Category: art journal

The Mountains Are Calling

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date August 22, 2016
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“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery – air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, ‘This is what it is to be happy.'”

– Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

It’s good to finally feel that spark of fresh artistic inspiration like I finally felt when I started painting mountains. The most frustrating times for me is when the desire is there to create, but nothing feels inspired.It’s those heart thumping, urgent, fully focused artistic moments that are what I live for. When I’m completely absorbed in a project and it stops being about perfecting a final product (something that insures I am bound to be disappointed and zaps me of desire) and more about personal expression.

Process: Pencil drawing, watercolor pens, gauche paint.

Tags mountains

abstract art acrylic painting art art blog art gallery art ideas art inspiration art journal collage mixed media sketch sketchbook Uncategorized

A Page in My Art Journal: Abstract Painting

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date August 2, 2016
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I can’t believe it’s August already….I am not ready for winter….

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Abstract Painting Collage

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date August 2, 2016
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Cutting up pieces of my abstract paintings into polygon (ish) shapes and then creating collages is one of my favorite ways of creating art. I love mixing and matching colors that I wouldn’t usually think to put together- although, sometimes my OCD kicks in and I spend hours gluing and ripping off, and cutting down shapes, hoping to make the “perfect” piece.

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Art As Style Inspiration: My Collab with the Amazing Mom Edit

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date September 9, 2015
No Comments on Art As Style Inspiration: My Collab with the Amazing Mom Edit

If you’re a mom and into fashion, you’ve probably heard of The Mom Edit by now and if you haven’t yet, well, you’re missing out. I’ve mentioned my love for Shana, the site’s creator, before and shared some of the art collaborations we have done together for The Mom Edit. Last month, we were talking about what direction we should head in this year for our monthly art/style collaborations when Shana suggested doing a mini shoot featuring both my style and my art. We were already at the beach, and a few glasses deep into our bottle of white wine so we figured why the heck not?! And then last night I got a text from my best friend who said she just spotted my feature on The Mom Edit, so I thought I would share some of the photos here too!

I’m Wearing:

Top:

Marylin and Main’s Batwing Oversized Tunic Top, $29.30 on Amazon.

Shorts:

Mango’s Striped Cotton Shorts, $24.99, Amazon.

sandals:

Birkenstocks’ Yara Leather Thong Sandal from Amazon, $105.99 to $149.99.

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The Monthly Inspiration Edit: The May Mood Board Mash-up (Jesus Sandal Couture, The Return of Fat Amy and Alabama Shakes)

I’e been wanted to create my own mood board since I discovered the wonderful world of digital mood boards. I’ve always loved making collages and inspiration boards in my journals and on my wall-I love the physical and visual process of creating collages and have spent countless hours absorbed in arranging and rearranging pictures…. something about the process is soothing to me and have found them to be a helpful tool for aiding in my creative process because I often find new inspiration for creative projects and ideas.
With online mood boards it’s like a whole new world of inspiration has opened up to me. There are so many talented, artistic designers and artists out there to find inspiration from-

I’m going to try and do a round-up at least once a month….

BUT

I would really love to see what is inspiring every one else out there and wanted to offer to anyone who might be interested in being a guest blogger and creating their own individualized mood board on This Wild Precious Life. It could be any handful of things that are inspiring you at the moment: books, music, food, shoes, movies, art, diy projects…and give you a chance to share here! If you are interested just email me at thiswildpreciouslifeblog@gmail.com with the subject title “my mood board” and we can work out the details!

So here is what is inspiring me in the month of May (2015)….

Wear- Jumpsuits and Rompers

http://www.freepeople.com/clothes-jumpsuits-rompers/flutter-romper/ BCBGeneration Womens racer front jumpsuit BCBGeneration Women’s Racer Front Jumpsuit
BCBGeneration Women’s Racer Front Jumpsuit

http://electricfeathers.com/collections/wardrobe/products/infinite-rope-jumpsuit-1

WALK-

I’m really happy simple leather sandals (or Jesus sandals as I like to call them) are making a come-back. I don’t know why every time I see a pair of simple classic looking leather sandals I just want to be walking around in Greece or Italy…so the closest I can get to either of those places at the moment is a pair of my very own jesus sandals.

http://www.freepeople.com/shoes-sandals/cafe-wrap-espadrille/

Birkenstock Women’s Mayari Birkibuc Sandal

http://amzn.to/1dqgBIM

http://www.freepeople.com/shoes-sandals/durango-metal-gladiator-sandals/_/PRODUCTOPTIONIDS/83886FE0-6740-46FF-AABD-B3BC062AB204/

Steve Madden Women’s Donddi Sandal

Blowfish Women’s Gill Fisherman Sandal

Steve Madden Women’s D-BAND Sandal

LISTEN:

Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes

Falling Faster Than You Can Run by Nathaniel Rateliff

Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens

Pitch Perfect 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Carry:

Rebecca Minkoff Julian Backpack

http://www.freepeople.com/accessories-bags/jericho-backpack-32078669/

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/patricia-nash-vasto-leather-backpack/3816140?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=2375500&fashionColor=&resultback=6239

https://www.etsy.com/listing/184422924/the-sawyer-hand-made-leather-backpack?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=leather%20backpack&ref=sr_gallery_4

READ-

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have by Mark Nepo

What Alice Forgot

a href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805210318/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0805210318&linkCode=as2&tag=thiwilprelif-20&linkId=BP5TUZMGSEASXI5X”>

Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar

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Some Pages from My Art Journal: Spring 2015 Edition

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date April 23, 2015
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"There is a wolf in me."- Carl Sandburg — “There is a wolf in me.”- Carl Sandburg

April 12th, 2015's sketchbook page artist: Jessica Ross — April 12th, 2015’s sketchbook page
artist: Jessica Ross

"You touched me and I flew open." — “You touched me and I flew open.”

abstract art acrylic paints art art blog art gallery art ideas art journal art lesson art lessons artists artwork bright christmas christmas DIY idea collage colorblock colorful colors craft crafts creative creative project creativity decorating decoration decorations design detail diy DIY creative diy gift idea DIY Holiday Gift Idea DIY project easy craft easy craft idea easy crafts esty etsy gift gift idea glitter glue gold leaf holiday gift ideas holiday season

Gold Leaf Holiday DIY Gift Cards Ideas: some (very) last minute Christmas Projects

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date December 24, 2014
3 Comments on Gold Leaf Holiday DIY Gift Cards Ideas: some (very) last minute Christmas Projects

As usual, I left things till the last minute…I don’t know how to do it any other way. Under pressure is usually when I am most motivated and inspired. I got a little carried away with my Gold Leaf paint and pens and painted just about everything in it last night.

My favorite gold leaf to use is Plaid Craft Liquid One Step Gold Leaf Paint. The gold leaf pens are definitely easier but they dry out so fast. This guy comes in a re-sealable bottle and is about the same price as the pens but will give you more use. It is super rich, and heavy but make sure you shake it every time you use it.
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The cards I used are also available on Amazon and are just regular heavy-weight blank white greeting cards (5 x7″). You get 40 for $14.95 and I ended up cutting some of them into smaller cards too. So they will last a while.
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I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas with their loved ones! xoxoxo

Tags abstract art, art journal, art journaling, art tutorial, Christmas decor, Christmas design, Christmas gift idea, christmas style, DIY, DIY Project, Gift Idea, holidays, illustrations, sketchbook, style blogger

abstract art acrylic acrylic paints art art blog art gallery art ideas art journal art lesson art lessons artist artists artwork bright colors cactus Canson change collaboration collage colorful colors craft crafts crayons crazy creative creative project creativity design design board design envy designs DIY creative diy gift idea DIY Holiday Gift Idea easy easy craft easy craft idea easy crafts floral flowers graphic design happiness happy humor ideas illustration illustrations ink inspiration inspiring inspiring quotes journal journaling life life list lifestyle blog lines lists living lol love lovely lyrics mixed media moleskine murals nature oil pastels opinion original art painting paintings paper goods patterns pen pencil pencil skirt pinterest poetry pop culture print prints questions quotes simple sketch sketchbook smile songs spotlight street art succulent succulents sunshine terrarium To Do tree trees triangles tribal upcycle watercolor watercolors waves wax pastels words

More of my sketchbook pages.

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date December 23, 2014
No Comments on More of my sketchbook pages.

The start of a new year means a new sketchbook. I get really excited about starting a new journal- especially at the beginning of a new year. It literally allows me to turn a fresh page in my life and re-organize, reflect and motivate. I’ve been slowly compiling pictures of some of my sketchbook pages from this past year or so and funny, I never realized before just how often my pages center around a quote or lyric that is inspiring me at that time. I think because a big part of the reason I keep a journal is to motivate me and to help me stay positive. Oh, I also apparently am big on bright colors and florals.

also, I’m really interested to know (for any fellow art journalists who stumbles across this page)…what your favorite sketchbook/journal is(Mixed media paper, watercolor paper, bound, spiral, small, large….)? I have over 30 journals and have tried all different types and sizes and I am starting to narrow it down to my favorites but I still feel like my perfect sketchbook is out there somewhere undiscovered and waiting. just really want a large sized sketchbook with pages that don’t bleed through…I like the watercolor moleskine sketchbook but it didn’t have very many pages and was quite expensive.
Here are my go tos:

The Moleskine Art Plus Watercolor Album

(12″ X 8.5″) Professional Folio Series, Hardcover $27.37

moleskine sketchbook watercolor — click on the picture to view in Amazon

pros: thick, heavyweight, high quality watercolor paper, super absorbent and doesn’t bleed through.

cons: expensive & only has 60 pages while most sketchbooks have at least 100 pages.

The Canson 180-Degree Art Book ($13.79)

(8.3′ x 11.7″) 80 sheets

canson art sketchbook, click picture to view in amazon

Pros: Lays flat, nice design

Cons: Paper is not high quality, and poor quality paper, rips easily

Strathmore Hardbound 500 Series Mixed Media Art Journal

(11.5″ x 8.5″, 64 Pages)

Strathmore Sketchbook, Click picture to view in Amazon

Pros: Great size and Price

Cons:

What inspires you? Do you have a favorite medium when journaling? What is your go-to when you are sketching or journaling… I always wish I wrote more…. but I never do….