Wednesday, September 23, 2009

partner journal





I am involved in a partner journal with Wendy in New Zealand. These are the fifth set of layouts that I have done. These layouts are in my journal.
The theme for these pages was self portraits with commentaries.

In the self-portrait as Venus page I painted the background first with acrylic paint (for you people who like detail... the colour was "Derivan Matisse Ultramarine Blue", gorgeous colour!) The image of Venus and Cupid was found on the internet. The painting is "Venus and Cupid at Vulcan's Forge" by Palma Giovane. I added my face to Venus' body (bless her!) using Photoshop Elements and cut out section I wanted and glued it to the page with Gel Medium. I continued on the curtain at the top and the sheets at the bottom using watersoluble crayons. I stamped flourishes with white ink (sorry all you artists that don't like flourishes!!), then printed my commentary with a white Uniball Signo pen (the colour is called Angelic Colour!). This pen is FANTASTIC on the dark background, the white comes out even more solid than my souffle pens and there was no trouble using it over acrylic paint.
The next page started with torn and collaged scrapbooking and magazine and pamphlet papers. Then I drew the drawing on the right hand side. Then I attacked it with gesso and watersoluble crayons and coloured metallic pencil for the glasses. It was cool too wet the watersoluble crayons with gesso rather than just water! You get a more milky effect. On the left I used watersoluble crayons on the edges and gesso in the centre. The text is done on the computer and printed on transparency sheet. The writing didn't show up too well when I sat it over the page to test it, so I glued a layer of white serviette with gel medium to the centre of the page before I glued the transparency on. You will notice that I managed to smudge the bottom of the text in the process, but I let it go, because it is OK to make bad art!!!!!
I am loving doing this journal swap, it always manages to kick start me again from the doldrums!!

14 comments:

Lucky Dip Lisa said...

I enlarged your self portrait page and what can I say but...dang that's good! I love the layers or red and crossword puzzles, you've used them to great effect. That quotes great too...will try to remeber that!

Thankyou for your visit:)I've got a good feeling about the direction of this years ICE collection. Are you doing it too?

John M. Mora said...

Thanks for your visdit and kind words - this journal is amazing _ I am particulaly drawn to the top image and how if goes across both pages - it dances with that playful ape...

Melissa S. said...

Both pages terrific! I especially love the layering effects. The wording on the bottom spread, with the napkin and crossword page peeking behind...wonderful! The face is sooooooo full of character and LOVE the collaged bits showing in her lips and nose areas. Very well done, indeed!

Timaree said...

These are terrific pages! Wow! Oh my, I have a lot to learn. I was going to ask how you did the lettering but then you said how. Now I just need to find where to buy transfer plastic. Off to google it!

Pen said...

awesome. AWESOME pages.
such inspiration,
thank you :)

Mixed Media Martyr said...

Timaree, the plastic sheet is overhead transparency sheets that they use on overhead projectors. You can buy packs of them and they go through the printer. Leanne.

aka: eye-poppers said...

The self portrait is wonderful. If I could only draw..............
Laura

Anonymous said...

Hi, good to find your blog, and thanks for following mine. Ann from UK

Margaret said...

I love these pages!! thank you for the 'how to' info, I've had so much trouble with my white pen as soon as the surface gets a bit irregular. I visited a friend yesterday who was using oil pastel crayons as the background, cool effect a bit like the watercolour crayons we use but more intense. M

Anonymous said...

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Casey said...

Love the pages! Your close up self portrait is awesome. What a great effect with the gesso!

Debrina said...

Well dang, I've just found another Kiwi mixed media blogger...and a good one too! Lo...there's the Gypsy and there's Lisa Sarsfield!!
It's a small world... afterall!

Fantastic artwork and journaling here! So nice to find you!!

Shelley Malone said...

These are both lovely! I especially like the lettering on the Venus page, as well as how delighted you look in the picture. And the second one - I don't know what to say. The more I look at it the more I just love it. The background, the painting, your self-portrait (wow) and even the quote is so appropriate. Wendy is a lucky girl!

Elizabeth Golden said...

I am loving your partner journal. The pages here are both fantastic! Your self portrait is really well done.