More Bookmark Beauty!

My mailbox is stuffed with beauty! Let's see what I have received.

These are from artist Dawn Supina in Canada.





These bookmarks are from artist Beverly Teichrob also in Canada. The small bookmark she made for me is actually a notebook designed for writing quotes and ideas while you are reading.

This bookmark is from artist Anna Nowicki the UK. I also had to show you the card she sent with. I think that's her artwork printed on there. Am I right Anna? What a awesome idea for greeting cards.

These bookmarks are from artist Inge Bekaert in Belgium.

Look at the pretty envelope she sent these in. Inge did you make this?

This bookmark is from artist Mary Hunt from South Dakota.

Such lovely treasures, each and every one! I will continue to pester the mailman in anticipation of the newest batch of beauties. :)

XO

New Soul Journal Yahoo group!

We now have a Yahoo group for fellow Soul journalers to discuss, share and continue friendships started in the Soul Journaling project.

Join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SoulJournaling/

Announcing My First Joggles Class!

My first Joggles class is all set up and I wanted to share all of the info with you. HorrAY! I am so excited!

Class starts Tues, Nov. 11th!!!!

An Altered Journal class with Sarah Whitmire: $45- 4 Weeks/Lessons

Week 1: Prep Work and Collage:
Start by learning how to choose a suitable journal, one that will take paint and not fall apart. Next, learn how to prep the journal to take paint, with techniques that can be used to prime many other surfaces for acrylic painting. Learn the basics of collage, with special tips on visual style and techniques that artists use to create visual interest. Learn techniques and methods for tearing and distressing paper, tips on what types of printed images will perform well and which will bleed, and tips on gluing work correctly and in an archival fashion. Get insider advice on color and composition that will help you in any of your future forays into mixed media art, while creating beautiful collage work on the covers of your new journal.

Week 2: Texture Tools and Stencils: Learn to make fun homemade stencils that allow you greater creativity in your stenciling and can save you lots of time and money shopping at craft stores. Next, add real 3-Dimensional texture to your journal covers using my personal, tried and true, secret technique. Also, learn the basics of vibrant and permanent Staz-On inks and cleaners, a wonderful product you'll find yourself coming back to time and again.

Week 3: Painting:
Learn the basics of color mixing as well as methods and practices for layering fluid acrylics to achieve your desired look. This week is the perfect lesson for newcomers to fluid acrylics and a great review for those with experience. Learn as you work, painting both covers this week. The techniques and theories learned this week can be applied to any mixed media project you plan in the future.

Week 4: Finishing Touches:
Bringing it all together. Use the collage techniques you learned in week 1 to finish the inside covers of your new journal. Learn ways to seal your journal so that it will stand up to wear. Also, learn to embellish your journal, and other future projects, with ribbons, fibers, brass embellishments and gold leafing to create the look you desire for your piece.

This is a fun upbeat class for all levels and NO prior painting experience is necessary! Join us! :)

New classes will be posted Sunday at: Joggles online classes.

More Bookmarks!

More beautiful treasures have arrived at my house. I have decided to start scanning them now as they come in because I think you can see the detail better than in the previous photos. I can't help but feel moved by the bookmark project. They are so precious and have such personal deep meaning contained on each one. Every time a new one arrives I spend time gazing at it amazed at all of the beauty that the artist has shared from their journal.

This bookmark is by artist Ruby Bisson all the way from Australia:

These bookmarks are from artist Elizabeth Mackie who is also from Austraila:

This one Elizabeth made just for me. It folds out almost like a shrine.

(front folded)

(back unfolded)

(inside)

These are from artist Lay Hoon from Malaysia:

Look at the adorable picture she enclosed too! :)

This bookmark is from artist Francine Cronos in California:

Again such beauty all around. Thank you so much to the awesome artists!

*SOUL HUGS*

"Broadway & Grand - NYC"

SOLD

16x20 OIL on canvas

"Canal street - NYC"

12x18 Oil on canvas

"L line No. 2 - NYC"

SOLD

16x18 OIL on canvas

"7 Express - NYC"

SOLD

12x20 Oil on canvas

"Meatpacking No.2- NYC" Gansevoort street painting

SOLD
12x18 Oil on canvas

New York Meatpacking District is good place for inspiration with its rugged beauty: cobblestone streets and late 19th-century warehouses of red and brown brick. The neighbor used to be home of the butchers and artists attracted by cheap rent. Since early 90s the Meatpacking District began to change its face. Now it’s a home to high fashion couture, restaurants, trendy clubs, etc...

Soul Journaling prompt

The wonderful Carol recently asked me for a new Soul Journaling prompt to complete her book and I thought I would share my idea with everyone:

For your last prompt how about a spread on "Doors"? Think about symbolic doors you have gone through in your life. Doors you have closed. Doors you have yet to open. You may even wish to make them open and close and add journaling and photos behind them.


Have fun!

XO

Soul Journaling Bookmarks!

Look at these beauties that arrived in my mailbox yesterday! Wowser!


Artists from left to right are: Kathryn Antyr(2), Cheryl Gebhart, and Letha Richardson.


It's not too late to join our book mark swap. Just make one bookmark (any size) using photocopied pages of your Soul journal (don't forget to write your name on it somewhere) and mail it to me so that it arrives here before Sept. 1. I will then swap them out and mail one back to you. Please send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope along with your bookmark and drop me an email to get my mailing address. sarah@caspiana.com


This is such a neat way to add something extra special to your journal from one of your fellow Soul Journalers. I hope you join us!



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I also wanted to add that I've got some awesome "secret classes" in the works. I am learning video editing right now so that may be in our future! :D Shhh...more info SOON! SOON! SOON!

Soul Journaling: Day 22

Happy Sunday everyone!

I decided to make a second "misfit" character. And here she is:



She's a bit scarier than my cat/mouse character which I kinda like...hehe



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Today's Prompt:
Working on the next two page blank spread of your journal:
-First collage various papers such as dictionary pages onto your journal then dry brush with Gesso.
-Then using a permanent pen write for at least 5 minutes using the prompt ” Today I feel…” Sound familiar? ;) (The first time we did this prompt we covered the words with Gesso and not the other way around but today I want our words to symbolically show through. )

-This next part is gonna be messy. If you are worried about your manicure you may want to put on a pair of rubber gloves and it's a good idea to have some paper towels and wet wipes handy too. We are going to finger paint a self-portrait! No paintbrush or tools allowed. This may be a little frustrating but allow yourself to relax and just think about the shapes and colors. Feel the cold paint between your fingers and think about how our ancestors painted their caves, their body, and many other things using only their hands.
- Make sure you fill both pages with color. Add any personal symbols too. Remember only your hands are to paint these pages. ;)

Here's my finished painting. At first I was frustrated but then started to enjoy myself and was pretty impressed I was able to even make a face that resembled me using only my fingers. I think she looks pretty happy too. ;)

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I hope you have enjoyed Soul Journaling…this is not an end but a new beginning. First, I want to thank you all again for this amazing journey. It would not have been successful without your courage and friendship. I am humbled and honored.

Secondly, I want you to know that this is not the end but a beginning for us all. Look how far we have come! I encourage you to continue working in your journals a little every day. Even if it’s just to write one or two words. I may in the future do a second installment of Soul Journaling and I do plan to sporadically post prompts on my blog when I can... so look for those. I have also made a new poll at the right hand side of the page so I can see which prompts you enjoyed the most and which you liked the least. I appreciate you taking a moment to check these as this will help me with future prompts.

I also wanted to mention that the awesome folks at Joggles found out about my Soul Journaling project and were so impressed that they have asked me to teach online classes for them! I pretty much have free reign to teach anything I want so of course I am jumping at this opportunity as it has always been a dream of mine to teach art. I will post more info about these classes in a week or so. :)

Please keep in touch.

Love & Laughter,

*SOUL HUGS*

Sarah

Soul Journaling: Day 21

Hi everyone. :)

Here is my Photocopy page from yesterday:

And here is my photocopy book mark all ready to go. I collaged the photocopies onto watercolor paper and inked the edges with ColorBox Chalk. I decided to do both sides of my bookmark (optional) and then wrote my name on a small tag on one of the ribbons. (If you are participating in this swap please make sure to sign your bookmark somewhere.)

Boy my book is getting full! I love it!

It get's harder and harder to close each day now... ;)

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Today's Prompt: Misfit Creatures and Sad Super Heros. Have you ever wished you had super powers? Do you ever feel like a misfit? I know I have had many moments like these, especially in the "real" world when I show people my art who just don't "get" it. It's in those moments I feel like a real weirdo with two heads. :P

Here are a few of my past "misfit" paintings: (click for detail)

Today we are going to do a two page spread about a time we felt like a misfit.

Let's work in the next two page blank spread of your journal:

-First make sure your pages are prepped with a dry brush of Gesso if you are not working in a watercolor book.

-Then I want you to draw your misfit character in your journal. Here's how I make mine:

Using a fine tip permanent pen I begin by doodling a random shape. I try not to think about what I am doing and just let my lines be free to cross and go where they may. If i don't like it I can always Gesso over it.

Then I spend some time looking at my lines, kinda like finding shapes in clouds. :)

When I see a character coming through the lines I start to go over them and darken the ones I like.

I'm starting to see a catlike creature with this one. I never know what I am gonna get and the surprise is always so fun. I continue by adding washes of paint to further develop my characters shape and drawing in new features I'd like him to have (like his teeth and feet).

My misfit ended up with a unicorn horn looking thing and instead of painting over that I think I am going to keep it and add lines to it to define it even further.

Keep adding washes of paint, lines and details to your misfit. Think about his or her personality as you do this.

Don't worry about extra lines or drawing a perfect picture. This process should be as enjoyable as finding shapes in clouds.
After you are done with your misfit creature continue developing your spread by journaling about a time you felt like a misfit or super powers you wished you had.

I'll share my misfit page with you all tomorrow. :)

*HUGS*