Unique Spirit
/March Theme
Making Your Mark (Doodles & Mark Making)
March 28 - Week 13
Art Challenge: Make a Custom Element
Journal Prompt: "Ride the energy of your own unique spirit." ~ Gabrielle Roth
I always felt as if a butterfly embodied my true spirit - the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, emergence from the cocoon, the unfurling of the wings . . . all metaphors of course but nonetheless, I can identify with the butterfly. I think this is the longest I ever spent on a journal page, but I got lost in the process and really felt it was a journey of self-discovery for me. I love how working in an art journal will do that for you sometimes!
This page started as a basic plan . . . picturing myself with butterfly wings, but the process took on a life of its own! I started with some stock images I found on the internet and used one as a template. Once I printed the image in the correct size, I cut it out. This became my "custom element" and you will see later how I used it in two different ways.
I traced around the butterfly, then cut it out to create an element I would use, but also a mask for painting. I'll explain that a little later!
I prepared my journal page by ripping out pieces from a roll of Idea-ology Melange Tissue paper by Tim Holtz. I love the butterflies on this tissue! Once I decided on the placement, I adhered them to the page with gel matte medium.
I decided to add a flap to my journal page and found this cover from an old pad of K&Company scrapbook paper {I never throw anything out!} I love that it had a window cut out and I trimmed it to fit the journal.
I covered the flap in white gesso (used as a primer) and then taped it to the edge of my right page with 1" masking tape to create a hinge. I added the tape to the front and back. Masking tape takes paint well so I wasn't worried about the edge on the back of the page - I will just incorporate it somehow in next week's challenge.
I ripped out a few more pieces of the Melange tissue and adhered it to the inside of the flap.
While I was waiting for all of that to dry, I sketched a figure onto bristol paper, using the wings to determine size.
Time to add some color! I used a tiny piece of double stick paint and stuck my butterfly cutout onto the right side of the spread to create a mask so no color would get underneath. I used Golden Fluid Acrylics for their transparency. I applied them with a baby wipe to help blend the colors.
The next photo shows the spread with the butterfly mask still attached to the page.
Once I removed the butterfly, you can see I have a white image underneath where I prevented the paint from being applied. That also left me with a painted butterfly to use!
I used the fluid acrylics to paint the flap using darker shades to make it stand out and really frame the focal point.
The white butterfly seemed a bit stark, so I spread some Liquitex Ink onto the shape to give it a watercolor-like appearance.
I painted my figure using watercolors and set her aside to dry.
To add some definition (and sharp contrast) to the painted butterfly, I used Bombay black india ink and painted the veins and lines on the wings. The printed images I used early were good to use as guidelines.
A Stabilo pencil was used to outline the white butterfly and wt slightly to blend.
I then attached my little person to the white butterfly using a UHU glue stick and also attached the painted butterfly to the opposing page.
I felt like the flap needed a little title of some sort, so I stamped the word "Fly" onto old book paper, cut the letters out and then glued them onto the flap.
I loved how the spread was turning out, but it still felt a little "bare" to me so I grabbed a clear stamp with flourishes and stamped all over all of the pages with black staz on ink - just what it needed!
I am really satisfied with the results - I felt like I captured my unique spirit in this challenge! I will look forward to seeing your pages this week! And don't forget to check out our Featured Artist this week . . . the fabulous Martha Lever!
Products Used This Week
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