Exploring Presence

Since deciding on a word for this year I've tried to daily incorporate presence into my life. I've worked at enjoying the presence of my family, friends, my mother and other people I know. I've concentrated on the presence of God while in church. I've been present as much as I can with doing things for other people who need me. I've also tried to keep a regular presence in the online communities where I'm a member.

Mostly, I've been finding time to be in the presence of creativity. I've left my art journals open on a desk in the study. Any time I pass by I splash a bit of paint around, paste something in, colour with a watercolour crayon or pencil, drip or mist water or even rubbing alcohol, trickle inks, doodle and draw with all kinds of media. I'm having a great time.

For me the key to actually getting any of this done is to leave the play things where I will play with them. Just seeing them out on the desk, with all the supplies on hand, is a lure to my senses. While showering my little boy I can sit for a total of three or four minutes. It's surprising just how much you can get done in those few moments.

An added bonus is that my little boy is only too happy to join me whenever I pull out my art supplies and journal at the park or in a café. Although I love playing alone, he is a very pleasant companion and we share supplies often. Here's the page I began with him last Saturday and finished over the last couple of days at home. I started this page using only my little boy's colour pencils and crayons.



Click on the links for some close ups.
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/bwheather/IMGP3303.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/bwheather/IMGP3304.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/bwheather/IMGP3305.jpg


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More Than Torn Paper

For most people the idea of using collage as a journal technique is met with a laugh. Most think back to school days when collage involved tearing a little coloured paper and gluing it in place. But new techniques, papers and products have made collage an art form in its own right.

While spending time tearing paper and gluing it into your journal is somewhat therapeutic on its own, it is the arrangement and additional touches you can apply that bring this form of expression such tactile satisfaction.

There is no limit to what you can put on your page, so long as you have some way to hold it there. Glue, needle and thread, pins, tape... whatever you can think of. And who says you need to be able to close your journal? Perhaps leaving your collage entries in plain view might help you sort through whatever has been on your mind.

Feel free to experiment.

You can't go past the information shared by Aisling D'Art with her How to Collage in Your Art Journal. You'll be inspired.

Heather
Photo used with permission from stock.xchng