Take a peak at my first art journal pages. Yup, I have a new art journal – all clean and shiny with beautiful, blank white pages. I’ve set myself a challenge to fill it up – anything goes!

Picture me curled up on the floor surrounded by fun stuff like torn up magazine pages, coloured pencils, paint, and glue. Our roaring fire makes the room toasty warm while rain lashes the windows outside. Add a hot tea, and I’m totally happy!

Page 1: Chansons de toile

Chansons de toile were sung by women while sewing and embroidering. They sound pretty soppy, describing dramas of love. This page is based on an anonymous 12th century chanson de toile called “Three Sisters” who are by the sea side, singing “clear and bright”.

Page 2: Magenta and green with doodles

An exploration of magenta and olive green (not a colour combination I usually go for!) with doodles added for good measure.

Page 3: Dancing girls

Based around a sketch I did years ago, mixed with a Spanish flair and quotes I found in one of my old notebooks. “Like all youths, he loved a dancing girl. Like all dancing girls, she tricked him.” (The Son of the Sheik, 1926, with Rudolph Valentino)

Page 4: Jane Austen’s Lady Susan

Laughed the entire way through Love & Friendship at the movies last week. The movie is based on Jane Austen’s novella Lady Susan, written as a collection of letters between the main characters. I won’t spoil it for you – go see it!

Page 5: Venice is sinking

Based on an old magazine article about how Venice is sinking. It’s giving me ideas of an underwater city full of snaking alleyways and canals, curving bridges, graceful palaces and churches.

Page 6: A la recherche de la fée

In search of the fay, fairies, faeries, fair folk, or whatever you want to call them. Based around a page from a French magazine. The fairies are happy about something… not sure if that’s a good thing!

So there you have it – my first 6 art journal pages. And some interesting ideas happening in there! Can’t wait to see what happens next…