Tag: journal

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Off Road Art Picnic

visual journal page with torn pieces of city maps surrounding a photo of a woman sitting in an orchard, next to a yellow Jeep Wrangler, working in a sketchbook
personal journal page 2014
10×7 full spread, mixed media

This photo is from Spring 2013. PhotoGuy needed some trees for backgrounds in his reference library, and I needed to get outside after a long winter. We ate a picnic lunch in an orchard, then he wandered off while I worked in my sketchbook. If I recall correctly, I didn’t make anything worth keeping that day. But this photo certainly captured the afternoon perfectly. Every time I look at it, I can feel the warm sun on my face, smell the fresh earth and hear the birds singing. It takes me back, and the world melts away for a moment. And that is worth keeping.

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Pandemonium

visual journal entry, painted heavily with tones of olive, teal and brown, indicating an emotional storm
personal journal entry 2017
10×7 full spread, acrylic

Dad’s decline into dementia has been accelerating rapidly over the past six or eight months. When I look back at this journal page, I realize the swirling emotions I felt at the time were due to my own uncertainty, coupled with his inability to allow us – his children – to step in and help. We are a large family, a blend of Irish, English and Norwegian. We are loud, opinionated, stubborn and we fight sometimes. But we laugh a lot – mostly at ourselves – and we love our dad.

Things are much harder with dad now. But we have been navigating the process as best we can. We have more information, and we are learning to trust each other as we proceed. We are planning ahead, and making adjustments for the curveballs. It doesn’t feel so dark and swirly anymore.

I wonder how it feels for Dad?

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Waterfall Photobomb

personal journal entry, 10x7 full spread, mixed media, waterfall scenes with small white dog photobombing
personal journal entry, 2014
10×7 full spread
mixed media: acryllic, photo transfers, waxed paper, found objects

Found this old journal page. What a lovely place to rest during a hot summer hike in the woods. Easily 10 degrees cooler by the water, and the fine mist cools your skin even more. Chip managed one of his signature photobombs, and later found a crayfish.

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Try

personal journal entries (2013)
(L) rugby try; (R) self portrait
5″x7″ each page, mixed media