Monday January 7, 2013
Collecting photographs to use in art journals comes super easily to some folks, but not so much to me. I am so wrapped up in work most days that I find it difficult to stop and take a moment to check in with my surroundings.
At the beginning of the month, I discovered Project Life 365, and have been faithfully capturing my life using my camera phone and Instagram. Having the prompts helps *a lot* because I’m not just aimlessly snapping. I’m capturing images with a focus and a purpose.
My project started on Tuesday, January 1. Here’s what I’ve captured so far:
I began the year with breakfast and my journal. This was my capture for #resolutions
On day two, I woke up to this gorgeous journal and a terribly messy studio. This was my capture for #you_today
On day three, I made my first Life Book 2013 lesson. This felt like the perfect capture for the theme #optimistic.
This is the view from my front porch if you look up a little. This was my submission for #grace.
Snowy trees in my backyard. My submission for #view
A table that lives in my living room. The items I put there are always changing, and I love that. I guess this could be considered my household alter, since I do consider it sacred space. There is a comfy arm chair right beside it that I often curl up in when I’m journaling. This was my submission for #still_life.
Why am I telling you all this?
Every one of these images could easily be printed out and used as the foundation for an art journal spread. Instead of including ephemera that may have no meaning, I could opt to use something like that gorgeous images of snow capped trees, resized and printed out so it covers an entire page.
I plan to continue this practice, and I’m going to think of it as collecting “BOD Fodder” for my Book Of Days. Here’s the set I’ve created for these captures in Flickr. Here’s my Instagram profile.
And that’s where you come in!
Do you purposefully collect images to include in your art journal? Do you take notes to be included in your journal later?
This week, I challenge you to find a way to collect art journal or “BOD” fodder. If you’re a scrapbooker, you’ve got this licked. If not, this might be a new practice for you. You can share in our network at Wild Soul Arts, if you like! If you’re not a member yet, just grab a free account, click ‘classrooms’ and join “Art Journaling With Effy”.
My Week In Art
Monday
My full spread for this week. A pretty portrait with writing around her hair and under her eye. She was done with watercolour crayon and acrylic paint.
Wednesday
This is what we did this week in Soulistry With Effy 2.0 #1. We riffed off a quote about belief and what it means that we believe. This was mostly text on a lush painted & stenciled background. A journaling card from Project Life was included as well.
Friday MDS
MDS for this week. This portion of the spread includes a wing made for the girl seen above. This was a totally fun way to memory keep this week.
(To see me make these spreads live, I welcome you to join me for Book of Days Premium where I record video for you every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and deliver it to you every single week!)
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Resources I’m Digging
Really loving The Desire Map. Like, madly. It has completely changed the way I think about what to do. Having taken this program, I now get up every morning and ask myself “How do I want to feel today?” and go from there. It’s wicked*.
ProjectLife365. Coolest thing ever, especially for someone who needs an excuse to stop, point and shoot.
The Red Madonna. Re-mothering at its finest, plus the opportunity to learn to paint from Shiloh McCloud.
Snapseed. For Android or iPhone, this is a very snazzy camera app.
Music I’m Listening To (These are YouTube Videos)
What I’m Reading
This is my ‘before bed’ book right now, which means I work on getting through it for about twenty minutes a night. It’s over 1000 pages of gothic deliciousness. Highly recommended if you enjoy supernatural thrillers. This book could be considered urban fantasy, but it was written before the genre was established.
I’m reading this in preparation for something I’m planning for spring of this year. It’s a book that goes deeply into the Celtic tree calendar and extracts the meaning, medicine, and symbols behind each tree.
And that’s all she wrote for now.
xo
Effy
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I’ve been doing project 365 too! Although I do have to set up my instagram and post up my pics, at least they are there in my camera roll..so far I am loving it too!! So happy to know someone else that is doing it too!
I am pretty sure there are lot of us out there. :) Nice to know we’re in it together!
I have been enjoying your photos and now I am thrilled to know what you are doing! Yay! OK, I am going to start thinking through this…photos for BOD thing. Wooo hoooo!
Tammy Gray recently posted..Secret Revealed: Part 2
Yee haw!!! Photos for BOD is awesome.
If you need any extra help with the Tree Teachers please let me know Bean. I have both books and connections you can borrow.
Hidalgo`s book is an excellent place to start and I always close my Tree Magick classes with a quote from it.
Actually, I was curious what you thought of the time shift she does with the calendar…I was an Ivy and now, according to her, I’m a Blackthorn! :) (In other words, all the help I can get. I want to immerse myself in the lore.