Looks like my Art x 12 Book Collaboration for May derailed just a little. Well, alright, not a little, a lot. Lol. But I am up and running now. Lucky me to get to work in Donna Watson‘s book. I wish I could share the pages of the other artists before mine. So impressed. Lots of little “stories” nestled in those pages. I am certain there is much tucked inside and so much beauty on top of each one. Here is my story…
Donna’s book really lent itself to natural colors and I am all about that. The two page spread had a small, gray insert that needed attention. It was a challenge finding a way to make all the pages cohesive. However, one of the things I love a lot about art is the solving of the “puzzle” and challenging the mind. Always. Rust (a reminder of my aging mind, lol) and string are usually key components of my work. And I may have added a few punched holes in the book pages and to the gray insert as a way of incorporating my collaborative book into hers :). I love using stencils as subtle background images as well as prominent statement pieces. Here I used Traci Bautista’s Mark Making stencil, Rae Missigman’s Repetition stencil and Mary Beth Shaw’s Planner Words 4 for the tag.
Although I started with straight-line, book pages, the brittleness of the aged ephemera dictated some obvious raggedness as I adhered them in place. I went with it and added some splatters and drops to go with the decorum. The circles in the far right are part of Seth Apter’s Eclectica rubber stamp set. I felt I needed the circles to break up the linear lines of the pages. Love that stamp set! This is the page behind the gray insert.
Brushes of paint, smears of pencil markings and drops of brown watercolors made for a dated design.
These pages were very much done in a collage-style. It brought me back to my scrapbooking days. Happy to have broadened myself both in life and what I like to create. Check out lots of the other Book Collaboration artists work on instagram at artx12.
What’s on your creative agenda?
XO,
Debi
These art x 12 books are going to be absolute treasures! I love the natural colors and collage aspect of your art. The rusty pieces are so fabulous. You’re an inspiration to me Debi.