Scrapbook on T Tuesday

Now that the gifts have been opened, I am able

to share a few pages of the Fall scapbook that I made

from our October 2013 trip to Tennessee.

Dunbar Cave Natural Area was really lovely when we

were there.  The cave is not actually
open to visitors right now, as there seems
 to be a problem with bat droppings.

But the lake and trees were lovely...

I enjoyed the hike through the trees...

Turtles sunning themselves on logs...click on the photo for 

a better look.  It's easy to miss the turtles. They look like

a part of the log from a distance!

Unlike much of my collage work, I tend to keep my

scrapbooks simple so that the photos are the main attraction.

Posting a bit early

for T Tuesday...

Wishing everyone a 

Happy and Prosperous New Year!

♥ ♥ ♥

Envelope Book

Envelope Book made from small manila envelopes.

  

Cut open the bottom of the envelopes. 

Also remove envelope flaps if desired. (I did)
Stack several envelopes together. Fold the
stack of envelopes in half and sew a pamphlet stitch

binding down the center. (on the fold)  Now you

have a pocket in each page.

Add tags or smaller pages inside the pockets.

I punched out circles and adhered them to some of 

the tags inside the pockets.  I punched half circles at

the edge of each pocket, making it easier to pull out

whatever is inside.

Collages created for Elizabeth...

knowing her fondness for rust.

Sharpie marker, watercolor, assorted papers,

fabric and stitching were used for page 

embellishments and images.

Hope you had a holiday full of

family, friends, and lots of fun!

Wishing you a wonderful and

prosperous New Year!

Tradition of the Madonna- for T Tuesday

Celebrating the tradition of the Madonna

for December 2013...from 2005,

the collaged cover of my first altered book, above.

Materials: vintage Madonna card, fabric, 

sewn on beads, watercolor and pen, 

vintage crochet, acrylic, and scrapbook paper.

I entitled the altered book

'Woman Perceived.'  Above, one

page in the altered book, created using

acrylics, cut paper ephemera, and fabric.

Above and below,

Collage and drawings from 2013.

"All the darkness in the world
cannot extinguish the light of
a single candle."
-St. Francis of Assisi

Sometimes color isn't necessary...

2000 drawing 'after Raphael's Madonna.'

Above, an art journal page from 2005,

Inspired by The Book of Kells, an illuminated 

manuscript that is extravagant and complex for its time,

full of symbolism and a wealth of ornamentation.

It was created by monks, so perhaps that is why 

Mary looks a bit like a man...no women in the monastery!

Joining Elizabeth for T on Tuesday

at Altered Book Lover. 

Enjoy some coffee or tea and visit a few

blogs while you enjoy your holidays~

may they be merry and bright!

Medieval 'Girls Night Out'

Art journal pages that are not

holiday themed have been happening

'behind the scenes'...

Above,  top portion of the page

 is an illustration from a book about

Medieval times...it just looks to me like

"girls night out."  I don't remember what it

really portrays...but they have interesting
'attitude!'

Artist quotes make me happy...

Linking up, very belatedly,

with Art Journal Every Day over

at Balzer Designs.

♥ ♥ ♥

TIDINGS ~ On T Tuesday

Tidings of great joy~

 Sharing Madonnas and angels

on Art Journal Pages.  Above, pen and watercolor, 

scrapbook and assorted papers,

fabric and painted fabric collage.

© 2013 - Dianne Bishop Carey

This Mary was inspired by a Russian icon.

Angels brought the good tidings of the

birth of the Christ child...
Above, watercolor and collage,
below, Sharpie ink pen drawing
of an angel sculpture.

The depiction of Mary and angels has been

a tradition through the centuries, bringing

the Tidings to the people. In earliest times,

most common people could not read, but they

could interpret the beauty of an artist's rendering.

The red Panda Mug, below

painted in my art journal with

watercolors.  It was a gift from

an Aunt and Uncle, who for several years

always gave us Christmas gifts that were

RED!

There is only one mug left, but I love the

little panda.  The cheerful red seems to

make my morning mocha coffee taste better...
Posting a couple of days early
for T Tuesday over at Altered Book Lover.

Tradition of the Madonna- on T Tuesday

My Black Madonna, watercolor- 2009,
above.

Black Madonna of Częstochowa

from Wikipedia, my model.

Virgin of Guadalupe,
Art journal page, watercolor & acrylic.

Mother of God in the Garden of Paradise, 
Sharpie marker in my art journal.

Art journal page from 9/4/13-Collage & watercolor...
"Painting is just another way of
keeping a diary."  -  Picasso

If only the calm serenity of the Madonna's

aspect could be transferred to us

during the hectic holiday season!

♥

Enjoy your tea, or coffee today...

Linking to Elizabeth's T Tuesday party.

Whatever your December activities,

I hope you will shine bright and steady

and enjoy your days!

  ♦ ♦ ♦

Tradition of the Madonna -- on T Tuesday

Madonna:

1.  A form of respectful address

2.  An Italian lady

3.  The Virgin Mary

(Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, 1977)

I find various styles of the portrayal of the Madonna to be an 

endlessly fascinating resource for my art journals, from Medieval

and folk art, to high Renaissance paintings.  It is a variation of

 using master art works for visual journal inspiration.

For December 2013, I will be revisiting some of my drawings

of the Madonna, and some angels too...

The word Madonna is from the old Italian

'ma donna', meaning my lady, according to 

Wikipedia. 

Art that has gone before is an endless

source of inspiration and learning...

Linking up with Bluebeard and Elizabeth

at Altered Book Lover for 

T Tuesday...

Using my red panda mug --
trying to talk about T Things on Tuesday,

and drinking coffee instead of tea!

Stop by again next week to see more

Traditions of the Madonna..

(NOT the pop singer!)

TECHNIQUES for Art Journaling 2- T Tuesday

More ideas for Art Journaling techniques:

• Seasonal Themes- Whatever the weather or season, it can be a topic for a journal page.  These pages (above) are done in an altered book of 'Seasons', and seemed appropriate, since we are celebrating Thanksgiving this week in the U.S.  The art work is done on brown craft paper that was crumpled up and then smoothed out.  I painted the images in craft acrylic paint, and the green leaf border at the top was created from hand-carved stamps. The text reads: "give thanks...for all that we are and all that we can become...for moments of Beauty, for truth, and for joy..."  

• Collage Scraps- Whatever scraps of delicious papers or images you haven't been able to throw away, those are great elements for collage!  Above, are some bits of watercolor paintings, pen doodles, and even a photocopy of a drawing that I had previously drawn. I also love to use bits of scrapbook papers, greeting cards, food packaging, junk mail, envelopes, fabric scraps, and the occasional magazine image. 

• Combine your own art work with collage- Above, one of those tiny paper collages from scraps, combined with fabric and watercolors.  The green leaves in the foreground were drawn on a separate paper, then cut out and glued to the page...and the only text on the page is my signature and the date.  Below, the collage creates a border around the text.

• Use a Quote: Above, a quote from Maya Angelou. TV and radio quotes and also song lyrics are favorite sources for text on the journal page.
• Use "Challenge" art work- If I participate in a challenge or a swap on-line, I sometimes have an 'extra' copy of art work left over...sometimes a person drops out of a swap or I purposely made extra, "just in case."  Those extras can be adhered to a journal page. I often use a decorative tape to create a hinge-fastening the art work into the journal, so that both sides can be viewed. If you don't have decorative tape, you can easily just use glue and a strip of paper or fabric.

Top, the Linen and Lace 4x4 collaged with fabric and stitching. Below it, a detail of the Anniversary swap page flipped open to reveal text and designs beneath it in the journal.

• Sketches of Future Projects- Art Journal pages don't have to be 'finished' works of art. Sketches of ideas for paintings, or drawings of things you want to make are always good to record.  Ideas have a way of disappearing from our minds if not recorded! The above necklace was an idea to make from fabric and beading, inspired by an on-line image of a metal necklace from Africa.

Linking up with Bluebeard and Elizabeth for T Tuesday at Altered Book Lover.  Please visit to see what else is happening this Tuesday! 

♥ ♥ ♥