≡ Menu

Purple and Green Saved Me!

Step by step art journal page by Carolyn Dube using Lesley Riley's TAP, PanPastels, Liquitex Markers, a Gelli Print, and Jamie Fingal's StencilGirl Products stencil

I am so thankful for challenges- well art challenges that is…I have been working on an upcoming workshop and my brain became a bit fried doing all the non-art behind the scenes work.   I was feeling stuck and every decision felt like a life altering decision.  The Summer of Color rescued me!  How?  I’ll show you!

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

This week’s colors are purple and green so that was one decision made!  I had a mission as I searched through my art journals which led to me finding this background made from Gelli printed deli paper from who knows when- felt right as soon as I saw it.

 

 

 

Step by step art journal page by Carolyn Dube using Lesley Riley's TAP, PanPastels, Liquitex Markers, a Gelli Print, and Jamie Fingal's StencilGirl Products stencilI was on a roll making decisions!  This paper I experimented on called to me so I knew it had to go into my art journal. Another decision made! I’ve been playing around with Lesley Riley’s TAP
(Transfer Artist Paper) and digital images from HiddenVintageStudio’s La Vie Boheme.

Always loved the look of transfers but I never had the patience.  TAP to my rescue! It quickly and easily gave me the imperfect (it could have been perfect but I wanted imperfect- shocker)!  I even have a giveaway coming next week related to TAP- so be sure to stop back on July 3rd and check it out.

 

Step by step art journal page by Carolyn Dube using Lesley Riley's TAP, PanPastels, Liquitex Markers, a Gelli Print, and Jamie Fingal's StencilGirl Products stencil

 

I glued her down and used some very watered down purple paint to tint the paper.  Since there was extra I darkened up the background too.  Why waste the paint!

 

 

 

 

Step by step art journal page by Carolyn Dube using Lesley Riley's TAP, PanPastels, Liquitex Markers, a Gelli Print, and Jamie Fingal's StencilGirl Products stencil

 

Before I realized it I was back to normal and able to easily make artistic decisions.

Her story had to be added to the page but where?  A thin layer of gesso let the words underneath peek out but to fight with the words I will add on top.

 

 

 

StencilGirl Products stencil by Jamie Fingal City Life

As I thought about her story, how she left her home unexpectedly , Jamie Fingal’s City Stencil at StencilGirl came to mind.  The buildings in this stencil remind me of cities in Europe- they felt like her home.

 

 

 

Step by step art journal page by Carolyn Dube using Lesley Riley's TAP, PanPastels, Liquitex Markers, a Gelli Print, and Jamie Fingal's StencilGirl Products stencil

I almost got stuck trying to decide on what color to use with the stencil when the challenge saved me- I needed green!

I didn’t want to use the whole stencil, so I didn’t! I just picked one part that spoke the loudest to me.  A quick swipe of PanPastels and suddenly I had color.

 

 

 

Step by step art journal page by Carolyn Dube using Lesley Riley's TAP, PanPastels, Liquitex Markers, a Gelli Print, and Jamie Fingal's StencilGirl Products stencil

 

Using 2 of the new Liquitex paint markers I wrote her story.  Turns out I am not a natural story teller.  Going to have practice that skill!  It really isn’t a coherent story which worked out for my sloppy scribble writing but the colors were wonderfully opaque with paint the flowed easily.

 

 

 

But she needed more for me to be happy.  This page sat for a while until an idea popped into my head. She needed a title and a touch more purple and green. I used up brads and letters I had been hoarding! Bonus!

Thank you to all the hosts of challenge blogs out there who help keep me from getting stuck!

Step by step art journal page by Carolyn Dube using Lesley Riley's TAP, PanPastels, Liquitex Markers, a Gelli Print, and Jamie Fingal's StencilGirl Products stencil

Want more creativity? Check out The Summer of Color, Paint Party FridayArt Journal Every Day,  Through the Craft Room (anything goes) and Creative Every Day.

{ 47 comments… add one }

Leave a Comment

  • Carly Rogers June 27, 2013, 5:01 pm

    Nice! I love that lady! I am about to embark on the same summer of color challenge too… I love that color combo. I totally think the brads and letters weighted down those sides of your page. Gotta love it when the intuition starts rolling!

  • dawn June 27, 2013, 8:06 pm

    Awesome!! Looks like you had fun!!

  • Christine June 27, 2013, 11:18 pm

    Lovely page!

  • Kristin van Valkenburgh June 28, 2013, 12:41 am

    Xo

  • Arnoldo L. Romero June 28, 2013, 1:05 am

    I love all the layering you did in this piece. Blessings!

  • Heather Foust June 28, 2013, 1:17 am

    I love the colors in this piece!

  • Anne June 28, 2013, 1:33 am

    Turned out awesome! Exhilarating piece, sumptuous color! <3

  • Ayala Art June 28, 2013, 2:46 am

    This page is so whimsical and happy! I love the brads and the darker purple, makes the eye go all over the page ♥

  • Valerie-Jael June 28, 2013, 3:02 am

    Great page, you used the inspiration well! Valerie

  • Rinda June 28, 2013, 3:09 am

    Congrats on being the featured artist at PPF this week! I really struggled with the purple and green combo, but you did an amazing job (as always).
    Rinda

  • Zana June 28, 2013, 3:23 am

    Looks a fun page. Love the colour combination.

  • Shahrul Niza June 28, 2013, 4:43 am

    Carolyn, this is amazing!!!. LOVE everything, the gelli print, the gorgeous lady, the colors and yes, I do LOVE your handwriting … I need to practice mine :).

  • soulbrush June 28, 2013, 5:37 am

    What an incredible journey you had to get to where you are with this piece. Love it.Happy PPF to you.

  • Linda June 28, 2013, 6:04 am

    interestng process! HPPF! xo L.

  • giggles June 28, 2013, 6:31 am

    Gorgeous! !You pushed through and it healed you and produced something beautiful!! Win/win!! High five!!

    Hugs Giggles

  • Jessica Sporn June 28, 2013, 7:58 am

    awesome post. Love that lady and how you’ve created an adventure for her and in the process, took one yourself. xo

  • Susan June 28, 2013, 8:02 am

    What a page! Thanks for sharing the process. I love your result and I think your writing is perfect.

  • Cynthia June 28, 2013, 8:12 am

    That is so cool!! Love the journey to the finished page!!

  • Annette G June 28, 2013, 8:30 am

    Terrific page for SOC, Happy PPF, Annette x

  • Annette G June 28, 2013, 8:31 am

    Forgot to say I love all the layering, x

  • Corrine June 28, 2013, 9:39 am

    Fantastic demo as always, great use of a myriad of things to create such a wonderful piece….Love that swipe of the pan pastels over the stencil, hmmm, might have to play with mine over the weekend….thanks for the inspiration. Happy PPF xox

  • Nicole/Beadwright June 28, 2013, 9:59 am

    This is a great “adventure” I love that your post took us step by step. Wonderful finished piece.

  • Kim June 28, 2013, 10:04 am

    Beautiful! Love the HVS image you used and the vintage paper. HPPF!

  • faye June 28, 2013, 11:07 am

    Carolyn, first, congrats on being the artist of the week. I knew whose it was the minute I saw the example! Your post today is very enlightening as well as being a beautiful piece of art. I had forgotten about transfers. I have some wonderful Sheer Heaven paper that works with alcohol to make transfers. I love the stuff and found that I could wipe off the old image with alcohol and reuse it. I’m going to go dig out my papers again and try your wonderful technique.

  • Debbie Smith June 28, 2013, 12:13 pm

    Fantastic page. The composition is great. I love the lime green text and the bit of cityscape. It’s all wonderful!

  • Chandra June 28, 2013, 12:45 pm

    I like your story of progression. It seems like we can be stuck but if we just try different things then something will come out eventually and our creative juices get flowing again. This journal page is very cool in all areas. It is great to have all the challenges from the blogs to use. It keeps me arting as well 🙂

  • Kay Wallace June 28, 2013, 1:46 pm

    What an adventure! I love challenges, too, and they can often get me out of a rut or out of my comfort zone. I love your journal page today! Sweet brads for grounding everything!

  • Judy Shea June 28, 2013, 2:43 pm

    I LOVE image transfers, Carolyn. This came out awesome!

  • yolanda d June 28, 2013, 8:16 pm

    Thanks so much for the walk through your creative process. It turned out great.

  • sandra sherman June 28, 2013, 9:43 pm

    Wonderful, creative take on the SoC challenge and this weeks colour combination:)

  • Boo June 28, 2013, 10:23 pm

    very nice page

  • Kooky June 29, 2013, 7:15 am

    Your writing and the composition of this piece make my heart sing. Hard to believe you weren’t feeling the flow at the beginning. I’m glad you stuck with it.

  • monique June 29, 2013, 10:53 am

    Love your page. The picture transfer is beautiful. I also find that those challenges keep you from getting stuck!
    xx

  • Rainy June 29, 2013, 3:24 pm

    Love purple and green and am enjoying your website!

  • Marjie Kemper June 29, 2013, 5:35 pm

    Oh, Carolyn… so many awesome details here! Loving the blue/green tandem writing and the lady herself. Fabulous page!!

  • Kimberly Hogan June 29, 2013, 7:29 pm

    I was excited to see you on the SOC list. I love your journal piece. I had a tough time with these paticular colors. I ended up with mud most of the time. I love to do print transfers, but haven’t heard of TAP. I’ll definitely have to check that out. I am not always patient either. Probably why I ended up with mud most of the time this week. I also started following you on bloglovin’. I just transferred from google reader to bloglovin’. I really like bloglovin’s feed. Well hope to see you again next week. (((HUGS)))
    Kim
    SOC#68

  • Gina Sismilich June 29, 2013, 10:20 pm

    I love the page and even more so the story that goes along with the creation!

  • Maria McGuire June 30, 2013, 1:54 am

    Loved your process and reading it. I stenciled piece at the bottom is a perfect touch. Lots of different textures that totally keep my eyes moving–LOVE it!

  • Ritu Dua June 30, 2013, 5:44 am

    The layers look fantastic and the artwork is so very creative !!
    fabulous work 🙂

  • Bleubeard and Elizabeth June 30, 2013, 10:33 am

    Your gal and her story are perfect for SOC. Very impressive. And of course, you allowed your layers to dry, thus giving you lots of bright, intense colors. Love this one.

  • Rhonda H (rhoz) June 30, 2013, 12:07 pm

    Great purple and green page for SOC!! Always enjoy seeing how you create your pages!

  • Sharon Fritchman June 30, 2013, 10:38 pm

    Such a creative and wonderful page! I love how you used this week’s colors! Simply amazing!

  • Natasha July 1, 2013, 2:41 am

    This is fabulous. I love hearing about your process, and especially watching you use up gelli prints. I have a bit of a collection developing from my gelatin plate printing. Gorgeous use of the colours. I struggled with them, but that is what I loved about the challenge. Extending myself out of my comfort zone.

  • Sara Windsor July 1, 2013, 1:35 pm

    Wonderful page! Your transfer is lovely…I like the non-perfect-ness of it. And what I wouldn’t give for some of your lovely vintage paper with so much writing on it! I think my favorite touch on the whole page is the silk at the bottom left…it is unexpected but works beautifully. Nice work! Peace to your heart, Sara

  • samara July 4, 2013, 7:14 am

    Hi Carolyn: What an intriguing and mystical piece of art you have created. Thank you so much for showing your process. I love that about your blog posts! It is quite wild how you arrived at the end and how brave of you to cover up what began in order to continue to your final beautiful piece. Oh gosh, we are so brave to cover the first and second and third beautiful layers aren’t we!!! lol The image transfer is perfect Carolyn! I just love it and you have integrated ALL your pieces so beautifully. It is really a stellar composition! Lovies, Samara

  • JKW July 4, 2013, 2:09 pm

    I love the overlays. . . the collage of it. Blessings, Janet PPF

  • Regula July 12, 2013, 3:03 am

    Thank you for thelovely tutorial and inspiration.