Art x 12 Book Collaboration for 2019-The Final Chapter

Well the final chapter of the Art x 12 Book Collaboration for 2019 has drawn to a close. Feeling sad that it is over but very accomplished that we all completed our work (and by that, I mean joy) in each other’s books. I have grown a lot artistically just by seeing each style and appreciating his/her vision and application to the variety of themes and tones set for each one. For those of you who may have just joined my blog, let me catch you up briefly. Last year I was invited to participate in a 12 month book collaboration. There were 12 artists in total, each creating their own style of a handmade book that had enough pages inside for every artist to put his/her artistic vision on two pages. Every month a different book moved on to a different artist. The artist created art inside another’s book and then the book was mailed on to the next artist. So basically there were a total of 12 books being mailed to 12 different artists every month that lasted for 12 months. I have featured most of my pages in their book here on my blog or on instagram and today I am showcasing my final one. Leslie Aja’s book was the last chapter for me. I was so honored to work inside these pages. Her book was about “Transformation”.

I love using ephemera and building a collage. It reminds me of my scrapbooking days and it makes it so much more approachable than just a white sheet of substrate. That can feel intimidating to anyone! All the tiny details help to form an overall picture. I applied, gesso, paint, ink, watercolors, embossing powders, string and markers to my page. I used several StencilGirl stencils, including one of my own designs from my mushroom collections. You can find it here. I used stencils by Carolyn Dube, Pam Carriker and a StencilGirl® Club combo by Mary Beth Shaw and Seth Apter. The large flower is a die-cut from Tim Holtz.

I love adding drips, marks and splatterings.

Of course one of my favorite elements is string. I think I used it in every book somewhere.

And some stitching with a bit more string is a good thing. Those circles were cut from remnants of a stencil and CitraSolv project. 🙂 Nothing needs to go to waste!

I LOVE old ephemera and I thought I hit the jackpot when I found these old report cards at an estate sale. Bought the entire envelope filled with history.

I love how elements can build upon each other. I love texture and layers. I love color and shapes. Now balancing them is the challenge. It’s all like one big jig saw puzzle. I know I am not done until my eyes go around the entire page and doesn’t settle anywhere. I guess my page is “gypsy”.

And so this was my completed look. Simple but full. Though the process in each book is always challenging for me, ( I get so nervous to work in someone else’s book), it is also where the most growth occurs. So happy for this opportunity. Thanks to Seth Apter for putting this collaboration all together. And to each and every amazing artist I “arted” with along this journey, I am grateful. From Mary Beth Shaw, Leslie Aja, Bee Shay, BG Mills, Leslie Avon Miller, Leslie Marsh, Roxanne Evans Stout, Elizabeth Bunsen, Donna Watson, Krista McCurdy and finally to Seth Apter himself, it has been a joy and pleasure. I hope to meet you all in person one day soon…

XO,

Debi