Sunday, March 7, 2010

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"?

53 comments:

Theresa MacNaughton said...

I really love this piece - I think it's beautiful. And I enjoyed reading about your creative process. I totally understand about not being satisfied with a finished piece of work - thinking it needs more or perhaps less. I'm extremely interested in mixed-media art, so I really appreciated learning more about the steps involved. Again, it's really beautiful!!! Theresa

WrightStuff said...

That's wonderful Diane - I love all that going over and over. There's always that moment when you think eek have I ruined it... but I think more can often be more!! Great piece. I might pop over to Ophelia and see what she had to offer.

Emelie said...

You tell the story well, and I laughed each time a word was lost,
I do this and think I just lost something I realy like and had saved this is terrible, and as I grieve the lost, I do something else. So much fun to read. It did turn out beautiful. Great enhancements, just right. I hope your having a smile as you look at it and not taking it back to the work bench.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Holy cow. You have an incredible amount of work in that piece. The tutorial is simply perfect, too. It shows not only how the art progressed, it shows what you were thinking and feeling at the time of each addition. What a super and informative post.

K said...

gorgeous collage! love the red tones!

Dianne said...

It's beautiful and thanks so much for showing us how it was created. I like to follow other artists processes of creating. I find it very inspiring.

Janet Ghio said...

This is really pretty. Can't believe that face is a stamp!! Enjoyed walking thorugh your techniques!!

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh my gosh--how heavenly!!! Beautiful work and awesome process!!

Star said...

Diane, that turned out really nice....I like it! I liked hearing all the steps and going back and forth...I know how that goes for sure! I like the face, too! When I first looked at the picture I was thinking, Wow, look at her drawing a perfect face and was almost jealous! It was a great stamp.....I'm not very good at stamps or faces; yet!

Kelly Berkey said...

just beautiful diane! i love how you show the process...helps out us newbies!
have a darling week my dear!
hugs

Sharon said...

Hi Diane,
Thanks for stopping by my blog, nice to meet you. I look forward to looking at your work.
Sharon

Martha Lever said...

This is a wonderful piece and I loved seeing your process. It turned out great! And yes, I think you are right, it must be Joan Crawford--long before the Mommie Dearest days!

Nicola said...

I loved reading about this piece, I'm working on something at the moment that I just keep changing it can be very frustrating but I guess a good learning experience at the time. I really like your piece though and I wouldn't have appreciated just how many layers there were if I hadn't seen your step by step process. Love the colours and love the texture, well done this is a great piece!!!

Gayle Page-Robak said...

Gorgeous artwork...beautifully created.

Kristin said...

This is wonderful! I love the tutorial - seeing others process is so interesting and I always learn something new - as a matter of fact, I just bought (and am working on a piece with) Golden's Crackle Paint because of you (love it, thank you!). It is beautiful, Kristin xo

Faye said...

Wow, Diane, how fabulous! I loved it at each step and would have been satisfied at each of them. But the final outcome is so gorgeous it leaves me speechless. I love that lady's face stamp. And the way you touched up areas with the white is wonderful.

indybev said...

Whew! Wotta a journey of creativity! Thanks for sharing. The end result is truly a WORK of art!

Hermine said...

Absolutely gorgeous

My Creative House said...

Diane what a gorgeous canvas you made, love everything about it, very interesting to read and see how you made it.

Daphne said...

What a work, but they are all beautifull!

Femmy said...

great collage!! love the red tones!

Heavens2Betsy said...

This is a fabulous piece and I so enjoyed seeing it's evolution every step of the way. Thanks for sharing.

joanna said...

Diane, What a beautiful entry! can't beleive the face is a stamp!!
Thanks for showing how you created this!
xoxox

Astrid Maclean said...

What a fantastic piece Diane and I LOVED reading about your process and all the stages in between. The tone of that particular red is so gorgeous, just right I love it. I'll go and check out Ophelia now.

By the way I had a great time in the US and got loads of goodies (of course) including finally some Golden fluid acrylics which I have wanted for so long and are so hard to get here in the UK. I found AC Moore had them!!!

http://truutske.blogspot.com said...

Your collage is absolutely gorgeous, Diane.

Buffy said...

Wow,you did alot to it but it came out beautiful and yes I also do that to my pieces at least you kept working at it mine I just put aside. I still didnt mail out your stuff,I'm sorry,I will in the next couple of days.I have just been busy.

Janine said...

Diane, this is so beautiful! I love that you documented it! There are some wonderful ideas like outlining the photo copied house, etc.! Thank you for sharing this!

Carrie Joy Byrnes said...

Thanks so much for sharing. I love this piece. I want to try that crackle paste - sounds like fun.

Thanks so much for all your visits and comments too!

Carrie

Yvonne said...

And what a fabulous outcome, Diane!

Å olanje na domu-Waldorf said...

Oh, I love the process of it. Great piece!

Deb Harvey said...

Another beautiful piece! I always enjoy reading and learning from your posts! Fun and informative...

Thank you for sharing!
Deb

wandamarie.blogspot.com said...

i so get your humor and appreciate all the stages (along with your thoughts) you showed us. there are more times than not that i struggle over a piece till i could scream, but rarely give up...then a week later, you see something so different than when you were on top of it!
i just love this piece, the colors are so juicy and mmmm good...and i too am in love with crackle and wish it was wayyyy less expensive. and you are right, the camera doesn't always do justice...i would love to hold this and explore...very lovely..oh, and i thought you painted the "stamp" face, it's awesomely special and realistic. i don't think i've ever written so much...you bring out the best in me, tee hee. xo wanda

Rhonda said...

Well it is just fabulous for all of your efforts! Love that you could share the process with us. Love it!! cheers!

Linda Vincent said...

Ahhh..you made me smile; this is so similar to the way I work! (In fact I'm probably worse because I usually threaten my work with the bin a few times before its finished)
This is a lovely piece Diane...you always inspire me.
Linda x

Debby said...

WOW!!! This is totally amazing. I love this piece.
debby

tracyozzie said...

What a wonderful blog you have. thank you for your wonderful comments on mine. Yes, I am in both classes and loving them both. I will say the painting (sharon's) is giving me fits. but I guess I will get there.

Rosie Rowe said...

I think you're amazing! I have lots of projects that work like that! In fact, that's how I roll - lol! A completely stunning collage on canvas Diane!

Oxana said...

Gorgeous piece!!! I like how you show your creative process. Thank you!

Lola ^^ said...

That happens to me all the time. I used to just throw away the stuff i made that i didn't like, but now i just keep adding and adding things until i absolutely LOVE it.

Joyce's Journey said...

Wow. I love it! I love your tutorial. I love your photo's. I love the girl stamp. I love the roses. I loved your whole thought process. Thanks for sharing! I think it's beautiful!!

Anonymous said...

This is quite masterful.

Amy said...

I always enjoying coming by here..I love to see how you put it all together! Wonderful in red

Ozstuff said...

What an enchanted journey for your blog friends! Your work is superb. I love the fact that we can go along with you and see the changes you are making. Any one of those versions would stand on its own. The face is exquisite - and haunting. Your artwork is absolutely stunning.

Nicecrane Designs said...

Really gorgeus,,,, oh my amazing work yours,,,,love these red tones with the vintage effect.

Unknown said...

I know I've said this before, but you are so good at layering and getting such a marvelous effect. thanks for sharing your technique!

Unknown said...

Its all about the layers I say : )

Say It In Color said...

I have been really absent from art for a while and trying to get back in the groove....SOOO glad you posted this journey, as it is repeating itself here.....but I didn't photograph the process....! Still not finished....we'll see....I hope mine piece turns out as good as yours.....I have to say the process is fun and frustrating....and sometimes I feel like I've wasted good papers when they seem to disappear as I work....but it just adds texture and maybe it is a "thinking" layer!! Thanks....I sure miss the old Gut Art class pushing me!!

Monica said...

Beautiful piece... and thanks for showing th process. I LOVE to see that.

SharDon Exclusives said...

This is such a lovely work of art! I wanted to stop in and tell you how much I appreciated your sweet comment. You are so kind and I agree that Carol Anne is a sweetheart. I am so glad that she won my followers giveaway. I will be back often to see what your latest projects are. Thank you again,
Sharon

LivArtNow said...

What a wonderfully beautiful piece of art :) LOVE it!!! and how fun to watch your creative process :) Your work is always inspiring, thanks for sharing!! Standing ovations from me !!!

Linda

Jonny said...

Hi Dianne, This is pretty, Everything came out nice that stamp is neat, I like that golden thick crackle paste -I didn't know they sold it thick- I only knew of the clear stuff in a little bottle but that's awesome, that's funny you kept going on and on- and it ended up beautiful!!!-its funny how an artist thought process works, they are never finished until a set time is involved,Great work. Sincerely, Jonny

Marlynn said...

LOL - you can borrow my muse Karma whenever you want.... I love how your work of art kept evolving and LOL. I do that without thinking but every once in a while... I wanna go back a step and can't do it - at that point I blame Karma. Your muse is wonderful! Love the final product.

Silje said...

Great piece of art - love the colors, texture and seeing the process!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails