Sorry about that because this post is about sad and bad. Regular readers of this blog know of my continuing battle with mental illness and that I've been in a dark period. As such, the pages I'm showing this week reflect that. Feel free to find something happier if you so choose.
Yes, the above is a bit confrontational but it is how I feel about the trend. Yes, there's a lot of negativity in the world but it's not going to go away if one averts their eyes. Confronting it helps to control it and do something about it. Which is why I do art about what I'm dealing with.
That said, what I'm showing you starts out with a mish-mosh of paint. Actually, when I did the actual painting I was really having fun. Not really caring about whether or not the colors mesh, whether or not it looks organized - it was a matter of planting down stencils and splashing paint on them. And I like the effect as they are actually.
I think these could be used as backgrounds for a lot of things actually, but then I went and spoiled them with depressing journaling.
Spread One says exactly how I feel about honesty about my life. For decades I denied that there was something wrong. In 2009 I had a serious breakdown and it's been since then that I've admitted to my mental illness, and sought serious ongoing treatment. My breakdown happened in a work environment, thus eliminating one thing people fear - that one's employers will find out. After that there was no point in hiding it.
The spread is simple - my journaling plus the image of a young girl. I feel that adding anything else will minimize how I feel.
Spread Two takes a quote from a favorite song, "Time," by a favorite band (Pink Floyd). I toyed with some of the lyrics, and changed "the English way" to "Lin's daily way." I paired it with a contemplative Victorian woman image and with a vintage clock, and left it as is. To add anything else would once again minimize the impact of what I've done.
This work is in my so-called 'private' journal, not one of the two I'm exchanging with my friend Lisa. Even so, I still am sharing it.
It really is OK to express one's honest feelings in an art journal - and it's OK to share it. I won't mind.
later,
lin
Beautiful backgrounds, they work very well with the added journaling and illustrations. Journals are supposed to be about real life, aren't they? If something feels too private to share, you simply don't. The process is cathartic (whether you share or not), and I believe that is the point of journaling. Separate public and private journals are always an option, too.
ReplyDeleteArt journaling is a great way to help us cope with what we go through. When we express what we're feeling with paint and with words its really therapeutic - so its completely ok to be 'sad and bad' in your post today, its your journal and your life. Thank you for sharing it. I hope and pray that things get better for you. Loved your pages with all the layers and lovely colour.
ReplyDeleteThank you both for your comments - my post was really in reaction to comments I've seen made about blogs and journals that accurately reflect what is going on in the writer/artist's world that actually does impact the work. So many people only want to see what is beautiful - which is fine and I want it also, but I also prefer to be honest. Hence the post
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