Monday 16 February 2009

Ta Da!!! GPP Crusade 28 Portion Control



Over on the Street Team blog

http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that/

the challenge for the month is to practise portion control in order to give images more depth and hence make them more interesting. A challenge indeed for little ol me who has little 'know how' in these things. Still I rose to the challenge and came up with this page.


I know its not the greatest but its important that you see the process, the good and the bad! I was using some die cut shapes and I only had a few of them...it was all going wrong! So I decided to try again and cut yet another stamp (a technique practised in an earlier crusade). I found some scrap lino and camme up with the shape for my next pages. Not sure what you would call it but I associate it with the spade in a deck of cards! I then cut larger ones from paper and my tools were ready to go! I stamped, masked, stencilled and then stamped some more, dooodled and painted. Oh I had such a good time :lol:


And whats more these are my surviving leftover lovelies...


I think it was Regina who lamented the problem with journalling on these pages and I totally understand. They are sometimes too nice and thats one problem but for me...I also find the journalling, the word part, difficult. What to say? There's a challenge for you Michelle...a crusade in word journalling!

I realise now that I need to do my journalling different. I bought a ready made book in a local store but I really need to take my pages out so I can get better coverage on the page...the rings get in the way! I will need to put more thought into my next journal I think!

Anyway it was a lovely crusade and I am learning so much here. Thank-you Michelle.

18 comments:

michelle ward said...

Julie! These are fabulous! I love that you tried and tried - they are all great. And LOOK at those leftovers - collage elements themselves. And as I said to Regina, you can "journal" on a loose piece and then decide if it had a place on your page. You could even place it down first, then practice a little portion control OVER it. You have those shapes that are just calling to be written on. *grin* Thanks for playing Julie!

Judy said...

You did a great job. I too am struggling with getting the background I want & then realizing I don't want to journal over it or left no space.
Practice makes perfect though right or at least better and the practicing is so much fun.

Chris said...

Are you kidding? This is great! I love the texture and mystery, but the COLORS... very romantic.

debi lynn mattingly said...

Great job sweetie! I think it is great how you kept "pushing yourself forward"....shows a true artist! xo...deb (junkin' yaya)

Anonymous said...

these are great Julie! I know what you mean about journaling - my problem is that I usually journal heaps so I'm trying portion control on that - maybe you could try making a copy of the page and journaling on the copy to see if you like it before you actually journal on the page.

Regina said...

very cool layering on your page. I know what you mean about that binding. Sometimes I journal on separate paper that I adhere into my journal. That seems to work better for me when I use really wet techniques.

Anonymous said...

Hi Julie,
they ALL look great! And those leftovers are so wonderfull... Sometime i work on watercolor paper that has the same size as my journal. I started doing that because i was afraid i would ruin a page and then was stuck on it in my journal. But i never really ruined anything (not that i am always satisfied with the outcome...) but now i still keep doing it because it works easier (stamping on it,it is a little sturdier paper).
Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

Oooh! I like the clubs - a different shape. Thanks for the inspiration (I've painted my background...)

Michelle Brown
Melbourne Australia

Anonymous said...

Yay Julie! you are unstoppable. I love the pages you did. Really interesting. love it.

Anonymous said...

Combining the art and the words IS a challenge, and I've struggled with this too! I think that some pages doesn't need words and to try journaling you could assign a special place that you leave blank just for journaling... to fit it all in takes practice. I think the "left overs" from your pages are way cool!

Kim Mailhot said...

Hi Julie ! I think you did a great job with your portion control play ! That page is great and I love your left overs too !

I tend to be pretty wordy with my art journal pages but I know many people have a hard time with it. I agree with Hanna that they don't always have to hhave words or sometimes even one word is enough. I did an exercise for the Creative Everday Challenge (http://creativeeveryday.com/creative-every-day-challenge) which just happens to be "Words" this month. You may find some inspiration at Leah's site or you could try my little prompt and see what you come up with. (http://queen-of-arts.blogspot.com/2009/02/more-than-words.html) Keep on practicing and you will find what works best for you ! The joy of art journals is that there is no one right way !!!
Cheers Crusader !

Anonymous said...

Wow, I think the pages have turned out great. And I love the 'left overs' - I bet they see more action yet :-)

jgr said...

Oh, these are excellent, I am so inspired! I have a similar issue with writing on my journal pages.
I'm glad I'm not the only one LOL! Thank you for sharing these beauties, the leftovers are awesome too!

--Jane

Robin said...

These are really beautiful. Rich colors, lots of texture, very interesting to check out! Lovely!

Anonymous said...

well done! you are doing great and getting layers of interest in your pages... adding the words will come, especially since you are willing to try new things!
Dianne

Anonymous said...

LOVE your spade!! I know what you mean about writing on your pages...but you can do it!!

Mescrap said...

Beautiful journal spread !! Love the layer of colours.

Marlynn said...

Better late than never. I loved your spread and the process. Thank you so much for sharing. Marlynn