I was looking through my watercolor journal today....and this is the spread that caught my attention. It feels a bit like summer...but also has a nod to fall.....and I'm quite fond of the unexpected combination of fabric and watercolor.
And my little gourd caught my eye as I headed out for my after dinner walk.
Joy is not a denial of our circumstances or the hard things we are facing; it is a strategic response that gives us the power to keep going through them.
D. Michele Perry
(I have corrected the misspelling of Michele's name in yesterday's post.)
That is a lovely watercolor, MaryAnn. I'm going to share the quotation you posted with my daughter who teaches at a university in Toronto. She was saying it has been a rough week for her but she is constantly pumping herself up to rise above feeling of overwhelm and find things that bring her joy. I love the idea that it is a strategic response to hard things - yet another helpful perspective! Judy
ReplyDeleteI loved the quote too...glad you're going to share it. Michele says in her posts she wants her joy to spread! Especially since there are so many hard things!
DeleteAgain: yes, yes, yes to all you've shared here. The resonance I feel is joy-filled! And I want to paint a spread like yours here!!! Wish I'd had it at hand when I sat to paint today!!! Question: how'd you get those batik-like "leaves"?? Eager to know!
ReplyDeleteJoy-filled is what I hope for! The spread was easier than you might think. I used a stencil to get the shapes for the watercolor....and the batik-like leaves are actual batik fabrics fused on. (I'm guessing those are what you're talking about.) Easy peasy. With the backing paper still on the fabric you can draw/trace a shape and then cut it out. You have to remember it's in the reverse....but you can flip your pattern any way you want. Then peel the paper off...and iron it on. I have added fabric to many of the pages in this watercolor journal.
DeleteThis gives me an idea for another project....so I'll share it on the blog.
thx, maryann—i think i'll see what i can rustle up today of at least a rough start to get a feel for what-all might recreated the feel you've created here : )
Deletealso, curious: was this spread sparked by a class you may have taken?
I love this little conversation we're having. Be sure to share what you come up with...and make it your own.
DeleteUsing stencils as a starting place was inspired in the Watercolor for Relaxation class I took and I also used some of the watercolor techniques I was learning. Using stencils as a starting point was a game changer for me who struggles with drawing. Adding the fabric was my idea.
I have since made a drawn image of this stencil so I can manipulate the scale. I have a couple stencils that make for fabulous watercolor drawings. I lightly trace the stencil using a lightbox with the stencil under the paper.
Let's keep the conversation going.
thanks for all your input, MaryAnn. I'm at my son's house in Seattle, poking around in a distracted fashion this afternoon under makeshift conditions, having fun getting my toes wet with all this watercolor stuff while Scott plays hiss bass guitar to Beatles music in the background.
ReplyDeleteThe image of you playing with watercolor while listening to your son on the guitar is quite lovely. I could listen to my son play the guitar all day!
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