Happy Thursday to all!

I’ve been on summer break for a week, and slowly but surely I’ve returned to the studio. It feels wonderful to be back, and to have long, uninterrupted stretches of time in which to create again.

Today I began working in a new art journal, and thoroughly enjoyed getting lost for a couple of hours in the process of finishing its first page. It’s called “Baggage,” and it started with a free-association writing activity in which I reflected on some issues and emotions that I’ve been hauling around with me, which have been weighing me down for quite awhile. I first jotted down some musings on the blank page, and then proceeded to cover it with colorful layers of collage, paint, and ink.

I think each and every one of us has “stuff” in our lives that we hold on to and are prone to carry with us from place to place, even though we understand it probably isn’t in our best interest to continue doing so. This “stuff” may even get in the way of us moving forward in our lives. We know we should let it go–but of course, this is always much easier said than done. The “baggage” consists of the remnants and residue of our past experiences, good and bad–and it’s been with us so long, that we feel it’s indeed part of who we are. The memories, marks, and scars attached to our “baggage” may never completely disappear–but sometimes we can change how we perceive them. I definitely could change the way I look at certain circumstances of the past–but admittedly it’s really hard and slow work. This page is about that struggle within.

This page was created with collaged paper, acrylic paint, spray inks, stencils, dye and pigment inks, rubber stamps, Washi tape, rub-ons, stickers, a date stamp, pens, and a magazine image.

Can’t wait to start another page–and to share it with you here! Have a great weekend!