Laughing Dog Arts

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Gratitude


"GRATITUDE"
17"X13"
This is my most recent finished piece.  Mostly finished anyway, I haven't yet figured out how I might hang it, might have to put it in a frame.  I was just playing around with various bits and pieces.

I first cut out some pieces of card board 1 1/2 inches square and was going to make Inchies.  Then I was reading in my favorite book, Mixed Media Explorations by Beryl Taylor, and started playing with some of the suggestions she has.  I ended up with the nine squares with the flowers in them.  I was also playing around with some tiny tags that I made out of a manilla folder.  I cut them out and soaked them in some coffee to make them grungy looking, and they looked good with the inchies.

I rummaged around in my stuff and found some little slide frames so I painted and stamped them to match the inchies and then I really got into finding things to go together.  The little beaded bars under the slide frames I found in the bathroom, they are covers from disposable razors that I painted and attached with sewn beads.  Also stitched down some copper washers and the blue, green and purple glass beads at the bottom.

"Live your life without regrets" is from a chocolate wrapper, Dove Promises.  It fit nicely into the little frame and the color matched the background behind the inchies.  

There was just enough space for some lettering of my chosen word for the year.
The background is a piece of painted card stock, and some fabric paper behind the slide frames, and the dark pink behind the inchies is organdy stitched over craft felt, and some strips of sari silk.  I really like the way all these elements came together and I had a lot of fun playing with them.

"FAITH"
Above is a piece I finished today, paint and markers on watercolor paper.  

journal page

journal page practicing lettering

Another journal page practicing lettering.

So that is what I have been up to.  Just playing around in the studio, having fun, being creative, using some of my supplies.  I am grateful to be able to have the time to spend in my studio and for having more supplies than I will ever be able to use up.

Be well.
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11 comments:

Robin said...

I love it Jan!! You inspire me to want to make something....I should start digging thru my junk drawers. Sometimes I save odd stuff and then, if I haven't used it after awhile I get frustrated and get rid of it. Need to stop that! I have saved a lot of ephemera for mixed media but hadn't thought a lot about saving for something like this!!! Love your "Spoons" page! Bet I know who that's for!! I ordered a piece of spoon fabric. Need to figure out what I'm doing with it. Also feel like I could use an Artist Date just wandering the aisles of a hardware store!! I LOVE them!! Catch ya on FB!!

audrey said...

Hi Jan.
Your :Gratitude" piece is lovely. I love all the little elements you've attached to it. It sounds like you put a lot of time into it, but loved every minute. It shows.
I like that you showed us your practice lettering journal pages. How fun and colorful.
A happy post, Jan.
♥ audrey

Anonymous said...

Looks like you have been inspired!! Love it!!
Have a Great Day!!
Marilyn

nacherluver said...

Beautiful pieces! The first... I love, love LOVE that you re-purpose so many everyday items in your art. Makes the environmentalist in me so very pleased. And you turn the bits and pieces into beautiful treasure for a beautiful piece! Loving the lettering as well. Very colorful and happy feeling. Excellent!

Janet Ghio said...

Wonderful pieces! I love Beryl Taylor and you must be taking Joanne Sharpes lettering class!! Great work!

maddyrose said...

You really are creative in so many ways. I love how all of the elements of the first piece come together. Thanks for walking us through how this piece came to be. When I was into making miniatures I saved everything and was always looking at something and trying to imagine what it could be turned in to. I seem to have lost that part of my creative process but am happy to see that you haven't. Enjoy your day.

Maggi said...

I really like the gratitude piece. Very different to your normal style. Your written journal pages are great.

Corrine said...

Great lettering. I was thinking Beryl Taylor a bit when I saw your piece, she is a master at that type of layering. Looks good. xox

Heloise said...

Your "Gratitude" piece looks great. I have the same book and it's full of inspirational pieces.
Happy journalling.

April said...

Jan, I really like your "Gratitude" artwork. It's wonderful! And I really appreciate how you gave us a step by step of how you worked it up. Razor covers...who woulda thunk it...YOU! Great!
I really, really like all your lettering, and am so excited that you shared Joanne Sharpes online class with me. I am signed up for the Artful Alphabets starting in 9 days. Oh, man....I'm getting excited! Thanks for getting me tuned in!

Laura said...

What great abundance flowing from you spirit.