“It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.” ― James Baldwin
I think we are seeing some of this terrible combination at work these days so I had to use this quote in my art journal.
Pretty simple to bring this page together with acrylic paint and my foam stamps. I used both of my Midtown sets for this page to show the size difference between Midtown and Midtown Minis.
And the quote in uni posca black with white signo overtop.
Here you can see the two stamp sets and how they compare.
“Everybody wants change but nobody wants to change. Be the change!” A good message I think when you feel powerless – you CAN make a difference and be the change!
I used acrylic paint and acrylic markers here for my building scene and background. I had fun focusing on some of the patterns in the architecture.
I added paint splatters to bring everything together.
“It’s never too late to listen and learn!” – such a great thing to keep in mind as we strive for better days ahead.
It felt good to just play with stamps and stencils in my art journal while listening to podcasts. Here I used my Buenos Aires stencil and my Mini Motifs and Fanfare rubber stamps. I worked with spray paint and Moonlight Duo ink pads to build us some yummy layers.
St. John’s church has played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement here in Jersey City and is a historic landmark boarded up and falling apart. I couldn’t think of a better symbol to paint in my art journal while thinking about the events of the last week and present.
I know that some of my readers will criticize the usage of Martin Luther King jun. quote because they will point out, that the destroying of property has to stop. To those I would like to answer in anticipation of this reaction, that yes, it is sad and horrible that property is being destroyed – it is not right, but the killing of innocent black men and the systematic racism in the U.S. and the world has to stop. Let’s set the priorities right.
I am – as hopefully a lot of you – still trying to listen and learn. I want to hear the voices …and this much is clear for me: I want change!
I’m so glad you are speaking up/standing up for what is the ethical, moral, human thing to do. Thank you for amplifying our voices for justice, compassion and change!
Nice page and quote. Seems hard for folks to hear that the rioting may be wrong, but the protesting is so right.
I don’t have any easy answers, just hoping for some change.
“Be stubborn about your goals and flexible about your methods…”
For my background I used some bright colors of acrylic paint and gouache, my Wabi Sabi rubber stamp set, my Tokyo stencil, and spray paint. I think having the two scales of this pattern together with the Tokyo stencil and the Wabi Sabi stamps is a nice visual mix.
For the figure I used a bamboo sketching pen and I stamped the back of the deli paper and painted over it, then I pasted it down with gel medium.
I used one of my favorite calligraphy journaling pens and posca markers for a little color.
“But your solitude will be a support and a home for you, even in the midst of very unfamiliar circumstances, and from it you will find all your paths.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
For this art journal I’m using spraypaint, posca and liquitex markers, and Acrylic paint to make my colorful background and neighborhood scene. It was fun to go in and highlight different areas of the architecture with detail, and also knock some things back with solid areas of gray and black.
I also added some colorful touches to my quote to tie everything together.
We’ll walk hand in hand, we’ll walk hand in hand, We’ll walk hand in hand someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We’ll walk hand in hand someday.
– “We Shall Overcome”
This art journal page is a study for a painting – one that is very of-the-moment you could say. I used acrylic paint, spray paints, gouache and markers and decided to go really bold with colors. I used my Signals stencil for added texture on the building.
I used my Tokyo stencil for the pattern in the background.
I have sung this song so many times in the past.
For/with battered women and to fight that stigma of mental illness…it’s such a great way to unite people around an “issue”.
Hello from my wonderful Creative Squad! Today we have an art journal spread from Jennifer Gallagher to lift you up and inspire you. Jennifer is using my Triangle Love rubber stamps and this month’s theme: Rise & Shine – Sometimes it is inspiring to think of each new day as an opportunity to do something good – to shine. Create something that will encourage others to do the same and let’s all bring a little more light into this world!
Living in a pandemic, many people are experiencing difficult times. We are quarantined and separated from our neighbors, family, and friends. Now, more than ever, we need some positive vibes and things to take our minds off of it. The Creative Squad is looking ahead this month to a happier time. We shall rise and SHINE! With that in mind, I have created an art journal spread that makes me very happy and has a hidden message inside. One of my greatest artistic joys is a geometric shape or a repeating pattern. So I’ve combined my favorite things into this spread. Let’s get started.
I pulled out a mixed media journal in a field size. I pulled out my three inch triangular gel plate and brayered primary yellow onto it. I pressed the gel plate onto the field journal in a few places.
I added a few more gel press triangles in bright aqua green and cobalt teal hue.
I added more gel press triangles in Pyrrole Red and Phthalo Blue.
I added two last triangles in Quinacridone Magenta in spots where they would overlap several colors. Notice I left one small white triangular area.
In the open white triangular area, I stamped Nat’s solid large triangle from the Triangle Love set in black archival ink.
I added additional black solid large triangles throughout the page.
I additional additional black solid small triangles throughout the page.
With a black gelly roll pen, I went through and outlined all of the triangle shapes.
Next, with a white gelly roll pen, I went through and added some white outlines as well.
I cut a scrap piece of Dina Wakley Media cotton rag paper into the same size as my journal pages. Using Dina Wakley Media media tape, I attached the sheet to the right hand page by applying tape to both sides.
Next, I stamped in black archival ink with nat’s sunburst triangle from Triangle Love.
I cut a piece off of the cotton rag to mimic the triangular shape. Then, on the inside of the cotton rag paper, I stamped a few solid triangles and wrote a message in black ink.
I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial. If you try out one of our creative squad ideas, please share with us. Take care!
Thank you Jennifer for giving us some hope in these difficult times.
Give it a try: you can find all my Rubber Stamps in my Online Shop and here are some of the other supplies Jennifer used:
Feel inspired? Working on something yourself that you’d like to share? I love to see how you interpret our monthly themes. Email me how you used my stencils and stamps with the theme and email me an image – I would love to share your projects in my next “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.
I’m so glad you are speaking up/standing up for what is the ethical, moral, human thing to do. Thank you for amplifying our voices for justice, compassion and change!
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