
Detail from my Goddess Autumnus painting inspired by a Lifebook lesson by Tamara LaPorte.
When it is very cold (20 degrees) and a few snow flurries, it is a good time to play with color in the studio. Loosely inspired by the Emma Pettit activity for the Lifebook Wellness and Creativity Summit.
Working on my Life Book 2016 lessons still. This is from week #36; a lesson with Annie Hamann. A little change from my usual Daily Graces posts.
Life Book Lesson 19 with Wyanne Thompson highlights a technique I had never tried before. Using a dip pen and ink, of which I was delighted to use my grandparents vintage tools, you trace a design with a dip pen and ink onto tracing paper and then “transfer” it to your substrate. Apparently it is an Andy Warhol technique. In my case I used Arches hot press watercolor paper for the substrate. The pressing of the tracing paper onto the substrate gives you great blotches and lines. Meant to be quirky, this technique made the face I drew have a wabi-sabi look. (perfectly imperfect). My stash of washi tape came into play as well as watercolor paint and a resist pastel crayon. I did discover that you need to have your washi tape fit into the spaces (I redrew some lines since my tape was mostly narrow in width). It also took a light box for me to even faintly see the ink lines so as to cut or trace the shape onto the tape. Will definitely do this technique again!
I enjoyed this week’s lesson so much I decided to create a second piece so that I could actually add it to my Life Book. My first piece was done on canvas, this one I created on 300 pound watercolor paper. I love the textural build-up of the many elements in this technique. I used a vintage image from my digital stash; I liked this woman’s expression. With the month’s theme of Connections, I felt she could represent the connection of women through the ages.
Beginning phase and finished phase of my Life Book Week 12 project. I chose to use an old photo of my daughter Ami with her cousin Caty (who recently passed away). This life moment was captured at my sister-in-law Pam’s wedding. Our theme for this month is “connections” and so I thought this photo was appropriate. Plus, it is an adorable photo of the two of them!
Almost caught up with the lessons; still need to do week #7. This painting was to be done intuitively letting your soul come through the piece. While in earthly form, our souls are in our bodies, so I cut a stencil of a female figure. I added hair in a similar style to my own so she wouldn’t look like a man since she was wearing pants. I do have some of the art papers in a cross form at the top right, since being a Christian is what enlivens my soul with the Holy Spirit. The figure is in stride which relates to life being a journey. We were supposed to paint without really thinking about it too much, so, that is what I did. I did use repeating shapes and design motifs to give the piece some sort of harmony and movement. This was bit out of the box for me but I would try this style again just to see what develops.
Week #6 was a fun project using Dylusions Spray Inks (love these!), and a profile face of Tam’s design. I also used one of Dyan Reavely’s stencils in the hair. The photo doesn’t show the true glory of these colors; they are so vibrant and rich. If you haven’t tried these sprays yet, beware that they are addicting! :) On the folded side of the page I used Philippians 4:8 “…whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, …just…pure…lovely…of good report…if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” We were supposed to have the image be thinking of our positive qualities but I feel more comfortable if my focus isn’t on me, but on the Lord and His goodness.
I decided to “Be True to Me” (the theme is “Be True to You”), for week #4’s Life Book project. My word for this year is Acceptance, and I collaged the verse from Ephesians Chapter 1:6; where the Scripture says, ” To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us ACCEPTED in the Beloved.” I have the word “accepted” circled at the top third of the piece. I also used symbols I love- windows, quotes, hearts, birds, music and leaves. The quote by John Greenleaf Whittier at the bottom of the piece goes well with the concept of acceptance. I am really enjoying the Life Book class http://www.willowing.ning.com. As a Christian, I like incorporating Scripture into my pieces. This made for a fun and creative Saturday!