Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Two Challenges, A Book Cover And A Collage

But first, an update on my 500th post giveaway.  I'll be choosing (well, not me, Mr. Random Dot Org will do it) the winner this weekend.  Stay tuned.

Now, on to new art.  Here are the challenges:

     Grungy Monday:  Do the faux batik Tim demonstrated in his January 2008 technique challenge

     Simon Says Stamp and Show:  distressed and/or torn edges

I also needed a cover for a travel journal, so I combined the two challenges with my own project and came up with this:


First I stamped a collage (using masking) on paper from Tim's Crowded Attic stash, and followed the steps to create the faux batik look.  Most of the stamps I used are from Air Travel and French Market.  There is some accent stamping as well.  The only non Tim stamp I used is the Hero Arts Statue of Liberty stamp in the corner.  The edges are covered with tissue tape.  For the distressed/torn edges, you see that on the little passport and the rolled up map, both attached to the bottom with a hinge clip.  A mini compass completes the embellishing.

Last Friday I got together with some friends and we worked on 12x12 wrapped canvases, using paints, stains, inks, every Golden medium in creation, sprays, all sorts of papers,  and lots and lots of stencils.  I am very pleased with what I did.  I tweaked it a bit when I got home, which brings me to my tip of the day.  Which sounds very official and like I've been giving out daily tips all along.  Which I haven't.  Anyway,  here it is:  when you are finished with a piece, take it off your work table and put it someplace else.  In my case, I put the canvas on a shelf in my living room where I'd be looking at it in a new context.  If you are really finished, I think you'll know that.  But if you aren't, before too long you'll know what to do.  I had lots of black circles on the left, done with paint and sequin waste, and though I liked them well enough when I was working on the piece, staring at it in my living room, I realized they were too dominant in the design.  So I covered some of them and repeated the harlequin design (in a smaller scale) instead.  I'm back to staring at it in the living room, but after two full days it still looks finished to me, so I'm calling this one complete, and I'm off to sign my name.




25 comments:

Nancy Lynn said...

The journal cover and collage are fantastic, as usual. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

your art is soooo beautiful....

Angie Hall Haviland said...

FABULOUS, Eileen!! LOVE both pieces!! :)

Tammy D said...

Awesome. I love, love, love both pieces. How cool!

teri said...

This looks fabulous!! You are so funny, miss tip master.

Bearcrazyman said...

Fantastic as always. Did you see I used the trinket pins you sent me in my piece this week?

Candy C said...

Hey Eileen. Your cover for your travel journal is way cool. You always come up with some unique ideas for stuff!!! I love the stamped images you used to create this really cool collage cover. Thanks for sharing it with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge. <3 Candy

Karen said...

Love the journal cover and the canvas. Both great pieces.

Kathy Eddy said...

Great challenge cover and I love your canvas! The colors are so yummy!

Vic said...

Both pieces are fantastic! I love your tip of the day!

Katknit said...

I love the book cover, so-so neat and the canvas is wonderful. Your such an inspiration to me.... thanks for sharing.
Charlene

Lori said...

LOVE them both..I just adore that air travel set, I'm so glad I bought it. And your stenciling is fabulous, as always, and a great tip!

Elena said...

Love them both! I am making a little (well not really little) travel journal for th cruise. Will show you when it's done.

Suzanne Bouchard said...

The journal cover i s very interesting. I love how the inks come out and make the surfaces lkook like they were velvet. Some colors have that effect like the deep blu and the green.

Nancy Mayer said...

Beautiful work as usual. Thank you for the wonderful tip ;]]

fairy thoughts said...

love the joural cover. the elements are all so appropriate
thanks for sharing
janet

Unknown said...

Congratulations! You deserve it!
Lee

patzee2000 said...

Love the journal cover--that tiny passport is the bees' knees. Great tip about moving the art and looking at it in a new light. I also made a 12 x 12 and the next morning, I gave myself 15 minutes to tweak. In those 15 minutes I added a crown, toned down a corner, and added more bling. That's all it needed. I am very happy with the finished product.

Marjie Kemper said...

They're both great and I like your point about allowing time to decide if you're really "done" or not.

Lillian said...

they are both beautiful Eileen...
I love stencils too and just bought the harliquin one
cant wait to use it now that i see what you did with it!!!
you are always huge inspiration to me.
Lilli
Lillian Mederak
http://www.canadianscraptramp.blogspot.com/

Sue Young said...

Fantastic,both of them,especially the collage.you r the stencil queen!

Debbie said...

Awesome design! Great colours and technique! Love them both!

Jane said...

Great journal cover. I love the collage and colors.

Linda Ledbetter said...

Your faux batik distressed travel art is a complete and utter masterpiece, Eileen! I love the postcard look and the fabulous colors, and that tiny passport is SO cool!

I think your Tip of the Day is right on, and I'm going to follow your advice next time I'm not sure if I'm finished with a piece (which will no doubt be the next time I create something…). Your canvas is fabulous!

Anonymous said...

This is my first time to visit your blog. Heidi spoke of your blog on UStream on the Flying Unicorn last night. Couldn't wait to check out your blog :)
I love your art work. Love everything I have seen so far and can't wait to finish looking thru your blog. Thanks for sharing. Pam