First I thought... I can't do a project like this! I did it. Then I thought... I am NEVER going to get this done in a month! I did it. Then I thought... HOW can I send my original art away permanently? For thousands of strangers to see? I did it. You know what, negative voices in my head? PPPHHHLLLLTTTT! I DID IT! And you can't stop me anymore!!!
Now that my inner dialogue is out in the open, I feel much freedom. Actually, it might be that this project is DONE and over with. Don't get me wrong... I am SO glad that I committed myself and completed this sketchbook. It proved to those negative voices in my head that I could do it. Those voices that said "You suck. You're not good enough. No one wants to see your art. How are you going to fill 20+ pages with a theme of Past-Present-Future? Hmm?" (PPPHHHHLLLTTTT!) I had fun for the most part. Some pages I LOVE. Some pages are just ho-hum. I learned A LOT of technical stuff like... don't put gel medium over colored pencils or your pages will stick together and tear up when you rip them apart. Use matte gel medium to seal pages instead of gloss gel medium or the pages will stick together (except in above colored pencil fiasco-just don't use anything!) Don't use Perfect Paper Adhesive to glue on magazine pictures to the pages... it has too much water content and will wrinkle the hell out of your pages. And NEVER squeeze an old tube of Rub-n-Buff while it's aimed at yourself and/or your furniture. These lessons also taught me how to salvage pages in a creative way when I was ready to toss the book out the window. And it taught me that Rub-n-Buff does not come off of clothes or plastic storage carts.
But the BESTEST part of this whole project are the new friends I made. I like to think of them as the "Sketchbook Ladies" and without their invaluable inspiration, talent, kindness, motivation and sense of humor, I don't think I would have had the courage to finish. Or at least I would NOT have had ANY fun doing this project. I feel like I have known them for years and I hope they will be a part of my life for a long time. You are awesome ladies, thank you!!
Here are a few of my favorite pages:
I really love your sketchbook! Especially the Revolution spread.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Courage, trust, creation! Your book is a wonderful addition to the sketchbook library!
ReplyDeleteLooks great Lisa! I am glad you got me to join the "sketchbook ladies" and I look forward to doing more projects together!
ReplyDeleteCheryl
OK, I am so shallow, did you get any of the 'rub & buff' explosion on film?
ReplyDeleteI honestly feel like this is a giant weight off my shoulders - I was so excited to toss it in the mail this morning I almost peed. I couldn't say bye to it fast enough. As soon as the paint was dried this morning it went into the envelope and off it went - good riddens. However, it really was a blast. My watercolor painting and drawing got better and better with each page. This pushed us all past our limits and we've made some really great friends in the mean time. How funny that you call us the Sketchbook Ladies - that's how I refer to them as well to my outside, non-cyber world. People don't get it...but, I do! Your book is wonderful. I'm so glad we get the opportunity to keep digital copies of them. Our work is meant to be shared...as long as we can keep a memory of it somehow. I'm proud of you - Way to goooooo team Sketchbook Ladies!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Great work on a new format!...I have yet to make the giant leap into this media.
ReplyDeleteYour pages are gorgeous! I love that you shared your experiences and how you did something you didn't think you could do. Very inspiring and the results are terrific! I laughed out loud at the "rub and buff" part. :) Thanks for sharing and the laugh!
ReplyDeleteKelly
Congratulations Lisa! You did it!!
ReplyDeleteGreat pages. I bet all those steps were hard but you did it! Don't aim that stuff at your carpet either. I found that purple spray paint does NOT come out of it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic accomplishment Lisa!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing! You have some really nice pages! Your favorites are the same ones I picked out. I find that I can spend forever to create a really nice 2 page spread.
ReplyDeleteLinda Greiss
Latest Trends Member
I love your sketchbook especially the pages "Movement in Time" for the color and layers and "You are being audited" for it's great humor. Very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteMarianna
vintagearabesque.blogspot.com
What wonderful spreads. Your journal pages are amazing. I really, really love this book and the cover is to die for.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
A Latest Trends Member and new fan
This is really cool!! I can't wait to get a few more moments to return to it and read and look at it a bit more!!! This is creative and cool!! I like your hand writing - your letters look so neat! :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch a tremendous accomplishment, Lisa. I'm truly in awe of what you have accomplished! It's wonderful that you copied every page and will always have a record of your "baby" before sending it off into the big, wide world!
ReplyDeleteLIsa;
ReplyDeleteYour sketchbook turned out amazing! Isn't it a great feeling of relief to have it finished and sent off? I know that I felt that way when mine went in the mail. I didn't think I could finish the entire book - but we did it!!!!! Yahoo.