Art Journal: First Signs of Spring

First Signs of Spring Full Art Journal Spread by Dawn Herring

Spring! Ah, it has arrived and is marching forward as I type. I did this spread a day before spring commenced and am just getting the time to post about it now. But, alas, the trees are budding, the birds are singing and dancing and having a grand ole time enjoying their favorite time of year (I would assume, with all that fabulous creative energy going on!). 

When I started this art journal spread, I used a new stamp with small circles on it that I purchased from Hobby Lobby. I love circles, so it's perfect. A bit different from using bubble wrap. Once I had that down, I started tearing collage elements from fodder I pulled from my stash. I began laying it out in various places, creating a composition of sorts in the process. This gave me a structure to build on with this spring sentiment in mind. 

I will call this spread my stencil and stamp spread since I used new art items I had just purchased and was excited to try out and play with. Experimenting is key when it comes to art journaling. (Yes, I think that bears repeating.)  

First Signs of Spring Close up of Stenciled Bird

The 2nd image above is a close up of the second bird I stenciled on this spread, the first you can see in the first image on the right page. I use a cosmetic sponge to apply watercolor paint to create the image from the stencil. Very key to use just the right amount of water with the pigment so it doesn't bleed. You have to practice to make it work well.  I decided to paint in a stamp of a rose on this bird above. I used several small flower stamps after I stenciled in a few round flowers with petals in various spots. 

First Signs of Spring Up Close of Flowers and Spring stamping

At that point I realized that this spread was about spring! with the colors, the images of birds and flowers and such. So that's when I decided to create the word structure, The First Signs of spring. I always have the option to stamp in the letters directly on the page or stamp on colored construction paper and adhere the squares I cut out to the page. So I did a combination of both. I love this process. It's so much fun to see it come together as I lay out where the words will go and how the individual letters can be laid out. As you can see in the above image, I shifted the letters so they give the impression of a springing step. 

First Signs of Spring Up Close of First

Once I had this complete, I decided I needed something to fill the white space that remained. I gave myself a day to consider it and came back with the idea of spattering watercolor paint lightly to give it some color without overwhelm. I used a paint brush and my finger to release the paint lightly directly onto the page so it looks sprayed. I was pleased with how it came out! 

So, the first signs of spring...the birds, the budding trees, the flowers beginning to bloom, (the fire ant mounds in Texas after some good rains)...but what about YOUR Spring? 

Art Journal/Journaling Prompt:
Spring is always associated with New Life budding and blooming. What is budding in your heart? What dreams are trying to break through your heart's soil? Any seeds planted long ago that you buried never to believe they'd have a place at some point? What are you ready for that you've been hesitating about? 

Right a list of the seeds of spring that you want to grow. 
Then take one of those items, one that you are drawn to most, and use it as a journal prompt to riff on. See what comes up. 
Or do a mind map with the word of that seed and see what associations arise. 
Or you can take the word and create an art journal spread to honor that seed dream you want to make real. 
Then write a first step you can take to implement it, no matter how small. Just acknowledging it is Honoring to Who You Are. 

Spring is my favorite time of year. It's when I see and hear my mocking bird the most. And now I have a growing collection of videos I've taken of his gorgeous song and his beautiful dance! But I also love listening to the dreams of my heart, detailing them in my journal. 

So I keep painting, keep playing in my art journal, keep nurturing those dreams to make them fruitful. 
Enjoy your Inner Spring and Celebrate Who You Are and What You Dream every day..and then go make it happen! 

Copyright 2015 Dawn Herring
Copyright 2015 Images by Dawn Herring Collection, Dawn Herring