Month Three

A DAY IN THE FOREST IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL

The day this book arrived in the mail, I happened to have a great napkin on my work table with leaves that looked like watercolor. I knew that I would use those wonderful leaves somehow. They reminded me of many family vacations in my growing up years spent camping in the beautiful woods of Michigan. I have always loved the forest and feel most calm among the trees.

I painted the background with shades of green, adding some of the autumn reds and oranges found in the leaves. After painting the dreamy-eyed portrait (doesn't she look calm?) I collaged the napkin leaves onto the surface. To my disappointment, they looked lost. Using Stabilo pencil, I traced around the leaves and then used a damp brush to move the pencil into a watery outline. That did the trick!

My final addition was the lettering. I love to vary the font on a journal spread to add interest. I couldn't resist embellishing the "F" in Forest to represent one of my beloved trees. The script on the other page would change it up even more. I hope this will inspire you to give portrait painting a try, experiment with different fonts in your journal and, most importantly, to take a walk in the woods.