I do a page in my Dylusions Dyary every week – sometimes it’s day by day, other times it’s only one or two topics. This week is a mix. I love this format because it’s whatever you want it to be. I used Dylusions stencils and paints, and Posca and Tombow pens. The photos are printed using an HP Sprocket, so they are sticky-backed.
Dad died when I was in my mid-20s, way nearer to 30 years ago than 20! I missed him terribly for a long time, then time eased the loss, as it does. I think him of often, but with love, not a sense of loss.
Right now though, I feel the loss again. There’s some hard stuff we’re dealing with and I want my Dad. He wouldn’t have said a lot; he’d have given me a bear hug, some sage advice and then just been here for us.
Yesterday I did this page using the lyrics of P!nk’s song, Circle Game, where she says “And I start looking for my Dad…”. Artists like P!nk provide me all the words I can’t find.
All supplies are Dylusions unless otherwise stated. Paints: Lemon zest, Funky fuchsia, Polished jade. Stencils: Teardrops, Diamonds in the rough (small), Star struck. Stamps: Dy’s alphabet. Other: Distress ink, Archival ink, Pitt Big Brush pen, white gel pen, Distress collage medium.
Over the weekend I spent some time working on slightly larger paintings inspired by the Hokitika Gorge, following my visit after Easter. These are on Hahnemuhle 300lb watercolour paper using heavy body acrylics and water soluble crayons. I love the granularity of some of the mark making.
Do I know what the shapes mean to me yet? No! But that’s okay. I’m happy to sit with not knowing, because that’s often how my art works. What I do know is that the shapes are embedded in what I’m doing and critical to the works.
This page refers to some stuff I’ve seen on social media, protecting men accused of vile things because “they seem so nice” or “their music/acting/whatever” is great. Uh huh…
As someone who was abused as a kid and had a bad first marriage, I don’t care. When people show you their truth, believe them. Also, trust your instincts.
Can you see the mistake in this? I could have ripped it out and started again or tried to cover it up but for me the joy & release is in the doing, so I’m happy to leave it alone. Can’t see it? The first “t” is truth is actually an” “x – oops 😉
Materials used are all Dylusions unless otherwise stated – Paints: Mushy peas, Slate grey & Ground coffee. Stamps: Dy’s alphabet. Stencils: Shutters, Old school numbers & Diamonds in the rough. Other: Pitt Big Brush pen, white gel pen, Ranger ink, Distress ink.
When I journal, it really is the good, the bad, and the ugly. Currently I’m using a Dina Wakley mixed media journal, which I love, to “download my head”. If you’ve been foll wing me a while, you know I’ve had weight loss surgery and as part of that journey have faced up to my food addiction, abusive first marriage, miscarriages etc.
All my feelings get poured out into my journals, and I share all my pages, but some of that I don’t want others reading – and don’t even want to re-read myself because the psychologist think that creates a ‘loop’ in your head.
How do I write down the hard stuff, then share it safely? There’s a number of things I do:
I did the background with Tim Holtz Distress paints and StencilGirl stencils, and the tag with Andy Skinner stamps using Stampin’ Up ink and a red Tombow, then wrapped some red cotton round it. I used a thick black Pilot pen for the journaling and added some messy burgundy and red cotton under the tag with Tombow glue to ground it a bit.
technique
This page talks about some hard stuff we’re facing at the moment, and how I feel about it. It’s personal and involves other people – it’s not just my story – so I needed to think about their privacy too.
I don’t treat my art supplies like precious items – for me, they’re tools. My favourite brushes sit in a container of water on my desk 90% of the time. I don’t clean my stamps except for a quick swipe with a baby wipe (sometimes…). Sometimes I wipe my stencils as I use them, sometimes I don’t clean them until the finer details start to get lost. They’re tools so use ’em.
Today I decided to clean my fav Dyan Reaveley red rubber alphabet because I felt I was losing some details. Might also be just my imagination! Anyway, I used StazOn cleaner, then wiped them with a baby wipe. They’re not spotless, but way better. And that’s enough crafty housework for one day…
I love people’s hands, and am always checking out people’s rings, nails and so on – not in a judgemental way, just curious. This was done in my small Dylusions journal.
Paints: Ground coffee, Laidback lilac, Vanilla custard. Stencils: Sugar lumps, Blocks, Modern script. Stamps: Dy’s alphabet. Other: Distress ink, Stampin’ Up ink, white gel pen. Pitt Big Brush pen.
Still recording the lyrics I love. Pink’s songs really speak to the part of me that’s a bit broken – the food addict who now knows she used/uses food to smother her emotions. The spot on her chin is from my mucky fingers! (oops…) This was done using Dylusions products, which are some of my all time favs.
Cath Sheard 