Artful Prayer in Mini Session

My thoughts have been going in the direction of art journaling a lot lately. For one thing I'm working on a really big project that involves my art journal. But more on that later.   But also I have been preparing to teach at a retreat this weekend and also another one next weekend. I will be teaching a mini session of my Artful Prayer Workshop at each of them.   For the Artful Prayer Workshop we use only artist pencils of various kinds and markers.  I love what I call "paint and paste" work.  But I find that when I work on something with that approach, I get so caught up in the technique of it that I fail at the journaling part.  But when working with the slow medium of artist pencils, my mind has the freedom and space to move forward with my prayer time.

You know I am a self professed paper snob. I have trouble finding a journal made just right with just the right paper to work with my various pencil supplies.  So I've made journals for the weekend participants.  Each one is different so they can choose and be unique.  When I teach classes I'm all about making choices and about being your unique self.

Here is a smidgen sneak peek at a small part of the example for the weekend class.  But one of the things I insist on whether my students are 5 or 75 is that no one can just copy mine.  I teach concepts and techniques not projects.  They must find a way to make it their own.  

 My penmanship is less that ideal.  And sometimes I have students who are naturals when it comes to lovely lettering.  I am not.  And I find that for me to spend too much time focusing on the penmanship can ruin the prayerful mood of the moment.  So, I just don't worry about it.

 

I've also been playing lately with Jennifer Frith's approach to journaling with a weekly calendar.  Its kind of fun and I am thinking about ways to incorporate it into my regular format.  Here are some of my first attempts.  These were created in a hardbound Moleskine using graphite, Derwent Inktense, and Faber Castell Pitt markers.

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Older Kids to Create Pen and Ink Designs

I mentioned in an earlier post that I will be teaching some local kids classes in July.  The older kids, ages 11 - 15 will be working in pen and ink creating elaborate designs in black and white.  I have been creating this kind of design since I was 13.  So this class is a perfect age for it.  We'll have lots of fun.  This kind of "doodling" has become quite popular in recent years.  But, actually it has been around for hundreds of years in various ancient art forms. My sister is a quilter and she says these kinds of designs are even used in quilting.

Wind and Honey Creations

Reviewing My New Markers

I've just purchased a new set of Prismacolor brush tip markers.  I purchased a set of 8 yesterday at Michaels at 40% off.  So far, I am very pleased with them.  On a journaled page with a coat of acrylic paint, there is no bleed through and they write quite well on the paint.  On a composition journal page with no paint, the marker shows through slightly but does not actually bleed through.  Even an ink pen will show through the paper a bit.  The colors go on clear and are pleasing shades.

Now, here is what I like best.  Usually I prefer using an 18/0 brush for line work, lettering, or pen and ink work because I just can't get the markers to work for me.  But these are the closest I've ever found to the performance I want in brush tipped markers.  I was so excited when I first found Micron brush tip pens.  But when I press the brush tip to get a wider stroke, it does not recover to move to tiny stokes quickly enough to be effective.  The Prismacolor brush tip marker does recover its shape quickly allowing for a stroke that goes from wide to tiny without lifting the marker.  I have also tried Pitt brush tip markers.  They do recover allowing a stroke to go from wide to tiny.  But when I try to use the tip of the brush to create very small strokes, it tends to collapse making my stroke much larger than I wanted.  The Prismacolor brush tip maintains its shape enough to allow tiny strokes too.

The Prismacolor brush tip markers are acid free, lightfast, permanent, water resistant, pigmented ink, and archival.  My only real complaint was the lack of a pink in the set.  I just wish I had a pink!  LOL!

I still prefer the 18/0 brush and ink.  But these brush tip markers are a fun and convenient alternative.  Here is a little test sketch I did with the Prismacolor marker.

Butterflies of Hope

I have a friend who is in a horrific family crises.  It is of a very personal nature.  And I do not feel it is my place to share the details of her story.  My friend's name is Sarah.   Several months ago as a distraction, I sent her a book called Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.  She began to do the exercises in the book and then sent me her first drawing.  It was done in pen and ink - a bit daring for one's first drawing I'd say.  In this drawing she expresses her faith in the midst of her circumstances.  I think the drawing is beautiful and creative.

As an effort to help her financially with the situation she is currently in, I have printed her design on some blank notecards.  They are for sale in my etsy shop in a variety of colors.  I did contact etsy admin. and got permission to do so.  All profits from the sale of these cards will go to Sarah.

Please take the time to look.  

Thank you, Elizabeth