Greetings beloved Illustrated Faith Family!
Spring is coming!
As I prayed about this week’s post, the Lord was kind and brought this beautiful scripture to me.
Seasons can be so hard. Winter darkness can creep into our souls. Seasons of sickness can cripple our spirit. Seasons of intensity can make us weary. Seasons of challenge can make us want to hibernate and hide under the covers — maybe one eye peeking out to see if it’s over yet.
But here’s the sweet truth: seasons never last forever. It’s not their nature. They accomplish their purpose or complete their cycle and they bow out to a new season and time. Something new and often something opposite. I love that the Lord is always moving, changing, working things together for our good. He holds us in seasons just long enough to make something beautiful from them and then releases us into a fresh new time.
Ecclesiates 3:1-8
A Time for Everything
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
I wanted to journal a playful page reflective of seasons. Full of marks and movement that together might make something that dances in beauty and grace. I wanted to lay down my own ideas and just play and hopefully encourage you to do the same.
So let’s journal truth friends.
Gathering supplies. Favorite beginnings. Make sure you grab all different shapes and sizes of watercolor brushes.
I started with laying down some clear water and dropping colors in. I didn’t like the result. I wanted more distinct movement and marks. Good news: a paper towel blotted on top lifted up most of the color and I was left with a beautiful, soft background to start making my marks.
I started with my #10 oval brush (sometimes called a filbert brush). I loaded my brush with the beautiful spring green color by laying the brush gently into the color on the pallet and letting the bristles soak up the pigment (more on that here). Softly laying down the brush on its side leaves rounded marks with interesting puddles.
I picked up my flat #14 shader and some oranges to stroke in some straight lines.
Turn your brush in different directions to get different shapes.
or drag the brush to make lines
Always a good idea to dry your work periodically so you can more easily layer.
I used my large 3/4″ flat wash brush to lightly add diluted areas of color mimicking the base of the top left corner.
Vary the sizes of brushes. I am using a #8 flat wash here.
Again, I picked up the #10 Filbert brush to add some orange rounded lines. I cross hatched my marks — another way to add interest and movement.
More green square strokes with the #8 flat wash brush.
Working my way around the page like a frame. More rounded marks and lines with bright pink and the #10 Filbert brush.
Finished. I love it just the way it is. Playful and free.
But let’s add some lettering and pull out some additional fun supplies from the Bella Blvd Illustrated Faith Basics collection.
Going over the pencil with my Illustrated Faith pen.
I think a big purpose for seasons is to set free what might be held captive. Loosening our grip on what is to make room for what will be leaves room for freedom and new adventures. This hexie sticker was a perfect reminder that sometimes hard seasons set us free from something holding us captive.
I also darkened my lettering. Honestly, wish I had left it with single lines but alas… it was not to be.
Adding some additional interest with washi tape and using my white paint pen to add dash patterns. I love the contrast of the white and the colors.
What do you think?
Yes! Time for a tab. Might just be my favorite part of any entry. Let’s layer some Illustrated Faith Bella Blvd goodness.
I love the new colored Illustrated Faith Basics Wordfetti Books and Topics stickers. I added “building trust” because when I look back over the many seasons of my life, I see God’s faithfulness. Remembering His faithfulness helps me trust Him more.
I did not want to underline all of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 just the first line.
I used my white pen to draw more attention to “For Everything there is a season” because that’s the part of the verse that reminds me no season lasts forever.
To find truth, light and hope in the midst of each season is my goal and to trust Him in whatever season I am in.
Last, I added one more hexie. Seasons take courage my sweet friends. This little brave hexie is perfect.
Page is complete.
Please try this fun watercolor, mark making, journaling page out on your own. Choose colors close together on the color wheel, grab some different brushes, pray, and let God show you how your marks and strokes can dance. You know I want to see your pages so tag me on IG @designsbyamybruce !
Until our next journaling adventure, I pray for grace, encouragement, and goodness to flood the season you are in.
Lots of hugs,
amy bruce
ESV Leather Journaling Bible | Illustrated Faith Bella Blvd Watercolor Set | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Precision Pens | Illustrated Faith Bella Blvd Paint It Cards | Illustrated Faith Bella Blvd Tape Runner | Illustrated Faith Bella Blvd Basics – Daily Paper Pieces | Illustrated Faith Bella Blvd Basics Epoxy Stickers – Apple of My Eye Mini Hexies | Illustrated Faith Bella Blvd Be Bold Bible Mat | Illustrated Faith Bella Blvd Seeds of Faith Epoxy Icon Stickers | Illustrated Faith Bella Blvd Basics Cardstock Stickers – Wordfetti Books and Topics | Illustrated Faith Bella Blvd Delight in His Day – Enjoy Life Washi | Illustrated Faith Bella Blvd Basics – Wow God Washi | Loew-Cornell 7500C Filbert Brush
