Happiness Instructions

What are your Happiness Instructions? Things that you need to do to keep you from sinking low, things that you can do to get back up again?

"Happiness Instructions" is an art journal collage on 9x12" drawing paper which hangs on the inspiration board in my office. The neocolors pop so nicely against the black gesso in the background! My inspiration board has only positive stuff; colorful images, notes from my kids, photos, lists of library books, etc.

For this piece, I first edged the page with black gesso and Neocolor II crayons. I added layers of ephemera ~ a map, receipts, an old textbook, ticket stubs. I glued layers and layers of of unused scraps of scrapbook paper, more ephemera, a bit of white gesso with a sponge to provide a spot for journaling. The title was lettered in silver sharpie paint marker. I outlined the title and wrote the instructions with black PITT pen and doodled with gellyrolls. Using a brush, I painted edges and corners with Golden fluid acrylics.

More black gesso goodness:

• black.magenta
• black.periwinkle
• Black Gesso & Neocolors
• Black Gesso & Stamps
• Journal Lettering II