Sometimes when I get an idea...

...in my head, it's hard to shake (the idea, that is...my head shakes quite easily ☺️).  This journal page was one of those.

I was experimenting with alcohol inks on crumpled aluminum foil with an aim towards making another wonky neighbourhood piece, and created this quiet (HA!) beauty.  Doesn't that just knock your socks into left field?

Back to the drawing board, where I spray-glued the scrunched foil to printer paper, and then painted on/rubbed off some black gesso.

I wound up with these two pieces of paper,

which gave me the richer colour I was looking for once the inks were applied.

Tearing the papers into sections, I applied them to a black-gessoed spread in my journal, and realized they'd morphed into a standing stone image.  So much for the wonky houses, right?

I applied some Inka Gold in both the sky and ground,

and then added some sugar dust to the sky and two final stones to finish the page.   

I was interested in the negative spaces created by the stones, so I took some closer shots for posterity.

Those alcohol ink foils are truly delicious, no?

What's happening in your creative world right now?  Please share in the comments below, and feel free to add a link if you like.

Playtime is the best...

...time, don't you think?

Good friend and fellow artist Laura Leeder stopped by this past week for some playtime in the studio.  We'd been wanting to experiment with different uses for gesso, and we tore right into it.

Laura washing over a stenciled gesso floral...look at those wonderful colours!

The top leaves on the journal spread have been pounced through a stencil with gesso,
and then washed over with a pale acrylic.

This sienna-toned magazine page was stenciled with gesso,
and then washed over with quinacridone orange acrylic.

These images were stamped on to watercolour paper with gesso,
dried and then washed over with acrylics.

A credit card was used to push gesso through the stencil
before applying a wash or two.

Gesso was thickly applied and then distressed with a heat gun.
Washes of alcohol ink and ultramarine acrylic inks were applied.
White gesso was patted on with a paper towel over the black
gesso...nice pattern, right?

A house wrap stencil was used to apply the design,
and then it was spritzed with  Dylusions spray.

Laura's piece at the end of the session...I
suspect there will be more layers!

It was a most entertaining morning, and I hope we can do it again - soon!!

Here's a thought...

...what if it's a requirement to have a touch of insanity in order to be a mixed media artist?  

I've spent quite some time this morning using a paint brush and silver alcohol ink to cover photo corners to use in my latest signature.

I've made notes to myself about the next step on a group of panels,

I've smeared goop all over a signature-in-process for an art journal.

I've glared at a work-in-process that refuses to gel.

I've added a layer or two to another WIP.

I've put a backing on a black and silver piece that was started on a CD.

And I've fallen in love all over again with carrot tops.

If that doesn't qualify me for insanity, I'm not sure what would.  What's in your creative area today? Are you in the club?