Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Art Journal: “Unburdened” Week One

Unburdened Week One

I am participating in an online Bible study on forgiveness, based on Suzanne Eller’s book, The Unburdened Heart. So far, we are in the Introductory phase (so it’s not too late to join), and we have been given a thought for the week: “It’s not what was, but what can be.” As we prepare to see what God’s Word has to say about forgiveness, I can understand how it will be important to embrace this thought.

Suzie said, “Prayerfully remind yourself of this phrase. Write it on the mirror. Put it on the dashboard of your car, or on a sticky note on the computer screen.”

Here lately, any time I hear a meaningful phrase that I want to think on, or set before myself, I think “art journal page.” So, I decided to do something with a background I had just put down in my Inspiration Journal, using Lumiere Halo Blue Gold (light body metallic acrylic). I love this paint, because it is really several colors in one. Here is the background. All I did was spread it around with an old gift card. The two pictures that follow were taken from a little different angle, but it is the very same page (the metallic color is amazing-one paint does this!).

Lumiere Halo Blue Gold Background 2Lumiere Halo Blue Gold Background

I had also been wanting to use some stamps from Artistic Outpost. I love the stamps but had never used them. So, I decided the idea of birds fit rather nicely with the “unburdened” theme.

Unburdened Week One

I stamped the images on watercolor paper. For the robin and nest, I painted them with Perfect Pearls (mixed with water in a palette and allowed to dry and then painted from the palette with a water brush). For the other images, I used Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils and a water brush.

In retrospect, I’m not thrilled with the way the water colored images look on the page, and I wish I had not been so intent on using them. But, it does convey a meaning, and it’s just a page, after all, so I’ll get over it!

Also on the background, I used Golden Molding Paste (left it white) and Golden Glass Bead Gel through a stencil. The Glass Bead Gel is transparent, so it looks like the color of the background, but in actuality, it is clear and raised, as is more obvious here:

Unburdened Week One closeup

For other background dimension, I stamped with a Tim Holtz background stamp and a Wendy Vecchi script stamp. I used a charcoal pencil to outline the words and the images.

Since I am using some stamps I have owned for some time but have never used, I will link this project to the current challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show, a stamp you love but don’t use. My favorite of these is the nest with bird eggs.

Also linking to Frilly and Funkie’s Challenge, Layer it On and Share a Word.

Since all these stamps are from Artistic Outpost, I am also linking to their February Anything Goes Challenge.

9 comments:

Candy C said...

Barb...your art journal pages are gorgeous! I really love the blue-ish background. Love all of the hues of blue going into almost a teal. Teal is my favorite color! :) Your stamped images from Artistic Outpost are truly lovely on this page and I love how you colored the nest and birds. The sentiment is also lovely! Thanks so much for sharing your very nicely done pages with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. <3 Candy

Terry said...

Oh these journal pages are gorgeous! Love the blues and all those lovely AO images! BTW, there is a new release, so darn cool!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Oh Barbara! What beautiful works of Art! Should be on the wall! Love your stamping, your color, your birds! All perfect! Thank you for stamping with us this week at Simon Says Stamp & Show!

Words and Pictures said...

Absolutely beautiful pages... the depth and texture of all those layers in the background is amazing. With those beautiful AO birds, you could enter this in the Artistic Outpost February Referral too - there's just time!
Alison x

Jenny Marples said...

Your journalling has come so far in its design and complexity. Love it to bits. So much to think about with your quote too. Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Hugs, Jenny x

Tracey said...

Oh Barb! This is so Amazing! Love the colours and pretty birds! Thanks so much for joining us at Simon Says Stamp and Show :)

Marjie Kemper said...

It's just gorgeous, Barb... love the built=up background.

Donna Gibson said...

What a beautiful journal spread Barbara! I also love Lumiere paint and the Halo Blue looks great with the watercolor birds and nest. Thanks so much for playing along with us at Frilly and Funkie!!

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

This is simply lovely, Barbara! Such beautiful rich colors and your textures are terrific. I think the images came out beautifully too. Very inspiring piece - thanks so much for sharing it with us at Frilly and Funkie!