A New Dawn

I recently got back into creating my handbound journals again here and there. In my studio I have been concentrating on painting 24x24 paintings and up, as well as trying to get those 12x12 inch panels to work together. (And slowing driving myself crazy with those 12x12s.) But one evening last week I pulled out my small panels and made a few covers to be bound into journals. While I created the panel that became the cover for the book below I was listening to Nina Simone's song "Feeling Good" and I just had to pull the title from the lyrics.


A New Dawn
handbound blank journal
mixed media covers
exposed spine, 112 white pages

-sold-

I took the photo of the tree right when a flock of geese were flying over head. That image is actually dipped in wax. The rest of the cover is collaged papers and acrylic paint.

Feeling Good

Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by you know how I feel

(refrain:)x2 It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good

Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
Blossom on the tree you know how I feel

(refrain)

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know
Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That's what I mean

And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel

If you want to hear her beautiful voice, click on the video below.



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So, yes, I do have an etsy shop where I have sold my smaller paintings, prints and journals since I closed down my other site that started this whole journey, amanobooks.com. But I have been souring on etsy and decided to give this a try. I've always resisted selling directly on my blog because I want my blog to be a place where I can share my art and discuss the ideas behind my work and not be a place where I'm trying to sell my work so blatantly in your face. After years of debating this, I decided to just try it out and see how I feel about it. So, please forgive me for caving, but I'm trying to simplify things and if I just have two places to update- my website and my blog, then I will be on my way to simplification. Which is a good thing.