Blog: Art Journal

Order in the Chaos – Art Journal

“We adore chaos because we love to produce order.” – M.C.Escher

This is another spread using a piece of artwork that was part of the sold out Artist Almanac calendar (the 2023 version is in the works so sign up for my newsletter here for first news about that when the time comes). And although the 2022 calendar is long gone, the original painting from the page I used in this art journal spread (inspired by a trip to Buenos Aires) is still available HERE.

I picked the colors that I used in the original painting – well similar colors – and blocked in the background.

Then using my brush to make blocky marks, I began mixing colors and started discovering some pretty nice color variations and marks. It is a crazy vibrant page!

Just like in the painting, I used some charcoal to make marks and then brushed matte medium on top to seal the charcoal. Otherwise charcoal would be a bit of a problem to use in an art journal that will be closed.

The quote seemed kind of fitting for me as I was thinking about that particular neighborhood in Buenos Aires – La Boca – it seems chaotic but there is order in the chaos.

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

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Mix Tape – Art Journal

I found this old photo of my view out of my old studio in Hamburg Germany and I was reminiscing about the different views I’ve had from my studio windows… often on the top floor, just like now again, but always different. All this while I was listening to a spotify play list …the modern version of a mix tape that a friend of mine just made for me with music he discovered during the pandemic and thought I would like. J. has always been my music guy since we both share a lot of the same taste, so I am excited! It also made me very happy and grateful for the wonderful friendship where someone takes the time needed and puts a tape together for you. Remember those olden times?

Anyway… LOL The background was stamped with Versafine ink with the wonderful Triple Play foam stamps Birgit Koopsen, Marsha Valk and I created for our workshop Beyond the Paper – check it out. I added some sun printed fabric which I show how to create in the workshop using the same stamp.

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

Comments (1)

  • Sue Clarke

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    I love that sentiment…a friend really likes you when they make a mix tape/CD for you!
    Fun LO Nat.

    Reply

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Sometimes the Monsters Win – Art Journal

This art journal page came after an interesting conversation with friends about old houses and ghosts. We all agreed that the monsters and ghosts in our heads are worse, and I guess that is why Stephen King is doing so well with his books – LOL The quote is from him – “The Shining” …you are welcome.

I started this page with a leftover negative imprint from my “So Much Energy” page where I had just flipped the Chicago stencil over.

I realigned the stencil on top of the print, a bit offset, and sprayed over it yet again with black and teal.

Then I just added the journaling with a Posca marker.

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

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So Much Energy – Art Journal

I’m still on a total spray paint high – kidding – wear your mask if spraying even low odor spray paint inside. For this art journal page I used different MTN and Liquitex acrylic spray paints over my Chicago stencil.

For a later art journal page I flipped the stencil over to print with the extra paint on it, and then printed with excess paint on the stencil from spraying onto another page, back onto this one.

I used black Versafine and one of the Floral Tile Small stamps to stamp into the squares. I liked the juxtaposition of the floral image with the very orderly structure of the stencil.

To finish my page I used a Posca marker on that label stuff (I have no clue where it comes from) for the journaling.

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

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A Thousand And One – Art Journal

The background for this page started with the Produce Joy art journal where I flipped over the Art Nouveau Wallpaper stencil after spray painting the background onto the next page to make an imprint.

When I came back for this page I aligned the same stencil onto the pattern and sprayed over it with different colors. This especially looks nice in the areas that were just a bit offset – it gives a better, crisper distinction between the two different paint applications.

I used a calligraphy nib pen and a brush with acrylic ink by Liquitex for the sketch on deli paper and applied the deli paper with fluid matte medium by Liquitex using a fan brush. I also used the calligraphy nib for the journaling. I had the nib set for a while in my stash and finally used it. I used the pen cleaner to clean the nib pen afterwards – a good idea to make sure it keeps writing and drawing well.

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

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Produce Joy – Art Journal

I used four different colors of acrylic spray paint to layer up over the Art Nouveau Wallpaper stencil. I flipped the stencil right over to the adjacent page – more about that page later – so that I could get a nice print of the surface as well.

I used some Versafine in black and grey to stamp with one of the Mini Motif rubber stamps and one of the Fan-fare stamps into the solid fan areas.

For my journaling I used the tissue like stripes with a thin Posca pen.

This was a very fast but fun page. I love spray paints – they have such an instant effect and if you are using the low odor ones with a mask and in a well ventilated room, you can create forever using your stencils and layering them up, or mixing them as I did with stamps. Just as Walt Whitman says “Do Anything, but let it produce joy.“

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

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Stay Gentle – Art Journal

For this spread I used the Star Struck stencil that was still wet from applying spray paint over it for the It’s Worth It art journal page. I flipped it over and pressed it onto the next page in the ledger, which created an uneven reverse print, mostly visible with the green structure of the stencil on the top right. I love getting inspired by something I was working on earlier and not just starting on a blank canvas, so to speak.

My first idea was to stamp into the Star Struck areas with my Triangle Love stamps and some Versafine – which worked out nicely but it was a bit off. So I layered the Star Struck stencil back on top, basically covering up what I had printed before and used the same colors yet again but tried to spare most of the area that was stamped.

I love the effect and I definitely want to play more with the flip flop stencil technique :) There is also a slight dimension to the built up spray paints which is hard to see in the photos, but I love it and I think I want to explore this a bit more on some of my bigger paintings as well as for the backgrounds.

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

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It’s Worth It – Art Journal

I love the look of spray paint with my Star Struck stencil, especially when it’s applied with different spray paint colors. Here I used a teal and a green as well as some white on it. I then layered an old hand cut stencil on top and sprayed with black spray paint.

I was listening to a podcast about the war in Ukraine and the reporter was saying that it takes great effort to keep peace in the world, ongoing effort. It just struck me in that moment and so I wanted to keep this in my journal, being that the journal is often a reflection of thoughts, emotions, things I hear, read or what is happening …

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

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Letting Go – Art Journal

I found one of my fat Liquitex markers in Silver and as I rarely use those anymore I wondered if it was still working. It had been laying in the drawer for years.

So I started doing some marks on the paper and wow indeed it was still ok. I love how the big marker leaves a nice textured impression. To be honest this is probably the only way I would use them as they don’t really work with my own current style and artwork, but it was interesting here in my art journal today.

I layered my Batik stencil on top and added some acrylic color over it, then stamped with my Jazzed and Groovy foam stamps and then added more acrylic paint again.

It was fun to just play a little bit with layering – something I like to do often as it makes you see things in a different way and discover new connections.

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

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