Mixed-Media Art Journaling Inspiration from Breathe Magazine

One of my favorite activities is reading. Grabbing a big stack or books and magazines along with a beverage at my local bookstore provides me with some very refreshing “me time.” I love reading all sorts of subjects, but inspiration and creativity usually win the bulk of my attention. 🙂

If you're not yet familiar with Breathe (only in its seventh issue), I cannot recommend it strongly enough. Most of us live such a fast-paced, jam-packed existence these days, that we forget the importance of just breathing! Seriously, we just don't breathe well. This lovely magazine sitting on my table – just by its cover – reminds me to slow down and pay attention to where I am right now in this moment.

While leafing through Breathe Issue 7, page after page inspired me. The artwork is lovely! (The cover art was provided by Jane Newland, a freelance illustrator from Norwich who works in both traditional and digital media.) In a flash, I can be the person sitting under her umbrella, taking a “breathe break” from everything that pulls at my attention. Beautiful image! 

The last couple of pages in Breathe really caught my attention and are responsible for inspiring this episode of Drama-free Friday. (You can see my completed Art Journal page below.) Be sure to watch the video where I tell you what Art Journaling is to me and to many of the viewers in my live audience. It's one of my favorite Drama-free Fridays, ever!

I coated my hands with Gloves in a Bottle before starting so the Elmer's Xtreme Glue Stick and acrylic paint would later release from my skin. Love Gloves in a Bottle! The pages in my Dylusions Journal as well as some old lined notebook paper were first coated with White Gesso before finger painting the clouds. As the clouds dried, I cut out balloon shapes from the lined paper which I edged with Distress Oxide Inks. The hands are made from a sheet of card stock covered with lots of Washi-style tapes in my stash of supplies. I shaded around the balloons and strings with Payne's Grey Inktense pencil that I blended with a Pentel Water Brush.

I'll be taking a break from Drama-free Friday for a couple of weeks and I wish each of you loads of creative fun while I grab some R&R.

Until next time ~

Remember to Get Creative today! It's Easy!!

Barb