This journal page took on a life of its own. From the very beginning I was weaving it together, just like my inspiration quote says.
I was reading again this week in Morgan Harper Nichols’s book “All along you were blooming” and this quote leaped out and touched me.
“Go in search for more. When you are unraveling into severed threads, new stories are waiting to be woven, and you can hope for new beginnings.
This doesn’t mean your journey will be easy, but moving forward is an act of faith, step by step even when you can’t imagine the tapestry on the other side of this.” MHN
There is so much meaning in these few words. But one thing I know to be true, over and over in my life, is that when things feel like they’re unraveling and in my hardest days–there is wisdom that is gained.
I’m not saying that it happens right away, or that healing doesn’t need to happen first. But time and time again, I know that I can endure and know that new beginnings happen.
I share more about it in the video and the amazing layers that are woven together in the journal page.
I hope you enjoy it, you are inspired, and that you always know you are loved!
Supplies used:
- My handmade journal
- Liquitex matte gel
- Utrecht gesso
- Pebeo acrylic mat pub raw umber
- Soho acrylic red ochre and rose madder
- Blick matte acrylic dark green deep
- Liquitex basics ivory black
- Arteza acrylic gray
- Liquitex acrylic ink in raw umber and carbon black
- Bamboo dip pen
- Stabilo all pencil, Generals charcoal pencil, black soft pastel
- Burlap
- Collage paper
Stencilsl used: THESE WILL BE ON SALE THIS WEEK
Collage pak use: THIS WILL BE ON SALE THIS WEEK
Handwriting 2–(instant download) and (printed version)
Fabulous funky flowers is open and ready for you with early bird pricing!
Over 5 hours of video, over 30 lessons, 5 projects, and a mini practice project. Great for all levels of creatives and a great chance to paly and have fun!
This post contains affilate links from Blick and Amazon at now cost to you.
This is quite a piece with the softness in the background and the grunge woven in on top! I love the introduction of the burlap and especially love the single strands being woven into the piece. Nifty idea!!!! Is there a difference between using gesso or white paint to tone down a color? Or did you just grab gesso because it was there?!! I just wrapped up a piece last night (waiting for it to tell me whether it’s done or needs something else) that’s different for me and kind of the reverse of what you did. A ballerina is the focal point. I intended for the whole thing to be soft, shabby chic, etc., but it came out that the background is darker than I usually do and sort of vintage/grunge while the focal point is feminine, light, soft and graceful. The dichotomy is rather stark and yet stunning to my eyes. Since beginning an exploration into mixed media a couple of years ago, I have really struggled with backgrounds. I’ve watched you and other people, listened to talk about them, realized some of my sticking points and yet still couldn’t push past a block. Well, something finally got inside (shifted?) b/c the background on this piece is not like anything I’ve tried/done before and I feel like something finally clicked about backgrounds for me. Thank you for doing these videos every Sunday. It’s helped me and I could hear you in my head sometimes (uh-oh!!!!!!!!) and tried some things I’ve seen you do. Very different outcome. Thank you, Shawn.
So true!
Good on you Shawn.
MAy this year be a better one for you and your family.
I watch your videos every week, and love them. This week, for the life of me, I cannot find the video. I’ve clicked on everything and it hasn’t shown up. I guess it’s me, but I’m very disappointed.
Penny, we are having technical difficulties and I’m in contact with our tech people. Hopefully it will be fixed today. Thanks for your patience while we get it worked out.