What Would Happen If...

“What would happen if…” – Daniel Keyes

 Have you ever wondered "what would happen if"…and if you did, where did your thoughts take you?

As PBS has launched the Great American Read, I decided to revisit my favourite book, Daniel Keyes’ “Flowers for Algernon” a tale of what would happen if intelligence could be altered through surgery. I am captivated by the creative process. I enjoy seeing the preliminary drafts of a work as much as the final piece. Keyes’ “Algernon, Charlie and I – A Writer’s Journey” not only described his method of fiction writing but the inspiration for “Flowers”. I was in bibliophile paradise!

Motivated by my stack of hardback book covers I decided to choose a light coloured cover for my next Artistcellar Design Team project. Inspired by the story I made my own inkblot on tissue paper. Once glued to the board the rest of the elements fell into place. The bottom image transfer was copied from a 1950’s post card. Bit and pieces of paper were added building up the layers. I glued dried hydrangea petals across the composition.

Artistcellar stencils have a great selection of designs in their collection. I chose one from the Labyrinth Series. The Chartres stencil was a perfect fit. The maze like pattern not only added an interesting design, but enhanced a key component of the story.

To brighten the composition I added acrylics using only a portion of the Infra stencil. Again, with just a bit of painter’s tape as a mask you can achieve the look you are after. However you chose to use them, they are never damaged and clean-up is a snap….the essential quality I look for in stencils.

Hopefully my collage will give you a hint of what “Flowers for Algernon” is all about without giving too much away. If you aren’t familiar with the story perhaps this post will spark your interest. With a bit of luck it will also inspire you to explore your passions and journey to what would happen if…

 MATERIALS USED:

• ARTISTCELLAR STENCILS: QUASICRYSTALS (Infra), LABYRINTH SERIES (Chartres)
• HANDCUT DIAMOND STENCIL
• HIGGINS BLACK MAGIC DRAWING INK
• DECOART: Blue Harbor
• DYLUSIONS PAINT: Crushed Grape, Squeezed Orange, Bubblegum Pink
• DYLUSIONS SPRAY: Bubblegum Pink
• REEVES: Bronze, Gold
• LIQUITEX MATTE MEDIUM
• NATURAL SPONGE
• PAINTER’S TAPE
• TISSUE PAPER
• WAX INFUSED PAPER
• LASER PHOTOCOPY  
• FLOWER PETALS
• HARDBACK BOOK COVER

Not Only in Heaven....

Ocean Dreams Altered Journal Page

As the temperatures climb, my thoughts are drawn to anywhere refreshing and cool...especially the ocean. And the ocean to me means Coney Island. I loved everything about Coney Island...from the subway ride, to getting to the water by walking down the streets with the magical names...Surf Avenue, Nautilus Avenue, Neptune Avenue, and the best of all...Mermaid Avenue!

I have a fascination with Mermaids. The concept is so intriguing to me. The idea of living life in the ocean, swimming in the moonlight, wearing starfish in your flowing hair sounds wonderful to me. I like to think of the mermaids as benevolent, beautiful creatures...graceful as they swim, like Synchronised Swimmers with added drama and mystery.

The page is from a 1001 Journals Project journal. The theme was Ocean Dreams. What could be dreamier than vintage mermaids?

The page incorporates vintage images of mermaids and starfish, found paper, handmade paper, postage stamps, inks and dyes.

But best of all is the quote from Johann Heinrich Linck's De stellis marinis liber singularis written in 1733:

"Not only in heaven, but also in the seas are there stars."

And the mermaid's brilliance reflect in their celestial  light.