From ridiculous to sublime -- My first Round Robin art journal project

round robin journal
When I joined my first Round Robin Art Journal project in December, I felt like I'd finally  graduated from kindergarten and entered "real" school. Real art school, that is.


In a Round Robin, a blank journal is passed from artist to artist, each one contributing a collage. My Round Robin includes 7 other artists. Sometime this month, each of us is supposed to create a blank journal and mail it to one of our fellow artists.

Just after Christmas, when I was about to start my own blank journal, I received another artist's journal (her name's Shel) in the mail. Already I was behind! Maybe I should have stayed in kindergarden! Especially since this artist's journal was a true work of art -- she painted a beautiful outdoor scene on the cover, and she added way more spreads than the measly nine I put in mine. (You can see her cover here.)

But my biggest concern was style. If you follow my blog, you know that I lean toward the surreal. Surreal with a retro-sci fi bent. Campy, even. Nothing like the beautiful illustration on the outside of the journal I received. Should I adjust my style to fit this (more grownup) journal?

I asked John, my mixed media guru. No, he said. Stick to your style. Even if it involves bugs. (Lately I've been inspired by a vintage guide to insects.) So here's the spread I made for Shel's journal:

round robin journal
The people come from an old kid's book. As soon as I saw the well-dressed woman hanging laundry, I knew I had to add a few bugs to her clothesline. Don't worry -- they're still alive. She's just given them their weekly bath. Ha.

About the quote: At first, I looked for something about living "in harmony" with nature (I find safety in sarcasm). But then I decided to honor the sentiment Shel put on the back cover of her journal ("The beauty of Nature's Spirit inspires my art every day"). I found the quote by early environmentalist John Muir.

The background is made out of several Gelli prints. I made the "trees" by pressing dried fern fronds and weeds onto my Gelli plate. (I was inspired by Sandra Pearce, who took her Gelli plate on vacation to record all the flora she discovered.)

To make the journal background, I made lots of Gelli prints and then cut out the shapes that looked like trees. Here's what I started with.
gelli print made with dried leaves
gelli print made with dried leaves

gelli print made with dried leaves
I had plenty left over, so I made a postcard too. I added some of the original dried weeds.
gelli print made with dried leaves
I like it, but I think it needs one more thing…a bug? 


Comments

  1. May I suggest: A butterfly?! ha ha.
    Seriously though, I love the postcard! Really great color combinations, and neat effects! I don't know if it even needs anything else.

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  2. Looking good, Claudia! And I'm so glad you stuck with your own style - that's the whole point! We should all end up with a journal full of differing styles and lots of different takes on the theme. It's what makes it fun. Shel was obviously raring to go! I haven't received my first journal yet.

    And by the way, I love bugs :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Tracy! I agree a journal full of different styles is much more fun.

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  3. yes please- another bug!
    I am so glad you have stuck to your own style- I love it!!

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  4. This is lovely, Claudia, and I love it that you stuck to your own artistic guns - more bugs, yes!

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  5. Claudia, I love those bugs, and you know, that's true, you should stick to your style, your collages are gorgeous!

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  6. Gotta get the bugs out! Ladybugs are a personal fav.

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  7. definitely stick with your style, love your collage.

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  8. While her cover IS amazing, so is your spread! It fits the theme, and any traveling journal should be full of every participants own work in it, not just a copy of the hosts!

    Thank you for sharing the process. I love the gelli-printed foliage!

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