It’s hard to believe it’s been over a month since I got to spend the weekend at Papercraft Clubhouse creating with Dina Wakley and a whole slew of other artsy fartsy girls. I wanted to share with you some of the pages I created in the 2 days I spent learning and soaking in all the knowledge I could from Dina. It is no secret just how much I love Dina Wakley. I LOVE her philosophy behind creating art, I love her style and I think she is a fabulous teacher. I am honored to call her a friend and look forward anytime I can get artsy fartsy with her! :)It is SO awesome that she is now a Ranger Signature Artist and we can get products that she designs and dreams up! We are lucky art peeps!
I have been lucky enough to take a bunch of classes with Dina over the years and I still crave more- only because she ROCKS! 🙂 I learn so much!! I hope to take a few of her classes at Absolutely Everything in August. Be sure to sign up for any of her classes when she is near you and you can be part of her tribe! (See my post about my classes with her last May)
I also think I’m going to “steal” her rules for when I teach.
- No whining.
- No thinking.
- You don’t have to do anything I say. However if you do listen to me it usually turns out ok.
I mention a bit about each class that I enjoyed but I also had to mention the one thing I really LOVED “learning” was it was OK to tear pages out of my journal, create and then tip them back into your journal. Dina showed us how- it is a simple and easy process but not one I thought of. This will definitely help me use my heat tool less (you’re welcome Dina 😉 ) AND will make it easier to work on multiple designs at the same time. I will just have to watch out where I lay all these journal pages in progress so I don’t get Mister Harley paw prints all over them 😉
Ok, this post is going to be image heavy but I really wanted to show you how much we created in just 2 days! These aren’t even all of the pages I left a few out. Looking at the palette of colors I chose over the weekend I think you could tell I was looking forward to summer and warm temps 🙂 I was also drawn to really BRIGHT and trying so hard to not dominate my designs with my usualy go-to/love teal.
Also at the end of this post I have some words about a special friend, I hope you will read through to the end.
Art Journal Play Series: Random by Design
This class was VERY creative and really gave me a lot of different ideas on how to add layers into my journal and how to create different elements to use a bits and pieces on my pages. I LOVED making a print right from our Ranger Craft Sheet! So free and fun!
(click the image to see a larger version)
(click the image to see a larger version) I usually ask her to sign one of my creations from class, that is what you see here
(click the image to see a larger version)
Art Journal Play Series: Watercoloring with Acrylics
I have been so obsessed with watercoloring lately. Mainly watercoloring with Distress Inks and Watercolor Pencils. It was fun to look at the Dina Wakley Media Heavy Body Paints in a whole new way. I loved watercoloring with Dina’s brushes as well because they aren’t detail brushes, so you aren’t as concerned with staying in the lines etc. It was more free!
(click the image to see a larger version)
(click the image to see a larger version)
Art Journal Play Series: Creature Feature
I am kicking myself that I didn’t get a chance to print out a few pics of Mister H to play with during this class- but looking back on it I think it was ok to just “copy” Dina to learn the technique and I can experiment more in my studio. This is a really fun, and easy technique for those of us who can’t draw!
The classroom at Papercraft Clubhouse was packed with awesome creative peeps but I feel lucky to have been able to sit near some pretty fabulous girls! Colleen, Jill, Amy, Sue and Cheiron all rocked (and we were really good at sharing 😉 ) I am always thankful when I get to be the student and more importantly when I am able to be part of a creative day with fun people! As Dina fondly calls them “her tribe”. This weekend will always be even more special to me as I look back and remember as I was able to create with my dear friend Colleen. She had attended my April Loft Art Retreat and that was a true gift. She was having so much fun getting artsy fartsy and I knew she had family/friends in CT that I really encouraged her to sign up for the classes with Dina. I mean c’mon- learn from another fabulous teach AND get to create with me for the weekend- it was a win-win situation.
I am so happy that I asked Colleen to take this selfie with me just as she was heading out. Little did I know that a month later Colleen would no longer be here. She passed away June 18th. Although I am very sad and am screaming “fuck cancer!”, I am thankful that she is no longer suffering and she can get artsy fartsy whenever she would like. I will never forget what she said to me right before I snapped this pic and she was thanking me for encouraging her to go. She said to me her new mantra was:
“Live today like its your last, Learn from today like you will live forever”
I promise Colleen that is how I will live my life, rest in peace dear friend.
I’m just introducing myself to the world of art journaling and loved your creations!!. I’m so sorry for the passing of your beautiful friend xx
Love the pages you created! Just getting my feet wet and my hands full of paint..took a class (first one) with Dina..definitely a hoot. Can’t wait to let the beast loose. Formerly a CT gal but now reside happily in CA! Whenever you see a rainbow think of Colleen happily painting.
These are some delicious pages! That workshop looked incredible! I’m so jealous!
wow! What really fun spreads and a very nurturing weekend. I love the idea of having permission in this work, and working in multiple pieces is a helpful way to loosen up. I love your washy colors. So lovely.
Amy
Wow–what a wonderful time you had & such great art to show for it! So sorry your friend lost her battle with cancer. Don’t we all need to remember her mantra?
Thanks for sharing Jen! I’m def in Dina’s Tribe! I love the journal pages, they came out great!!! Sorry for the loss of your friend?
I would say the same thing as you did about cancer! Having had it myself, you either know someone who has it, or you have it yourself. It’s a freakin’ epidemic!! I have lost more that a few friends and my father from this dreadful disease. Lost my mother-in-law just two years ago to pancreatic!!!
I am so very happy that you got that last photo with her!! She looks like she would have been a “fun” kinda gal!!
I would love to take a class with Dina, I think she is great and her teaching style is so much fun! I can only watch her video’s as I can’t afford to travel to where she is teaching, ever. I live in Victoria, BC Canada and I don’t think she has come here yet. If she ever does, I will take her class. Her video’s are great, easy to follow. I had a face drawn in no time 🙂 Glad you had a grrreat weekend with her and all the other lovely ladies as well.
What a fantastic class this must have been! I so much enjoyed looking at your journal pages you created!
It looks like this was an amazing class! Your art is fabulous and you definitely have a lot of memories to take with you. Thanks for sharing.
what a beautiful tribute to your friend, Colleen. . . . Dina is truly a delight. . .you and Colleen must have had a ball in her class.