Fall In Love with You!

“As I began to love myself, I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth. Today, I know, this is AUTHENTICITY.” – Charlie Chaplin

Valentine’s Day has arrived, flinging open the door to love. But when jotting down names on your Valentine card list, did you add yourself?

An article published in a local holistic magazine titled “Self-Love” caught my eye. Drawn from the wisdom of Charlie Chaplin, the article was inspiring as well as thought provoking. So often we think of others and their needs before our own. Shouldn’t self-love, or if you prefer to call it self-care, be part of our daily nurturing practise? Isn’t getting to know our authentic selves the best gift we can give to others? What is wrong with falling in love with ourselves?

I have once again decided to study Tarot. I have added Tarot to my “when I have the time” list over and over again. Taking the lead from the article, I decided to make a journal as a gift…and maybe a physical prompt…for myself.

I really love the small journals currently on sale. This little book is manufactured by C.R. Gibson and is similar to others I have altered and perfect for my next Artistcellar Design Team project. For me, journaling is more about note taking, list making and snippet saving. Similar to the other journals, the book has small folder attached to the back cover. It’s perfect for hiding away little bits of ephemera.

The cover is dusky blue faux leather. I lightly sanded it and the applied a thin coat of gesso. When dried I attached a piece of rubber stamped tea stained paper with matte medium. I have been experimenting with a variety of stamp inks, dyes and paper. I decided against using the paper covered in wax as I wanted to try hand colouring the image.

My choice of stencils was an easy one. I masked out part of Steampunk Lace stencil. It fit perfectly at the corner of the cover. Echoing the Tarot card, The Wheel of Fortune, it will be a constant reminder of karma and the fluidity of life. I built the colour with layers of Dylusions Paints and Spray using brushes, a sponge and paper towels.

Surrounding the stencil and stamped image with swabbed and splattered paint, I was nearly finished. I added the words “Carpe Diem” created from the same paper as the woman’s face. I coloured the woman’s eye and lips with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and a brush, giving the image a bit of shine.

This Valentine’s Day…and every day of the year…be kind and loving to yourself. It’s the best way to share and honor your own truth and live authentically. Simply fall in love with you! 

MATERIALS USED:

• ARTISTCELLAR: STEAMPUNK SERIES (Steampunk Lace), HALFTONE DOTS (Highlight, Midtone, Midtone 2, Shadow)
• LIQUITEX GESSO
• LIQUITEX MATTE MEDIUM
• PLAID ACRYLICS: Sunflower
• DECOART: Splendid Gold, Blue Harbor
• DINA WAKLEY MEDIA ACRYLIC: Blushing
• DYLUSIONS PAINT: Vibrant Turquoise, Cut Grass, Fresh Lime, London Blue, Crushed Grape, Squeezed Orange, Bubblegum Pink
• DYLUSIONS INK SPRAY: Bubblegum Pink
• TATTERED ANGELS GLIMMER MIST: Rouge, Pumpkin Spice, Dragonfly
• REEVES: Bronze, Gold
• MEMENTO INK DYE: Tuxedo Black
• RUBBER STAMPS
• NATURAL SPONGE
• PAPER TOWELS
• WATERCOLOUR BRUSH
• SANDING BLOCK
• PAINTER’S TAPE
• R. GIBSON JOURNAL: Markings 3.5” x 5.5”

Are You A Hopeless Romantic?

“Postman’s bag is always heavy because it carries the life itself: It carries all the sorrows and all the joys, all the worries and all the hopes!”― Mehmet Murat ildan

Have you ever waited for the postman to arrive? I am sure you have, if you are like me. And do you ever wonder what is in their mailbag? Of course there are bills, and junk mail, which can be a treasure trove for collage artists. But do you ever wonder about the other mail…the messages of delight or passion or longing? And is there still room for them in the age of texts and email?

I recently received a nice collection of acrylics from Artistcellar. They were new to me and I couldn’t wait to give them a go. The Dylusion Paint series is blendable and quick drying, manufactured with journaling in mind. The colours are vivid in the wide mouth tubs. I wondered if they would keep this wonderful quality once applied to my substrate.

I decided to work on illustration board. Rather than prep with gesso, I simply lightly sanded the surface and applied the Squeezed Orange Paint. Coverage was quick and easy, although it didn’t dry quite as fast as I thought it would. But sure enough, the orange kept its vibrant glow after drying. I next stenciled with Quasi from the Artistcellar Quasicrystals Series using the Dylusion Spray in Bubble Gum Pink. Although you can still see the stencil if you look closely, the Paint absorbed the colour. Not what I had in mind for this project, but a finish to keep in mind for the future.

I wanted to put the rest of the colours through their paces, so I sponged them randomly through my Diamond stencil. With the open stencil area it was easy to see how they performed. Again, as with the Squeezed Orange paint, I am pleased to say Vibrant Turquoise, Fresh Lime, and London Blue were easy to work with and held the brilliant colour you can see in the tubs…even after layering paint on paint.

With the background finished I continued by attaching a vintage photo I found in an old magazine. The postage stamps and Priority label just seemed to fit so well with our postman. I found a rubber stamp with beautiful calligraphy. Could the message on the stamp be from a letter in his mailbag? Why not? I inked the stamp with Vibrant Turquoise Paint and stamped on to very fine tissue paper, then attached with matte medium to the board. The final touch was to stencil the Infra image in gold.

Maybe I’m just a hopeless romantic, but seeing the postman with his mailbag does pull at the heart strings. And yes, I believe there is a place for "real" mail in the age of texts and email. My question is this: Is there someone who would love receiving a real letter from you? And would decorating it with your stunning art bring joy to you both? Many believe that letters mingle souls. I know I do.

MATERIALS USED:

• ARTISTCELLAR: QUASICRYSTALS SERIES (Infra, Quasi)
• DIAMOND HANDCUT STENCIL
• DYLUSIONS PAINT: Squeezed Orange, Fresh Lime, Vibrant Turquoise, London Blue
• DYLUSION SPRAY: Bubble Gum Pink
• DINA WAKLEY: Blushing, Lemon
• DECOART: Splendid Gold, Champagne
• REEVES: Rose Red
• ROUND SYNTHETIC SPONGE
• LIQUITEX MATTE MEDIUM
• FINE GRADE SANDPAPER
• TISSUE PAPER
• RECOLLECTIONS RUBBER STAMP
• VINTAGE PHOTO, POSTAGE STAMPS, LABEL
• ILLUSTRATION BOARD

Shall I Tell You About My Life...

Man of the World - Conventional/Digital Collage

"Shall I tell you about my life
They say I'm a man of the world..."

Peter Green 

How do you share your deepest feelings? Do you ever use your Art to tell someone about your Life?

June's Lunagirl Moonbeam challenge is all about Fathers and Brothers. As with all Lunagirl Collage Sheets, sometimes it is difficult to settle on just one image. But for me, the J. C. Leyendecker image from the "SharpDressed Man" sheet whisked me away on my journey. It was easy finding just the perfect complimenting backdrop...the Lunagirl Maps Sheet. I loved the look of the map...like an open book.

Who could this man be? What was he reading? Why does he look so serious? Could he be planning a great adventure or contemplating voyages of the past?

Working on the piece my thoughts were drawn to an early Fleetwood Mac tune, written by Peter Green in 1969. A melancholy song, it is about a man who has everything he desires except the true love of a partner. At the time, Peter was fighting his own demons. And, as is the case with many artists, he let us witness a glimpse of his struggle by opening his heart through his work.

Supporting the digital aspect of the collage is a selection of stencilled conventional elements from my collection. As it is an introspective piece I added the Moon...the symbol of the soul, the capacity for reflection and renewal and the cadence of time.

Do you ever open your Book of Life sharing with us your voyages of the soul? Does your Art allow us a fleeting glimpse of your world?

The Mystery That Awaits You?

Is there someone special waiting for you in your cards? Tarot and the mysteries of fortune-telling is stirring my interest of late. And I seem to be finding images and references everywhere I look!

The Gecko Galz challenge this month is "Man O Man". Looking through the collage sheets in their collection I settled on the loving couple They are young and in love...the perfect time to be surrounded with music, an inspiring landscape, and the hope their future is written in the stars.

Below you will find a FREE Digistamp compliments of the Galz. With her pensive posture...is she hoping someone will be waiting for her? You can grant her wish when you add her to your art!

What is the mystery that awaits you? Will you find that special someone in the stars?

Who Doesn't Love Vintage!

Vintage is a word dear to my heart...as I am sure it is for all collage and mixed-media artists. Breathing life into an object once again is thrilling. You never know where it will lead you.

In this case, my tag celebrating the magic of receiving a letter in the mail was one of the featured "Friday Favorites" on Kim's Living Vintage Blog. Kim lives in East Texas and her company deconstructs old houses, then builds new, "old" houses and renovate existing homes using reclaimed materials. Their home is breathtaking, as you can imagine!

Please visit Kim's Blog, Living Vintage. But be prepared to "oooh" and "ahhh" over the lovely photos and interesting restorations. I fell in love with her Dogtrot Breezeway...stained glass and bookshelves! HEAVEN!

What Is Your Recipe For A Delicious Life?

Recipe For Two - ATC

The weather we are having today makes me want to cook some real "stick to your ribs" food. The rain is constant and streams down the gutters. The temperatures are relatively mild compared to what we have been experiencing. But still, there is a distinct chill to the air that makes you want something warm and comforting for dinner.

Looking through a cook book, I found inspiration not only for a meal, but for an Artist Trading Card as well.  Attached to a fragment of a recipe was a photo of two women. Irony, Synchronicity, or Muse...the recipe was "for two"...and begs the question: "What Is Guacamole?"

I couldn't help but think...isn't everything more intense, more joyful when shared? Problems don't seem quite as unconquerable. Our happiness blossoms. Creativity soars by exchanging new ideas.

The substrate for the ATC is illustration board. I copied the photo of the two women on to newsprint paper. I stained craft paper with tea. The recipe is from a newspaper printed in 1970. Washi tape, sewing pattern paper, and metallic gold acrylic paint complete the card.

Isn't the recipe for a happy life one that includes a mixture of generosity, compassion, and creativity?  We all have the basic ingredients within us. May you find that person who encourages you to explore a delicious life.

Oh, and in the end I decided on slow cooker lasagna. 

O Muse!...The Story of a Life

O Muse!

I am a hopeless Romantic. I admit it..freely.

The collage is in a Journal I started as part of the 1001 Journals Project. The theme is "Friendship".

I was intrigued when I purchased both photos used in the piece...what was the story? Who were the women? Why is the woman in the photo in a suit and top hat? Are they all friends...or more?

I guess I'll never know the answer, but wouldn't it be nice to know how they came to that point in their lives...the image frozen forever on film...and where did life take them? Who was the Muse to guide them?

The collage is a bit of a hybrid. It started out as a conventional piece using vintage photos, found and handmade papers, and inks. In the end, digital ephemera was added. I love digital work as much as conventional, and it came together for me in this piece.

May you all find a friendship, or a love, to last a lifetime.

Somewhere...Beyond The Sea...

"Ocean Dreams"

Whenever I hear Bobby Darin sing "Beyond The Sea" my mind instantly is drawn to memories of Summer days on the beach at Coney Island. Everything about the song is perfect...the melody...the lyrics. The song always takes my mind and heart running back to a wonderful childhood in Brooklyn.

When I found out about The 1001 Journals Project I quickly signed up. The concept is great. To quote the website: "1001 Journals is an online community for people who enjoy writing, creating art, photography, and sharing their creations. Using three different journal types (traveling, location, and personal) users are able to share their thoughts with users around the world."

This page is from the "Ocean Dreams" Journal. I couldn't wait to start working on it. With Brighton Beach and  altered with handmade and found paper, postcards, stamps, old photos.

I've always loved the idea of a message in a bottle. In many ways, altering the journal and sending it on its' way is the same. I wonder if any of the 1001 Journals will end up in a time capsule?

Wouldn't that be a wonderful way to see our art survive!

Winter...and "The Four Seasons Suite"

The Four Seasons Suite: Winter

Part of "The Four Seasons Suite" is Winter. 

I used a 5" x 7" canvas as the substrate. The handmade papers were altered using acrylic paint, alcohol, water, Ranger inks, and Perfect Pearls Mist. At the woman's eye level I attached a piece of metallic copper Polyester Organza fabric. Red Mulberry paper completes the top portion of the design.

Again, I found the image of the woman and the holly leaves in a Dover Publications book. My love of Victoriana finds a home with their large selection of art.

I love the quote by poet Edith Sitwell:

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home."

The colours, the florals, the expectant look on the woman's face all say "Home"...and "Winter" to me.

Who Do You See...

Who Do You See When You Close Your Eyes?

Valentines come in all shapes, sizes...and with a varying degree emotion.

Keeping this in mind, I allowed my Muse to guide me through a selection of tissue and art papers.
The tissue from Starbucks was perfect! It had just the words I was looking for. Fascinated by logo design of all kinds, I have always been a fan of the graphics and marketing material the company has put together.  The Starbucks Siren  is iconic. And the mermaid set my mind adrift.

Is the love we have enough? Does Valentines Day give you a feeling of bliss or foreboding?  Are there questions you wish were answered? Do you feel, like the mermaid, that you are a mythical creature swimming in the uncharted waters of love?

The layout is the Bridge, which I have to admit is one of my favourites. I chose the colours in keeping with traditional Valentines. The substrate is a 5" x 5" canvas. Papers used are White Mulberry Paper, Printed tissue paper, handmade paper using acrylic paint and Ranger Inks inks, words from an old Dictionary, and tissue paper from Starbucks.

The rubber stamp of the woman's profile was just what I needed to tell the story of this Valentine.

"Who Do You See When You Close Your Eyes?". I wonder how often the question has been asked.