TEN – Call to Artists - Journaling

I was going to clean up a bit from the TEN project. I had been using the scraps left over from “The Magic of Mind” plus 10 ATC’s to spruce up my journaling on the project. I was left with the above scraps. They were ugly and uninspiring. But I had wanted to use every last bit from the ten items I was given. So I decided to glue them down in my journal. I was thoughtful in their placement without having an end result planned. Each piece added gave me a new layout to solve. I enjoyed working with both the graphic and abstract qualities of the page without concern for meaninful content. I am pleased with the results. Working with what I had.


With just a wash of Nickel Azo Gold and Raw Umber mixed together I have a nice background. I like it just as it is. Perhaps I will work on it more in the future. I already have some more ideas for additional journal pages.

Textures 2 Series Stencils - Blog Hop Winner!

Thank you to everyone who left a comment. I really enjoyed reading them!

and the winner is...

 Bea said...

I'm crazy for books and really like the way you used the stencil on your book. Thanks for the ideas...bea

December 12, 2013 at 5:45 PM

 

Blog Hop - Textures 2 Series Stencils by Jill K. Berry & Articellar

I am thrilled to be a participant in a Blog Hop featuring the TEXTures 2 Series stencils. This is a collaboration between Jill K. Berry and Artistcellar.
You can find these Artistcellar Signature Series Stencils by Jill K Berry here: http://www.artistcellar.com/stampstencil/acSignatureSeries.html
The individual stencil names are: 069-Picasso, 070-Bird, 071-Gera, 072-Miro. The style number is etched on the stencil somewhere.
Simply comment below how YOU would like to use these stencils in your own style, and I'll pick a name using random.org on 12/20/13   In order to qualify, YOU MUST LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENTS USING THE name(at)domain(dot)com FORMAT. For example my email address would be kimnugent(at)yahoo(dot)com. When you use the (at) and (dot) in parentheses, the Spambots can't get your e-mail address (it's how you get on lists you don't want to get on).

For my project I decided to make a journal with an etched brass cover. I securely taped the Gera stencil down to a piece of brass. Then used a sponge to sponge StazOn ink over the stencil to act as a resist. Next I etched to cover.

I also etched some scrap pieces of copper using the same technique. Eyelets were used to fasten the copper to the brass and holes for the binding.

Close-up view.

I also made some pages using packing tape transfers from magazine pages. The page on the top was the packing tape transfer. The page below is the magazine page after the transfer was removed. This first transfer worked so well I was lured into a sense of false skill.

The second transfer didn’t come off of the magazine page nearly as easily. I am happy with the end results though.

I ran out of time to make more pages. It was time to put the journal together using coptic binding.

The journal is 4” x 5”.

Ready for journaling!
 

My husband and I went out to listen to some blues music. As a last minute thought I decided to take this journal along. While sketching Raven Reverand the design from Jill’s stencil filled the page like the music that was filling the room…and my soul!
 

I used a pencil and jelly pen to draw while listening to the blues music. This morning I painted in washes of color in my studio. I also used a thicker marker to bring more emphasis to the words.
There are many more techniques that I would like to explore using these stencils.
 
Check out the other participating blogs for more inspiration and chances to win. I am already looking forward to trying some of their ideas!
12/7 Artistcellar   www.artistcellar.com/wp
12/8 Kecia Deveney  http://www.lemoncholys.blogspot.com
12/9 Sketchbook Challenge/Jill   http://sketchbookchallenge.blogspot.com/
12/10 Brian Kasstle   http://apaperbear.wordpress.com
12/11 Mel Kolstad  http://reliefpress.blogspot.com

12/12 Kim Rae Nugent  http://www.kimraenugent.blogspot.com
12/13 Jodi Ohl  www.sweetrepeats.blogspot.com
12/14 Effy Wild  www.effywild.com
12/15 Tamara Laporte  www.willowing.org/blog
12/16 Jane Davenport  http://janedavenport.com/
12/17 Chris Cozen  http://chriscozenartist.typepad.com/my-blog/
12/18 Guadalupe Brizuela Cabal  http://guadasartplace.blogspot.com.ar/
12/19 Jill Berry  http://jillberrydesign.com/blog

Journal Page – Transformation

 

This is a journal page about transformation. It speaks to me on several levels. The salamander template was the last collage item added. The page was almost finished and the geometric triangles had briefly reminded me of MC Escher’s art piece with the lizards but I didn’t have that in mind when I let it sit for a few days.

Then, when I seen the salamander template from the previous salamander page I knew where it belonged. The journaling and quotes were added last.

Looking at the photograph, I now want to extend the stems of the dandelions to the bottom of the page. The upper right corner looks a bit bare too! Perhaps something will find it’s way later.

Salamander Journal Page

 

These two salamanders were seen by me the other day.  It’s been quite awhile since one has crossed my path. Whenever an animal interests me I like to research them, look up their animal totem meaning and draw them.

“The appearance of a Salamander heralds transformation. It also announces assistance with this change from a source somewhere outside of ourselves.” http://spirit-animals.com/salamander/ Something to ponder... This is one of many paths of self discovery that I follow in my journals.

First I applied a color wash using a mixture of Nickel Azo Gold and Dioxazine Purple (Golden Fluid Acrylics) for my background. Next I drew the image of a salamander on a piece of copy paper. Then I cut it out to use as a template to trace, making two matching salamanders. I colored the Salamanders with several layers of Prismacolor colored pencils. Finally I added the journaling.

TEN – Call to Artists – Day 10 – Part B

It has been quite a journey since I received the above ten items. From here to:

FINISHED!

Day 10 – Part B for the TEN art challenge for Creative Studios https://www.facebook.com/elblockcreative

I am thrilled to say that the piece created for the 10 art challenge is finished!

The Magic of Mind

THE GREATEST POWER ON EARTH!

 

I decided to use the finial with the three spheres. I chose this finial because I felt that it complimented the retro feel of the magazine page plus it echoes the sphere shape of the glass paperweight.

View the film below to look at different views from the glass sphere plus the sides and close-ups of this art piece.

My first attempt at creating a movie from pictures. There is a lot of room for improvement but it is time for me to move on…

 

Left side

 

Left side close-up view of bird

 

Top view

 

Right side

 

Close-up view from right side

 

Bottom view

 

So far I have shown you how I incorporated six of the ten items I was given. Below shows how I included the remaining 4 items.

I made a name tag with information about the challenge.

 

This was attached to the backside of the art piece.

These are the finished artist trading cards for the nine other artists who participated in the challenge plus one ATC notecard for Erika Block of Creative Studio, the host of the challenge.

If the other artists leave me a comment with the ATC that they would like to receive, plus contact information, I would be happy to send them that one. First come, first serve (plus you need to have actually finished your challenge).

Stay tuned for auction details…

TEN – Call to Artists – Day 10 – Part A

 

Day 10  for the TEN art challenge for Creative Studios https://www.facebook.com/elblockcreative

I decide the red cardstock would make a nice compliment to the etched metal plate and weathered wood of the base.

 

Time to bend the metal plate to conform to the glass paperweight and wooden base.

Safety Tip:  It would be wise to wear protective foot gear rather than sandals for this step.

My husband gave me these two steel plates to use as a tool to bend metal. I simply place the brass between the two plates. Then use some clamps to help hold in place.

 

Next bend the brass down using my hands. This is 28 gauge brass so it bends rather easily.

 

I end up bending the rest of the brass in the kitchen over the counter so that I have more room to work. My art always tend to spill over into the kitchen/dining area.

 

Checking the fit over the glass paperweight.

 

Pencil marks for next set of bends.

 

A little maneuvering and the bends are working.

 

Two sets of bends done!

 

Another check for fit.

 

I use the original pattern template to help me figure out the opening for the glass paperweight.

 

It fits!

 

I tacked the metal in place and then drew around the brass with a pencil to mark my cutting lines for the red cardstock. I cut the cardstock with an craft knife.

 

First layer with inspirational magazine page.

Notice the tripod over the fire in the magazine image, that fits into the niche, on the lower left side…

 

…I cut a little opening to peek through.

Second layer, the red cardstock. ( I forgot to show the “Magic of Mind” title and descriptive text in the first layer picture. Too late now)!

 

Third layer mica sheets to protect the text and opening.

Post for TEN – Call to Artists – Day 10 – Part B coming soon!

TEN – Call to Artists – Day 9

 

The etching is complete. The metal has been cleaned with a very fine steel wool pad.

 

A close-up view of the cut out for the bird, my favorite portion of the metal plate. On to day 10. My final day and there is a lot to accomplish!

TEN – Call to Artists – Day 8

 

o

Day 8  for the TEN art challenge for Creative Studios https://www.facebook.com/elblockcreative

A little more filing and now it’s time to think about etching. I sand the entire front surface with fine grit sandpaper. Next I tape cut out copies of the printed text to the backside of the metal to help me visualize the finished project. Then I put packing tape over the entire backside. The tape is sticky and I don’t want to spend the time to cut away all of the excess. So I try sticking tissue paper to it, which is only mildly successful.

Free flowing lines to mimic creative energy, thoughts and ideas flowing from the mind. This design is drawn directly on the metal with a sharpie marker.

All done and ready to etch! Two more days of work left.

TEN – Call to Artists - Day 7

 

All ready to begin sawing.

 

Making progress, just replaced another blade. The sun is shining and I am enjoying it’s warmth through the window!

 

Next, I need to cut out the interior spaces.

 

Several hours later and about 14 broken blades and the sawing is done! The large size was cumbersome to work with.

 

View from the backside to give you an idea what the brass looks like.

 

Some filing to smooth out imperfections.

 

My workspace is a mess! Time to clean up and quit for the day.