Two art journal pages inspired by a challenge on Mixed Media Art Friends...just brainstorming ideas. Haven't made any of these yet. Of course, the actual creation usually turns out differently than the original sketch.
I really love Maurice Sendak's classic story "Where The Wild Things Are" and he does great monsters!
"And now," Max said, "let the wild rumpus start!"
I probably won't do a Max doll or green monster doll...I will probably make the pumpkin man paper doll. If you have been making Halloween inspired art and showing it on your blog, please leave a comment so I can check it out.
"Listen to your Inner Consciousness and summon the strength and determination to act on it."
-Sonny Rollins, jazz saxophonist
I am not necessarily a fan of jazz music, but this quote spoke to me...
An art journal page: acrylic paint, magazine scraps, permanent marker, fabric and stickers from the Dollar Store.
As we walked along the lake shore of a nearby reservoir, we came across an eroded bank. Discards from a farm or home that had once been nearby had been exposed by the erosion. There were pieces of rusty metal (some of you altered jewelry or sculpture artists probably would have salvaged this, but I did not) glass, clay tile, pottery shards, and other things. I brought home a few pieces of pottery that still had bits of pretty glaze on them. I don't know what I'll do with them...any ideas? And what type of adhesive could I use? I would be interested in your comments and suggestions.
My taste in Fall decorations has turned to vintage style pumpkins, as shown on the black round box (center). The country angel was made a few years ago with twig angel wings and a raffia garland of wooden stars and a heart. The Halloween ATC's from a previous post can be seen in the foreground. The "Pumpkin Man" was created because I couldn't afford to spend the $65 or so on the one I saw in a shop...mine turned out differently, of course, but I like him. I used panels of golden yellow and rust/orange fabric for the pumpkin, and painted his eyes and mouth in artist's acrylic paint. His nose is 3-dimensional, stuffed with poly fill and darker green paint for shading. I love the look of the skinny legs and feet, but they were terrible to turn right side out! (I know there are gizmos for turning tubes of fabric easily, but I don't have one)
As my paper arts projects, paintings and art journals have been consuming more of my time and interest, the sewing projects are less frequent. The fairly large fabric stash that most sewers and quilters accumulate is still lurking in closets, bags, and bins however...so fabric is turning up in my collages. With the trend of small "art quiltlets" gaining popularity, I may have to try one, but I wonder if my experience with traditional quilting methods may interfere with the art and experimental aspect.. raw edges showing is not a problem for artists, but traditional sewing doesn't go for that. And did you know that Fabric tends to be like art supplies, you are forever seeing one more item you just have to have...?!
The seemingly endless supply of falling leaves has begun...our grandson thinks it's marvelous fun to go out and rake the leaves, jump into them, and do it all over again...just like kids everywhere. When you are three, it doesn't seem like work. I have a similar picture of his Daddy doing the same thing when he was little...
A Mail Art postcard I am sending
to a friend in Kentucky...
mixed media including craft
acrylic paints, stamping with acrylic, junk-mail image of sunflowers, magazine clipping, and hand-carved stamps (the faces & green stamped design). I wonder what the mail carrier thinks about mail art...I suppose they are not surprised by much any more...anyway, hope it brings some joy to the people who see it...
Here is a recently completed art journal page, resulting from the Make It Monday challenge on Go Make Something. Orange was the challenge...anything orange...the color of autumn, sunshine, goldfish, calendulas... The background is craft acrylic paint with ink drawing and hand-carved stamping added. The drawing is actually black ball-point pen.
Lisa Vollrath offered to feature an artist who participated in the GMS challenges in August, and I won! Thanks Lisa. I often need some help with inspiration to get some art started and GMS helps with that. My winning Gypsy ATC can be seen here ( in an older post).
