Visual Journal Bird Pages - Scanned

 This page is essentially the cover. (above)

The writing I did in the journal is all connected (no spaces).  I am not necessarily writing anything that would be interesting or inspiring to anyone - so no need to make it legible.  I am just sort of filling in some background with another layer that makes it personal (with my own unique handwriting).....doing this cursive writing is my least favorite part of the whole visual journaling thing I am exploring right now (partly because it hurts my hand!)  I may try creating a journal with no personal writing,  but as I work on the pages - I find the pages without handwriting are less interesting to look at.

Scanned Visual Journal Pages - Mixed Media

 There are many layers to these pages.  I probably should have taken more pictures as I developed the journal, but honestly, I was not sure it would turn out well in the end or be worth sharing. 

Additionally, this is supposed to be just a personal thing I am doing for my own artistic development.  It seems sort of invasive (and stifling to the creative process) to be taking process pictures and thinking about sharing it with the world.

 We saw SO MUCH of this vibrant and beautiful Fireweed on our travels through Canada and Alaska.  It was literally along every roadside of the trip.  As we drove along, I really thought a lot about what imagery from the trip would make it's way into my work and I knew I wanted to work with Fireweed.  I spent a cloudy afternoon in Chicken, Alaska (our last stop in Alaska) taking pictures of the Fireweed up on a hillside so I would be able to come home and make Thermofax screens of Fireweed.

 The Swallowtail Buterfly image below is a Thermofax screen converted from a photo I took of a butterfly on my iris!

I am quite satisfied with the way this journal turned out.  I feel it has a lushness and depth that is visually gratifying.  It inspires me to do more.....

Visual Journal - Birds - The Opposite Side

Journal Spreads - Inside the Bird Journal

 These are the interior pages of this first visual journal.  This set of pages - I feel is a bit too dark.  However - I suppose another way to look at it - it is visually rich....?  At any rate, I am pleased with this first visual journaling attempt for 2015.  It inspires me to do more.

Bird Journal Progress

 Last month, I showed the beginning of a visual journal project.  I have been working on an accordion folded journal.  Each page is 9x12, and there is a design on each side. 

Here is a link back to the beginning when I added the first two coats of paint:   http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2015/10/visual-journal-series-for-2015.html

This link shows how it looked after the first layer of block printing was added:
http://cynthia-stcharles.blogspot.com/2015/10/block-prints-on-mixed-media-journal.html

Here it is after I have added more printing, collage, sketching / doodling / outlining with markers and pens, watercolor painting, and some stream of consciousness journal writing.  Then, I added Thermofax screen prints and colored those in with watercolor paints. 

Block Prints on Mixed Media Journal

 These are process images of my first Mixed Media Accordion Journal - this layer is various block prints in various colors.  More to come later on.

Visual Journal Series for 2015

 I went to the store to buy mixed media paper to make Mixed Media mail art postcards and found a great deal on giant rolls of Canson Mixed Media Paper.  I have so much of it ...... and still trying to get into working in the studio - and thinking I do best when I have something specific to work on each morning when I show up.  I have decided to make some accordion folded journals - mixed media techniques.  Here is my first one.  Golden Fluid Acrylics in primary colors followed by some sprayed diluted gesso....let's see where this goes!

Having fun so far!