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Monday, 11 July 2011

Summer of Color and the Age of Chivalry

Today is once again time for the *Summer of Color* hosted by Kristin. This week the color of choice is brown, not my favourite, I did think of painting chocolate bars, but I was worried about how many I would eat during the process, so I decided on something else. I have a nice, sepia photo of my great aunt taken when she was 18, and tried to paint her, I did lots of sketches and tries, but none of them were right. I chose this one, not because it is a good likeness, bur because it's the expression she had when she was cross with us as kids, when I had forgotten to do the shopping for here, or not thought of her favourite newspaper. She was a very kind lady, and usually very smiley, but this expression must have impressed me!



I used tempera and water colours, and distressed the background afterwards with Tim Holtz distress ink in rusty hinge and vintage photo, to try to imitate the brown curtain at the photographer's. And I added a little gold and amethyst earring for something of a different colour.

After that I needed to do something more fun, so did one of my stylized self-portraits in dialogue with my non-existent twin sister....


I am sure you can guess which one I would rather be!

The double tag I have made is for 2 challenges - Just for fun wants to see plastic or acetate, and The Dragon's TIO is all about the age of chivalry.
I cut a double tag from a page from the WRMK *Fairy-Tale* Stack, and stamped my only suitable stamp on the left hand side - a rather daft looking prince, gazing up to see if his beloved is at home, or wondering if he can climb up the briar roses without tearing his nice, new cloak....
The other pictures have been printed onto acetate - St George having a go at the dragon, with 2 knights waiting right and left if they can be chivalrous and help him, or perhaps if he will kill the dragon for them so that they can go on their respective ways....who knows? The age of chivalry was a long, long time ago, when stories always had happy endings.



OOps, I am adding another card now as I just realized that the closing date is this evening, not tomorrow. I hve made this for the summer birthdays challenge over at the Craftroom. I would have been my Mum's birthday this month, she would have been 98, and the photo shows her with me when I was about 1 year old.




This is a short post today, as I have to be early at the doc's for some examination - yuck!

Thanks for looking, take care, be careful if you meet any dragons, and have a great Monday.
at

46 comments:

  1. JoannaMonday, July 11, 2011

    Maybe your great aunt is cross because you've eaten her chocolate! Love her expression and the background is lovely.

    You and your non-existant twin are fun! The one on the right is really NOT IMPRESSED with her naughty twin and has a similar expression to the great aunt's!

    Great chivalrous tag, I like how you've printed onto acetate - did you then stick it down? What did you use to stick it?

    Hope all goes well at the doc's.

    xx

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  2. chrissieMonday, July 11, 2011

    Love the work you have done on the painting and the double tag is brilliant

    xx

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  3. hazelMonday, July 11, 2011

    Fabulous artwork and your tags are brilliant. Have a lovely day.
    xxx Hazel.

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  4. AnonymousMonday, July 11, 2011

    Hi Valerie. Great work as always. Love how you have captured your aunts expression. Brilliant double tag. The acetate works so well. Fab idea.
    Regards Florence.

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  5. Lesley EdmondsMonday, July 11, 2011

    Wow you have been busy. I love the portrait especially and your self portrait is fab!
    x

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  6. Suze BainMonday, July 11, 2011

    Great paintings Valerie, your twin one is just fabulous. Absolutely love the theme of your tags. Hope your day gets better. xx

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  7. AnonymousMonday, July 11, 2011

    Hi Val, I love it all, but I like you better with green hair! Hugs, Sarah

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  8. Šolanje na domu-WaldorfMonday, July 11, 2011

    Portraits look stunning! And so do the tags. Beautiful work, Valerie!:)

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  9. FlissMonday, July 11, 2011

    Absolutely stunning artwork as usual Valerie and the double tag is gorgeous.
    Really like you self portrait which is so clever.
    Hope you have a good week.
    Hugs, Fliss xx
    PS: Sorry no comments over the weekend - big blogger problems!

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  10. Valerie-JaelMonday, July 11, 2011

    Fliss, Blogger was really a pain in the ass again at the weekend, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

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  11. VonMonday, July 11, 2011

    A look we have all endured from time to time lol love the theme of your tags. Thank you for joining us at Just for Fun
    Von x

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  12. SusieJMonday, July 11, 2011

    Fabulous paintings and the double tag is awesome. Love your non-existent twin. :)
    Hugs xx

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  13. ZoechaosMonday, July 11, 2011

    Good luck at the Doc's hope all is well.

    Ummm know that look! imagine that it passed quickly and all was forgiven. How about your twin the one all professional and ordered, the other a little frivolous and fun loving!

    Your tag is fabulous, one of the fun things about acetate is that you can stamp mirror images, I'm sure the two knights were being generous and allowing George is moment in the sun. Thank you for sharing this tag with us both at Dragon's Den TIO and also at Just for fun XOXO Zoe

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  14. UnknownMonday, July 11, 2011

    Nice work Valerie. Always love your portraits. The tags are impressive - like the look ... gives them depth. Take care. Hugs, Donna

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  15. joannaMonday, July 11, 2011

    Beautiful work Valerie! love the portrait and the tags are wow!!
    have a great week :))

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  16. JingleMonday, July 11, 2011

    I love working with brown tones...I just wish I could find the time to play with the summer of color challenges! Your Age of Chivalry piece is absolutely fabulous!!!

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  17. Joni NickrentMonday, July 11, 2011

    Too fun! Love the new paintings and your twin is great! Happy Creating!

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  18. ZoechaosMonday, July 11, 2011

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  19. ZoechaosMonday, July 11, 2011

    Sorry had to delete that.

    So glad you realised that in time to enter your smashing card in our challenge at Craft-Room. Lovely way to remember your Mum. Thanks as well for putting our logo and link on your sidebar, for the random prize we ask people to put the shop logo and a link to http://www.craft-room.co.uk/. Hope you do not mind my mentioning this, looking forward to seeing what you make for our next challenge XOXO Zoe

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  20. NettyMonday, July 11, 2011

    Loving the charactertures especially the twins, so made me smile. Great tag for the challenge and your birthday card is beautiful. Good luck at the hospital, hope everything goes OK, Annette x

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  21. HeatherMonday, July 11, 2011

    i like the double portrait!!! yes, a great message too! dare to be different...and i think your tags are fabulous! have a great day - :)

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  22. MeggymayMonday, July 11, 2011

    Fantastic art pieces, love the twins. yvonne x

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  23. WandaMonday, July 11, 2011

    Love your tag. Great use of acetate. Love your paintings too. Brought a smile to my face. Thanks for joining us this week on the TIO challenge.
    Wanda xx

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  24. ChristineMonday, July 11, 2011

    I do love your portrait work and your tags are so creative as usual. Imaginary twin sister, lol, what will you dream up next?

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  25. Kristin AquariannMonday, July 11, 2011

    Yikes, I would not want to cross your great aunt! Lovely paintings.

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  26. hazelMonday, July 11, 2011

    Hi Valerie. Your card for the Craftroom is beautiful. I love the butterflies and sunflowers also the lovely photo of you and your mum. Thank you for joining us at Craft-Room Challenge.
    xxx Hazel.

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  27. Ang CMonday, July 11, 2011

    Love the use of acetate on your tags

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  28. MariaMonday, July 11, 2011

    Great artwork! Love the portrait of your aunt and the tag is beautiful and so detailed. Lovely portrait card for our challenge, with nice summery colours - your mum would be very proud of your creations. Best of luck in the draw, and thanks for joining in at the Craft-Room Challenge. Maria x

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  29. KristinMonday, July 11, 2011

    You wright the most fun posts! I love your description of your aunt and think her portrait is warm and beautiful. AND your dialog with your "twin" is so cool - what a great concept! Thank you for sharing, xo

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  30. LesleyTuesday, July 12, 2011

    Wow what a great post Valerie.
    Nice expression you have captured, I am sure as a kid it might have scared you straight. LOL
    I love that card of you and your mom,what a great keepsake.
    Lesley
    PS I have done the Just for Fun as well posted on my blog.
    Cheers, Lesley ♥

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  31. LesleyTuesday, July 12, 2011

    Wow what a great post Valerie.
    Nice expression you have captured, I am sure as a kid it might have scared you straight. LOL
    I love that card of you and your mom,what a great keepsake.
    Lesley
    PS I have done the Just for Fun as well posted on my blog.
    Cheers, Lesley ♥

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  32. Gerri HerbstTuesday, July 12, 2011

    Beautiful paintings today. Love the cards too. I forgot to tell you that I adore your new header...its fabulous. take care, gerri

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  33. CrystalTuesday, July 12, 2011

    Nice work! :-)

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  34. KatieTuesday, July 12, 2011

    What a sweet picture with your mom. And I love your paintings-great faces!

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  35. aprilmariecole.blogspot.comTuesday, July 12, 2011

    Great artwork!
    Really like your tempera paintings :]
    As always, your cards are delightful... such talent <3

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  36. DragonTuesday, July 12, 2011

    Love your portraits as always but your double tag is fantastic... loving your use of the paper, which is a great stack... What a fab dream
    Frankie
    xx

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  37. JanetTuesday, July 12, 2011

    A double tag is a lovely surprise and the background paper is perfect. The tag works really well, your stamps are ideal and the acetate is the icing on the cake. Thank you for dreaming with us at TIO and hope to see you again soon.

    Janet xx

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  38. MerviTuesday, July 12, 2011

    Lovely rememberence card and photo!

    Thanks for sharing this with us at Craft-Room Challenge, welcome again, it's a new butterfly challenge this fortnight;-))m

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  39. Dolly DaydreamsTuesday, July 12, 2011

    Super work and just don't know where to start, the twins are fab I presume you would prefer to be the one with the mad hair ! Your tag for The Dragon and JFF is stunning I do love a bit of acetate.The card with you and your mum on is so lovely and sunny and bright what a little cutie you where. hope all goes well at the docs.

    Marie

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  40. Sheila A.Tuesday, July 12, 2011

    Good luck at your doctor's appointment.

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  41. HelenTuesday, July 12, 2011

    Wow! You have been so creative. Thank you for having such a lovely dream with the TIO team this week. I just love your double tag.

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  42. Liette alias PixelleTuesday, July 12, 2011

    oh oh...that expression, I have never like that expression when I was to school and you have prefectly realise it with your paint of that great aunt...;-)))
    the background is really like on the old photo...your tags are fabulous..I adore the fantastic side of them...You have had a great week of brown projets and I guess you will have a lot for red too...wait for that.xxx

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  43. NeetWednesday, July 13, 2011

    Great use of acetate on that tag. Thanks for sharing at JFF - Hugs, Neet x

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  44. Sandi McLeanWednesday, July 13, 2011

    Valerie! You do make me laugh, what a pleasure to read your posts. I love your cross Auntie! And your self-portraits, well you do share yourself with us all. hmm think I might go and paint some chocolate..what a lovely idea.

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  45. AnonymousWednesday, July 13, 2011

    Your paintings are gorgeous.

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  46. UnknownFriday, July 15, 2011

    All your Art is amazing.. I pretty sure this is my first time to your blog.. And I just love it.. I will be back..

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