February Art Journal Pages

Time for my annual love letter..

to myself..

When I first started to do this,

many years ago..

I admit, it was hard to write things about myself that I loved..

It felt awkward and alien to me..

I kept hearing my Mother's voice..

inside my head..

rattling off a long list of 

DON'TS

Present sorrows wings are taking... Caterina Giglio, Art Journal Page

fortunately,

I learned long ago that just because someone is family

it does not mean that they are good for you..

or on your side..

So..

this month as I wrote, 

I realized how much I have been through,

since the beginning of this year..

in just a few short weeks..

and how much I love about myself..

despite the circumstances..

and the situations..

we can still love family

even when we realize that we mix like oil and water..

but it is easier when they are not around us all the time..

Ingredients: Gesso, acrylic paint, water color pencils, pencil, fabric, ribbon thread, dry wall tape, paper ephemera, micro bead gel.

hopefully I have captured in the texture..

of this month,

the rough and soft..

the pain and the joy ..

the light and darkness of the moments..

the power of the pen,

and the openness of acceptance..

for the way it is..

The details of life..

sometimes rugged, sometimes soft..

always

beautiful..

Ciao, ciao!

October Art Journal Pages

That cold north wind does blow..

and

it seems to me that 

Autumn is truly a season

of the soul..

                

the old crone 

calls to us all ...

and change is evident everywhere we look..

I sometimes resist change..

I imagine most of us do,

preferring what we know to the unknown..

change always seems so scary..

and yet I feel it in my bones..

Change is inevitable and in the air..

like the swirling leaves..

and the twisting branches...

What is harder is knowing and

intuitively feeling it..

but not knowing what exactly is coming..

so my pages look

a bit ominous, 

dark..

and again, I wanted to create the feeling

of wind..

the winds of change..

that bring new seeds of growth..

I hope you feel the drama..

Ingredients: Walnut Ink, handmade papers, paper ephemera, antique ephemera, personal photos, cheesecloth, wrapping papers acrylic ink, Pitt Pens, pencil.

This weekend, I will be sharing a 

Vlog post on YouTube 

of my latest

collection....

The French Paper Series..

Le Jardin De Amants

and I am working on a 

miniature book

 and planning on sharing the technique with you..

Until then,

dear readers..

C4N!   

July Art Journal Pages

It's a matter of the heart..

gentle reader..

I know I have shared with you

before 

that 

my family... 

"A Matter of the Heart, Detail, Caterina Giglio

have heart issues..

and last month

we were on pins and needles..

waiting to hear..

 how my Auntie

was doing after her

heart surgery...

I was on

pins and needles..

literally and metaphorically..

Textile Art, "A Matter of the Heart" July Art Journal page, Caterina Giglio

so my documentation

was about this family issue.. 

Congestive Heart Disease

Writing under and over the page, wrapping paper and pen, Art Journal page, Caterina Giglio.

and in my pages, 

I wanted to express

the frayed heart..

Detail from, "A Matter of the Heart" July Art Journal page, Caterina Giglio

being stitched back together..

Textile art, Caterina Giglio

They have done so much work on her..

but ..

it also illustrates

Detail from, "A Matter of the Heart" July Art Journal page, Caterina Giglio

the family heart,

my heart,

waiting to hear..

wondering how it is going..

Ripping the fabric, 

washing it..

drying it,

and stitching it up..
ironing it..
stretching it..
pulling out threads..

was meditative ..

and soothing..

because art does heal..

Ingredients: acrylic paint, pencil, pen, wrapping papers, book pages, fabric, upholstery threads, lace, safety pins, cheese cloth.

July Art Journal Pages, Caterina Giglio 

even broken hearts..

I will say Ciao for now..

and I will be back here next Tuesday..

thanks always for following..

C4N!