Tag: art journal

Warrior Women Art journal class.

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Resist. Persist.

Warrior women who fought fiercely for their beliefs; women who have resisted and persisted in the midst of horrors; women who have valiantly forged new paths for themselves, and for us…

This class is for all women, in camaraderie and sisterhood. * We are struggling to hold our heads above the raging storm as our rights, our bodily autonomy, are very citizenship is threatened. As I do – I turned to my art journal to process, and to draw inspiration from those who have gone before me and weathered their storms…

So over the next 12 weeks, travel through time with me, from the Ancient eras to the present day. Each lesson will highlight a handful of women; some more “active” fighters, others more “passive” yet all passionate and courageous and remarkable.

  • 6 lessons – 12 weeks. Lessons are emailed on Mondays – and include private video tutorials, and PDF’s of information, images, and inspiration. Your access to these videos does not expire! 
  • There will be a Facebook live demo each lesson: for  a chance to connect, have a Q& A session, see new techniques in progress. ( Recorded and posted in the FB group if you miss it) Dates TBA.
  • Schedule – START DATE March 31st. Last lesson June 9th.
  • Optional closing ZOOM call Monday June 23rd.  
  • Pricing: $80 – Invoices will be emailed via PayPal, and can be paid via credit card.  
  • Sign ups: Email me at Jen.davies.reazor@gmail.com to join! PLEASE USE THE EMAIL YOU PREFER FOR CLASS! Let me know whether you prefer an invoice or would like to pay me directly via PP/Venmo. (Or PM me if we are connected on social media) 

Questions:

  • Yes, this course is open to all ages, teen and up. ( There will be some light cursing and tough topics due to the subject matter. ie: violence to women, #metoo, rape, abortion…) 
  • Yes, this course welcomes all experience levels. No, you do NOT need to know how to draw. (See video) 
  • Supplies list – whatever you have? More info given at sign up! 
  • What if I miss a lesson? Pick up when you can, on current lesson. You can cycle back later on your time frame. 
  • Facebook group is OPTIONAL as we all have different social media limits. But I can best support and provide feedback if/when images/pages are shared with me. 

My YouTube channel has 2+ years worth of weekly art journaling videos if you would like a sampling of my materials, style, etc. These aren’t lessons I am teaching per se, but my own play and explorations on the page. 

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS! I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO THE PAGE – AND HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME!

*While men are more than welcome to take this class, I ask that they do so with a willingness to listen and learn, since their experiences may vary greatly due to gender, the patriarchy, and “traditional” cultural norms.

New art journaling class: Girl Power!

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My original plan was that my Fall art journaling class would be themed for and inspired by Witches, in history and in pop culture. I have decided to postpone that class until next year, for a few reasons… wanting to dive deeper into my research than time this Summer allowed, and current events.

With the election ramping up here in the US – we are facing unprecedented challenges and division. As a woman, I am angered, horrified, worried, ( the list goes on) about the recent law changes and rulings that are systemically removing a woman’s body autonomy, her rights regarding her own body, her medical treatment, and her ability to make her OWN decisions. ( Don’t get me wrong – I am shocked and horrified about many things…) But it was from that female body, female perspective, and feminist outlook that this class was born.

Themed in colors, this class be inspired by the baby girl pink of Barbie and of Pussy hats. The Blue of the radical academic Blue Stocking society, and Suffragette white. We will close with purple, a suffragette color, and a color symbolizing bipartisanship. Here are my free flowing thoughts on the topic:

  • 4 lessons – 4 weeks. Lessons are emailed on Mondays – and include private video tutorials, and PDF’s of information, images, and inspiration. Your access to these videos does not expire! 
  • There will be 2 Facebook live demos – for  a chance to connect, have a Q& A session, see new techniques in progress. ( Recorded and posted in the FB group if you miss it) Dates TBA.
  • Schedule – START DATE Sept. 23th. First lesson Monday September 30th. Last lesson October 21st.  
  • Pricing: $45 – Invoices will be emailed via PayPal, and can be paid via credit card.  
  • Sign ups: Email me at Jen.davies.reazor@gmail.com to join! PLEASE USE THE EMAIL YOU PREFER FOR CLASS! Let me know whether you prefer an invoice or would like to pay me directly via PP/Venmo. (Or PM me if we are connected on social media) 

Questions:

  • Yes, this course is open to all ages, teen and up. ( There will be some light cursing and tough topics due to the subject matter. ie: violence to women, #metoo, abortion…)
  • Yes, this course welcomes all experience levels. No, you do NOT need to know how to draw. (See video) 
  • Supplies list – whatever you have? More info given at sign up! 
  • What if I miss a lesson? Pick up when you can, on current lesson. You can cycle back later on your time frame. 
  • Facebook group is OPTIONAL as we all have different social media limits. But I can best support and provide feedback if/when images/pages are shared with me. 

My YouTube channel has 2 years worth of weekly art journaling videos if you would like a sampling of my materials, style, etc. These aren’t lessons I am teaching per se, but my own play and explorations on the page. 

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS! I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO THE PAGE – AND HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME!

Retelling the tale… a new art journal class

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Retelling the tale – aka Misunderstood women of Greek myth.

After a hiatus of a few months… months of hectic work, festival, training the energetic puppy, and the like… I am back! I realize how much I need my art journal practice, both in a casual format for my self, and my health, and also in a more structured practice, divine gift other inspirations that myths hold. I am energized and excited by the research – and how it inspired and informs my work – both in my journal and in the ceramics studio.

This class I wanted to focus on women. As we (my former students and I) are coming from a year of goddess focused inspiration and devotion; I wanted to turn to our sisters, our peers, from the Classical world. Women whose names we may know from the myths, from history, from the writings of men in the past. Women whose tales are multilayered, whose journeys are myriad. Women who deserve a deeper investigation into their stories, a retelling with a modern lens, reclaiming their herstories with a feminist filter in place.

Pandora. Medusa. Ariadne. Cassandra. Psyche.
Princess, prophetess, priestess, daughter, sister, lover, wife.

If you are new to my online art journal classes here is the structure and format. As well as information on the theme and my teaching style! (If you are a veteran – dates and details below.)

  • 5 lessons – 10 weeks. Lessons are emailed on Mondays, twice a month – and include private video tutorials, and PDF’s of information, images, and inspiration. Your access to these videos does not expire! 
  • There will be 2 Facebook live demos per month – for  a chance to connect, have a Q& A session, see new techniques in progress. ( Recorded and posted in the FB group if you miss it)
  • Schedule – START DATE January 7th. First lesson Monday January 8th. Ending mid March.
  • Pricing: $65 – (that is only $6.50 a week – about the same as a fancy coffee!) Invoices will be emailed via PayPal, and can be paid via credit card.  
  • Sign ups: Email me at Jen.davies.reazor@gmail.com to join! Let me know whether you prefer an invoice or would like to pay me directly via PP/Venmo. (Or PM me if we are connected on social media) 

Questions:

  • Yes, this course is open to all ages, teen and up. ( There will be some light cursing and tough topics due to the subject matter. ie: assault, rape, war, slavery, torture… it’s all in the myths!)
  • Yes, this course welcomes all experience levels. No, you do NOT need to know how to draw. (See video)
  • Supplies list – whatever you have? More info given at sign up!
  • What if I miss a lesson? Pick up when you can, on current lesson. You can cycle back later on your time frame.
  • Facebook group is OPTIONAL as we all have different social media limits. But I can best support and provide feedback if/when images/pages are shared with me.

My YouTube channel has 2 years worth of weekly art journaling videos if you would like a sampling of my materials, style, etc. These aren’t lessons I am teaching per se, but my own play and explorations on the page.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions! I look forward to getting back to the page – and hope you will join me!

A few of my reference materials! Amidst the holiday decorations…

September’s theme – florals

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It’s a whirlwind. Already. For those of you following along at home, and on You Tube – you may have noticed that there was one week without a SPARK video. Down with a long lingering cold turned sinus infection, I was out for the count. As September slowly starts to unspool with back to school and the discussion of Fall’s arrival… I am super busy in the studio!

What does that have to do with the theme for the month, you ask? Well, to start, it’s a loose theme – “florals”. You can go design inspired, realistic, summer flowers, fall flowers, patterns… any floral inspiration hits the mark. And secondly – I have some multitasking to do…. I have work to prep for shows, gallery submissions, etc. I WANT to chill in my studio and work on my Hawaii travel journal – after the fact, but deeply satisfying. So those are some florals you might see. We have a bit of travel planned – so there may be floral ideas drawn in from that…. and I have heaps of bead projects one the bead table – maybe even something there will sneak in this month.

I have added a few different types of things to the Pinterest page – but there is no limit this month!

Go! Take it to the page! Bloom! Paint! Collage! Enjoy!

Jenny Williams on IG: The Laundry Garden
Image credit: @thepsychgarden
Black eyed Susan from Florgeous
Summer flower collage from Gardening.org

And I have added more resources and images on Pinterest! Check it out!

Are you a subscriber on You Tube? I would love to have you… and this theme will unfold during the month of September. My monthly theme inspired my filmed art journal pages. And anyone is welcome to use the theme and journal along !

August’s theme – the triquetra.

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You know the symbol, you have seen it… Charmed “Power of three” anyone? Well – this month I won’t go down a rabbit hole of campy witch fan fiction. But instead I will look at the varied meanings and associations with this symbol.

Triquetra: from the Latin adjective triquetrus “three-cornered”) – a triangular figure composed of three interlaced arcs, or (equivalently) three overlapping vesicae piscis lens shapes. It is used as an ornamental design in architecture, and in medieval manuscript illumination. Its depiction as interlaced is common in Insular ( Celtic) ornaments from about the 7th century. (Wiki)

Triquetra on one of the Funbo Runestones (11th century), located in the park of Uppsala University. Image credit: Wiglaf

The triquetra is often used artistically as a design element when Celtic knotwork is used, especially in association with the modern Celtic Nations. The triquetra, also known as a “trinity knot”, is often found as a design element in popular Irish jewelry such as claddaghs and other wedding or engagement rings.

Image: Kilts -n- stuff
My Irish Jeweler
R.E. Piland jewelers

Due to its presence in insular Celtic art, Celtic Reconstructionalists use the triquetra either to represent one of the various triplicities in their cosmology and theology (such as the tripartite division of the world into the realms of Land, Sea and Sky), or as a symbol of one of the specific Celtic triple goddesses – for example the battle goddess, The Morrígan. The symbol is also sometimes used  to symbolise the Triple Goddess as Maiden/Mother/Crone or as a protective symbol.

So by its very nature – this symbol is a trinity. The Celts loved triads. They composed poetic triads, bridging like motifs in the myths. They referenced the three realms – land, sea and sky. Their belief system revolved around the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. They worshipped tripartite or triple goddesses… But its specific meaning to the Ancient Celts? We can make educated guesses.

As the Celtic peoples turned to Christianity – the triad came to symbolize the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Maiden/mother/crone triad is more modern, stemming from Robert Graves’ book “The White Goddess” – and is firmly established now! ( For more in depth information, here). Other triads: Mind, body, spirit as well as past. present, future.

Image credit: Magickalspot.com

The triquetra is often shown as a pattern of knot work- one path, overlapping and weaving together. It is a simple form when you look at related knot work designs – like on the Book of Kells!

So I think this month may have a Celtic flavor, what do you think? It is already sparking ideas for me that I am eager to take to the page!

And I have added more resources and images on Pinterest! Check it out!

Are you a subscriber on You Tube? I would love to have you… and this theme will unfold during the month of July. My monthly theme inspired my filmed art journal pages. And anyone is welcome to use the theme and journal along !

Labyrinth – July’s theme

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This month -another favorite theme. We focused on the labyrinth symbol as one of our motif’s in my initial SPARKing Creativity art journaling class. While the classes will be available again – hopefully this Fall – for know I wanted to share some of the information and resources from that lesson. May they inspire you for this month’s theme!

Clifftop Labyrinth in Cornwall. Article from the Guardian.

A labyrinth differs greatly from a maze. While a maze is filled with dead ends, paths to no where… it offers a challenge, a puzzle, and much back and forth. A labyrinth has ONE path – and that leads to the center. As you walk the labyrinth – you approach, and recede, and approach again in a rhythmic way before finally reaching the center. The path meanders, and can obscure your goal/center – but it will be attained if you remain on the path. 

The Cretan labyrinth (pictured above) – the oldest recorded labyrinth connected to the myth of the Minotaur. Created by master inventor Daedelus at the command of King Minos; it housed the half man, half bull Minotaur. ( Born of the Queen in illicit union…) Theseus the princely hero is determined to kill the Minotaur and end the tribute Minos demands of  Athens. He is aided by Ariadne, who he cruelly betrays… You can read the tragic tale – here. 

The Chartres labyrinth – Many Medieval cathedrals had stone labyrinths set in the floors. Chartres is so well known as it is still intact. These were used for devotional purposes and could serve as a substitute for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. 

The Chartres labyrinth is 42’ in diameter. It may have been     connected to the Knights Templar traditions. The center has a rosette – roses being a symbol of the Virgin Mary – to whom Chartres is dedicated. The rosette can also symbolize the Holy Spirit, and it can be noted that the 6 petals correspond with the 6 days of Creation. Unique to the Charters style labyrinth are the 28 “lunations” on the outside edge. ( I cant help but think of the moon and women’s cycles that run app. 28 days as well.)

Dr. Lauren Artress has a phenomenal book “Walking a Sacred Path” – I highly recommend it if you are interested in learning more! She is also the leader of the modern labyrinth movement, starting with the Chartres style labyrinth located at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. On her site “Veriditas” the labyrinth is described as: “The labyrinth is a walking meditation, a path of prayer and an archetypal blueprint where psyche meets Spirit. It has only one path that leads from the outer edge in a circuitous way to the center.There are no tricks to it and no dead ends. Unlike a maze where you lose your way, the labyrinth is a spiritual tool that can help you find your way.”

You can search the “World Wide Labyrinth Locator” for labyrinths to walk in your area!

A feature on labyrinths from the TODAY show – here.

Atlas Obscurer article – Chartres Cathedral’s labyrinth.

Bloomberg news feature on popularity of labyrinths post pandemic.

And I have added more resources and images on Pinterest! Check it out!

Are you a subscriber on You Tube? I would love to have you… and this theme will unfold during the month of July. My monthly theme inspired my filmed art journal pages. And anyone is welcome to use the theme and journal along !

La Luna – June’s theme

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I literally don’t know how to start this post. How to briefly introduce a topic that has fueled my creativity since I was a teenager? Do I start with the moons of the year, the phases of the moon? Do I start with LUNAR Deities from the world over? Do I start with myth and magic and lore?

I will say that the Pinterest page for this lesson will be chock-a-block full of inspiration. I work hard to correctly pin art from the artists own site – and attribute the work correctly. So please check that out when you are done here.

The Moon is so evocative. It changes – ebbing and flowing, increase and decrease, its cycles mirroring our own. La Luna rules the tides of the ocean and the menstrual tides of women. Who hasn’t felt her pull as she beams down on us – on a crisp clear moonlit night? Even better if the ocean reflects her radiance.

Artemis, Diana, Luna, Selene, Hekate. Chang’o. Ix Chel. Chandra. Khonsu, Thoth. To name a few! Deities – that is. (Greco-Roman, Chinese, Aztec, Hindu, Egyptian)

Selene
Chang’O
Ix Chel

Let’s not even start with the Lunar hare! Or the “moon rabbit” !

Artist: S. Law

Or does the present speak to you? The horns of the moon. The thin sliver of glowing light that floats in the sky?

“Spring scattering Stars” by E. Blashfield

I hope this tiny sliver of a blog post has illuminated some creative ideas for you! It’s a great wealth of ideas and motifs – something is sure to “spark” for you. As I mentioned – check out the Pinterest page!

Please stay tuned on my You Tube channel for these art journal pages as they unfold during the month of June!

Eye spy… May’s theme

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To see clearly… to look within… eyes as the windows of the soul… fest your eyes, apple of your eye, cry your eyes out. Birds eye view, eyes in the back of your head, give someone the eye, catch someone’s eye… Public eye, Bull’s eye, Private eye…

The list goes on ad finitum. And that doesn’t evens tart with the famous quotes! ( Although I have added a few at the end of the post.) The topic this month is so versatile,and has such a rich history – I barely knew where to start. So Art history and myth it is!

First – a rabbit hole of research: Who actually said: “The eyes are window of the soul.”? The Internet will tell you everything from Shakespeare to the Bible. But I did find this at Idiomorigins.org :

Let’s dive in with the Surrealists first, shall we? There are so many famous eyes that come to… my Mind’s eye! Here are a few!

Glass Tears by Man Ray, 1932
The False Mirror by Magritte, 1928
The Eye of Time by Dali
The Eye by MC Escher, 1946
Photo by Tom Podmore on Unsplash
  • The Nazar is the amulet/charm we often refer to as the Evil Eye – but it his meant to ward off that very thing! A nazar (from Arabic ‏نَظَر‎ [ˈnaðˤar], meaning ‘sight’, ‘surveillance’, ‘attention’, and other related concepts) is an eye-shaped amulet believed to protect against the evil eye.
  • A typical nazar is made of handmade glass featuring concentric circles or teardrop shapes in dark blue, white, light blue and black, occasionally with a yellow/gold edge. “The bead is made of a mixture of molten glass, iron, copper, water, and salt, ingredients that are thought to shield people from evil.”
  • “According to Turkish belief, blue acts as a shield against evil and even absorbs negativity.”[2] In the Middle East and the Mediterranean, “blue eyes are relatively rare, so the ancients believed that people with light eyes, particularly blue eyes, could curse you [one] with just one look. This belief is so ancient, even the Assyrians had turquoise and blue-eye amulets.”
  • A Nazar battu (Hindustani: नज़र बट्टू or نظر بٹو) is an icon, charm bracelet, tattoo or other object or pattern used in North India and Pakistan to ward-off the evil eye (or nazar).[1] In Persian and Afghan folklore, it is called a cheshm nazar (Persian: چشم نظر) or nazar qurbāni (Persian: نظرقربانی).[2] In India and Pakistan, the Hindi-Urdu slogan of Persian origin Chashm-e-Baddoor(Persian: چشم بد دور) is used to ward off the evil eye. (Sources from Wiki)
Wedjat amulet with cobra
Shard of faience, painted with Eye.
Amulet with eye and goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet
  • The Eye of Horus, wedjat eye or udjat eye is a concept and symbol in ancient Egyptian religion that represents well-being, healing, and protection. It derives from the mythical conflict between the god Horus with his rival Set, in which Set tore out or destroyed one or both of Horus’s eyes and the eye was subsequently healed or returned to Horus with the assistance of another deity, such as Thoth. The stylized eye symbol was used interchangeably to represent the Eye of Ra. Egyptologists often simply refer to this symbol as the wedjat eye.
  • The Eye of Horus was equated with funerary offerings, as well as with all the offerings given to deities in temple ritual. It could also represent other concepts, such as the moon, whose waxing and waning was likened to the injury and restoration of the eye.
  • Horus was represented as a falcon, such as a lanner or peregrine falcon, or as a human with a falcon head. The Eye of Horus is a stylized human or falcon eye. The symbol often includes an eyebrow, a dark line extending behind the rear corner of the eye, a cheek marking below the center or forward corner of the eye, and a line extending below and toward the rear of the eye that ends in a curl or spiral. The cheek marking resembles that found on many falcons.

Eye miniatures, also known as lover’s eyes, cropped up across Britain around 1785 and were en vogue for shorter than half a century. As with the royal couple, most were commissioned as gifts expressing devotion between loved ones. Some, too, were painted in memory of the deceased. All were intimate and exceedingly precious: eyes painted on bits of ivory no bigger than a pinky nail, then set inside ruby-garlanded brooches, pearl-encrusted rings, or ornate golden charms meant to be tucked into pockets, or pinned close to the heart.

As objects, lover’s eyes are mesmerizing—and bizarre. Part-portrait, part-jewel, they resist easy categorization. They’re also steeped in mystery: In most cases, both the subject whose eye was depicted and the artist who painted it are unknown. What sparked their popularity? Why had they faded so quickly from use? And why portray a single eye, as opposed to a whole portrait? Whether they were meant to be secret, if the relationship was illicit; or just a steamy smoldering “for your eyes only” glance… they are exquisite miniatures! ( source: Artsy.com)

Further reading:

Quotes (from Brainy Quote)

  • “Eyes speak all languages…” R. W. Emerson
  • “When I know your soul, I will paint your eyes.” A. Modigliani
  • “Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.” T. Roosevelt
  • “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” M. Proust
  • “He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.” A. Einstein

You hold the key – April’s theme

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Unlock, reveal. Secrecy, privacy, gateways, portals, knowledge. Trust/Hide. Answers, freedom, escape, safety, closure. Initiation. Curiosity. Mystery. Goals, dreaming, yearning.

Keys to me are tangible potential. The magic and mystery of what could be unlocked; the revelations or mysteries contained from unworthy eyes.

In my intro art journaling class ” Sparking Creativity” we used Keys as one of our motifs: unlocking and opening up to the new process of art journaling. Using the art journal as a safe container to work through emotions and challenges.

I wanted to share some of my mythical key inspiration with you this month – as I again use this image to inspire my pages this month.

 Janus: Roman god of doors and gateways. Janus wore two faces – looking in 2 directions and looking backwards and forwards in time. He was a gatekeeper, and a god of beginnings. (January is named after Janus.) He is depicted with keys and a staff. He was said to represent wisdom, could grant success and new opportunities. 

 Lord Ganesh in the Hindu spiritual path is the great elephant god, the mover of obstacles and for this reason very often associated with keys.  Commonly locks or keys can be found with a Ganesh design on it to symbolically representing the unlocking of a path or knowledge.  Ganesh is associated with wisdom and spiritual knowledge, making him not only a prime example of key symbolism but also a deity, like so many others, associated with journeying.

 Hecate is a Greek goddess associated with was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, crossroads. She is often called The Queen of the Witches, and The Keeper of Keys. She holds the keys that allow passage into the spiritual realm.  She is a great protector and is associated with keys, and dogs among other things. Trivia is the Roman equivalent of the Greek Hecate, goddess of the three-way crossroads.

But some of the most fascinating and even gruesome keys are linked with folk tales and modern retelling, constantly morphing and yet connected at heart. The Grimm’s told the tale of the Fitcher’s Bird ( also read the tale here) Charles Perrault used Bluebeard as his nefarious character in his version. To Angela Carter it is the Bloody Chamber. They all have in common: a secret room, off limits. Keys and curiosity! Leading to trouble… sometimes with eggs, often with blood stains. Take a read for yourself – they are amazing tales!

“The wife holds the key” illustration by Walter Crane.

Are you a subscriber on You Tube? I would love to have you… and this theme will unfold during the month of April. My monthly theme inspired my filmed art journal pages. And anyone is welcome to use the theme and journal along !

Please stay tuned on my You Tube channel for these art journal pages as they unfold during the month of April!

Leaf love… March’s theme

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Life. Growth. Fertility. Hope. Renewal. Revival. Beginnings.

Please see my Leaf collection at Unsplash for photo credits. https://unsplash.com/collections/sz5A91S_BTE/leaf%2C-leaves

What could herald Spring better than the first green shoots of leaves? The snowdrops and daffodils vibrant Kelly green emerging from the woodland floor of grays and browns… The apple green slivers visible as trees send forth buds, premonitions of the unfurling to come…

Green leaves resonate to me as Hope, Growth, Life, Fertility. The arrival of Spring. The newness and freshness, and rejuvenation of the land. Infinite beginnings.

Image credits: https://unsplash.com/collections/sz5A91S_BTE/leaf%2C-leaves

Houseplants are relatively new to me – a new undertaking since the Covid lockdowns that I have maintained, keeping my little ones green and healthy. I love the depth and freshness they bring to a space. And I love leaves. The myriad shapes, colors, textures. The serrates edges, the satin waxy glow, the fuzzy furriness… So this month my theme is leaves. I am not well versed in plants at all – and dont know the correct names for leaf structures, growth patterns… I look at the leaves with an artist’s eye and see shape, form, pattern, color, texture. SO that will be my approach this month. Not even really diving into folklore, can you believe it?

An assortment of leaf shapes

Is tropical more to your liking?

I think of William Morris designs when I think of leaves and foliage. The British artist and designer was at the fore of the Arts and Crafts Movement. A member of the Pre-Rapaelite Brotherhood, he began his career as a painter. In later years he abandoned that in favor of decorative arts. He worked in textiles, wallpapers, and the like; designing exquisite floral and foliage patterns. Shown here are Acanthus Leaves and Willow. He is truly one of my style icons!

On a different note, in a different style, but equally influential to me – Henri Matisse. I have always been drawn to his paintings; where realistic space is given up in favor of color and pattern. But his cut outs! In context: he was elderly, unwell and bed ridden. His assistants painted paper to his color specifications, and he commenced “drawing with scissors”. These cut outs are bold, lyrical, and so expressive!

There are SO MANY ideas swirling around in my head now – I look forward to these leaves budding in the outdoors as the ideas are sparking in my creative mind! Please stay tuned on my You Tube channel for these art journal pages as they unfold during the month of March!