The Documented Life Project: Week 1
It’s been such a busy couple of weeks that I haven’t had a chance to post photos of my first week’s Documented Life Project and we’re almost through week two! As I wrote last week, Documented Life is a year-long project where – using a day planner – I capture bits of my weekly life and art journal at the same time.
To be perfectly honest, it’s a little scary posting my actual journal pages. I’ve never done that before. It’s not only that you would see the words I write but that you will see – and might judge me on my art … the colors I combine … the doodling … the experimentation …. Exhale. There I’ve said it.
Once, on the golf course, when I was having a particularly bad round, a very wise women said to me “We all have good days and bad days. But you know, Vicki, I refuse to allow my golf game to define the quality of my character or the boundaries of my life.”
How deep is that??? My art skills don’t define me. Hmmm.
Each week the Documented Life Project hosts issue a challenge to be incorporated into our journals. The first week’s challenge was to draw/paint/sketch a picture of the front door of our homes and what it means to us. My drawing skills are …. (ahem) sketchy to say the least. So I took a photo and then used Photoshop (I use CC) to turn it into a watercolor color sketch. I printed out the finished piece, tore it from the page, then collaged it onto a piece of watercolor paper I had taped into the journal. I added a watercolor wash around the edges, to blend it into the page and inked in the fame. I love how it turned out!
BTW, the Photoshop techniques I used, I learned from Cilenia Curtis. She was kind enough to give me a preview of her class “Digital Artistry: Painted Fine Art” which she is teaching at Scrapaneers as part of the Allstars 2, Digital Scrapbooking Techniques series. The series is available in both PSE and Photoshop versions, and all the classes look amazing. If you’re interested, you’ll want to sign up by Monday the 13th to take advantage of the discounted early-bird registration. Full access to series begins February 4th.
It’s been such a busy couple of weeks that I haven’t had a chance to post photos of my first week’s Documented Life Project and we’re almost through week two!
You do have a beautiful door and your artistic rendition is so lovely. I love the water color! The flower page is gorgeous too. You are totally in your element and doing an amazing job on your pages!
Sandy, I’m having such a GOOD time!!! Thanks so much for your comments!
Fantastic pieces, THANK YOU for sharing. Your last post on The Documented Life prompted me to check it out, what a fun project!
Have you read Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly yet? If not, you should definitely pick it up – it’s a fantastic read… especially if the word fear chose you this year 🙂
Thank you so much, Karli-Marie! I’ve got Daring Greatly on my iPad – waiting for me to finish The Gifts of Imperfection! Have you read that one?
Nope, adding it to my “to read” list now! Thanks:)
Vicki, wow, your creativity never ceases to amaze me! I LOVE LOVE your results….never thought about painting around a picture! Very, very cool….and something I might just be able to try. I think you front door belongs in a frame!
Frame it? Hmmm… hadn’t thought of that! Thanks for the nice comments! You’ve made my day!
Your front door is amazing! I think you are a very talented artist! You are much braver than I am to do it in journal format. I am still trying to find my voice in the digital world.
Oh thank you, Hannah!!! I can’t take full credit though – our house is really beautiful without any Photoshop intervention! It takes lots of time to “find your voice” – I’ve been designing for 3 years now and my work is completely different than when I started. So don’t give up … just keep doing!
I’ve never published anything and I don’t have a blog, so you’re one up on me. But. I’m so glad you are sharing! It’s wonderful to see how differently we all interpret the challenges. And I love what you did. I’m looking forward to seeing more!
Thanks so much, Ellen! I really appreciate you’re having taken the time to read my post – and leave such a nice comment!