Getting back into the groove ...

... is a good thing, and this week was one of those.

I asked John to help me get the 3' x 4' painting back on a table, and tore into it.  I'd been reining in my drive to add another colour, but lost the battle to an additional yellow.

Masking off the circle of plastic wrap area meant I saved the white only in that area.

I'm already liking the additional contrast this will give me, and I'm really looking forward to adding more layers now.

Of course, I have other things on the go as well.  I'm working on a journal spread in the floral signature since I got thinking about all those flower beds at midnight.  Who knows what they get up to when nobody is watching?  

I added another layer to the journal spread started last week with the September prompt.  Goodness knows how I'll keep these pages from sticking together when they close.  That plasticky acrylic is a nuisance in a journal.  

The Arcturus painting got some work in the background as I glazed a purple around the building skyline before adding any more layers.

I can see there's a long way to go on this piece, but I'm liking what's happening already.

How's your week gone?  Have you been getting the lovely fall weather?  I've been enjoying it so much I've nearly walked off three inches of my legs with enthusiasm!  

Things are ticking right along...

...in the studio.  Finishing the 'Take Heart' journal meant I could carry forward with a slip case, and this one has a different clasp than others I've done.  

You really have to love Velcro, right?   

The largish heart on the front has a strip sandwiched between the back papers of the slip case.

That creates a band to secure the book inside.  I learned several things when making this book and case, mentioning before that the book style is not the best when one has a yen to add layer upon layer.  It would make a more elegant book had it three or four pages to each signature.  Will I remember that the next time?  Maybe.  😄

The slip case was problematical given than I wanted to use both painted Typar as well as its original greyed surface.  I used cardstock and adhered the Typar to both sides, finding it challenging (at the least) to fold and secure.  A layer of printer paper would have been a better choice.

All in all, though, I'm happy with the look and feel, and love the wide variety of the heart quotes inside.

I managed to finish the painting for our grandaughter this week as well.  'Chloe's Blues Clues Birthday' is ready to be on its way.

A great advantage of having grandchildren is that one doesn't lose sight of the important cartoon characters on the go.  😉

As well, I thought you'd have a laugh at this 'oh-good-grief-its-ugly' stage of the Arcturus painting.  As always when paintings are at this stage, I'm wondering whether I can get it safely out of the mess it's in!

I'm looking forward to seeing where you're at in your week.  Happy creating and may the rest of your spring be brightly filled with sunshine and blue skies!  

By now you might suspect...

 ...that I'm a bit of a colour pig.  One of my favourite things to do is splash three or four colours on the page, smoosh them with a palette knife and see how they play together.  And it's the lazy woman's way to create tag backgrounds too.

This combination of Red/orange Quinacridone (Liquitex), Turquoise, Quinacridone Red, and Hansa Yellow (all by Golden) just made me so happy I was giggling with the drool-worthiness.

No matter where I looked, it was all just luscious - pink, red, green, purple, black and the potential for wonderful greys.

Which meant, of course, that I have the colour combination for yet another in the Arcturus series.  Can't you just see each of those moons in one of the gorgeous shades above?

It's a much better combination than the first one I auditioned - I'm so all about the wild and crazy intensity of high-key hues.

And what a fun thing to do while waiting (and waiting and waiting) for the slipcase glue layers to dry.  Ditto goes for the painting for Chloe, also in progress and drying under those well-used art books.

I'm looking forward to seeing your colour this week - feel free to post links in your comments!  

A studio visitor...

...this past week noticed this painting on paper and queried me about it.  I told him it was one of my Arcturus series, as yet untitled.

His questions made me realize just how many (and strange) pieces I've done over the years with this particular star in mind.

From alien landscapes

to alien portals

to a book sculpture called Expat from Arcturus,

I've done piece after piece.  

The Expat Offspring, while somewhat different from its parent, reared its own head, even as 

an infant.

It puzzles me why this star is such a draw for me,

and I wonder whether you have a recurring pull in your artwork that is as unfathomable as is this one.

Please comment below and let me know I'm not the only crazy one in the bunch!