Calligrafun

Calligrafun
Originally uploaded by Connie Vickers

My Accomplices in Art seem to be taking a break from our site, but in case you check in...

I just started a class with Martha Lever called "CalligraFun" and it is. Several of my online art buddies are right in their with me trying to see if we can learn the art of Fun Lettering! This is my first attempt.

You guys are the best. How can it be a year since we were together. Hope you holidays were great! Hugs.

Christ Candle 2009

Christ Candle 2009, originally uploaded by Connie Vickers.

I have played all day. Rainy and cold and the perfect day to stay in and work in my journal. Tried lots of media today working on lesson #3 of a great journal class with Kate. Quick sketches. Really really bad sketches - but good experience. I think all of those "bad" sketches helped me work out the plan for my Christmas card for this year. Hopefully tomorrow I will turn this into a 4x6 I can mail to friends and family. No PROCRASTINATING! We will see...

Happy Thanksgiving!

One of my dear friends just returned from NCCAT all excited about her week and her journey into journaling. It made me sad that I have lost touch with the wonderful friends I made at NCCAT just a year ago. I think of our time together often and hope you are all journaling. My style of journal has varied since then and the book is much smaller - but just as personal and just as important. Life is a journey, not a destination. I hope your journey is a good one. Happy Holidays to all of you. love and hugs

Connie

reflections

here's the reflections stuff in word

Taking the Plunge!!

Hello all! I have finally taken the plunge and opened n etsy site. Right now it has photography on it but I am working up to putting some of my Art Journal pages up for sale. Trying to decide which one and how to price it and all that jazz...and secretly...I am a little shy about showing my pages to 'the world'. It was harder than I thought to put the photography...what if nobody likes them??? lol My husband laughed at me and said..upload those images...you will be fine! Anyway, if you want to check out the site here is the address: Enjoy!

www.moonchildphotography.etsy.com

Here is a sample:

New and News

Time slips by so quickly and so silently, and I keep meaning to do the one hundred things on my to-do list, but they fall between the cracks. But I found some time this morning to scan some pages from my current journal, and I'll post some more throughout the next week or so.

The New: So this is a new scan of Page 1 in Volume 12 of my journals. I began this page back in November, and I have slowly added to it. I began this page with watercolor and then drew the self-portrait from a photo that I took, and I've added watercolor pencil and ink. It is by no means finished, but I don't know if I'll go back to it much. I haven't worked much in my journal lately. I've been busy with so many things as well as just being plain worn out and exhausted. Perhaps with the school year wrapping up, I'll have more time soon.

The News: As mentioned, another school year is quickly coming to an end, and I am finishing my 13th year as a public school art teacher. I'm already looking forward to next year thinking about all the things that I'll do better and differently.

Our book finally has a title. Actually we have known about it for some time, but I just keep forgetting to post about it. But our book will be titled, The Journal Junkies Workshop: Visual Ammunition for the Art Addict, and will be released by North Light Books next year. We've actually have seen a design for the cover, and I'll share the finalized cover when I can. We are very excited about it.

And finally, Dave finished up his MFA in May, and has landed a teaching gig at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC where he will be teaching both Art Education and Studio Art courses. Congrats Dave.

My Dance Page

I haven't been able to be creative in my Visual Journal in a long while. But tonight...I had a chance to sit for a bit and create.
I call it my dance page. I like the feel of it. Old Vintage Pictures with the edges singed. I had started this page way back when I went to the Workshop in Cullowhee...
It is a very good feeling to create...and let creativity flow.

photos to eliminate confusion

the second set of photos I had to send from my spouse's email and photos because the photos are on his computer. just in case any one was confused about photos from andy. They are really photos from me, Marne...

Invitation to view Andy's Picasa Web Album - cullowhee2

You are invited to view Andy's photo album: cullowhee2 cullowhee2 May 1, 2008 by Andy View Album Play slideshow Message from Andy: Here are more cullowhee photos. These include photos I took of the journals displayed our last morning. If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=andrekt&target=ALBUM&id=5318182638455590865&authkey=Gv1sRgCNKai_f6tf_kyQE&invite=CM6GuZ0M&feat=email To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

Invitation to view marne's Picasa Web Album - cullowhee

You are invited to view marne's photo album: cullowhee cullowhee Dec 11, 2008 by marne View Album Play slideshow Message from marne: not sure the link worked to the photos so here's another try. not all are great and I think there are more not included here. If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=meredithmarne&target=ALBUM&id=5278642857013235313&authkey=Gv1sRgCNXf0c3rsN_jFA&invite=CPuwsLEP&feat=email To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

photos from cullowhee

Here are some nature photos I took while at Cullowhee. I've taken some of these and make artist trading cards that I hope to mail soon. Though the week in December hasn't turned me into a visual artist who practices that art daily, I have become more creative--started going to monthly quilting class at a local quilt shop to finish old projects, have done lots of watercolor painting with my kids, including they've begun making some artist trading cards that I may include when mailing some of yours, have taken lots of photos, and did two sessions with 3rd-5th graders at my school in an afterschool on visual journaling. You should have seen their faces when (through a grant) I presented them with a journal and an art set...They were like "These are mine??!!!??? to keep ??!!!???" kind of like we were when given the art materials to take with us. I showed them the tape transfer process after they took some digital photos. Due to snow we didn't get to have session 3 but I'm about to work with another group for three more weeks. The students are non proficient academically and most of them are low income, and most are children of color. I'm excited to have new skills to share with them. The kids said things like "Oh, I can do anything in here--write, draw, ??!!!" and "I'm going to do some cartooning", and I even saw a child watercoloring with her art set and journal one day on her front porch when I went by to do a home visit on another matter. It warmed my heart to see her painting!


http://picasaweb.google.com/meredithmarne/Cullowhee?feat=directlink

Dave Meets Kathy Eldon

Last week Dave had the chance to meet Kathy Eldon at a reception for an exhibit of Dan Eldon's photographs, journal pages, and journals at Santa Monica College. Dave was in LA for the College Art Association conference and was able to go to the exhibit and reception. Talk about a full circle moment.

We thank Kathy for sharing her son's story and journals with the world. The Journal Fodder Junkies all started with Dan Eldon and his legacy of journals.

Passing on the JFJ Love!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have been asked to do a presentation about Visual Journals at my church. I am very excited. I whittled away until I was able to get 1 week's worth of stuff down to 1 HOUR...tough...but I did it. I am very excited to share the Visual Journal with some new people...about 15 6th graders. Get em started EARLY I say! WoooooHooooooo!

Faith

How does your Faith effect you? Does it move you forward or does it hold you back?

IF- Flawed

One of the recent weeks at Illustration Friday was "Flawed". Here is my contribution to that subject. It has also spurred a desire to do a word study...words that say one thing...but look very different than what the word means. Here is my take on Flawed... I think that we all look at others and see how perfect they are...but if we could see inside we would know that nobody is perfect. We all have some sort of issue going on. I think that means we all need to be more gentle with one another. We are all fragile, and we need to feel love. I'm just sayin...

JFJ Goodness

Dave and I are beginning to get things ready for our trip to Cincinnati in March for the photo shoot for our book. Pretty exciting. I had to share this photo of all the supplies we are sending to the publisher.

Somerset Studios

I was at the book store (Barnes and Nobles) looking through the magazines and WOW! Somerset Studios "Journaling" volume I issue I! It was worth the purchase price - reminding me of our workshop together. I hope they continue to publish it. Enjoy.

I am working but have nothing ready to publish yet. Still, it is great fun.

Connie

Journaling like crazy

Visual journaling has been my constant companion. I even wake up with images in my head now!

I am grateful to everyone that had a part and continue to take part in this rich activity! Here is a start on one page that began with the transition writing we did. I have just now gone back to this page. What freedom!

But my house is a mess....

First Posting

Hi all! I am so inspired by the art you are all posting! Wow! I am still experiencing white page phobia - I know...death to doubt! I am so much more comfortable with fabric, so I am going to experiment this week with fabric art and see what happens. The picture I am posting tonight is my ATC card photo. Have a great night!

My ATC card

I finished this yesterday. I call it Connections. I like the feel of the circles and the ribbons connecting...

ATC Artwork

Following Erin's lead, I wanted to make Artist Trading Cards to share with everyone. I wanted each to be an original work, but the idea of making nearly 30 little works of art is a bit daunting. So, I created one large work using Erin's little tree she drew in my journal as inspiration. I'll cut it up and mail each person a part. People may think it's nuts, including my wife, but it really is about sharing and connecting. Not certain when I'll get around to mailing - hopefully this weekend. But this is a photo of the finished, large work.

Da Vinci and Me

I feel like I am 'hogging' the posts... haha... it is a good thing these are unlimited. :) I am just so excited to share! I just did this one today. I have thought a lot about Da Vinci ever since we did that activity at the workshop and looked at a page from his journal. I am fascinated by how he thinks. I called this page "Da Vinci and Me". I think we would have been friends Me and Leo. Two geeks just sitting around...sharing ideas...journaling together...building cool stuff...yeah...
Me and Da Vinci...BUDDIES!
:)

One in progress...

I am still working on this one but wanted to share. It started out as a puzzle piece picture but I started playing around with oil pastels and layering. I really like how this image makes me feel. Everyone has different aspects of themselves...different layers...the contrast of light and dark makes me think of the different moods that we all go through. The different etching shapes reminds me of calm and irritating feelings that I go through. I am happy how this one is turning out. This is one of the few times that I can actually see what I want to do on the page in my head and heart...and have it come out on the page in living color.

I just finished this one last night. It is a play on words and how they can get easily confused. Communication is a valuable tool and sometimes is very easily muddled with everyday happenings. We have to focus to be able to truly hear and understand one another and what we are feeling. We have to really want to get through all the static and noise to communicate honestly and openly. We really do have to use our words. :) It isn't just an elementary saying anymore.

Just a thought

While talking with Dave at the workshop he had mentioned that he would love to have the time to photograph each one of his pages from all of his books...and he has a LOT of books. I decided from that conversation that I would take a photo of each page as I finish it to have a digital record of my journals. Just thought I would pass along the idea.

Journal on!

Collaborative Journal

First, I want to thank Eva for setting up this blog so that we can all share. Second, I just want to share a couple of images from the collaborative journal that Erin and I have started. It has been a great way to encourage each other and to stay connected.

Truth

Truth...

What is it?