I’ve known what I wanted to do for this week almost since my Week 7 page, which is pretty unusual for the way I work. I’m rarely settled on any one thing that far ahead, but will take it when it happens!
I’d seen several examples of art journal pages where an edge had been altered and my muse ran with it. So the Week 9 prompt is to transform one edge of your page into something shaped. Which edge and what shape is up to you. Just have fun with it.
Initially I though about working a house into mine, but these flowing, sinuous leaves kept pushing the house, distracting my planning of one side and the roofline extending out to the edge of the page and beyond. When something is pushing that hard to be explored… you just have to go with it.
So how do you have an object extend beyond the edge of a page when there isn’t any material beyond the edge of the page? The most obvious solution is to add to the page, perhaps by extending it with another strip of the page paper attached with Washi Tape. Or, if you’re working on loose paper and binding after the fact, you could use a piece that is larger than all the rest. The other choice is to cut back some of the existing page, leaving the object there. So it looks like the page has been extended even though it’s not any wider (or longer, depending on your orientation) than the others. That’s what I did. As usual, I began with a pencil sketch…
I know the lines are faint, but look closely and you’ll see them. I use a pencil with a hard lead (Mars Lumograph 5H), sharpened to a fine point, giving me lines just dark enough to see in person, but not too difficult to erase.
My pages are 9″ x 10″. With the flowers being this big I needed to use a heavier line than I might ordinarily, so I chose a F (fine) tipped PITT Black Pen. Once everything was lined, I erased the pencil marks.
Then I cut around the right side of the rightmost flower. I couldn’t figure out a more elegant way to transition from the top of the flower petals back to the edge of the page. I’m not over the moon about that cut, but at some point you have to move on and let it go. So I did. (an old dog can learn new tricks!)
I like to color with inks (Distress Spray Stains & Dylusions Ink Sprays. Often diluted with water to make them more pastel) loaded into Tim Holtz’s Detail Waterbrushes. This is the group of colors I initially pulled out, thinking they might work. Eventually I culled out all but 4 or 5.
And began coloring. I’ll post the in progress photos so you can see the progression, then pick up the commentary again after the last one.
With the coloring complete it was time to embellish the flowers a bit. Dots. Not a surprising choice, eh?
More dots. Lots of them.
Once all of the dots were done I decided to add a border. I’m not convinced this is done – I think there’s too much stark white background left. I mulled it over and couldn’t decide what to do, so called it a day and counted this one as finished.
12 Comments
This is so funny. When I was gluing my pages for my art journal I missed one so I just folded it in half. I guess that is what I will use.
I love this, Barbara. The colors are great. You know we love our dots and it’s very calming. Love it.
The cut out edge is lovely! Elegant, flowing shape. It has a backside too….
No, there isn’t a backside. My pages are single-sided since I think it allows me more freedom.
You certainly can use both sides and it’s just a matter of fitting the shape to whatever you put there. Or making the back of the page look like the back of whatever the cut edge would be. I.e. front of a house and then the back of the page is the back of the house.
Wow, haven’t been able to post comments before.
Anyway, I love the way you use the inks. Do you worry about the coordinating the colors on the next page, which will show when you flip through?
I’m working on one side of the page only, but even in my journals where I create on both, however they flow just happens. I generally don’t plan.
I guess working as you are on loose pages you can reorder if the next page clashes. Or, accept the clash as a reflection of life! 🙂
I must say this is your best creative work in a long time. The edge is wonderful and one of those things that goes “why didn’t I think of that?” Well, that’s why we have the wonderful you.
This has opened a whole different concept for me, and I thank you for sharing.
Good job!! Dolores
P.S. just think of the great mushroom for an edge. WOW
Imagine if the next page is a cityscape and the large flower rests on the edge of it – I need to stop supposing and get to work! LOL
Looks lovely and I’m pleased to see the dots back too, they’re great.
As always Barbara, I always love what you do. The colors are great and love the dots.
How do you add these pages to your journal? Do they go in a looseleaf and why did you choose this way as opposed to a standard journal?
thanks