Black, White, And Red

It's not all black and white is what the theme is this week at Mixed Media Monday--so keeping  with my colors from  my last post, I'm sticking with the red--

Did you ever have one of those pieces that you're working on , and just aren't satisfied with it, and you keep adding more stuff to it?   Well, this is one of those pieces, and luckily I documented the process with photos. So come along with me on my journey, and I'll show you.  So the first thing I did was take a gallery wrapped  8 x 10 canvas and collaged black and white papers on it, because that's the theme-right?

The sheet music is from a collage pack that I purchased from Ophelia--wonderful items in this pack, including some old ledger papers, which I love.  And she still has more available--just click on her name for the link.  It was perfect for what I wanted, because I knew that I was going to be putting roses on it, and the name of the song was  "Under the Rose Arbor"--perfect :D

After that,  I put a titan buff wash over it (I know, I know--it's not white, but I would say it's ivory--a member of the white family) and Golden's  crackle  paste on the edges and on the rose stencil.  I love this crackle paste, because that's just what it does when it dries-- it cracks.

So I added some script stamp in places and the ladies face--I love this stamp--I use her alot.

Okay, you see that house in the corner?  Well, that's an inkjet transfer, that I'm so proud that I can do now, but I was looking at it, and thought  "this is too dark, hmmm, I know, I'll outline it (it wraps around the side of the canvas too). So after I did that, I said "no, it's too dark--it's gotta go"

P.S. Notice the music title is just about gone, except for the word Arbor--well that will still work.

So let's move forward a little bit--I got rid of the house and added more sheet music there and in other places and at the top I added the word Dance from another song title, because as you can see "Under the Rose Arbor" is long gone.  I had these fabric flowers that I added for more texture, also.  At this point, I said (notice I'm not thinking anymore, I'm saying--in other words I'm talking to myself or arguing with Clara my muse--one or the other),  "okay, it's finished" and I varnished it  (gloss varnish), and this was my final photo for MMM.  Yesterday morning when I looked at it, I said, "I don't like it", so back to the drawing board--

So now...... I added more stamping (I stamped onto old sewing pattern tissue papers and collaged them into the heart and around different places) I dirtied up the flowers, because they were just too white.  Let me see, what else--just more stamping.  And I said  "okay, now it's finished" and this was the final photo for MMM.  A  few hours later I was looking at it, and I said "it needs something,  hmmm, how about a hanger?"

P.S. What happpened to the word Dance?   I can hardly see it!

And here is the finished piece....... I think.  If this was Mixed Media Tuesday, I'd probably be still adding stuff  to it.  I have to say that I like it better in person--everything shows up so flat on the computer screen--you lose the texture of the piece.   So, that's it,  I hope you enjoyed my "tutorial"?