For Layers of Color, Mixed Media Monday and Pointy Hats and Wings
A Celebration...
In my opinion, one of the brightest spots on the web is also an online shop. If you haven't visited Layers Of Color art stamps, you owe it to yourself to stop by and take a look at the gorgeous artwork that owner Laura Campbell lovingly puts into the stamps she sells! And visit the gallery, too! There is plenty of inspiration not only from the talented design team, but from customers as well! This is the perfect time to do so, because if you visit right now, you can pick up all the details about the huge give-away that's coming up on November 14th and 15th in celebration of the release of nine new LOC original art stamp sets.
The Collage...
I'm going to go into a bit of detail here so you can pick out the LOC stamps I used in creating this collage. The background was painted with layered acrylics. I recycled a piece of gift wrap tissue with script by adhering it to the surface with gel medium and then added successive layers of medium and acrylic paint over the top. I buffed it smooth, and assembled my little party fairy using wings, hat and body parts from Lisa's Altered Art, a star from Sandra Evertson's Fanciful Paper Projects, and two different Layers Of Color architectural block stamps for the skirt and top. I drew and painted the hand on a separate piece of paper, then cut and collaged it to the surface. The sleeve was made using another one of the stamps from the LOC architectural block set, colored in-between with watercolor pencils. I added the scrolling, flowery rub-ons from Heidi Grace, and as nice as they are, in retrospect, wish I had painted them myself by hand. Lastly I laid-in the shading and the dots.
"Opposites attract" is this week's MMM theme, and what could be more attractive to a human than a tiny fairy bringing beauty and hope. There are also the obvious opposites of color and contrast, handmade and mass produced elements, and rough and smooth textures.
A Spot of News...
This is the only place on this blog that you'll hear about my next piece of news, so if you're interested, please read-on! I've begun another blog. It's a home on the web for the very satisfying cards and crafty pieces that I love to make to unwind at the end of a long day. Early on, I tried to blend these pieces in with my other artwork and into this blog, and while this may have worked, it confused me, and some other artists who emailed me, wondering just what it was that I did primarily. The answer was, and is, that I'm one of those rare-ish half-right, half-left brain people who's hemispheres are so equally balanced, that I find it just as easy and just as satisfying to make fine art on the one hand, and graphic design on the other. I spent a great deal of my life drawing and painting and getting an arts degree, and just as much of my life writing and working with publishing layouts and graphic design. As one graphic designer friend of mine put it, "You've joined the ranks of artists who get as much satisfaction from creating your own art from scratch, as you do from pushing around and arranging the elements created by others." This is so true, and it describes me to a "T"! So for my own peace of mind, and at least for the time being, you can find my arty cards and crafts at ArtyCardsNCrafts. ArtiphyTheHeart will remain the place for everything else I do. Maybe I'll even choose to post some of my drawing and painting in the future...we'll see... But for now, that blog will link back to this one, but this one will stand on its own.
Asking A Little Favor, If I May...
If you decide to visit ArtyCardsNCrafts, or if you get there through a blog challenge I've entered, please take a minute to look at the list of links in that blog's sidebar. My hope is that it will become the most comprehensive and up-to-date listing of card and craft challenges on the web. So if you know of a challenge that is not listed on that blog, please email me with a link so I can add it to the list!!
And now I'm off to:
Have a late lunch
Catch up on some reading
Visit GoodReads, as my DD recommends it so highly,
Do a bit more tweaking and blog maintenence, and
Work on an art journal page, already in progress
Have a great day, Everyone!
really really great work! the color alone is outstanding! love the whole concept.
Posted by: ellie | November 02, 2009 at 03:31 PM
Beautifully done! Great page design.
Posted by: Bev | November 02, 2009 at 04:41 PM
oooo this would be a wonderful holiday card!
Posted by: jean | November 02, 2009 at 07:34 PM
What a little stunner!
Posted by: AliMayes | November 03, 2009 at 02:46 AM
like all the layers on this. I am like you in that I like to make my own art as well as make simple cards I think its nice to do a variety of things so good idea having a separate blog so off to have a look..thanks very much for visiting my blog today
Posted by: Lorraine | November 03, 2009 at 02:54 AM
Fantastic creation!
Posted by: Yvonne | November 03, 2009 at 06:40 AM
Absolutely gorgeous, love it.
Posted by: Hermine | November 03, 2009 at 08:38 AM
WOW Barbara!! I'm just as tickled as can be with your creative use of my stamps! The dress, the cap, the cuff, what sheer delights! I'm in love with this piece, Barbara! Spectacular!
Thank you for your friendship, creative inspiration and sweet support for LOC! You're a doll!
Hugs!
Posted by: Laura | November 03, 2009 at 03:47 PM
I so love the way you describe your art and process - thank you for the inspiration! Good luck on your new blog and, by the way, lovely art piece!
Posted by: Kristin | November 03, 2009 at 06:19 PM
Wow what a lovely art piece, and a beautiful little fairy on the hand.
Posted by: Anni | November 04, 2009 at 10:55 AM
It's a beautiful piece, Barbara, and a clever interpretation of the opposites attract prompt! Diane
Posted by: Diane | November 04, 2009 at 03:24 PM
What a great post, Barbara. The little fairy collage is wonderfully original with a stunning colorway. All the links you shared are incredible, and you were so right about Layers of Color. Thank you for introducing me to Laura's blog. It was my first trip to her blog. and it is fabulous.
Posted by: katherinemccullen@yahoo.com | November 05, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Beautiful, Barbara...bright and cheery.
Posted by: Gayle Page-Robak | November 06, 2009 at 09:55 AM
Great!
Posted by: kotilaiska | November 07, 2009 at 07:51 AM
This is a wonderful page, Barbara!
xx,
Autumn Clark
Posted by: Autumn Clark | November 07, 2009 at 04:35 PM
I love your Hope!
Posted by: Brenda Wampler | November 08, 2009 at 10:52 PM