after we teleported ourselves, star-trek-style, back to this century, joyce, sharron, and i sped off for 2 days of arty adventures at the beach.
but before we discuss that. let's discuss these.
both S & J are prolific visual journalists. these happen to belong to S. and i pawed through nearly every one. this is the only photo of the insides because i didn't want to be distracted with my camera. i became absorbed in slow page turning, reading, touching the pages, and admiring everything.
most of the pages are covered with delicate, fine script written with a fountain pen. her books have an antique look & feel to them and reminded me so much of the country diary of an edwardian lady. i felt the way i do whenever i read may sarton. i just wanted to go write. her attention to detail is so inspiring.
sharron makes sketches of nature studies, leaves in particular. not perfectly pressed green leaves. oh no, she likes the ones you find on the ground that are brown and crinkly.
back at joyce's beach pad we spread our supplies out across the wide table and got busy. i enjoyed chatting back and forth and laughing. lots of laughing.
joyce is a saucy little vixen. in between hand lettering a couple of alphabets, she headed to the kitchen. for 2 days we lived high on the hog. here she comes with her pot roast nachos hot from the oven.
i was mesmerized by the view of the water and fog and swimmers and birds and sunlight and twilight. joyce says the view NEVER gets old. never ever ever.
and here is sharron. absorbed in capturing those leaves most people would overlook.
a few pages from joyce's bursting-at-the-seams journal:
look at that riveting portrait. i hope she does more because they're quite good. joyce writes almost daily, records the weather, draws, gathers evidence, and pastes inspirational finds in her pages. i was honored that she let me go through her enormous book. the one above is JUST january-june of this year!
i'm not always keen on meeting new peeps via the blogging world. if you're an introvert you will recognize this reluctance to interact with new people in social situations more than is absolutely necessary. it's a difficult concept to get across to the more socially inclined. and if you know me then you know i only do what i want to do, and only when i want to do it. period. having said that, i will be the first to admit that the friends i've made through this blog have enriched my life in ways i never could have predicted. a small handful of smart interesting funny women that i've had the pleasure of getting to know in the "real" world. as summer deepens into fall i look forward to more artful adventures. for all of us. every last one.
So fun.
Love that area.
Going up and beyond, soon.
nancy the book of alphabets is ABZ -more alphabets and other signs.
if had to do over again i would not purchase it. lots of pages but not lots of alphabets and some are repeated or very similar to each other. it is a good look book, but not a fantastic letter reference guide
Love, love, love all the photos! What a wonderful experience. Can’t help but ask, Mary Ann, what is that book of alphabets set out on the table??????
What inspiration from this fun blog, Mary Ann! This looked like artistic geniuses at work/play. Those nachos reminded me of a place I frequent and get BBQ nachos…overlaid with BBQ shredded pork. It is mouth-watering to think of!
And I loved the journals! Oh, to just hold them and of course, snoop through!
Cute idea with the sea shell ribbon (book mark, maybe?)
As always, thanks for all you share with us!
Man,what a mother-lode of wonderfulness!!!!!!! And it is time you started calling yourself a painter who journals….truly.
Ok,back to my remote little spot.
Missy, the introvert from the bayou 🙂
it is a small world .. i was in a india flint class with sharron last aug .what a nice surprise to see her here .
Could you hear me screaming,”SHUT UUUUUUP!!!” when I saw the photo of the journals?! And pretty much every photo after that? This post is way better that a Ted Talk.
Mary Ann how wonderful to spend time with kindred spirits and in such lovely surroundings. Thanks for sharing the experience.
Dear Mary-Ann, that looks like paradise! And I think you felt like that. Us creatives need the inspiration of the new even if we are introverts! Great job you went out there!
Love from the other side of the world!
Mmmm….everything about this is lovely and beautiful. I’m so grateful to have found my handful of peeps to hang with in the real world. Life is so much richer since I found them. The piles of journals are so so inspiring.
Bliss. If Joyce ever needs a house-sitter … just saying 🙂
Bliss. True and complete and utter bliss! What an amazing gift for you all to come together in such spectacular settings. I relate to so much of what many of you have said. People think I am an extrovert, but it is so untrue. I really need to make an effort to be social. I am grateful to you, Mary Ann, for sharing that insight into who you are. And for others offering up their own experiences. Having the focus of art can be like a child’s favorite blanket, something to offer comfort. It is “my happy place.”
Wow wow wow, what a cornucopia of stunning journals, I am sitting here positively drooling (yuk maybe but I’m sure you understand why!!!!!), what a showcase of talent and inspiration, thank-you so much for this post today Mary Ann, I was much in need of a serious boost and you have succeeded my lovely. Wow wow wow again to that gorgeous beach-pad, so serene with the most amazing views – SIGH!!!!!!!!
Huge hugs x x x x
When I imagine myself running away for some Me Time, these are exactly the types of places I see in my head! As always, I so appreciate your posts about your adventures!
Inspiring. All of it. I used to be an extrovert but am becoming increasingly more introvert as I get older. It just makes more sense. 🙂 Those journals, that table full of them, the other table where you all journalled together, magic. Thank you so much, all three of you. xxx
Ah, please tell us where we can see more of those wonderful journals of Sharons? Edwardian Lady, perfect.
Not all introverts are shy, but all need alone time after being with even the most lovely people. And I needed a trip to the beach, which I just took, thanks to MAM and her friends. Thanks to all of you. All is well.
Delicious revisiting of a luxurious play date.
xo sharron
Sally I am what is known as an introverted extrovert. A mutt. But some of my introverted characteristics are STRONGLY pronounced!
I am so happy for you that you have this wonderful way to connect with people. I have to say I am wishing for journaling friends too. I have yet to find anyone in “real life” is interested in it as much as I am. I keep sharing and hoping I will find some art friends. I once was at a bookstore and was looking at the magazines. I saw a woman pick up an issue of Art journaling and immediately started talking to her!
good golly Mary Ann, I’m an introvert too! I never would have guessed you are an introvert from your writings and all your adventures (many that include people!). How wonderful you’re able to move out of your comfort zone — I just look at my feet and wish I could disappear around new people, or even people I know hahahhaha.
and what a time you all had! great company and creative fun and inspiration, doesn’t get any better than that …
As always, thanks for sharing and inspiring.
oh my gracious. What friends, what a setting, what journals.
I know exactly what you mean about meeting blog friends. I am in a sweaty mess for days before. But I can honestly say that I have never met a blog friend who hasn’t felt like an old friend. I may not have bonded with each and every one, but there was a terrain of understanding that made the visit both exciting and comfortable, like pulling out a favorite sweater when the weather finally turns cool.
You enrich my life in ways you’ll never know. Just coming here, I am off to my studio at 9:30 on a work night, after having a weather-induced headache all day, to make a journal. Going to the Cape for the weekend and plan to sit at the cove and just ….draw.
Mary Ann, I’m an introvert too, but oh how I wish I could join you on one of your art adventures. Thank you for taking us all along virtually. I love reading your blog.
What an absolute precious time. They must have recognized the depth of your love for visual journaling!! As they invited you into their world and got to experience yours too….gifts that not every person gets to have or share. I am always “IFFY” in social situations and have probably missed so many rich moments…thanks for sharing your gift of that rich time with these special women!!! What absolutely gorgeous journals….so inviting you just want to slowly slip into them. Do they blog?! It looked like a stack in a museum. What a lovely lovely post!!! I am inspired! And I love the photo of her hand, as you can see her hand has done much work, I suffer from arthritis and have a new little jiggle in my lines that are not as straight as before, but I have decided it identifies me, the one who did it….those little jiggles are my signature on my work….as I know hers are the product of her hands…love that you took the picture with her hand in it.
How I wish I could spend time with like-minded people around a huge table filled with so much fodder and then just go for a walk on the beach to clear my head. Sounds like heaven.
let me just give you a grand high 5 on this fabulous adventure. That stack of journals is incredible and oh to be able to look through them, soak em in. You’ve been given a priceless gift in these lovely women you’ve shared time with. I’d say blessed with good fortune and it’s the best and most valuable of all, for at the very heart of it is friendship through a shared passion. No need for explanations,just friendly banter and views that go on forever. Enjoying each and every moment you’ve shared. PS. I found a great little piece about ‘travel’ will send it through email later this evening.
Introvert or not – how wonderful to be as open and affirming as you.
Delightful, in every which way. So, have you checked your P.O. box yet?? You might have to give me your real address — if you don’t mind an occasional mail art missive from me.
ok, I just have to ask….does Joyce rent out her beach pad?!?
I just want to go sit at that table and stare at the ocean for a few days…
…I’m sorry, what?!?……all I heard was “Beach Pad”……
Joyce and Sharon have such strong, unique voices.
What very wonderful, magical, well chosen friends you have…….