Written by AnnaDenise on Monday, April 26, 2010 at 21:00
There's a new blog in town, showcasing artists, crafters and creative folk in general: Imaginative Bloom.
I simply love the clean design of this website, the optimistic tone and the great finds blogger Irene Zuccarello put on there so far. I mean, how awesome is this cloud sweater?
Can't wait to see what else she'll write about and how the blog will develop!
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UPDATE: I got featured on Imaginative Bloom! Thank you Irene!!!
Written by AnnaDenise on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 16:30
Ever since I started my first journal in 2007, art journaling has been my great passion. I know that might sound silly, because art journaling is mainly about re-creating memories based on life while it’s happening. So basically, I love reflecting on life and on my days. This has always been a big part of my life (judging by the large box of journals I have), but being a highly visual person, I find that in bringing images and text together, I can get a lot closer to my true experience.
Since I am so passionate about art journaling, I often talk about my journals and about the joy they bring me. I try to really make other people see how much fun this is and how easy staring an art journal can be. Since not a small part of the fun is the Internet community around it (you!), I would like to share with you some of the things I’ve learned in the past few years about the principles of art journaling. I’ve never been to art school, so I’ve pretty much had to figure all of this out by myself, as I am assuming most of you have as well. In the coming weeks, I’ll show you what I’ve done and what I’ve learned in three parts:
Part 1 – Topics and layouts
Part 2 – Color schemes and materials
Part 3 – Drawing and putting it together
This week, for part one, I’d like to focus on the topic of the ‘spread’ (two facing pages of your journal) and layout.
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Written by AnnaDenise on Monday, April 19, 2010 at 23:17
On Friday I had to be in Paris for a meeting (did I mention I ♥ my job?), so my boyfriend and I decided to stay for the weekend. Our hotel was, ehm, well, complete shit (excuse ze French). But hey, it was cheap, and so I had some money to spare on fifty cent yellow Eiffel towers, macarons, and postcards with... more Eiffel towers on them.
Yes, yes, I know - stop it with the macarons. And I will. But just one (or two) more okay?
There. That's it. No more macarons and girly prettiness (ok, maybe more girly prettiness, sorry).
I did take some pictures during our trip, but mostly we just enjoyed our time together relaxing (plus, sometimes taking a picture can really disrupt the moment). In the end, it didn't really matter what kind of hotel we slept in, because we pretty much spent the entire weekend on benches and in the grass outside. Drinking wine, eating cheese, looking at the blue sky. Oui oui Paris...
PS: I'm still working on the (elaborate) journal entries, but I haven't been feeling too hot since we got back, so I need to take it easy for a bit.
Written by AnnaDenise on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 23:20
Some days, things just go... very well. I just LOVE how these pages turned out. I know you're not supposed to say these kinds of things about your own work, but since I'm not one to sit around and quietly wait for the praise I deserve offline, why pretend otherwise online, right?
And really, I usually don't really like most of the pages I produce, so whenever a spread turns out just the way I like - it really is something to celebrate. I have long struggled to figure out what's important for me when it comes to finding that flow, and riding that wave creatively. I now think that for me, this is mostly about attention. I like to pay a lot of attention to detail and really sit for a while and think about composition, color, the message. But when you keep a daily art journal, like me, often times, there's just no time. Other days there's time, but it can feel like an obligation. An obligation I gladly put on myself - the final product and amount of energy I get from the daily hour(s) drawing are totally worth it - but life can really get in the way. I have come to accept the kinds of drawings that do or do not emerge from those days (where it feels like an obligation) a long time ago. They're part of my art journal and not necessarily reflect the mood of the moment I'm trying to portray, but say more about how I was feeling when I was working on the pages - which is just as important I think.
So the fact that I thought about, planned out, and worked on these pages - not for just an hour, but for a couple of hours over a couple of days - really shows, I think. Paying attention to what I like and how I like it turns my work into something I feel I can be proud of. I hope to create more moments of quiet contemplation like these in my life. Moments where I can ride the wave in active, alert concentration and peace.
But, I'm rambling and I need to go to sleep. You'll have to excuse the blahblah today, I got a big day tomorrow and I'm kind of nervous (plus, that annoying Lady Gaga / Beyonce song keeps playing in my head... k...k...kinda busy!)
Written by AnnaDenise on Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 23:12
Did you have a good weekend this weekend? I sure did. A fun-filled and social weekend, alternated with lots of train traveling.
Written by AnnaDenise on Friday, April 09, 2010 at 00:50
I realized I haven't put up any pictures of our home since, well, we moved in about a year ago. Actually it's just unbelievable to me that it's been almost a year already, but we just got a notice that our rent is going up next month (by a whopping €16,-), so it must be true. Anyways, I decided to share some parts of our home with you the coming few weeks. This week: our living room.
Everything we do or change in this house usually turns out to be a long-term project (we both have full time jobs). Plus we're renting, so we often have to think creatively. We're not allowed to put holes in those pristine white walls (aren't they just begging for it, though?), so I reframed some smaller things to put on shelves etc. In this picture: a beautiful watercolor painting of Ash, our cat Meneertje and myself by the talented Jenny M., a print of a digital collage I made for Ash, and a lovely redecorated vintage teapot by awesome designer Nina In Vorm.
These pictures really make me laugh because I did not intentionally put Meneertje in there at all. He's just such a little attention-whore and and insisted on creeping into view right when I snapped pictures. I can almost see the little thought-balloons in these pictures. "Hi there! Hi again! Hellooo!" Oh, and, please do check out the two plants I've managed to keep alive for longer than two months. Woop woop! And no, they're not plastic (I have considered that option, though).
This is the view from the front of the room towards the back. And below is my little chestnut display and my vintage flowerpot, and oh! Hey! Look at that! Meneertje!
My tights are really that green. Yes, I wore them to work. I loved it. My colleague with whom I share an office went home early today. Something with her eyes and reflecting light... can't remember.
Well, that's all folks! Let me know what you think, and do post links to pics of your own home if you have them - I love seeing other people's houses!
Written by AnnaDenise on Wednesday, April 07, 2010 at 00:48
Now, I ain't no scientist or nothing, but ehm... Why haven't you 'fixed' the allergy problem yet? Why haven't you scientist-people (yes, you, you know who you are) thought of something clever to keep my body from attacking itself? Huh? Where is me druuuggs? Arr!
OK. So far for feeling sorry for myself. It's not so bad. Of course I can still go to the park on a sunny day and roll around in the grass and hug some trees. Pluck flowers and go horseback riding. Talk to heavily perfumed ladies on the bus. Even come close to thinking that perhaps vaccuuming every week might not be strictly necessary. That's no problem at all. Wearing a spacesuit it isn't.
So perhaps it's even a good thing you didn't fix my 'little issue' here yet. At least I am appreciating the days I spend in the office.
(No but, seriously, you lazy f*cks, get to it, okay?)
Written by AnnaDenise on Saturday, April 03, 2010 at 00:21
I don't personally celebrate easter, but I wish everyone who does a very good easter weekend.
Spring has been lagging behind a bit here in Belgium (snow in March, hail in April) and I just hope this weekend of 'rebirth' will bring a little sunshine with it.
And because I'm tired, sick of grey skies, semi-estranged from my boyfriend, a tad bit overworked, over-hayfevered (oh yes, that started again), and over-socialized, I have decided to take it easy this weekend. No catching early trains and late arrivals for me. A wise decision. And yet, I feel a little sad for not joining my dad for breakfast coming Sunday.
So to cheer myself up I bought some macarons and a nice facial mask, got out a pretty magazine and played the Matthäus-Passion. Whilst soaking in a bubble bath. Sometimes a girl just needs her girl-time.
Amen.
