Hello Blog :)

I noticed that when I'm good at updating my instagram photos (come follow me at ginaleekim), I'm a bad blogger! Sorry about that. Here's a page out of my 7x10 journal. I played around with some red, orange & bright pink watercolors, then cut it into a triptych. 

I've been feeling under the weather lately. But that doesn't prevent me from reminiscing a bit. This was Stephen at 13 months, laughing at an empty bottle of gesso! Enjoy.

And The Most Embarrassing Award Goes To...

Oh dear. 

Last week, I was trying to compliment someone on a blog but instead of "kick-ass" (as in, you rock!) I typed "kiss-ass". How'd that happen! This TOTALLY changed my sentiment. Uh....you're an amazing, extraordinary, out-of-this-world, phenomenal, mind-blowing, and unbelievably talented kiss-ass. Ugh.

Please enjoy my art while I go bury my head in the sand. 

Technique used: watercolor, stencil (Jill Berry designs), salt, white gouache splattering.

Summer Completed!

I know, I know. Summer hasn't even started (unless you're in Australia). But it feels good to complete the four seasons layout in my art journal.

Happy Friday everyone!

Two-Page Spreads

Enjoy some 2-page spreads out of my new 7" x 10" watercolor journal. I kinda went crazy and super saturated my paintbrush with bright watercolors. I think it's because I have cabin fever....I want winter to be over, like yesterday. 

As you can see below, I have yet to stencil in "SUMMER" on this art journal page.

Part of the problem is that I don't know where to place my lettering! I wouldn't want its font to obstruct or cover-up anything pretty. Hmmmmm, what to do....what to do....

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Nature Art Journal

I just finished an 11" x 14" art journal cover page. After giving it numerous glazes and truly overworking the mountain/sky, I am finally done with it. 

Painting landscapes come natural to me. You can't go wrong when choosing nature as your inspiration.

Here's what it looked like at the beginning stages (i.e. initial wash). I had no idea what this would morph into. I did see snow-capped mountains in the distant horizon, but I also saw a vase with white flowers!

 

And remember folks, no matter how tempted: 1) never dip your paintbrush into your coffee; 2) never drink from your dirty water bucket....it has zero caffeine in it!

Cityscape Using Washi Tape

Finally finished my cityscape using washi tape (hey, that rhymes :)

I took advantage of the semi-transparency of washi tape and punched circles out of them to mimic paper lanterns. I then sewed these fun circles into a heavenly drape, anchored by the stars! The distant buildings are made from strips of scrapbook paper. Everything is on a watercolor background.

Want to see my washi tape collection?

Yeah. I have a slight addiction. 

Ready for Lift Off! Three, Two, One....

I have an awesome life. I really do. But once in a while life's drama gets dumped on my plate. There are days I want a magic wand. Or better yet, a rocket ship that'll take me on an exciting space adventure! Maybe the moon is made out of cheese....or white chocolate! It's a critical mission to find out. Ha!

Alas, I'm still on planet Earth. Reality isn't so bad. It means I have art and art makes me sane. Painting helps me realize that I have all the resources I need to create something joyful. It's almost as if I am carving out a healthy space in my head to mull over things. I gain perspective. Inspiration & beauty fuels me up again. Then, with the last brushstroke, I'm reminded that everything's going to be okay.

Starry Night

Star light, star bright, 

First star I see tonight, 

I wish I may, I wish I might...

This mixed-media background,
is what I made tonight.

Jellyfishes To the Rescue!

When a painting goes sour, seriously sour, I try to make the most of it. One such painting wasn't going very well. I had to make some drastic changes by throwing on more gesso and glazing it with dark indigo paint.

I then added ripped paper, iridescent mica, splattered white gouache, and glammed it up with glitter pen! 

Can you believe this started out as a tranquil barnyard scene? LOL. Jellyfishes to the rescue!

Here's Stephen and daddy enjoying a bit of marine-life themselves.

What a stunning world we live in. There's an "ocean" of inspiration out there AND many ways to cover-up mistakes! Thank you Mother Nature :).

Home, Meadow, Pond

Currently, my personal style of art journaling has evolved into a storyboard format on 11x14" Arches or Fabriano cold press paper. 

My hope is that every image I create inspires a story. 

When I sit down to share these pages with my son (I make-up adventures as I go), he giggles and pounces on the watercolor sheet with his fingers.

 I try to add cuteness & whimsy like a little baby bird perched on top of a tall tree.

 And now that laundry's done....

....let's go swimming in the pond!

Late Night Art Journaling

"Just like the butterfly, I too will awaken in my own time."

~ Deborah Chaskin



Materials used: fabric, paper, metal, embroidery floss, lace trimmings

Note: all photos were taken under artificial light, so the colors are a bit skewed. I just couldn't wait to share!

When Stephen's asleep, I get busy at my craft table. Inspiration doesn't happen all the time but when it does, it's usually between 9 p.m. to midnight. Tonight my muse stirred me to do some late night art journaling!

Birches are appearing in my dreams again. I love using analogous watercolor to capture a simple row of trees.

Materials used: watercolor, fluid acrylics, french text, gel medium, gouache, glitter

 Sometimes I don't write anything down on my journal spreads but I feel that I'm still telling a story through the images I paint. A forest landscape, a bird's nest, a butterfly, trees, leaves, wings......these are powerful, personal symbols.

My Visual Diary - Part 3 of 3

I paint. I sew. I dream. I dance.

Enjoy my stitched birches!

My Visual Diary - Part 2 of 3

Enjoy flipping through my art journal, staring Stephen (adorable studio sidekick).

Art Journal Flip-Through from Gina Kim on Vimeo.

My Visual Diary - Part 1 of 3

I'm a child at heart. Life is a storyboard. Whimsy is my middle name. 

New Way of Art Journaling

New Way of Art Journaling, originally uploaded by ginaleekim.

Combining old and new watercolor paintings, sewn paper, and embellishments, I have finally completed three 11x14"art journals with accordian-style binding.

This is my new mixed-media form of the visual diary. I can't wait to share with you the contents of each journal. Stay tuned :).