Tag Archives: Dylusions

A stack of journals

I decided to have a quick count of how many journals I’m using at the moment. It was more than I expected! I’ve got 10 journals on the go, but each one serves a specific purpose.

I’ve got a weekly diary journal. A small journal we’re recording Tony’s journey in. A 6×6 heavy Kraft journal I’m using to explore colour combinations; there’s something lovely happens to colours when you leave some Kraft showing.

A huge Dina Wakley journal that has 3 different types of paper – I bought that size by accident. A small Dylusions one I’m doing this year’s Creative Jump Start in; CJS2021 was in January and February but with Tony’s health I’m doing it slowly this year.

I’ve always got a basic Dylusions and Dina Wakley journal on the go because they are where I play just for the fun of it, but also where I “download my head”.

My current stash of journals
Some of what I’m using my journals for at the moment.
This is what I’ve been playing with today.

A safe place #BlogJune 27

My art journals are somewhere to download the thoughts in my head without fear of judgement. The pages don’t have to make sense, be pretty or be “art”. They just have to feel right to me.

I use a very intuitive process in my journals, just as I do in my artworks. For me it’s as much about the doing, as the result … it’s more about process than anything else.

Tonight I’ve finished a small black Dylusions journal. I used lots of Dylusions Shimmer paint and Shimmer spray, shaped the page edges and cut peep holes, and generally had fun. I love the final result.

A place for thoughts #BlogJune 17

I can talk to library customers about anything they need info on. I can write fairly easily but, when it comes to tricky emotional stuff, speaking often eludes me. I’ve been known to text or Viber people if I can’t get the words out.

I started watching the Dr Gabor Matè movie “The wisdom of trauma” this week but emotionally can’t deal it at the moment. I’ll come back to it though, because his thinking on trauma and addiction speaks to me.

One of the ways I deal with emotions, and addictive personality, is through my art journals. I can say anything in my journals without fear of judgement. I often share my work, so make the writing illegible if I need to, or cover up the writing.

This is a Dylusions Dyalog that’s almost ready for me to start writing in. I’ve used Shimmer paint and spray on the pages, then added collage. I like the small format as it’s quick to work in when I just want to get some thoughts down.

The value of art time

Some weekends, aside from cooking meals & basic things like washing etc, I spend both days at my art desk. This is one of those weekends. Tony is in more pain and sleepy so he’s sitting in the lazyboy, napping, while I play with my art supplies. Art is good for me – the movement of my hands, the meditative sense of slowed-down time when fussy cutting out images, and the chance to get my thoughts & feelings out of my head and into my art journals.

I’ve been working in my large Dina Wakley journal, and the large Dylusions journals. I’ve really enjoyed playing with Steampunk images for a change.

Out of my head, onto paper

This has been a rough week for various reasons, so a day of pouring out my heart and head into my art journals has been good for me. I don’t sleep well some of the time, and when things are rough I tend to have bad dreams. I process everything that’s going in complicated dreams, often with my long-dead parents in them. I haven’t been doing that this week, but have been very wakeful, so hopefully getting lots of thoughts down in my art journals – many unreadable – will help settle my brain a bit! People say art is cheaper than a therapist, but I’m not sure they’ve seen my journal and paint supplies 😉

Playing with windows

I’ve been playing with making windows after doing some Dyan Reaveley online classes – which I highly recommend – and watching Niamh Baly on YouTube. I didn’t mean to cut the same window in two pages, they were stuck together and I didn’t realise! Still, it doesn’t matter.

I put a stamped figure on the final, single, page (shown below) and backed it with some Dylusions collage papers, then added a quote. There’s journaling in white gel pen on the black hearts; the inks are water reactive so pick up the red and pink from underneath, which I love. I used Shimmer spray inks on all 3 pages and like the added sparkle.

Dylusions online classes

During lockdown in England Dyan Reaveley started offering online classes, and they’ve been fantastic! These 3 pages are based on some of the classes I’ve done, combining techniques and just having a play. Here’s what I used:

Dylusions: 8×8 journal. Paint: Desert sand, Squeezed orange & Tropical sangria. Stencils: Retro, Stars, Circles. The page had a little leftover Angles in the background from another page. Other: Collage papers, Bigger Back Chat 2. Other products: Archival ink, White gel pen, black Fude ball pen.

Dylusions: 8×8 journal. Paint: Crushed grapes, Rose quartz & Cherry pie. Stencils: Fancy floor, Grid. Stamps: Dy’s alphabet. Other: Collage papers. Other products: Archival ink, White gel pen, black Fude ball pen.

Dylusions: 8×8 journal. Paint: Mushy peas, After midnight & Polished jade. Stencils: Court jester, Teardrops, Spring flowers. Stamps: Dy’s alphabet. Other: Collage papers. Other products: Archival ink, White gel pen, black Fude ball pen.