Today’s road to this journal page was a winding one. I almost didn’t do it because it felt too outside my comfort zone.

My inspiration this week came from an Uppercase magazine issue #55 and a featured artist named Laila Rezai. Her collage work is so interesting and abstract that it drew me in, and I studied it for quite a while.

Her shapes and forms and how she lays out her compositions feels like it breaks all the rules I live by–and yet I love them.

Sooo I decided to give it a try and of course make it my own with my own take on it. But as I started gathering things and thinking about my own layout and how I would put all the pieces together, I almost gave up. I almost let my inner critic stop me, but I’m so glad I went for it because I loved the process. I loved putting the pieces of the puzzle together. I was so happy with it that I popped back in at the end of the video to share my joy with you.

I’ll share more about the inner critic and falling in love with the process, not the outcome, in the video. I hope you enjoy the project. And always know that you are loved!

Supplies used:

1. Handmade journal
2. Collage papers
3. Liquitex matte gel
4. Liquitex gesso black and white
5. Liquitex basic acrylic – turquoise
6. Liquitex acrylic gouache – quin magenta
7. Winsor & Newton acrylic raw umber
8. Black soft pastel stick, Generals charcoal pencil, scissors

Stencils used: THESE WILL BE ON SALE THIS WEEK

1. Simple Background 8 5×8
2. Moroccan Tile 2 8×10
3. Simple Background 7 5×8

Collage Packs used – THESE WILL BE ON SALE THIS WEEK

1. Large Neutral Flower Drawings
2. Leather and Paper Textures 1