What are YOU Curious About?

“Never lose a holy curiosity.” -  Albert Einstein

Have you tried Art Journaling on playing cards? I enjoyed it so much I decided to continue with the project. I suppose my curiosity got the better of me.

Inspired by the saying “In The Moment” I found printed in a catalogue I made it my goal. I prepped the cards by lightly sanding them and then giving them a coat of gesso. I placed all of the cards face up on my table and began randomly layering acrylic paint. Whatever colours came to hand I used. Once dried, I flipped to the back and began working. I love the new Tibet Series by Artistcellar. I wanted to incorporate the Eternal Knot stencil in some way. Although too large to completely fit on a playing card, when dropped here and there on the cards the stencil certainly added interest.

It’s been a long time since I looked through my collection of rubber stamps and clings. The Curious Possibility clings by Tim Holtz was just perfect for what I had in mind! Combined with a few images I had in my collection I got just the right Victorian vibe I wanted. 

Many artists like to cover the images printed on the playing cards completely. I like to allow the flavor of the card to show through where possible, lending interest additional design elements.

To complete this series I highlighted portions of the back design with Tim Holtz Distress Crayons and DecoArt Crackle Paste. 

 

One word of advice: I used my heat tool to get the layers to dry faster. I believe I got a little too close as one of the cards “popped” and buckled. My guess is the plastic coating just didn’t like the heat.

As artists curiosity is the force that inspires us to create new work. Journaling was always a bit of a mystery to me. I suppose for me it’s “in the cards” using this technique. My question to you: What are you curious about?

MATERIALS USED:

STANDARD PLAYING CARDS

ARTISTCELLAR STENCILS: Tibet Series, Traditional Japanese Series, Marked Series, Block Series, Halftone Dots Series, Sea Foam

TIM HOLTZ VISUAL ARTISTRY CURIOUS POSSIBILITY Rubber Stamps

STUDIO G Alphabet Rubber Stamps

HAND CUT STENCIL: Diamonds

PUNCHINELLA

ELMER’S RUBBER CEMENT

LIQUITEX WHITE ACRYLIC GESSO

LIQUITEX MATTER MEDIUM

DECOART Crackle Paste

MEMENTO DYE INK Tuxedo Black

PLAID ACRYLICS: Blue Sapphire, Amethyst, Blue Pearl, Pure Orange, Perfect Purple, Violet Pansy, Sunflower, Metallic Rose, Bright Red, Aquamarine, Pure Gold, Plum

DECOART: Splendid Gold, Sunny Day

DINA WAKLEY: Lime

NATURAL SPONGE

SANDPAPER

TIM HOLTZ DISTRESS CRAYONS

DYLUSION SPRAY: Bubble Gum

POCKET PAGE PROTECTOR

VARIOUS EPHEMERA: Paper, Rubber Stamps, Dover Publications Images, Rub-On Lettering

Where Do You Find Serenity?

“Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” Gautama Buddha

Could anything be more uplifting than seeing a row of decorated flags floating in the Spring breeze? I have long been captivated by the dynamics of fabric and wind. I get the same feeling of bliss seeing laundry hanging on a clothesline as I do when dancing with veils. The graceful movement of soft cloth echoing the direction of a breeze is meditative for me…a way to slow down and become mindful.

Traditionally Tibetans believe in the power of decorated Prayer Flags. By hanging the flags along mountain tops in the Himalayas the prayers and mantras are blown by the wind to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The wishes are not carried to the gods, but instead benefit all who are embraced by the wind. Subject to the elements, the Flags symbolically become part of the Universe, fading over time. New flags are hung beside the old; a sign of the ever changing wheel of life.

Inspired by the new Artistcellar Tibet Series I was ready to craft my own flag, the first of four I hope to create. As it is the colour of Air and Clouds I purchased white chiffon fabric. It is quite transparent and will easily float when caught by the wind.

To keep the fabric from slipping when stenciling, I used an old screen printing trick and spayed a light coat of repositionable adhesive to a large piece of cardboard. It made acrylic application easy and if luck was with me I was hoping to remove the cloth with little damage.  The top of the flag was the perfect spot for the Buddha Eyes, also known as the Wisdom Eyes, stencil. I chose shades of blue acrylic paint…the colours of sky and space…and a wonderful way to show the Lord’s existence around us. 

Spring has certainly arrived with flowers blooming in their beds. It is here in the garden that I find complete serenity. Our bearded irises are now gloriously cloaked in a vast spectrum of lavender to deep purple. They share the garden, living side by side with pansies of yellow, orange, and violet. They, like the Flags, will eventually become part of the Universe as their blooms fade and die. Hoping to hold the memory of this moment, I stenciled the bottom half of the flag inspired by the flowers. The perfect stencil for a kaleidoscope of colour is the Halftone Dots series. Layered, they recreated the riot of colour on display in the garden.

Once dried, it was time for the moment of truth: the removal of the fabric from the cardboard. Just as I had hoped, it peeled off easily with very little distortion. I wasn’t sure if the acrylics would stiffen the chiffon. I am happy to say it was anything but. Even with multiple layers of paint, the finish is muted and sheer, almost dreamlike. And best of all, hanging from a dowel rod finished with wooden end caps, the stenciling on both sides is equally as nice.

Of all the wonderfully creative benefits Artistcellar products have to offer I especially love the way they encourage me to think, slow down, and become mindful. Now more than ever we need to surround ourselves with empathy, strength, peace, and above all wisdom. My hope is that wherever you may be, may the wind caress you and the serenity of my garden encircles you.

MATERIALS USED:

ARTISTCELLAR: TIBET SERIES STENCIL (Buddha Eyes), HALFTONE DOTS (Highlight, Midtone, Midtone 2, Shadow)

HAND CUT STENCIL: Diamonds

PUNCHINELLA

CHIFFON FABRIC – White

DARICE CRAFTWOOD BALL & DOWEL

BEST TEST REPOSITIONAL ADHESIVE

CARDBOARD

PLAID ACRYLICS: Blue Sapphire, Amethyst, Blue Pearl, Pure Orange, Perfect Purple. Violet Pansy, Sunflower, Metallic Rose, Bright Red, Aquamarine, Or Royal, Plum

DECOART: Splendid Gold

DINA WAKLEY: Lime

Do Your Prayers Take Flight?

GARDEN OF DREAMS

The weather has been gloomy the last few days, but late this afternoon the sun and a hint of blue sky finally made an appearance. The feeling in the breeze was so much like the art I finished for the next Gecko Galz Team Challenge: Garden of Dreams.

When I reviewed the collage sheets sent to my Inbox, my heart was drawn to note paper with a delicate aqua umbrella and a row of flags. But what to match it with? And there she was...a woman with a wreath in her hair, seeming to float along a caressing breeze.

I love the Tibetan concept of Prayer Flags. The flags to don't carry prayers to God, but rather it is believed they are blown and faded by the wind, scattering good wishes, peace, and compassion into the Universe to be shared by all who are touched by the breeze. The Tibetans continually pin new flag beside the old to keep the hope and wishes for the world alive.

Although I know the flags in the collage aren't traditional Prayer Flags, my thoughts and hopes mirror those of the Tibetans. The digital collage incorporates two sheets form the Gecko Galz lovely Spring Awakening and Dreams of Spring collage sheets. I also added the new Artistcellar Halftone Dots stencils.

With the gentle days of Spring finally with us, and Mother's Day just a few days away, why not make a Prayer Flag of your own? You might even add the free digistamp here compliments of the Gecko Galz.

Who knows, your hopes and wishes might be just the thing to transform the life of someone you've yet to meet.