Time to Get Back to Self Care

I actually did this journal page near the end of July, before I had to put my cat Shelby to sleep. Since then, I’ve done some mourning, and been working a lot on a freelance project (whose deadline is today . . .). With everything going on, I have not been taking care of myself very well. But I’ve been thinking a lot about how I need to get back to a healthy routine.

For me, that means starting off the day with walking my dog, Ruby, then getting right to the studio to make art before I do anything else.  (Sometimes I eat breakfast before making art, sometimes after.) I have felt very much out of balance with everything going on, and I know that getting back to a routine, and trying to have some balance, will really make a difference for me. And, I need to have time for myself to relax.

All of the color on this journal page, other than the photo, was created with Derwent Artbars, Inktense Blocks & Inktense Pencils. I am really enjoying working with these supplies, and figuring out how to best use them to my style of art journaling. My favorite is doing rubbings using the artbars and stencils. That’s how I did the side borders on the vintage paper. The stamped letters use my Blind Melon alphabet stamps and artbars. I made an artbar stamp pad by rubbing an artbar on a moistened sponge and used it like a stamp pad. Then I colored in the stamped letters with a wet brush and an inktense bar, using it like a watercolor cake.

If you look in the background of my self-portrait, you can see my kitten, who I finally named Clover, wrestling with an orange sponge. It’s fun having her out in the studio with me. Luckily she entertains herself and is pretty good . . . except when she jumps up on the table and walks across what I’m working on.

On a side note, I haven’t reached my goal yet for my chip in, but I am pretty close. The vet bills for Shelby’s hospitalization, and then putting her to sleep were around $1000, and those weren’t included in my chip-in. So even if I reach my goal, it will only help cover part of my expenses. I want to thank everyone who has chipped in, because it really has helped since I had to put all of this on credit cards. The care and support form everyone has been amazing. Thanks.

P.S. Monday is my goal to get back to making art every morning. I’ll share photos what I work on then.