A PAPER, NOT CYBER, ART JOURNAL

I really do consider my blog to be my art journal. But, I've always felt intimidated by the idea of a pen and paper kind of art journal (that's for "real" artists), too afraid to commit to paper. Hmm,  I wonder what makes paper more sacred to me. Maybe it's because I was born in the first half of the 20th century and I grew up with the tradition of artists working in concrete media, not cyberspace. Anyway, I was willing to take my hands to keyboard and mouse to start an art journal before I was willing to try the more traditional path.

With that in mind, I started another art journal today. I took Pitt pens and watercolors in hand (right hand, the one with working digits) and started to journal about a few things that are on my mind. I'm adjusting to the fact that my left hand will be in a cast for 8 weeks more before I can wean myself from it (found that out yesterday - I'm recovering nicely from my thumb surgery, but the body does not heal as quickly as one would wish; as I've said before: instant gratification takes too long). So, when I leave for Italy with Becky in 7 weeks, I will be a one-handed tourist. So, below is an entry in my new art journal, a merging of cast contemplation, preparation for Italy, and committing myself to pen and paper.

Comments

[Kate White]

I'm charmed. Also afraid of what you might do if you had both hands tied behind your back!

[Jo Wholohan]

cool journal Joanne, great idea!!!

Love the travel sandles :))

[Leslie Wood]

These are awesome!!! -Leslie

[Robin Orewiler]

Your drawings are superb! Looks like you've been doing this for years. Sorry about the additional 8 weeks - that's no fun. Guess it's a good excuse NOT to carry your luggage - maybe find a fine Italian young man to help you out. Please take a picture for me!

[kecia]

i like your new sandals for your trip! are you getting excited? i can't wait to read about it. what a lovely way to spend time with your daughter.

[Jeanie]

I love your art journal (and sandals -- very cute!). Just sorry to hear you're headed one-handed to Italy. What a bummer...

[Kari McKnight-Holbrook]

Joanne your Journal is a delight!!! And one handed! You are amazing! I think your little snippets or glimpses are just adoreable! Good for you- what a treasure this journal is going to be!! You have a wonderful watercolor style- such a light and breesy hand!

[Fran]

I'm so glad you're drawing! You will love looking at Italy in a new way with your journal in hand! I'm so sorry you are going to be in the cast longer than hoped. Your drawing hand, though, is in good working order! Those are great first drawings.

[Judy Streger]

Hi Joanne,
Inquiring minds want to know the following: If your cast must stay on for 8 weeks and you're leaving for Italy in 7 weeks, are you planning to have a handsome Italian doctor take off the cast? I'd like to see a journal entry for that day.
Judy

[Maija Lepore]

Good for you to take that step!!

[Karen Campbell]

This is wodnerful, Joanne! And it is so cool to see you doing art on paper -- even if one-handed :) I have always loved the look of pen drawingswith watercolor -- I'll get brave enough to venture there some day.

[Karen Owen]

Joanne, great journaling and drawing and painting! That's one terrific foot. Feet and hands are hard to draw. You hang in there. It will be so worth it to have your thumb functioning normally again. (Although I must admit I'd be going crazy if I were you.)

Karen

[Lou McCulloch]

I think I will tape up my left hand (I'm left handed)and put a brace on, if I could do beautiful journal entries like this! Take lots of journals on your Italy trip!!!
xox Lou

[Kathy McElroy]

Hang in there Joanne. Your off to a great start with your journalling. I know your excited about your trip to Italy. It will be here before you know it. Take care and pamper yourself whenever you can.

[Aileen]

Well Joanne I see something good has come out of your situation it's pushed you to a different artistic direction! Your drawings are wonderful, I'm very impressed!! I hope that you'll keep up with it, I look forward to seeing more. I feel for you regarding having to wear the cast longer and can just imagine how disappointing and frustrating it must be for you, especially after having gone through this with my sister....hang in there and enjoy your trip....and don't feel bad about excepting help offered from strangers either while traveling!

[Erica]

Joanne, you are great with paper and pen! I can't wait to see your sketches from Italy! Maybe you can superimpose your sketches over photographs!! :) That might be tricky, just an idea. Keep it up, I like it a lot.

[jackie]

Well I am so impressed with your drawing talent!! These watercolors are wonderful!! Love the journal and hope to see lots more!
You deserve a huge pity party, my dear - 8 more weeks - Ouch! But this should insure that you won't hurt it before your trip and you'll heal up just fine - the weeks will fly by quickly!
hugs,
jackie

[peggy gatto]

I certainly hope you keep doing your journal, the drawings and watercolors are just so delightful!!!
peggy
ps- I can only imagine what youe could do with drawings of a trip or a garden! Wonderful!

[peggy gatto]

I certainly hope you keep doing your journal, the drawings and watercolors are just so delightful!!!
peggy
ps- I can only imagine what youe could do with drawings of a trip or a garden! Wonderful!

[Angie Platten]

I think your new journal is wonderful! Love how you did the bits and pieces. I am sorry to hear about your hand though. Maybe this is just something that had to happen to take you on a different artistic path... like journaling, drawing, and painting!

[brenda bliss]

i love this! your new journal is wonderful! I'm so sorry that you have to wear your cast for 8 more weeks--I guess some of us just don't heal as fast as others. Keep journaling and sharing!
hugs,
brenda bliss

[Angela Hoffmann]

Joanne...uh where have you been girlfriend...this is an awesome journal entry...you are such a late bloomer..only because you had never tried before...your drawings are amazing..and oh so creative...so please please don't feel insecure...it is really awesome!
and maybe this one handed thing is a good thing..you are discovering things about your talents you never knew you had~
until your next entry..
waiting with batied breath...(i love the drama thing..lol)
xo
angela
who is a bit under the influence too..but all is true...rofl

[Christy Grant]

Whoa girl, you draw really well! Where have you been hiding this skill and WHY?! I'm serious.
I'm sorry about your hand. What a total bummer that you have to travel one-handed, but chances are it may have been weak then and you may have injured it so maybe it's a way of protecting it. If nothing else, if one of those over-friendly Italian men gets fresh, you can protect yourself! :0

[Darya]

I think your one-handed art is fantastic!! I'm sorry you'll have to wait 8 more weeks. I know how that goes. I guess I was lucky that I only had the splint for 6 weeks, and since it was a splint, I was able to take it off and air it out and scrap off the dead flakes of skin. (Ew!) You can't convince him to take it off before you go to Italy?
Hang in there, and make more 1-handed art!

hugs,
Darya

[connie]

one handed, yeah right! i have never seen anything before that you actually drew - and i must say that once again you amaze me. ohmygosh! Joanne can DRAW, too! Beautiful watercolors! - GREAT style!
I m so sorry your hand is being stubborn.
I just hope it doesn't hurt, too.