Monday, October 29, 2012

PUMPKIN PATCH

Home & Garden Altered Book

This is not your usual pumpkin patch, but I wanted to do something different.  The pumpkins actually have some metallic paint mixed in....I painted the page black first and I have this funky "circles" stencil that gave me the idea for this.     

Friday, October 26, 2012

Seeing RED

ART JOURNAL - RED
I've started a new art journal today.  It's going to be all about the color, RED.
My very first art journal was Simply Blue...a journal I started on a beach vacation about 5 yrs ago.  I love that journal.  One of the pages in that book has a list of "blue" ideas and from the list, I created the themes for the pages in the book.  Comparing some of my work from then and now, I think I am more creative when I it comes to painting the pages vs. collage.  I am more true to myself because that's what I enjoy most.  I love how the cover of this journal came out.  I painted it red, added an interesting piece of paper on the right side, painted the letter cut-outs red and added a fun stamp of a figure from a Sherrill Kahn rubber stamp.  This is a journal of blank pages, vs. an altered book.  I like to have more than one book going at a time.  Starting a RED book at the beginning of the holiday season will be fun...lots of inspiration.  I have, however, started a list of "RED" ideas...Red door, Lady in Red, Red lipstick, Santa, Red sunset...and so on and so on.  I wrote this little poem about the color red awhile go, but I don't think I ever put it on my blog before....here goes:
I am Red
the Lady in Red in my soul
I feel the beat of a hot, Latin rhythm
I am soft like the petals of a red rose
Warm, like the embers in my fireplace
Creative down to my red, polished toenails
I am impulsive!
I am RED

Blue and Red are my favorite colors.  I think Blue is an easier color to illustrate, but it will be interesting to see where RED takes me....
(Most people who know me, would never think of me as the RED person I describe above).  So be it....I tend to keep my true "RED" under wraps....


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Room Service

I created this paper doll quite awhile ago...I think she's on an earlier post.  And now, I created someplace to put her....perhaps this is some nice, little boutique hotel.  She's brought a few clothes and she's ready to shop for more....here's her room....
 On the left, is an armoire I found on Pinterest and printed on card stock. The oversized key on the left...represents the splurge she spent to stay in this hotel.  On the right-hand page is what the cabinet looks like inside with her travel trunk, hat boxes, etc.  Close-ups below.
 I could have cut an opening in the armoire and have it open to show the clothes, but they wouldn't have been as visible because you wouldn't be able to fold the doors back far enough.   Here's the other side....
 Now she's just waiting for Room Service....to bring her a glass of champagne.  Cheers!

Monday, October 22, 2012

OOh La La!

Altered Book
Paint, stamping, collage, image transfer, paper napkin

Close up of image transfer below
You never know how an image transfer is going to go, but all in all, I like this one.  (The collage images are from Sandy Gordon).

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Flight of the Bumblebee

Altered Book - Paper Women
Paint, rubber stamps, collage

These two pages are inspired by a Sandy Gordon collection.  I created a "body" to go with the head.  She has musical notes on her skirt which is a napkin.  Music inspires a lot of ideas for me and the Flight of the Bumblebee immediately came to mind when I looked at the collage elements...the jar of honey, the beehive.  I had a couple of great bee rubber stamps.  The gingham ribbon is a remnant piece from my neighbor's quilting stash.  Close up of the woman....

 I was stung a couple of times this fall by yellow jackets....so I'm not sure why I like the idea of creating art using them as some of the elements....but, on the other hand, where would we be without the bees!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

October...

Altered Book
Collage/Mixed Media
(Some of the collage elements from Sandy Gordon)

 
 "Calm and deep peace in this wide air,
These leaves that redden to the fall;
And in my heart, if calm at all,
If any calm, a calm despair."