Mandala

              I find Mandala art very beautiful and inspiring.  I found a bunch of tips on pinterest on how to start a mandala.  There are mandala basics that show you simple symbols to use.  Mandala starts small and turns into something amazing.  The simplest of symbols put together can make it look so complex and beautiful.  Here is my first attempt at mandala. 

I started with a pencil drawing

Then used very fine tip marker pens to add color

        
          My next attempt will be to paint a mandala on the left over black canvas from my canvas collage.   Here are the pinterest links to the mandala basics and mapping out mandalas.  Please feel free to follow my art therapy board or any other board that inspires you. Thank you for reading!

Draw on my friends,
Nicole Joliada

Collage Canvas

          This week was all about letting the creativity flow.  My painting teacher assigned us to do a collage painting.  I tried to focus on what I love in order to be inspired.  My first passion is photography so I figured I'd start there.

            I painted a canvas black so I'd be able to create a slight texture with the paint.  Something I wouldn't be able to get with a regular black canvas.  I cut the black canvas the way I wanted.   I then took modeling paste and pasted it to my working canvas.  I placed it in a way to resemble a camera.  I used more modeling paste to form a circle.  Resembling the lens.  I let that dry and then built up the lens with more modeling paste, to get it the way I wanted it.  In the center of the lens I used acrylic paint, as well as a charcoal drawing and some newspaper clippings.

           The end result was a little different from my original idea, but that's the best part of art.  You can keep building on it until it fits your vision.  I don't think this is the finished product yet but I'll keep you posted.  Thanks for reading!

Happy Wednesday,
Nicole Joliada

Inspiration

              I've been feeling uninspired lately.  Not wanting to paint or create anything.  I needed something to spark my interest.  Last month a friend invited me and my mom to take a workshop at The Mermaid Art Studio in Long Beach.  It was something new and exciting, so we went.  For this workshop we started making our own art journals.  The studio provided materials for us to bind them ourselves.  I started by pasting decorative paper on the front and back.  Then I bound my book.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do first. I started with a color that I liked and painted a page. Before I knew it I was using stamps and paint pens.  I didn't want to stop creating.  The beauty of this class was that it opened up my desire to create again.
                Since the workshop I've done several pages and used new mediums.  The best thing about art journals is you just keep working on it.  I leave it near my art materials, so whenever I feel inspiration hit I start working on it.  Everything I love and everything I'm thinking I put into my journal.  It can really help with working out your thoughts or worries.  As a result you get a beautiful piece of art to share with others or keep for yourself.  I encourage everyone to start an art journal.  Especially if you're having a creative block.  For inspiration here is an example of mine.  

              I placed an envelope on the inside cover and put a letter to "my future self" inside. This is a good way to reflect later on. Almost like a time capsule. It can also be therapeutic.

Happy Journaling,
Nicole Joliada 

With The Bad Comes The Good

       I'm sure you've heard people say, with the good comes the bad.  Well I think that is a little pessimistic.  So I say "with the bad comes the good".  Whenever you feel as if there is no hope, something amazing happens.  Within this past year, my life has really been flipped upside down. I lost my house in a natural disaster, I met the love of my life, I went back to school and I quit a job I hated.  Even with all that good I've been feeling lost.  Like there is something bigger and better I should be doing.  Currently I'm on my way to finishing my bachelor's in fine arts.  After that is a master's degree in art therapy.  Then, who knows?  Yet I do know that there is a reason for everything and we should never give up hope.

       I've recently taken a class titled "Quest For Fulfillment".  Hoping it would answer all of my thoughts and worries.  It has not.  Although who can honestly say they found the answer to all of their problems with just one class.  Even though I have not found my way yet, this class has inspired me.  I found a new craving to search for enlightenment.  Which brings me to why I'm creating this blog.  During this new journey I will mention a plethora of things (side note: plethora is such a great word).  I'll mention my new experiences, as well as many interests and passions.  Art being one of the main topics and of course the search of finding an old friend... Myself

Keep positive,
Nicole Joliada

Niagara Falls ~ Canada