. we like it very much.
Love your journal. I keep promising myself I am going to do this. I have a journal so maybe I should start painting the pages in readiness for 2011. What size are your squares please?
Thanks for your comments on my own blog.
I wish you would remember more often to write about your Alzheimer.
Everyone's opinion is welcome!
Thanks for your lovely comment! I like your September, we've got those colors here too, purple heather on the hills being set off by the lingering green with pale terracotta seaweed in the foreground. Gorgeous.
I'm not surprised you were inspired by Maxine - I want to make a coat like that!!!
Gosh don't the months fly by, I rely so much on my diary. I agree it is good to keep records of what you do and love the way you create a bright and fun creative way of doing it.
Thank you for always leaving comments, which I do appreciate.
You are so incredibly talented! Love all the mish-mash of colors--love it all. Your Etsy shop looks great, I like the banner, the name is good. I love those little purses and I am tempted to buy one.
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