Encouraging Others with Mixed Media

"A goal without a plan is just a wish" Mixed Media Art Quote

Parenting is a funny career.  You can be active at it for years, competent even (hopefully), and realize you still don't know what your doing; for example when the kids go to off to college, and call to share their woes.  (I don't understand the professor, I think I bombed the test, everyone else is so smart, I didn't get an A, should I apply for this job, ...)

Winston Churchhill Success Quote - Mixed Media

My parenting dilemmas changed when my teens went to college, and included trying to advise my young adults from a distance.  In this previous post I mentioned I was creating art journal pages with quotes to inspire and encourage them. 

Success is not final Quote

Occasionally I take a photo of a multi-media work and send it to their phone when I think it will encourage them in a particular situation.  (my own phone "Stickers")

Talent and Perseverance quote, misspelled!

I don't know if they appreciate it, but words of wisdom from sources I respect shouldn't hurt.  And I have the fun of creating art in the process as I try to help them. 

The rest of this post documents progress and perseverance [spelled correctly this time!], for others on the art journey.  I'm trying to encourage others* to say "I can become more talented if I practice" instead of saying "I can't do that".

(*AND my young adults, should they ever read this)

Practicing Hand Lettering

I have worked over the past 2 years to improve my handwriting and journaling, by taking courses and workshops.  But improvement frequently comes down to practice.  I practiced what I learned, which is the way to really improve.  Classes are not enough.

Hand Lettering practice idea

One technique I have used to improve my "hand" is copying over lettering samples I like with vellum paper. It helps with learning to form letters in a very different way.  After I copy exactly, I try it in a smaller format, or with a different phrase. 

Creating mixed media Journal Papers

Besides practicing lettering, I practice creativity when I create the backgrounds for my quotes.  Practicing creativity is easier and more fun - less rules. 
 

Creating mixed media papers

Creating the backgrounds takes more time, space, and is far messier than calligraphy practice.   I have practiced my calligraphy on plane flights on tiny airline trays.  I also practice during commercials while watching TV.  Creating my backgrounds can take over my kitchen, dining room and living room for nearly a day.

mixed media Journal Papers drying

I often create backgrounds by applying paint over wallpaper samples, using stenciling, stamping and other techniques.

DaVinci "Art is never finished" mixed media quote

I make many of my quote pages 5x7 inches so that they could be framed in the future should one of my children want to.  

Feel free to snap a photo of my quote journal pages to encourage your children or friends.  

I hope I have encouraged you to keep up your efforts and projects, whatever they may be - blogging, artistic endeavors, getting a job, raising children, dealing with self doubts, etc!


Click on the images to see them enlarged.

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I am linking up to these parties:
Avenue613: Challenge 229 Anything Goes (Entry 118)        I was featured here!
Kathleen: Bloggers Pit Stop 204 Th 8p (Entry 17 of 93.)      I was featured here!
Creative Mom: Craft Schooling Sunday (Entry 5x of 26x.)   I was featured here!

Good Random Fun: Good Random Fun Mon 4a (Entry 44 of 52.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 566 6a (Entry 4x of 48x.)
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 2-4p (Entry 2 of 82.)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 531 3p (Entry 2 of 77.)
Maria Elena: Tue at Our Home 342 Mon 12p? (Entry 16 of 74.)
Thistlekeylane: Tues Turn About Mon 31 (Entry 18 of 119.)
My Random: Anything Goes 220 (Entry 49 of 50.)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 147 (Entry 11 of 27.)
Stonecottageadventures: Tuesday with a twist 351 (Entry 30 of 45.)
Lets Add Sprinkles: Keep in Touch Tue 94 4p (Entry 10 of 52.)
Interior frugalista: Talk of the Town Tu 207 6p (Entry 25 of 78.)
Also My Repurposed Life: Talk of the Town (Entry 25 of 78.)
Gingersnap crafts:Wow me Tue 7p (Entry 23x of 50x.)
Girlish Whims: Whims Tues 442 8:50p (Entry 12 of 96.)
Also My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About 28 (Entry 12 of 96.)
Faeries and fauna: Waste not Wed 188 (Entry 36x of 107x.)
LeCultivateur: Wonderful Wed Tue 9p (Entry 39r of 159r.)
    Also Ducksnarow, ElecticRedBan
Applestreetcottage: Party-in-your-pjs Tue 291 (Entry 23 of 96.)
Delightsome Life: Home and Garden Wed 5p (Entry 10x of 95x.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 239 Wed 7p (Entry 8 of 47.)
My thriftstore addiction: Vintage Charm Wed 215 (Entry 7 of 68.)
Grandmashouse: DIY Wed Party 174 (Entry 20 of 93.)
Raggedy-bits: Waste-not-wed 188 (Entry x of 111x.)
Myslicesoflife: Encouraging hearts Thur (Entry 53 of 94.)
Kathleen: Bloggers Pit Stop 204 Th 8p (Entry 17 of 93.)      I was featured here!
FromGardners: Handmade Hangout 267 Th 6p (Entry 14 of 60.)
Twochicksandamom:Funtastic Fri Dec 5 (Entry 38 of 106.)
KatherinesCorner: Thur Fav Things (Entry 70 of 236.)
Also Follow the yellow brick: Thur (Entry 70 of 236.)
Petals pies + otherwise: Handmade Weekly 32 Fri 8a (Entry 22 of 58.)
Firemanswife: Fri at the fire station 149 (Entry 28 of 52.)
Ohmyheartsiegirl: Friday Feature Party 199 (Entry 76 of 192.)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of joe 14 (Entry 33 of 65)
Tryit-likeit: Creatively-crafty 206 (Entry 85 of 96.)
Artsymama: Artsy Party 275 (Entry 80 of 82.)
Shabby art: Create-bake Fri 402 (Entry x of 84x.)    
The Painted Hinge: Farmhouse Friday 137 (Entry 20 of 53.)
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged Fri 510 (Entry 9 of 25.)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Sat Sparks Sat 8a 358 (Entry 70 of 125.)
Our mini family: Our mini party 261 (Entry 34x of 65x.)
Creative Mom: Craft Schooling Sunday (Entry 5x of 26x.)    I was featured here!

Acrosstheblvd: Create Bake Make 318 Sat 5pm (Entry 41 of 155.)
Finding Silver pennies: Silver Pennies Sun 342 6a (Entry 42 of 105.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it 28 Sun 3p (Entry 22 of 126.)
Pams Party: Dare to share 403 (Entry 20 of 58.)
Apriljharris: Hearth and Soul Mon (Entry 5 of 126.h)
Acrosstheblvd: Beautifully Made Tue 7a (Entry 57d of 82.)
Lovemylittlecottage: Little Cottage Mon 35 (Entry x of 67x.)
Debbiekitterman: Tune in Thur 145 (Entry 24 of 27.)
Imparting Grace: Grace at home 363 (Entry 93 of 113.)

FromGardners: Handmade Hangout 267 Thur 6p (Entry 14 of 60.)
2dishingdivas: Creatively Crafty 207 (Entry 93 of 103.)
Calypsointhecountry: Best of month 1st Fri 7a (Entry 17 of 213.)

Challenges

Art-journal-journey: Something New (t Entry 91 of 145.)
Lovetocraft: ltccb 42 jan-anything (s Entry 176 of 247.)
Mixitupchallenge: Miucb 33 anything goes (s Entry 30 of 48.)
Movingalong: Challenge 114 January (t Entry 113 of 144.)
* Avenue613: Challenge 229 Anything (m Entry 118 of 192.)   I was featured here!
Crafters castle: Welcome to Jan (m Entry 69 of 116.)

Dragonfly Dreams: Anything-goes (m Entry 139 of 209.)
Creative fingers: Challenge-177 (s Entry 124 of 164.)
Brownsugar: January challenge (m Entry 169 of 264.)

Not just cards: January-challenge (s Entry 53 of 103)

Craft rocket: Challenge-66 (m Entry 118 of 144.)
Love to craft: Ltccb 42 Jan (s Entry 176 of 247.) 

Wyzlemoncraft.pl: z-moodboardem (supercool)
Perfect time: Perfect Challenge (Entry 20) 

Related cool posts:
Paper from vintage linens 
French-vintage-farmhouse-journal