Successful First Art Friday's!!

Successful First Art Friday--ha!ha! must be the teacher--ha!ha! Just kidding...

 I was full of nerves as I lined the tables with art supplies from the cupboards...

 There was so much to choose from, and I wasn't really sure...of anything! It's different to prepare for myself than an unknown group/situation...sounds like it makes sense, right? But when I'm nervous, my propensity for nonsensical thinking is typically hightened!

 The artsy folks began showing up...

 I chatted for a moment or two about my own personal experience, or lack thereof; my philosophy about art journaling and the inner artist in everyone and my plan/hope for the class...then we cut loose =)

 I'm not showing any faces on purpose...the students said they wouldn't mind...I think they may have enjoyed a cameo or two, but according to the business policy at the center signed release forms are necessary and we didn't get any of those...so the hands and arms you see are definitely attached to bodies and faces, but you will not see them in this post...I will try to plan differently next time and probably be able to show the talent behind these awesome creations!!!

 We used watercolor and acrylic paints, glue, cards, magazines, fabric...

 ...ribbons, string, twine, pens and pencils, markers, crayons...

 We had a blast!!

 Some journals were made from scratch--painting, coloring and otherwise treating heavy recycled watercolor paper or cardboard meant for the journal covers, then filled with folded paper inserts and attached with simple sewn binding; others made use of repurposed children's books by embellishing the covers, creating fantastic collages and working one page at a time treating and painting over the words and pictures on the pages.

We shared wonderful conversation, dreams, aspirations and ideas, laughter and even singing (I have music such as Phantom of the Opera, Pavarotti and Queen among others, on my iPhone--came in handy!)

Did I say it was a blast? It was...wonderful!!