When Colors Surprise You (In the Best Way)! A mixed media journal page.
You know that feeling when you first see a color palette and think “nope, not for me”? That was me with this month’s color and collage challenge colors. Blue? Fine, I guess. Light blue? Really not my thing.
But here’s the beautiful thing about creative challenges – they push us past our initial “eh” reactions.
I’m working through Simone Linehan’s color inspiration book for our challenge, and even though I wasn’t allowed to make new collage paper (🙄 – rules are rules!), I started pulling what I had. And something funny happened… as I laid those colors out together, they started talking to each other in ways I hadn’t expected.
Then came my favorite part – the mad scientist color mixing! This is where the magic happened. What started as “meh” colors suddenly felt… right. Soothing, even.
Looking at the finished journal page now, there’s something so calming about this color combo. It’s like they were waiting for me to see them differently. This is exactly why I love stepping outside my comfort zone – and why play is such an important part of growth. We discover things we never would have found in our usual creative lane.
The word for this challenge was gratitude, which felt perfect. I spent time reflecting and journaling with my water pen right on the page. There’s something about adding our own words to our art that just… completes it and gives it deeper meaning.
I hope you enjoy the process and you do your own experimenting this week! And always know that you are loved!🩷
Supplies used:
- Handmade art journal
- Collage paper
- Acrylic paint – unbleached titanium, raw sienna
- Liquitex gesso black and white
- Liquitex fluid matte medium
- Golden SoFlat acrylic paint – cerulean blue, raw umber, Paynes Gray
- Water brush with Liquitex carbon black acrylic ink (set of Liquitex Professional Acrylic Ink)
- Generals charcoal pencil (ex. soft) and black soft pastel pencil (soft pastel pencil set)
- black soft pastel stick with makeup applicator
- 1/2″ angle brush (Angle brush set)
- makeup sponge for stencils
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