Another page from my "coloring journal" of illustrations.  I get so lost in clean crisp pages and linear drawings, it becomes my therapy. My coloring journal becomes a form of meditation for me, to first draw with my black fine tip markers. (Copic multiliners, Sakura microns)  Enter my piles of Copics.  Using the brush tips of the Copic sketch markers is like painting, blending shades and filling in the sketches with layers of color.  

I have notebooks and journals of thousands of quotes that i have collected since high school.  Choosing words that "speak to me" is also part of the the coloring therapy process.  So apparently this is telling me something:

…"some things have to be believed to be seen"…

Try it!  Go find a quote that speaks to you.  Grab a journal and black pen, and just begin to draw what flows from your heart to your hand.  Lines, doodles, patterns, images…..grab your Copics, colored pencils, and then color!  It's so good for your soul.

Painting signs, painting signs and painting more signs!!!  I have a great wholesale business selling original artwork to a few hundred shops and retailers all over the county.  My product line called "Whimspirations", consists of handpainted whimsical signs with fun and inspirational quotes.   The canvas panel signs are all made to order based on what the store's niche or regional market might be.  

In the past four weeks, i have painted over 800 pieces for shops in Virginia, Massachusetts, Florida, Idaho, California, Alaska, Hawaii (wish i could have hand delivered those!), Arizona, North Carolina, Maine, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan to mention a few.  Today i got orders from Texas and New Mexico.  It's always a thrill to see where my pieces go! 

Here are some of the bestsellers in my very sophisticated sorting area.  So, if i seem to disappear for a while, i just might be underneath piles of colorful canvas with writer's cramp!

Here to share, are some of my lonely little paintings and journal pages works waiting for "heart spill"…words and wisdoms to fill the colorful collaged and painted pages.  Quite often, i just like creating the base, with all the layers, dimensions and experimentation, only to save the inspirations and writings for another time.  It's the creative A.D.D. that i have had all my life.  When i create, i get to a certain point, am satisfied with the process and result, and then move on, even if there is more that can be added for completion.  Most of the time, i eventually get back to the piece and finish.

Painted layers, handmade embellishments, all of this was made from plain papers.  I will paint large sheets of my own colors, patterns, and then punch, die-cut, tear and collage.  

This creative process is equally fulfilling as having a finished work.  Having been trained as an artist my entire life, it's difficult for me to just "play" and experiment, and not be critical of the results.  Most of the time my artwork is for licensing, publishing or creating for clients, where specific results are expected.  So, to play in pages, without a deadline or expectation is a really good thing… it helps me grow……

Yes, on a roll, bloggin' like a champ!

 I'm liking the look back on my "Summer Series" art journals.  Here is a page spread in its beginning stages earlier this summer on my studio floor, .

The facing pages are painted with my signature colorful layers of Golden Fluid Acrylics, then loosely outlined with white paint brushed outlines.

Soon the painted pages to come to life with doodles, dots, outlines, inspirations.  It's full of all the elements i love and overdo, that i sprawl across every page.  It's okay. I like this series full of experiments, it's loose, messy, busy and vibrant.  It apparently is the summer of the white paint pen! Drawing details and lettering are created using the fine and medium tips.

and, i'm ready for my closeup…..let your soul take flight!!

This is the next page in my "Summer Series" art journal.  The "Summer Series" is much play and experimentation directing me in the next way to go.  It's important to me, to constantly seek new techniques to expand my work.  In this image, i painted my patterns on layers and layers with Golden Fluid Acrylics.  I first put down blocks of color, then outlined them with more color.  Then, painted leaves, dots, stripes and then shading the elements.

It's something different for me, NO WORDS!!!  I liked this painting just as it was, and decided not to word over it.

p.s. that little red smooge is some kind of UFPO (Unidentified Flying Paint Object)

Every today truly is the time of your life.  Sometimes it seems that we are always rushing through all our daily moments to get to the next moments!  I see my little 8 week old puppy "Teddie" so  small and sweet, wishing there was a miniature golden retriever breed!.  Knowing she will quickly grow to 50-60 pounds makes me stop and be conscious of the moments that pass so quickly.  So today, i choose to "cherish the puppy breath moments"!

What????  Ranger's DIMENSIONAL PEARLS that is!  There are several colors in the product collection, and i used TERRA COTTA on this project. 

Ranger also just released new colors in the LIQUID PEARLS line, and i can't wait to try them with this technique.   This creamy, thick pearlescent paint has a ultra thin tip perfect for drawing lines. I drew these journal pages with the pearls first and let it dry overnite.  When completely dry i was able to go in with watercolors and color the images.  Great dimensions, it's like a coloring book with raised lines!  I have a whole batch more drying today, and will share when they are done.  This technique is be great for your own custom embellishments, cards, journal pages, etc.

©joanne sharpe 2010

These "speak to my soul" words come to life with paper pages, paints and pens.  I love cropping the close ups of my written words and sentiments illustrated in the "Joy Journal".  They become new little works of art on their own merit.  (You can view the whole journal in the album on this page.)

"Life and art doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful"…

…"fly…soar…imagine…explore…"

"Live with intention, laugh, love and embrace yourself…"

"make it happen…do what it takes…never, ever, never give up"…

"  

"imagine…create…celebrate…innovate"

©joanne sharpe 2010

 Without a doubt.  Don't you always "know" what to do, where to go, when you feel that it's right, down deep in your heart?  It's that "trust your gut" thing.  

I continue to explore and reinvent my look, working with materials that i have used for decades as an artist.  On this canvas, papers, paint, ink, gesso, medium, pencil, bead gel, whimsically unite….. to share a heartful message that rings so true to me.

I love having a studio in my home.  Sometimes i can't sleep, so in the middle of the night i sneak into my studio (my daughter Meghan's old room) and putz around with my markers, paints, inks, pens, journals.   For years, when the kids went to bed, i'd create my art licensing assignments into the wee hours on our dining room table.  I've been very fortunate to work as a full time artist, and to also have a teaching studio outside of my home since 1998.  But nothing beats the home studio.       

Here are the FOUR painting, journaling, lettering projects i am working on right now.  A.D.D. much???!!  It's so freeing to leave everything out in my work space, work until my eyes won't stay open, then just close the door! My husband just  rolls his eyes. 

   

 There's no place like your creative space.