The Circle Journal’s return!

Hi everyone. Many thanks for popping over if you saw this first on FB or Twitter. For the last four years several arty friends and I have got together to each create an art journal which we then pass between ourselves i.e. a circle. Each year we select a different theme. This year we each decided on a colour/colours that we used in everyone’s journal as they arrived, through the post, on a monthly basis. We did have a few bumps along the way (e.g.unfortunately this year one member didn’t manage to complete a page in my journal and in a previous year my journal was completely lost somewhere in Royal Mail!) but generally it works out pretty well. My colour choices were: Hot Pink and Orange. I thoroughly enjoyed spending hours - sometimes days - creating pages in my friends’ journals reflecting these colours. I endeavoured each time to produce original and unique pages. And now it is my turn to look through my wonderful pages to see the art all but one member created just for me. To say I’m grateful is an understatement. I’m wowed and awed by their beautiful efforts!

First, here are the pages I completed before it started its journey. Remember, my colour choices were: Hot Pink and Orange - my go-to colours! 

These were the inside cover and first page. The inside cover included a tag with various instructions detailing what I did/did not want to be included e.g. I really don’t like skulls and coffins!

The inside back cover!

So those were my contributions. Now for everyone else’s. first up is Marie Hampton with her stunning Paperartsy images created into two circles!!

Followed by these gorgeous pages by Jules Bell. The colours are fabulous aren't they?

The following spread is by Hazel Agnew. She is such a talented artist that each of us look forward to each of her beautiful creations. I adore this spread. Hazel’s choice of colours was: Forest Floor. 

There are always so many layers in Hazel’s art work. I spend a long time stroking these pages! Next up are Deborah Wainwright’s pages. Lovely textures on these pages! 

Catherine Johnson is up next with her funky toadstools! Again, there’s lots of texture going on here too! 

Love those spots! Now the next pages are very special to me as they are created by my lovely BFF,  Linda Regan. Linda has absolutely no confidence in her clear and obvious talents, yet she creates these glorious pages for me!! 

I am absolutely blown away by these pages. Lin has such a great understanding of colours and how to organise a page. I learn a great deal from her quiet, unassuming influence. Don’t you just adore those ‘inchies’ all around each page! Wow! I absolutely love it! Texture, layers, colour - it’s all there in abundance. Thankyou my dear friend. I’m sure you spent hours on these beautiful pages. 

The gorgeous pages above were created by Claire Snowden. The layered colours deserve a close up view. They are gorgeous! I haven’t stopped stroking this spread. Fantastic. Rebecca Hill completed four pages next as she created the clever idea of looking through windows and leaving through a back door. I love it. Such a clever idea! 

It’s lovely isn’t it? I love the whole idea as well as the creative pages. Now for the drama of Sarah Dunkley’s pages:

Sarah’s artwork is so expressive. I am so grateful to you Sarah for finding the time and energy to complete each journal on time when you have so much going on in your life. I’m humbled and inspired in equal measure. Your pages are always dynamic and lively. I adore each one you have completed but this is very special. Thankyou so much xxx

My final pages are created by my dear and Uber-talented friend, Millie Moss. Her colour choice was inspired. This is a colour combination I am now going to be playing around with because I love it so much. It’s so fitting that the last two pages should be autumnal as we are now enjoying the last few September days and entering into an artist’s paintbox of colour that is Autumn. 

Thank you so much Millie. I know how difficult these last few months have been for you but you have never let anyone down. Indeed your art just jumps off the page. Each spread you have produced has been a celebration of colour. I’ve adored seeing every one. 

And that’s it folks. A walk through my gorgeous 4th Circle Journal. Each year the art work gets more creative and inspiring. Will there be a 5th round?? I hope so. Thankyou to my lovely Circle friends, from the bottom of my heart.