New month, new challenge at Art Journal Journey

Hi Everybody!

Hope your week is going well!

Today we are starting a new month and a new challenge at

Art Journal Journey 

-Back to School-

And our lovely Elizabeth and Bleubeard of

Altered Book Lover

are our charming hosts this month.

Elizabeth writes as her introduction:

'Greetings!  We are Bleubeard and Elizabeth and you can find us at Altered Book Lover.  We are delighted and incredibly honored to be invited by Valerie and Susi to host AJJ.  Bleubeard is the face of our blog and I create the art, usually in an altered book. 

Whether you are pre-K through high school, heading off to college, or conducting post graduate studies, it’s time to head Back to School, our theme for September.

So grab those back packs, fill them with crayons, rulers, iPads, notebooks, colorful pens, and pencils.  Put on your new clothes, and head Back to School.  And don’t forget to honor those teachers who shaped or will shape your mind over the years.'

As I have spent the best part of my life at school - 16 years as a student and later 35 years as a teacher, I love this theme, and here is my very simple starting piece - Art journaling does not always have to be complicated or take up a lot of time:

I always loved grungy blackboards and writing and drawing with chalk. The energetic kids were drawn and painted with felt pens. I was always amazed at how much energy the kids had when they stormed into the classroom each day!

You have the whole month to get creative and post to our blog!

We had another great start to the day - I would sometimes wish to sleep longer, but I do love to watch the sunrise:

Today a stork was standing on the freshly plowed field on the way down to the Rhine, probably looking for edible goodies. It stood very still on one ringed leg, just moving its head back and forth:

And this pigeon found itself a great vantage point on the top of a willow tree:

As usual I watched the boats, and the people getting on and off of the ferry:

And I love to stand at the bottom of the Market Street and watch the ships pass:

Have a great day, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!

Last Day of Nature's Wonders at AJJ

Hi Everybody!

This has been a great month with Gill as hostess at Art Journal Journey,

and we had nearly 200 entries, as so many people

enjoyed her theme. BIG thanks to Gill for all the hard work she put in, making lovely journal pages, visiting all the participants, etc. 

Great job, Gill!

We have all enjoyed your challenge!

I have made my traditional collage of all my entries:

 Hope to see you again tomorrow to learn about our new theme and Hostess for September!

The day got off to a wonderful start:

I enjoyed my walk:

In the afternoon it got cloudy again, but didn't rain:

Have a great day, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!

Imagination, children and more....

Hi Everybody!

Today we are beginning a new challenge at TIOT -  

Children.

Projects of all formats are allowed, and as always, you have 2 weeks

to get inspired and join us. Hope to see you there!

I started reading when I was 3, and basically have never stopped since - as a child my books were my great treasures. On my page you can see children from past ages having fun - playing outside, walking in the park etc. 

Here in my project, I have used a children's book, and the characters from various books are walking around outside, as I always carried the characters with me in my imagination - and still do! Mother Goose is flying over the scene, and Jemima Puddleduck and Mrs Rabbit have wandered in from Beatrix Potter....
I know a lot of kids have different hobbies these days, but I think 'real' play and fantasy are very important for a child's development, and not just sitting in front of a computer!

Let your imagination take you on a flight of fancy, and join us for our challenge!
(Some images from Mischief Circus)

For Art Journal Journey, Nature's wonders, I have my last hybrid project to show today.

Once again we are back in the dark depths of my head....Cloudy skies, night, and the creatures of the night have always fascinated me, and are here made into a fantasy scene, perhaps a dream.....I have made a mixed media/hybrid piece, mixing digital elements, photos, a nude painting made some time back, and a lot of fantasy. I am also linking to Creative Carte Blanche, as they are a nice bunch of ladies asking for sun, moon and stars this month, which is right up my street!

(Images partly from Mischief circus and Serif)

Today is also T stands for Tuesday at Elizabeth's blog, so a big welcome to all of the T Gang.

This is a typical meal that I like to eat  - yellow sweet peppers, zucchini, corn, carrots and peas, stir fried with lemon grass and ginger, and then topped with a layer of crunchy fried onions:

Followed by waffles:

And cappuccino:

Who can want more?

The storm on Saturday night was no dream, and brought down a lot

of branches, as well as mounds of twigs, conkers, acorns etc.

But Sunday was hot and sunny for walking again:

I am happy to say that the weather today has been cooler, which is really pleasant.

Have a great day, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!

Flowers, clouds and sun

Hi Everybody!

Hope your weekend went well. We had a big storm in the night, with lots

of thunder and lightning, and lots of branches were blown off

the trees, but it was still extremely hot today - sigh!

For Art Journal Journey, nature's wonders, I have another of my quick flower paintings, made from some flowers I picked on my walk.  The basic painting took 15 minutes, using water colours without drawing beforehand. Then I added the window, bird and leaves digitally.

And here before the frame was added:

 I was up and out early again to avoid the hottest part of the day:

The birds are still busy harvesting:

These huge clouds gathered in the evening:

But after a stormy night the day dawned warm and sunny again:

Have a great day, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!