Among many art processes I enjoy, art journaling is one of them, but I haven't been doing that as much lately. An incident happened on the weekend, however, that re-ignited me. There is an e-mail list in Los Angeles called Art Gang L.A. hosted by artist/teacher Kelly Kilmer. It is lightly trafficked and mostly it tells about many happenings in the L.A. area, good places to buy supplies, etc. but occasionally some members are doing what we call "de-stashing." This means they are either selling some of their collage supplies or occasionally giving them away.
I'm a supply addict, like most mixed media artists that I know. Many I buy new or used at tag sales. I scour the Palos Verdes Library Disrict used book sales for books and magazines. Thanks to Art Gang L.A., I contacted a woman named Kara who was destashing for free to a good home and I was willing to drive to mid-city to pick up. Kara (I call her St. Kara) had several boxes of old magazines and many bags full of mixed media supplies. She was in a cleaning out mode. Picture rubber stamps, tapes, papers, and ephemera galore, plus old issues of Somerset Studio and Cloth, Paper, Scissors.
This two page red and black spread in my current art journal is largely made from scraps from Kara's supplies. Just click on it to enlarge. Her gift re-ignited me. And, I am once again re-organizing my own supplies. What I don't need or want will either go to Art at Your Fingertips (educational program) or to other locals in need of supplies.
One other time I lucked out when a woman who lived nearby was moving to Hawaii and wanted to give away seven stacks of wire mesh storage drawers and the wooden door on top as a work space. It occupies one full wall of my funky studio/office and moving it in my car was arduous. Her husband brought the door in his truck. Thanks, Chris, in Hawaii. I see her on Facebook.
By the way, I can't recommend teacher Kelly Kilmer enough. Check out her website if you are interested in art journaling. Most of what I know I learned through her.
