Mona In Tahiti

September 15, 2008

Mona In Tahiti

Famous People is the Mixed Media Monday theme this week, which gave me the opportunity to use a brand new stamp, just received in the mail today from Belinda Schneider (see below!). My "Mona Lisa in Tahiti" is an 8 X 10 journal page that tells a fanciful little tale from the life of the painting. Clicking on the image to enlarge it will probably be enough to make it legible, but just in case, here's the story:

"Whether Mona is hiding in the flowering bush because of her shyness, or whether she is eagerly proceeding toward Gauguin's hut, is a mystery as deep as her smile. But the truth is, Leonardo was becoming quite oppressive and she was more than just a little uncomfortable with his collection of human body parts and fetuses in jars. A holiday was needed, and being a work of art, Mona transcended time and space. She chose Gauguin's Tahiti, hoping the artist might re-paint her during her stay, in the cheerful, surreal colors of the tropics, ending the somber life she had with DaVinci".

A figment of an over-active imagination, I know. But the minute I placed Mona behind the cut-out tropical flowers, I knew she was in Tahiti, and Gauguin was not far away.

Mona was stamped onto patterned paper with brown acrylic paint, thinned with matte medium and brayered over the stamp. I cut out part of the flowers with an Xacto knife and put Mona behind them. Then I layered tissue paper and matte medium in multiple thin, torn, layers, over all. When this was dry, I used the fine tip point of a Marvy marker to write the story.

Belinda's RAK

Wednesday Stamper was one of the first online challenges I participated in when I first began blogging. It continues to be in my short-list of favorites, even though I use stamps more rarely than other media. I've made both online and in-person friendships through this website, and came to know artist Barbara Hurst in real life when due to a WS posting, we realized that we are both "Barbara H.s", living in Phoenix, and had to meet!

The first trade I participated in, ever, was an icicle doll swap hosted by Belinda Schneider. Through this swap I learned of Belinda's fondness for the fabulous artist Mucha, and when the two-year anniversary for WS rolled around, I used my Mucha stamp to make a card to celebrate the birthday of the challenge. For this tiny little gesture, Belinda saw it fitting to return the favor and send a celebratory grab bag of goodies, not only to those who won the draw on the WS website, but also to each of us who made cards for the occasion. And not just any grab bag, but one sewn from vintage wallpaper, sealed with the WS logo, FILLED with the most sumptuous selection of blog candy imaginable. The photo hardly does justice to the fabulous array of items spread out on my table. Among this feast is the Mona Lisa stamp, featured above. THANK YOU BELINDA!! My appreciation extends beyond words!

Have a great day, Everyone!

Posted at 02:16 PM | Permalink

Comments

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fabulous!!! amazing background!!

Posted by: femmy | September 15, 2008 at 02:28 PM

brilliant and awesome background hun xxxx

Posted by: carolann | September 15, 2008 at 02:51 PM

OMG"!! Lucky you - what a wonderful surprise, but then, that's Belinda all over! And what a coincidence... I won the prize at Craftaway a Sunday last week? We have some spooky connections, you and I!!!!
Anyway, I just wanted to say what a gorgeous page you've created here - and so whimsical too! You know, she'd be just as happy in a field of sunflowers with Vincent!!

Posted by: Rosie | September 15, 2008 at 02:54 PM