There's Always Joy

"Moments in a life sit side by side one another - the infuriating next to the divine, serenity next to fear, joy next to wonder and awe - moment after moment, one story layers over another that is erased or grown dim with time or distance - and all it in motion and adding up to a magnificent and very grand adventure."  Fia Skye

Thinking of a friend tonight.

Sometimes I forget my rule about doing anything too drastic after 8:00 p.m. But when I came across this little 3 inch pocket square I did a while back....it gave me an idea for the art journal and couldn't stop myself from jumping in.

I do love this technique of doing acrylic paint swirls...then watercoloring over it. 

The paint acts as a resist...and it dries a bit raised....so provides nice texture.

 

So I swirled up this page a few days ago....

and not very well I might add....at 8:00 at night.

I let it dry overnight....and did a little watercolor painting the next day.  The swirls should have been different sizes...it's just a bit too orderly. There might be ways to improve it...but for the most part....it's just fine.

Margie sent me a quote she found in her community newsletter....and it seemed just right for the opposite page.  There was already a lot going on in this spread...so I painted wide white lines with a paint pen on the off white paper to add a little interest....and lettered in the quote.

Not a bad little spread for a personal art journal. 

I looked back at my photos at the time I made the little pocket square....and I remember I went to town on the acrylic paint resist and watercolor  combo.  I think another page in the art journal is calling for some asemic acrylic writing with my fineline applicator.

There's the circle I cut out for the pocket on the far right.

And....yes....there was joy!  

There's always joy...even in the midst of sorrow.