I had some time, early this morning, to turn to working on another background exercise for Michelle Ward's Crusade #45. (see previous post for starting background).
This is my second color copy of the original background and I did add some scrapings with an old credit card. After I did that, I kept turning the background around and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I started to see two figure-like shapes. Where does this stuff come from? Sometimes I feel like someone else is in the room, with me, guiding me what to create. The figure shapes kept calling to me and before I knew it I was sketching out the figures and came up with angels.
I did add some more acrylic paint to the angels' gowns with a brush; was that cheating? :) But; I had to distinguish the actual bodies. I then went in with some stencil work, stamping, collage and where I got this "sister" theme - I have no idea. But; I went with it anyway. I think going through some of my collage stash, guided me to this finding the words, etc.
I do not have any sisters, although I am so blessed with some very special friends, in my life, and maybe that is why I never feel the void.
So this piece is dedicated to all of you who have sisters or friends that you share a very special relationship with.
I hope you're all having a great weekend!
Love and peace to all......Marilyn xxoo 
For so long, years even, I have "lurked" on Michelle Ward's site.I've been inspired by, not only her artwork, rubber stamp offerings, her writings, but also what an interactive site she has. Her challenges through her Green Pepper Press Street Team Crusades are awesome and I've meant to join in the fun for so long.
See the Street Team button on my side bar, click it and check it out. Her tutorials are amazing and I love her projects and challenges. I'm sure most of you have visited her site and played along but for those of you who haven't, it's so worth it. I'm so happy I took the leap!
Her recent Crusade #45 was for us to use any background that we've had in our stash and never really knew what we were going to do with it. This challenge just hit me over the head like a hammer!!!! WOW!
I have many backgrounds from projects, classes, playing, etc. I also always use a "serendipity" sheet of watercolor paper beside me when I'm creating. I use it for cleaning off a brayer or paint brush, old credit card, etc., whatever I'm using for painting. I end up with a very interesting background piece for a someday :)
The photos, here, are of my beginning background that I had from a serendipity piece from my demos for promoting the mono printing class that Kerri and I have coming up this weekend.
The other photo is what I did with the background that I color copied. I have a couple more, to do, as the challenge was to make 2-3 color copies of our backgrounds and then do different things with them. If time allows, I will do, at least, one more.
So; I feel after this super challenge, I will never be at a loss for what to do with some of the backgrounds that I have, here, laying around. This particular piece I am going to use as a "tip in" for my journal I have going on. Or I can accumulate a bunch of these and make another journal! Fun! I can hardly wait for the next crusade!
Are you all having a good week? I hope so!
Much love - Marilyn xxoo
Happy Columbus Day to all. I hope you will be enjoying your day and had a nice weekend. Our weather, here, is glorious and I'm savoring every second of the sun-filled days, comfortable temps., and beautiful colors surrounding me. I know, too soon, things will be changing.
I thought I'd share some samples of my Elastack mono prints from a demo I did last Saturday to promote the mono printing workshop that Kerri
and I are team-teaching on Sunday, October 17th (see my side bar). We spent some time, yesterday, "cooking" the Elastack, in preparation for the class, and I always enjoy my time with Kerri. She inspires me so much and her sense of humor is just wonderful. If you visit her Blog, highlighted above, you will get a sense of her humor from some of her writings. I still say she's going to write a book some day and I will certainly be at her book signing wherever that my be :)
These samples are done on a variety of papers. I found that the mono prints bode well on most papers. I would not recommend a heavy-porous water color paper.
But; the prints come out beautifully on antique ledger paper, old music sheets, a smooth watercolor paper, and even scrapbook paper. I love using die cuts as masking elements, natural elements from outdoors; the possibilities are endless. Once a print is made, you can go back in and embellish as you wish. Fun!
Thanks for your lovely comments, you leave for me, I always appreciate your support and friendships. I so enjoy visiting your Blogs for inspiration and am always in awe of the things you all are doing with your art!
Have a joyous day and a safe, happy, and artful week ahead.
Peace, joy, and love to all of you! -Marilyn xxoo
These are pictures of front and back pages for a friend's Deco book. The book is approx. 4 x 6 and I love creating on these small pages.
Wishing you all a fun weekend ahead; I think our leaf peeking will be at it's best this weekend. We are expecting sunny skies and warmer temps.! It's been raining, here, the past three days so this will be a welcome change. However you spend your time, be safe, happy, and hope you get lots of art time in.
Much love - Marilyn xxoo
PS Early in this coming week, I will be uploading some sample prints for the mono printing workshop I'm doing with Kerri
When you have some time, please check out her blog (highlighted above) for her terrific samples.
I wanted to work on another page in my journal for my online class. This was lesson 7 from Journal 365 (see previous post). I felt my spread should be cohesive with similar colors and style. I drew and painted the image; after all - I thought a mask might turn me into an angel! :) It's worth a try don't you think? We can really be whatever or whoever we want to be with a mask.
Everyone having a good week so far? I hope so. I just got through with two wonderful days with Sophia! She's going to be a ladybug for Halloween I'm told. Hmmmmmmm. I'll have to share a photo of her when she wears her "mask" :) Much love to all of you! Marilyn xxoo
This is a photo of my journal exercise from our new lesson from Pam Carriker's Journal 365 online workshop (see sidebar button). I loved the technique Pam shared.
I found this lesson very thought-provoking as it really got me to thinking about what my "mask" is.
What I consider to be my mask, is keeping the positive attitude going; ya know - the smiling face, wishing upon that brightest star, looking at the glass as always half full.
I give it a good go but it doesn't always work :) Life happens and we're always thrown some curves, the ups and downs, the daily challenges, etc. I try to smile through these things, and keep positive, but it's not always easy is it?
What is your mask? I'd love to know with your comments here. No pressure just thought it's fun to think about.
Hope you're all having a great weekend; our weather has shifted to sunny, cool and bright! Now; that's positive. Thursday and Friday we were pummeled with torrential rains for two days. Hubby and I spent lots of time suckin' up water from our basement. We were luckier than a lot of people and things are drying out nicely now.
Thinking happy thoughts for all of you!
Love, Marilyn xxoo
Fall is my favorite season and I always like to celebrate it in some way. I decided, this year, I would express my feelings for Fall in my journal.
How do you celebrate your favorite season?
Here's a photo of a recent spread in my journal. I used acrylics, collage (I even dried out the last black-eyed Susan,here, and incorporated it), magazine transfers, oil pastels, you name it; it's in there :)
I am wishing you all a safe and happy weekend ahead.
Love much..........................Marilyn xxoo
