Intentional Lettering

Since starting a Bullet Journal (which I will write about and show you in a future blog post),

 I have been trying to improve and explore my lettering skills.  

Whether it's for headings and titles or just the plain old handwriting I'm using, 

I want it to be pretty and I want it to be an endeavor of creative intent.

I am thinking a lot lately about living with intent, versus being on autopilot.  

It's a mindfulness practice.  It is helping me slow down a little, stay in the moment, 

appreciate the process, as well as work toward the goal of improving a skill.

I started my Letter Love Inspiration Journal for this purpose, based on Joanne Sharpe's book,

The Art of Whimsical Lettering.  

I thought it would be fun to share, and maybe 

inspire someone else to start one, too.

It was fun altering the cover of this Decomposition Book.  Joanne gave me the idea to use some of my washi tape stash, finally! I used a few of my own handmade art papers, scrapbook papers, security envelope scraps, book text and random stuff from my collection of collage papers.  

Collage is another mindfulness practice that is calming and rewarding!

Inside front cover

Inside back cover

Back cover

Thank you for visiting!  

I hope you might be inspired to start the mindful practice of artful lettering, too!

XO

Sarah

Can I Just Doodle for Days?

For this Spring's iHanna DIY Postcard Swap,

I was inspired by the art journaling e-course I recently took from 

Roxanne Coble.  I have pinned a lot of her art journal spreads to my Pinterest board 

"Visual Journals and Sketchbooks", because I love her work and could stare at it for hours.  It is so interesting and beautiful.  In her class, "Creatures", she taught her process.  She's a wonderful teacher and it was a great class.  In this process, there is a lot of layering and loads of doodling,
(which I love to do!).

I really enjoyed making these cards, and I love the way they turned out.  I even sent one to Roxanne!

I started off with two sheets of 14x17 Bristol paper, knowing I would cut them up into the cards once they were covered with art.  I dashed out some black acrylic onto the blank sheets, just to get things going, then played around with my carefully curated collage pieces.

By the time I was ready to glue, not all the pieces ended up in the collage.  Then I added some muted/neutral colors of paint.

 

(Yes, that's a gin and tonic in the left bottom corner photo!)

Next, "pattern pieces" of collage and translucent liquid acrylics for some good color pops.  And black and white paint for contrast and interest, along with some paint doodles.

Then, I went to town doodling (for days) adding some other color pops of paint, and some liquid gold leaf doodles as well.  And was so excited to see how the cards came out, I didn't take a picture of the completed 14x17's.  I got 18 cards out of the two Bristol sheets.  Here they are:

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I am looking forward to seeing what I get in the mail!

XOXO

Sarah