How I journal these days...

At the beginning of summer I decided two things. 1. I was going to lay off the online classes and just relax with my kids and 2. I was definitely going to make sure to get some time to reconnect & create (amidst all this 'relaxing' time with my kids). So, what to create if I'm not trying to meet a class project? Well... journal. It gives quick results and is like a daily project.

So here's how it goes...

I paint several sets of pages in my journal to have ready ahead of time. I usually put the paint on with a credit card, brush or sponge, but I'm kinda a freak about wasting paint, so I keep my journal open to a blank page when I am doing big paintings. Whenever I am done with a color or before I clean my paintbrush I'll wipe the extra paint off onto the pages.

So sometimes they have a few colors...

and sometimes just one...

When I am ready to journal, I choose a prepainted page, depending upon what colors feel right for that day. Then I go through my (newly organized) drawers and pull out images, texts, papers etc that seem to fit what I've got on my mind. I try not to think too hard about placement and just relax into what feels right, reconnect...and leave my control issues at the door.

Next, I use pastels, pencils, paints, ink pads...to doodle, draw, color, outline, soften, cover, unify it all.

date it and write away...

and it always helps to have music to fit your mood.

(Yes, I'm still lovin' Flo)

enjoy

Thank goodness for vacations...

Just got back from a weeks vacation to the coast. It finally feels like summer has started and that the past month of having the kids at home has just been, oh I don't know, gearing up for summer(?). We really should take a vacation earlier to get things flowing quicker.

While we were away, I devoured (only slight pun intended) Eat, Pray, Love and moved on to Committed on the way home. Maybe that's why the trip felt longer...I went to Italy, India and Bali amidst the sand and chlorine.

And now I have come back feeling rested and renewed. Man, we really do need to get away more (did I already say that?).

So, now to step back into the reality that i left behind. Last post I mentioned that some big changes have been going on. At the time (and for some time since) I was afraid to say anything, as though it wasn't real and one word would make it all go away. But now I am ready to accept the excitement that has come my way and to ride the waves that come along with it.

Remember these guys, well, when they were here with us I kinda stepped overboard (or more like up on a podium) in my pure belief of them as artists and people. In the beginning I only intended to help them get their music on itunes and amazon, but Sony took care of that for me, as they signed with them when they got back to South Africa. Instead, they had bigger plans for me. So, I am now their US rep (!!). This new job came with an official email address and everything.

So, I've been busy learning about electronic press kits and what it takes to apply to music festivals, while being truly in awe of the ways of the Universe.

I have also been really good at scheduling some me time, to digest all of this as well as to keep a bit-o-balance. Every day, while my kids get babysat by Mr XBOX , Mrs Netflix and babyPBS, I take my hour (in my new studio space!) to journal (photos of both journal and studio to come).

So I guess in a way I have been taking my own little min-vacations of sort.