New Year, New Hopes

I couldn't sleep last night - I have such a feeling of optimism for this year. I usually just pass the new year by and move on, but this year, I really sense positive change and I guess I had some need to usher it closer faster. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the things I'd like to do this year, but I am just going to keep moving and see what happens.

I have already taken some actions - paid for my art courses that I am taking this term - several Saturday courses for no credit. They are one day courses - show up, learn some technique, do some art and go home. I can hardly wait. I decided that my New Year's Day gift to myself was to get Jamie Ridler's Soul Reflections E-version. I haven't started it yet, but I will soon.  I spent some time reading and learned how to do a zentangle (I have been seeing them at Hybrid J's blog.  I'm not very good yet - I didn't like the doodle/designs I chose, but I understand them a little bit better now.

My biggest accomplishment today (aside from getting dressed) was to do my Full Moon Dreamboard for the Blue Moon.  I worked on it yesterday, but I didn't finish. I'm not sure I'm done now, but it is closer to done, so I'm willing to share.

First, my first zentangle. I tried to rotate the picture when I edited, but I had to use a new program and it looks like it didn't save.  I liked the idea of these, but I don't quite have the hang of it.

A couple of photos of my Dreamboard.  I started off with this ad that I found in several magazings. The color isn't true in the photos, but I really liked the teal-y background color and the trees in the photos.  I used two copies of the ad to be the background for most of the collage.

I started covering up the ad information with stuff.  It was not the best technique - it made me put things in odd places to try to cover the ad info instead of where I felt pulled to place it.  I also think I started gluing too early - usually, I try to arrange stuff and make myself happy and THEN glue.  Still, I like where it is going.

 

 Here is the closer to done versions.  I took a couple of pictures because I couldn't get a good picture without cutting off one side or the other. I may add some more stuff tomorrow...I felt like I didn't have any PEOPLE in this collage. That's unusual for me. I found lots of text for this collage, but I like a balance better. We'll see what happens.

 

 

 

 I thought it was interesting that BEAUTIFUL came up so many times. I was glad to find ART  and JOY and surprised to find RITUALS as one of my scraps.  The teal-y color is really appealing, although it didn't go with the pink too well. I was looking for yellows to come into play, but they just didn't.  I was also happy to find the word PINK and also the phrase: HEALTH AND WELLNESS because that is something that is important and will be a focus for me this year. I'm pretty sure that I will be using some of my Art Journal techniques on the collage to bind it - it feels unfinished in some ways and I am wondering if it isn't something to do with that. I almost did decided to make one of the amazing 16 page journals and do the collage there. I still may, but I needed to do this one first.

Anyway, this was a fun process. It is more fun to do it with my friends, but since that didn't work out, I'm glad that I did it in their honor and for my own look ahead into the year.