A new project for 2014: A Whole Lot Of Collages

At the end of 2013, I've completed my first project365 - taking a picture for every day of the year with my iPhone and some different apps.

For 2014, I've decided to add a new project to this. When I took part in the DIY postcard swap a few weeks ago, I really enjoyed making my collage postcards. I've used collage techniques before, but mainly as part of a mixed media journal page, and not in their own right. Inspired by the swap, and by iHanna's 365 Collages, I want to make collages.

I've got so much stuff that I love, but don't use very often in my artwork. Patterned paper, stamps, rub-ons, stickers... Time to use (up) some of those supplies! And I ordered a copy of Randel Plowman's "The Collage Workbook" to get some additional inspiration for my collages.

I was thinking about making this project another project365, but I know I won't be able to produce a collage every day. There's no way I'm going to sit down to create after coming home later after an evening class. But I want to try and do as many as possible, hopefully one one for every day of the year. But I don't want to put myself under too much pressure, so instead, I'm just calling my little project A Whole Lot Of Collages 2014. And the first three collages are already done:

Project 365 | Completed!

At the beginning of 2013, I started my first ever Project365. I had tried to do a Project52 before, with my proper camera, but failed miserably. But with my iPhone, and some photo and Project365 apps, I actually managed to complete my project, 365 photos, one for each day of 2013. 

Some days, it was really a struggle to come up with a photo (I usually ended up with taking a photo of food, sweets, or a cup of tea), on others, it was really hard to decide which one to choose. But I really enjoyed the project. It makes you notice the little things around you, to be more aware of moments, special or ordinary, in your days, and it's a wonderful way to collect your memories. I'm definitely continuing my Project365 in 2014!

Project 365 | November 2013

Can you believe that it's already the first day of the last month of this year today? Time's just flying this year. November brought a lot of beautiful autumn colours, some spectacular sunrises and sunsets, and the first snow of the season. I took part in a postcard swap, started taking a pottery wheel throwing class, and rediscovered DistressedFX, a photography app, that allows you to add gorgeous textures to your photos - and flocks of bird.

December started with a beautiful day, cold and frosty. Perfect for a walk in the woods. Hopefully, it will bring lots of snow and cold days.

Project 365 | October 2013

Another month gone, and only two left 'til the end of the year. Doesn't time just fly this year? But I enjoyed October, it was a nice month, with the leaves starting to change colour, the nights getting longer, and the days foggier. After the heat of summer, I can finally breath again, come to life again, feel the fresh cool air on my face when going for a long walk in the forest. With October, my favourite seasons start, autumn and winter. Yes, I prefer dark evenings to long summer nights, and fog and cloudy skies to endless sunshine, and I'm already hoping that we will get lots of snow this winter. October also brought another trip to lovely Dorset, with long walks on the cliffs, spectacular waves in the sea after a night of heavy storms, and a trip to the historical town of Bath. So here's my October in pictures:

I haven't been present in this spot very much this October. I haven't really had anything to show. I'm afraid I'm having a bit of a creative low at the moment. I don't think I've picked up a paint brush even once this past month. I've been spending a lot of time with learning about Lightroom and Photoshop CS6, and I've started doing some more extensive photo editing again, but I'm still waiting for the spark to get me going with painting again. I hope that November will bring inspiration back.

Project 365 | September 2013

Whathever happened to September gone?? It was only just the end of August, after the summer heat waves I was ready to enjoy the more agreeable temperatures of late summer at the fullest, and here we are, at the beginning of October. September really just whizzed past this year. Apart from the first four days of the months, which I did enjoy to the fullest in mild and sunny Dorset, the rest of the month has been quite uninspiring - proof of which are also the many photos of food and tea this month, the things to take a photo of it there just isn't anything else.

After having "missed" September, I'm now determined to make the most of October and autumn. Let's hope it'll be a nice one.

Project 365 | April to August 2013

I just realised that the last time I posted a photo of my Project 365 was that of March. But while I completely forgot to put them on my blog each month, I have been keeping up taking a photo each and every day. 

It can be a bit of a struggle at times, when it's a boring, dull, wet, grey day, and I just can't seem to find anything to capture. On such days, I usually end up taking a photo of food, or tea, or something like that. On other days, it's the choice that makes it difficult to decide which one photo to choose. What is it about that day that you want to remember most? A special sight, place, view? Or something less obvious? Like last weekend, which I spent in lovely Dorset again, when we went to Bridport the last day of August. The obvious photo would have been one from the beach, with the deep blue sky, the yellow cliffs and sand, and the sea. But at the end I chose a photo of the lunch we had at a charming café. Looking at the photo instantly brings back the memory of that day - the market, the delicious lunch, waiting for the bus to take us to the coast, which was over half an hour late, and the rest of the afternoon spent relaxing on the beach. It's the special moments of every day life I want to catch with these photos, not the 'holiday views' (although they're there too, I admit). And "having" to take a photo each day, makes me look out for those special moments, be more aware of what's around me, notice the little things, find beauty in the ordinary.

So here are April to August

Project 365 | March 2013

Can't believe the first quarter of the year is already over! Well, March has been quite a mad month, in many ways. It started with a new TrainSketches journal, and a long weekend in beautiful but very foggy Dorset. Spring hasn't made much of an appearance, instead it was cold and snow, snow and snow again. It seems that winter is not going to end this year. The end of the month brought some unexpected change too, which means that after the next quarter of the year, I'll have more free time to paint, create and photograph. But more of that later. For now, here's my March 2013 in pictures:

I used the collage/calendar month of one of my Project 365 apps this time for my collage, but although this is supposed high resolution, I'm not at all happy with the result. So I'll probably be back to making my own collages in Photoshop Elements again next month, even though it is rather time consuming. But for the moment, this will have to do. And now we'll see what April will bring.

Project365 | February 2013

February is, of course, a short month, but can you believe you quickly it passed? Wel, there we go, the last day of the month, and the second month of my Project365 completed. The past week or so I've found it often especially hard to find something for my photo-of-the-day. It's was just too cold and grey and dreary outside. But I did it, no day missed, and so here's February:

Next month hopefully will soon bring some brighter, more cheerful subjects to photograph. I have a feeling that there might be quite a lot of flower shots coming. And some beach, sea and rolling green hills too. Yes, next month, well, next week, actually, I'll be going on a little trip abroad, and I can't wait!

Project365 | January 2013

The first month of the year, and with it the first month of my photo-a-day Project365, is already over. I must admit that there were days when I struggled a bit. Grey, dull, dreary days, when my inspiration was as low as the temperature - around or below 0. It wasn't necesarily a lack of motives, it was me being totally unmotivated and uninspired. But I tried, and I did manage to find something to capture the day each day. And sometimes even something quite unexpected and suprising, lack that bright blue sky today - something I haven't seen in quite a while. Of course there were also many days when I took plenty of pictures, and found it really hard to decide, which one to choose for my photo of the day.

It's been only one month yet, but already I so enjoy looking back at the month through my pictures. Some of them, the early ones from the beginning of the month, already seem ages ago. With spending most of my days with a far too long commute and working in a far too solitary place, my life often seems, well, rather boring and uneventful. Looking at these pictures, I'm amazed to see how much has happened in these past 31 days, and how many beautiful little things can be found around us every day, if we just care to look for them. Even on a dull, boring, grey day. Now I'm looking forward to what February will bring!