The Half-Finished Journal Parade

So the past week or so I have been quenching my thirst to make journals, from which I got to thinking about all the journals I have currently sitting in my studio, not able to go in my journal trunks because only those finished may enter that land of journal fiefdom! 

I have many more unfinished journals than what I share in this vlog, and it doesn't really bother me having so many semi-complete journals. I know some people feel guilty wanting to start yet another journal but I don't think it's wrong to love variety or being able to dip into other journals when you need to (this is where the 'theme' thing I talk about in the vlog comes into play). I think of it as having a favourite dish (my main art journal - currently my loose leaf journal) but occasionally having a taste or try of other things on the menu...still I'd be interested to hear how anyone else works, or what they would do with half-finished journals?

Psst just so you know I cut out about 5 mins of me acting (more) crazy in this....you're welcome ;) I blame the cough syrup!

So any suggestions for these? What about your unfinished journals?? Let me know in the comments below & I'll do a blogpost or video or something if I come up with any grand plans for using them up myself.

Much love

Jennibellie

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Rika Dehombreux

Hello lovelies, it is gone 10pm here and I'm battling a cold atm so I'm going to TAT-n-dash today, leaving you in the very capable hands of this weeks artist, Rika Dehombreux have fun xx

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
Hello everyone! My name is Rika Dehombreux. I am from Belgium and I presently live in Germany with my partner Sam and my dog Lupa. I am a spiritual artist. My work is intuitively created in pencil, paint or clay after clearing my mind through meditation in order to line up with the cosmic energy of the universe. I believe that my images reflect tenderness, enchantment and happiness and echo the purity of a child's wonder. Although I realize that I am journeying with my extensive imagination, I am playing with the idea that what appears could be messages from the universe intending to encourage and console us on our often challenging path towards inner peace. That's why I call my art mystic or visionary.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
Creating art to me is like cocooning. It is a very personal process that comes out of the depths of my soul. Building an art career has created the necessity to showcase my art. I am a very shy person and I do not naturally seek exposure so I have found it very challenging to present myself and my work to the public. Now that I am doing just that I am happy that my art brought me this way. I enjoy meeting people and interacting with them about art and how it affects our lives.

Have you ever found anything that originally daunted you as an artist that you can now overcome easily?
I used to be terrified by artist’s block but now I see it as a period of inspiration. When I feel that I cannot create I turn to the more functional parts of the business like organizing supplies and filing and for the rest of the time I take distance from my artwork and I take a vacation of the mind. When I feel like making art during an artist’s block I do experimental work or I explore types of art making that I do not usually do, like art journaling for example. When the block is over with I feel that I have spent time gathering new ideas and getting organized.

Do you think you have achieved a uniquely recognizable style as an artist, or do you find it a struggle to find your own style?
This is a difficult question. I guess it depends on how you define “having a uniquely recognizable style”. I recognize my hand in everything I do but I like to have the freedom to be all over the place. I have a hard time restricting myself when it pertains to how I proceed, what techniques I apply, what subjects I paint, which media I use or what colors I combine. This is mainly due to the nature of the intuitive work I do and because I go along with what I feel in that particular moment. For now this feels like what I have to do. Maybe I am still in a too experimental phase of my art to stick to one well defined style or maybe I simply like to explore and reconsider my style.

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?
You can find me and my artwork on my website. There you will also find a link to my facebook page and my blog.

Thank you so much for being on TAT Rika, I loved hearing about your intuitive process yet at the same time your work looks very tranquil to me - nice to think that creating intuitively doesn't have to be a manic waving-hands-full-of-paint-in-the-air kind of expression but it can be a peaceful connection to ones core too. As I said I am TATing n dashing tonight so I'm gonna go get me some warm water to ease my throat and then force some smushy cuddles outta Sweepiebum (ps love your pup Rika ;) )

Do you want to be a TATTer??

To be featured email me or find all the details here =)

Mini Journaling

Hello lovelies

This is a very quick post from me tonight as it’s very late and I’m all but sleep-walking lol

Here is a quick video I did on the concept of multi-page journaling. If you have watched my previous flip videos especially you will probably have seen that in the past I’ve been rather fond of putting a journal within a journal, and creating many pages at once is what I think they are especially good for. You can find ways to make quick n easy mini journals in this particular video playlist here – I used a simple pamphlet stitch; a true journalers staple.

Much love (and goodnight, sleep-tight!)

My Winter Set-Up for My Outdoor Studio

Hi guys, I've been getting quite a few questions about my outdoor space in relation to the coming winter months/general bad weather so thought I'd post this lil vlog as a to those q's.

For this new space I don't have to do that much, as it is pretty much built like a tank and the weather does not matter to it much except for the stiffness in closing the door (as the new wood expands and contracts through weather changes).

If you have an outdoor space more like my old version though - ie a lil makeshift space, then here's a few things extra I did not show in this vid that seemed to help it survive...up until the weather got real bad and got it that is:

1) Bubble-wrapped the interior of the windows - the window panes were flimsier than the screen of an iphone so I think it helped them against the wind, as well as insulating and keeping out the damp.

2) Tubs of salt - attracts any interior dampness.

3) Cover the whole thing with a waterproof sheet (I used an old camping ground sheet) to protect during the times of really heavy downpour.

And obviously you need to sort out any cracks or gaps as if you have those they'll be the main culprits for issues.

Obviously nothing can be done about the weather - if it is going to be bad then that's that and it's the risk you take when you get an outdoor studio so I can't give any guarantees, just do what you can in terms of protection and preventative and remove anything to precious to part with!

Psst sorry for the shakiness, here's the vlog:

Much love

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Maedhbh Spain

Hi guys, it's tuesday again so that means I've a new artist to share with you today...and though I feel like a judge on X Factor when I say 'I can't believe she's only twelve years old' it's true she is - talent knows no age limits, nor does following your heart =)

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.

Hi! My name is Maedhbh. I am twelve years old and I am in a family of four. I do mixed media art and sometimes I art journal. I also do things like DIY's and I like to use recycled materials.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?

The biggest challenge is probably where I live and the small amount of supplies available, compared to America where you might have more supplies available. It is also hard because materials are quite expensive so I have to save up for a long time to afford certain ones.

What do you love most / least enjoyable about your art?

My favourite part of art is probably making things that turn out just right. When you make something that turns out just right you feel great! I don't like when you use a lot of materials and a lot of time and then your project doesn't turn out looking so great!!

Do you ever lose your mojo, and if so, how do you get it back?

If I ever lose my mojo I stop doing art for a few days and look at Youtube tutorials and read blogs for inspiration. Then I go back and try some of the things I saw. This usually helps me.

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?

You can find out more about me and my art on my blog.

I am also on Youtube as Maedhbh Spain.

That you for sharing Maedhbh, I'm so impressed with your work and sincerely hope you carry on with your art through the coming years. I had a comment on a video today (yes I do read the comments that come through, though I may not have the time to respond to them all) saying 'if you ever get married please don't stop doing this' and I literally thought 'why on earth would I do that?' It seemed the most bizarre thing in the world to me but I think some people do think that art eventually needs to give way to 'real life' and while sure we have responsibilities I hope Maedhbh that you will surround yourself with people who know it is important to you and never seize to follow your heart in your artwork as you get older =)

Do you want to join the TAT ranks??

To be featured email me or find all the details here =)

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Anne Mathews

OMG, OMG, third tuesday of the month how did that happen??

Somebody put the clock on stop for a while please, I've got art to make tee hee so this is a quick post from me, so I can get jiggy with it (*it being paints!), enjoy this weeks TAT =D

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
Recognising myself as an artist gives me happy butterflies, but it also scares me too. As a young girl I admired people who could draw, and I even managed to get to a level in my drawing I was happy with. For a number of reasons, I left school and started working in an office at 16. Any artistic ambitions I had were put to bed, and it stayed that way for 20 years. That fact used to make me sad, but I’m a firm believer that everything in life happens for a reason, even if we don’t know why at the time. About five years ago I came across a book by Danny Gregory, “The Creative License”. Discovering that book was quite a moment for me, the tagline “giving yourself permission to be the artist you truly are” resonated quite deeply. I realised I hadn’t given myself full permission to pursue my artistic self. I create art for my own amusement, and as I’m easily distracted I like to create in many ways, such as drawing zentangles/doodles, hand lettering, collage, manipulating images in photoshop, and making messy marks with inks and gesso on copy paper. I love the fact that I can start with a blank sheet of paper (or a blank screen) and after an hour or so I will have created something that previously didn’t exist. How exciting! Of course, often times the vision in my head will not be properly translated onto the page. It’s times like that when I have to pause and not throw it in the bin, but to work with what I’ve got and see if I can make something of it. When I’m not making art of some description, I might do a bit of crochet or knitting, something not too mentally taxing that keeps my hands busy. 

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it? 
My biggest challenge is overcoming my impatience. Because I re-discovered art later in my life I put pressure on myself to be productive with the time I’ve got. I know there are no short cuts to developing as an artist, and I have to remind myself on a daily basis to just do what I can. I am getting better at accepting that I have to interrupt my creative time to wash dishes, do laundry and even feed myself. I also remind myself that I am not a robot capable of operating all day and all night! 

What is your heart’s greatest desire for your life as an artist? 
To continue to grow as an artist, and have the time and resources to devote to it. I recently designed a couple of t-shirts for my hubby-to-be and got them printed through Zazzle, it’s quite a thrill to see my images on a real product. The giddy heights would be for others to find my designs attractive so they want to buy it too. For now, I’m happy to create just for me so I can see what it is I actually enjoy creating. 

Do you ever lose your mojo, and if so, how do you get it back?
For sure! Sometimes I lose it several times a day, how careless! That’s when I find my need for several projects a bit of a lifesaver. If I’m staring at a blank sheet of paper and my creative muse has gone awol, I’ll do some mark making using copy paper and black gesso, splat ink onto wet paper, crochet a granny square, watch a video tutorial, anything to get the creative wheels turning. If there is still a lot of resistance then I’ll stop, maybe take a short walk, or have a lie down, and listen to a guided meditation for half an hour (this is a new ploy I’ve been trying). Sometimes we do need to step away, so rather than fight it, accept it and know that the creative urge will return in some form or other. 

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art? 
I’ve been posting work on Flickr for a few years, so that’s the main place where my images are. However, I’ve very recently set up a wordpress blog, so am getting to grips with it slowly. It will be place for me chat a bit more about my creative journey and process. Also here's a link to my tentative steps into the world of print on demand.

Thank you so much for sharing your interview and beautiful work Anne =) a lot of what you have said had resonated with me, especially 'overcoming my impatience' being your biggest challenge. I too have that challenge and put too much pressure on myself to 'be creative' during every god given free minute that I have, but I am learning. I am learning to be more caring of myself than that. I am learning that it is our self-care, just like hot showers and bad tv and retail therapy and lattes and long letters & emails to friends and trashy novels and fur baby time. I am learning that art is a tool to be used when we need it; it is not art that needs or demands anything from us.

PS If you haven't entered my current giveaway for one of my 20 prizes yet you have one more day to do so, good luck =D

Do you wana join in the TATiness ... ???

Email me or click the link to find all the details here =)

New Texture Techniques Video

Hello lovelies, I have a new texture techniques video for you which shows a few quick & easy tutorials for getting instant lovely texture. 

Here's a project I started to make with it yesterday:

I covered the top of the box with the texture

The project was not intending to be finished here, this texture was only supposed to be a background but being a tactile person I can't bring myself to cover it up - in reality it looks and feels very much like fabric...

 but all you really need to do it is paint & paper! Here's the video:

 enjoy gettin' messy =)

Much love

Jennibellie

xoxo

Stamping Stencils Experiments Vlog

Hi guys, so I've not been feeling too hot lately so I've just a little vlog of experiments to share today. Good news is though Jennibellie's on the mend and looking to get in some video-recording tonight for a 'proper' vid woohoo! Felt like I've not been 'on it' a lot lately, but beginning to feel like that is changing =)

So as I said this is just a lil experimenting I was doing as I wanted to know which results were best for getting a nice crisp stamped image with a stencil. The stencil I am using is by the lovely Jessica Sporn, who has been a featured TAT artist previously, and who has her own stencils out.

 Have a great weekend =)

Much love

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Kirsten Vogt

Hi guys, me again, although there's not been much 'before' so far this week for there to be much 'again', as I have had a distinct lack of inspiration so far this month. In fact generally just 'blaaah'iness all round so far this month (I tend to notice my art follows my life patterns) but I'm here thankfully with another share from another artist, this week from Germany, woot!! I want more Europeans on TAT yeah! Actually calling all countries because, as Kirsten points out in this interview, we get to see what everyone all over the world is doing through the tinterwebs which can be artistically scary and overwhelming, but it's so great that it can also be used for good things like this that can reassure us, that let us know that other people are sharing our boat (which is why I'm always honest about inspiration ebbs when inspiration ebbs happen, because that's life and part and parcel of the joys of being artistic!) We're real here! Enjoy Kirsten's interview ;)

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
I cannot remember a time, where I was not creative, but my phases of creativity were different each time. As a kid I had crafty times with my mother, we would make tons of things out of cardstock, craft foam, window color. As a Teen it was music and photography. A few years ago I find a video on YouTube about art journaling, so everything begins. Now I don’t know where to store all my stuff. I create cards, I love art journaling, I design and bind books, I sew, I scrap… sooooo many things, so I will say: I’m an all-round-artist. I think, it’s depending on my mood, but I think journal binding and scrapbooking are my favorite at the moment.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
My biggest challenge is still the lack of acceptance for my work. Most people around me (except the family) only say “oh hey nice”, but there is nobody who “needs” my stuff to buy something. It’s frustrating, but I think it’s a learning process for me, that I should not pay so much attention to what others say. I do this for me, although I have more books in stock than I can ever fill.

What do you love most / least enjoyable about your art?
In my art it’s easy to let emotions flow. Even if I’m depressed or glowing from happiness, I literally close my eyes and let my emotions flow. In these moments I don’t think about my job and problems, it’s the same feeling you have as a kid sitting in your homemade tent with your teddy bears.

Do you think you have achieved a uniquely recognizable style as an artist, or do you find it a struggle to find your own style?
I think it’s not easy to find your own style, and for me I think I’m not unique at all. In the most things you do there is somewhere in the world doing the same. 20 years ago, that doesn’t matter, but today with internet/YouTube you SEE what others do. Okay, there is always a unique touch to my art, because I choose the paper and the colors, but the original idea will never be unique. But every day I craft I will try to find something unique to make.

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?

You can find me at my blog http://huiwaldproductions.blogspot.de/ and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HuiwaldProductions

...as I kinda did my larger written piece in this TAT in my intro I'll keep my outro quite short: Thank you so much for sharing Kirsten, your story (regarding your interests) sounded very much like my own when I first started creating again which is why I say with love - I think you will just have to accept you will always have more books that you can ever fill! And especially if you continue with the bug of making more, mmmmmeh I had to make my peace with that a looooooooong time ago lol and never let it stop you adding to it either if the mood takes! My opinion is creative instincts are there to be followed, because you miss them when they're gone...

but yeah they do always come back! =)

(couldn't leave it on a sour note!)

Do you want to join the TAT ranks??

To be featured email me or find all the details here =)

20,000 Subscriber Giveaway on YT

Hi guys just a little note to let you know that I've a giveaway going over on my youtube channel. I've have over 20k of subscribers and thought I'd do a little thank you, below is the video but you must comment on the video to be entered (ie not here, though comments here are welcome as usual...they just won't be an entry). The 20 winners will be picked on 16th October.

Good luck everyone =D

PS New things are going in my shop this/next week so hopefully any of you that are avid Belliettes and already have all of these prizes will have new things to pick from if you become winners =)

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Sharon Hendry

Wow a late TAT today sorry guys, I got sidetracked into watching Under the Dome & Hart of Dixie with an Indian Takeaway, I know I know it's a tough life, my arm reeeeeally had to be twisted ;) but we all need our r&r (and easy-going tv) from time to time. Happy that I still have something arty to dig into today though; that's just one reason why I love TAT, it makes me feel arty, even when I've done zero art...like somehow I am keeping my finger in the arty pie lol this week the featured artist in named Sharon, or aka "ArtL8dY", enjoy =)

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
From the time I was a little girl I was making drawings and selling them to my neighbors. It never occurred to me that I can be anything else but an artist. After I graduated from college with a fine arts degree, I was qualified to work as a waitress. The owner of the restaurant where I worked asked me to design a new menu. It turns out that I designed the worst menu ever but it motivated me to learn how to get it right. That’s why I became a graphic designer. So I started working in print shops and learned every aspect of pre-press that included layout and typography. My goal is to provide images that convey free spirited, whimsical and positive messages. I’d like to see them used to inspire, decorate or educate. These days when I’m not working on personal art, I teach graphic design at the community college. My students get a kick out of seeing the world’s ugliest menu. It gives them hope! 

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?

I’ve been lucky because I have had the support of family and friends and my husband. It allows me to make art without fear of what others will think. But the hard part is promoting the work for publication or gallery exhibits. When I was doing graphic design I always had to solve a visual problem defined by a client. The personal work I create is about expression and creativity but I do have dreams of being published or in a gallery. So once artwork is created it has to be marketed and promoted. That’s a challenge! I do find that the process itself is very therapeutic so no matter where the art ends up, I gain tremendously from the creation of it.

What advice would you offer to any perspective new artist?
Like I said, I knew as a little girl that I was an artist. I just never stopped being one. As we grow older, we loose that creative freedom and need validation with certification or degrees. Don’t be afraid to call yourself an artist if you are creative. Own it! Danielle LaPorte says, “Declare it and share it!” Surround yourself with positive people who see life through the same lens as you, not people who steal your energy. I know that’s not always easy but just about every goal that is worth achieving involves other people so you better find some encouraging people to hang out with! That means you have to be positive and encouraging as well.  I tell my students to always keep learning new things. Sign up for workshops to help you grow. It will put you in an environment to meet others who have similar interests. If you can’t attend one in person, make the most of online classes. There’s so many of them out there now. Don’t be intimidated by what other artists create. Be inspired by their passion and fearlessness rather than their success.

What is your greatest personal achievement either in your art, or because of it?
Besides finally learning how to design an attractive menu, I haven’t achieved it yet and that’s just fine by me because I am enjoying the journey towards it. I recognize that having the passion to make art is all I need to keep going! 

 Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?

Here is a link to posts on my blog related to my art journals

For current blog posts: http://e14studio.blogspot.com

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/artl8dy/

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtL8dY

Thank you so much for sharing Sharon =D I love how you incorporate the skills of your graphic design into your artwork while it still containing such a free spirited carefree energy - that is a real skill. Sometimes 'carefree' and 'pleasing to the eye' just don't mix, personally if I'm making something just for the sake of making it I don't always care if it is pleasing to the eye, because it's about expression not results but you seem to manage both simultaneously really, really beautifully. Good luck with your dreams of being published and exhibited...that goes for everybody with those or similar dreams, the world needs our art 

- all of our art  =D

Do you ... ???

Email me or click the link to find all the details here =)