Monday, May 13, 2013

Destroying some backgrounds...

In a previous post I described how I made my faux metal art journal. I then later proceded to make all sorts of backgrounds in it. Firstly, off course, because I loved doing it, but secondly out of a fear of white.

This actualy backfired on me. I liked several, if not all, of the backgrounds so much that, while I could see they were not finished, I was now afraid to do anything to them. So I set myself a task, to take a background every day and "destroy" it, to be able to take the page to completion.

This also fits in wonderfully with the Artists in blogland: color this quote - May challenge. With the quote "Every act of creation is first an act of destruction" by Pablo Picasso.

So here are 3 of the backgrounds taken to completion, with the original background.


 I'm afraid I didn't take pictures while working on them. Which, in hindsight, is a pity, because with the way I work, it can sometimes be difficult to see what I did to get to the end.

I will post the pages in chronological order, with first the background and then de completed page.

The first page was a background done with soft pastels and a collaged book page.


I collaged some scrapbook paper to the background and some die cut time pieces. I fussy cut the butterflies from a print out I made. Stamped the words on it and traced around the words and collage pieces. Distressed everyting with walnut stain.

With this page I stayed fairly close to the background and my destruction of the "pristeen" background was merely collaging the corners and thereby breaking up the layout.



The second page was a background with soft pastels and allready had some collage elements on it. Done quite a while ago, problable because I then liked it... They were now holding me back to do anything else to the page.


So I destroyed it with white paint and burnt umber. Created my own drippage with the paint and stamped on some circles. Added the words with die cut letters and writing. and doodled a little with white gel pen. I really like making these little circles =). They look like bubbles.




The third page was entirely done with soft pastels and I thought my little diamond shapes looked so cute. I also loved the colors.


So I started off really carefully with this page, by writing all over the page in a diagonal direction with a regular pen. Then I did some stamping with white pigment ink and embossed those with white embossing powder. That did break up the page somewhat, but not enough.

So I took some white paint and applied it with my fingers to the page. Sprinkled some water over this, to be able to wipe some spots away. Felt it needed some  blue and orange and did the same to these paints.

Found 3 die cuts, 2 spellbinders frames, I once cut out and never used and a flourish. I also found two pictures that I thought went well with the page. Distressed everything with walnut stain and apllied them to the page. I then wrote again on the page, but changed direction this time, still keeping the diagonal line.

The tiny frame I didn't paste to the page, but I used it as a stencil, all over the page. It looks like tiny little clouds. Applied some more paint, to tie it all in, stamped the little birds and birdcages in blue archival ink and added some washi tape. Found the quote in my little quote booklet, printed and distressed this and pasted it to the page. I then doodled to my hearts content and wrote around the pictures.







I actualy like all three the pages, but I love the last one. I really like the writing and the doodling. My writing on this page reminds me of my fathers writing and it brings back some really fond memories. So yes, happy thoughts.

For now I think I destroyed enough backgrounds to get me on the right track again =).

Thank you all for watching and have a nice day with lots of happy thoughts.

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18 comments:

  1. Hello Monique
    I'm excited! Your journal pages are so wonderful and I have looked at me long. You spray your imagination. Beautiful, that you have the emergence of the pages as well commenters benefits you!
    LG Barbara

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  2. My gosh! I really adore each of this spreads Monique! AWESOME post !!!

    thank you so much for joining
    ART-JOURNAL-JOURNEY

    xxx
    Susi

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  3. i totally love the texture on your journal pages! all of them are so awesome! and yes, the picasso quote is right...

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  4. WOW,I Love it!!I Love the colors and texture in it,realy awesome,and the qoute is so right.

    Hugs Jeannette

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  5. Can't say how much I love your destroyed backgrounds! fantastic Happy AJJ Dxx

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  6. Fantastic work, Monique! Hugs, Valerie

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  7. Beautiful work of an true artist! :)
    Have a nice day!

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  8. Thank you all for your kind comments.

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  9. What a great idea, I have many pages which are "too good to use". Love what you have made from your "destroyed" backgrounds.

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  10. Thank you all. Funny isn't it how you make backgrounds an then don't use them because you're afraid to ruin them. I'm glad I did though, I feel much happier now I did.

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  11. Absolutely brilliant! I love the transformation. :)

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  12. I can understand, that you didn't want to destroy your backgrounds. They have already been gorgeous without anything else on it!
    But now, your spreads are even more impressive and wonderful! Thanks for sharing your great artworks!

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  13. Hello from AJJ ~
    Your pages are really fantastic both before and after!
    I can see why it was a challenge to go further with them...but so glad you did.
    So much to enjoy and such a fine variety too!
    oxo

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  14. Thank you all. Yes this has become a rather varied journal. In a way more my real journalling journal, because I tend to start with writing on a page to break it up. And since my emotions are a bit of a rollercoaster, the pages tend to vary quite a bit.

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  15. These are very nice! You've given me the idea to put my Color This Quote/Artists in Blogland images into a book. Thanks for that. :)

    I am a new follower. Have a great week!

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  16. what a brave journey you took on all of these pages! Thank you so much for participating in the AIB challenge with all this great work.

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  17. I am just now finding your blog and I am so impressed with your creative skills. The last pages that started out with the diamond pattern are absolutely gorgeous! I am just starting to make my first altered book in journal style...I'm titling it "All About Women" and I'm taking it as a learning experience, trying out new techniques etc. I have done mixed media and altered art in the past, but have been making jewelry the past several years. I wish I could create a page as beautiful as the last you did here. I don't even think I could I do it with your great details about how you did it, so I'm really jealous right now :)
    I look forward to following you and seeing more of your art. Peace to your heart, Sara

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  18. So gorgeous! And what a perfect interpretation of the Picasso quote. I'm delighted to have found your blog and know I'll be spending a great deal of time poking around.

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