I just posted on my Facebook page a short video about The Next Step and how my prayer journaling is connected. Journaling has been an important part of my life for years. I would have never been able to publish several booklets and two books without my journals. I keep a study journal, a praise journal and a prayer journal. As I worship and pray, I sometimes receive words from the Holy Spirit. Maybe you can recall conversations weeks, months, or even years after they happened, but I cannot. Even if the message is from the Lord and important. There is one teeny, tiny problem with my journaling. I have really bad handwriting! It didn’t used to be so bad, but after 30 years of having to document my care as a nurse in writing, my handwriting really suffered. I thanked God when we switched to computer charting! So now, when I write a message in one of my journals, I have to type it out as soon as possible!
I use a blank mixed media notebook, watercolor pencils and some water brushes for my prayer journal. I find using color helps me to focus on the conversation I am having with the Lord. Also, it’s a lot harder to drift off to sleep if you are doodling or coloring in your prayer journal. Check out my video and give it a try.

Right now I'm using a Canson mixed media blank journal. The watercolor pencils don't have to be artist grade. In fact, some of my favorite pencils are Crayola! Don't worry about getting the best brushes either. I think I got my last set of 3 at Hobby Lobby and they work for journaling.

On my website I have links to two different pages: Art Store and the newly renamed Faith Resources and Art. My website reflects both my love of art and my desire to encourage others in their walk with the Lord. My book, Keywords from Heaven was published to help people that are facing challenges, going through a loss, or feel alone and wondering if God is listening. That is why I decided to add another section on to my Faith Resources and Art page. This new section is called “The Next Step.”  I will be revealing more in that section more about why I am doing this and a little of my background in this faith ministry.
On my Faith Resources page, scroll down until you see the banner pictured below. There you will find free downloads to help encourage you in your walk with the Lord. The downloads will be 8x10 inches and suitable for printing. I hope to have this new section up by the end of this week. I will post announcements on my Facebook page-LLeeM Art and my Instagram page-LLeeMdigital.
 

Are you a painter that wants to take photos of your art and need to have some basic editing skills? Maybe you have been asked to create a hand-out for your church or group and you cannot finish the project in Word. You have looked at graphic software, but the available tools mean nothing to you. I am going to share with you some basic definitions of some of the most common tools found in a graphic software program.
 
If you are looking into graphic software, you probably have heard of Photoshop, which is a photo editing, image creation, graphic design software. Photoshop is not the only graphic software available. I now use Affinity Photo most of the time. Photoshop is the most expensive, requiring you to pay a monthly fee to use the software. Photoshop Elements is a scaled down version and easier to use, but lacks many of the tools available in professional graphic software programs.  Although each program is different, many of the most common tools are called by the same or similar names.
Layer Panel: View all layers in your file independently or in a group. Layers lets you stack your images as if they were transparencies. You can change size, adjust, and add special effects to each layer independently.
Background: First layer in layer panel.
Layer Masks: Used to mask part of a layer in a non-destructive manner or allow you to paint without covering up another layer. Similar to the use of masking tape, masking fluid, or even a crayon by painters.
Color Picker: Allows you to pick and blend colors to create your own colors or match colors. There is also a color panel.
Digital Brushes: Just like you have different sizes and types of brushes when you paint, there are different digital brushes. Size, roundness, hardness, angle and much more can all be changed. Add brush sets or create your own brushes.
Adjustments: Adjustment layers make changes on a separate layer, allowing you to keep your original layer intact. Think of Brightness/Contrast, Shadows/Highlights or Hue/Saturation/Lightness.
Filters: Allows you to add textures and special effects. It’s like using gel mediums, crackle paste, molding paste, salt or even a palette knife with paints.
Layer Styles: A group of effects bundled together so you don’t have to create the look from scratch every time. It’s like having on hand a tube of paint in a color you use all the time, instead of blending your own.
Blending Modes: Takes the color in your image, color you are adding, mixing the base and the blend color, adding or subtracting black or white. There are many different modes and each one does something a little different.
I hope this helps you to understand graphic software and digital artists a little more. Of course, this is only a brief introduction into some of the components in graphic software. These are very challenging programs to learn, but do not be intimidated! Decide on what you want to do and find out how to use the tools and techniques you need in order to accomplish your goal. I am always learning something new, even with some of the more basic tools like digital brushes.
Examples below.