Recommendations

Happy New Year! Looking for some new inspiration? Here are a few things that I have come across that float my boat. These new journals from Strathmore are great. My students are always asking for a recommendation on what journal to bring to class. It's such a personal choice I've been reluctant to recommend any. But this one does the trick. For $7.50 you get a nice big size – 9" X 12" – with 34 pages of 90 lb. mixed-media paper. Alot like the smooth Fabriano Artistico paper I put in my custom journals. Heavy enough to take water media, but smooth for writing and drawing. An excellent choice if you are looking for a new journal. Dick Blick has them and so does Amazon, but be aware that you'll have to pay for shipping. I'm working on getting my local art supply store to carry them for my classes – see if yours will carry them as well –  and save the postage.  

These journals come with several different paper choices. I test drove the one with mixed-media paper, the one with watercolor paper and the one with bristol paper and I liked the mixed media paper the best. It comes in other sizes too in case you are a wee bit intimidated by the 9" X 12" – but I say, go big or stay home. Try something new! Click here to have a look. The colorful graphic "Visual Journal" page peels away to reveal a shiny brown cover that is just waiting for some collage to make it yours. Or keep it spare and bare and leave it all on the page.

I'm really enjoying this new watercolor book. I've been wanting to experiment with something new and this book has great photographs and lots of good instruction, examples and projects. Watercolor has always been a watery mystery to me. I look at those hard, dry little cakes of color and go, huh? The beginning of the book has lots of discussion and photos of the different kinds of watercolor paints you can choose to work with and as well as techniques to get those fabulous watery, saturated color effects.

Not that the world needs another book on visual journaling, but this one is authored by two guys…less scrapbooking, more grit. I dig it. Lots of description and great photography – just a glance through was inspiring. A new perspective is always appreciated. 

 The recent Colorado cold spell, coupled with rehab from December, has had me curled up with my lap top and headphones – I have to say a completely anti-social, but absorbing way to catch a flick. So far this winter I have enjoyed these movies from Netflix Instant Play - The Extra Man, Greenfingers, Partition, Stone of Destiny, Cheri, The Year of Living Dangerously, M Butterfly, La Mission, Soul Kitchen and Sweet Land. For a fabulous, fabulous list of documentaries take a stroll over to LIsa's blog here.

What's new with you? Got any great recommendations? Let me know.