Hi Everybody!
Brrr, today was cold and grey and wet. I still managed to go for 2 walks,
and spent a couple of happy hours with a friend eating delicious waffles that she made, together with my special jam and lots of coffee - Okay, I will hold a fast day tomorrow! But it was fun!
When I came home I heard the birds outside making a lot of noise. I looked out, and there was a woodpecker clutching onto one of the fat balls, and trying to get some nibbles with his long beak, and the little tits had all got their knickers in a twist and were fussing and hopping around - too funny! The woodpecker had great problems to get at the food, because he was just too big to maneuver himself there. He flew off into the tree, and the littl'uns came back for 'their' food.
For Art Journal Journey, 'Inspired by the Masters' I made a mixed media piece about Leonardo and Michelangelo, who were big rivals in their day, both wanting to get lucrative contracts, and be the 'best' one.
I first gave the background some colour with oil pastel.Then I used paper napkins and printed tissue, and gave then a coat of diluted gesso when the mod podge was dry. I added Mona, made with my stencil, and an image of Leonardo. The text was computer generated, and distressed with vintage photo DI.
I managed to get a shot of the woodpecker, taken through the glass and insect netting. I didn't dare to open the door or he would have taken flight! The birds are also rivals when it comes to food!
And then he sat in the tree, probably still hungry, poor thing!
This was the welcoming committee when I got up in the morning, all waiting for me to fill their feeder, and all looking down at my balcony....
Have a great day you all, take care,
and thanks a lot for coming by!
Didn't know they were rivals! Nice piece. Beautiful woodpecker.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun page, I love how you manage to make something completely different every day! Love the photos, too, that poor woodpecker must have been very frustrated! Hugs, Sarah
ReplyDeleteBeautiful piece of art Valerie. Really striking and I'm sure both of them would have approved of your creation. Love the bird pictures, brought a smile to my tired face. Enjoy your Day. Hugs Rita xxx
ReplyDeleteDeine Rivalen Seite ist ein Knaller! Super schön! Der Specht ist ein Gauner... ja aber so ist das ...
ReplyDeleteunsere Spechte hier mögen die Meisenknödel auch so gern.. wir haben letztes Jahr extra Riesenknödel (selbstgemachte mit Kokos-, Haferflocken und Rosinen in Kokosfett für sie aufgehängt.)
Tolle Fotos!
Bussi
Susi
Fabulous collage Valerie x I love the colours and amazing details/layout. TFS and hugs
ReplyDeleteAnnie x
Absolutely gorgeous page about the Renaissance artists. Love it,
ReplyDeletehugs, xxx
Thanks for the tip of the challenge, I did it:)
Deine Hommage an zwei große Künstler der Renaissance ist großartig, liebe Valerie. Aber Dein "Picasso" spricht noch mehr zu mir. Ganz ganz fein - und il maestro hätte es sicher gefallen.
ReplyDeleteIch schicke Dir viele liebe Grüße - der hungrigen Vogelschar natürlich auch :)
Erika
Fantastic bird photographs. I have never seen a woodpecker close up before--aren't they beautiful? Loved hearing about your day in your posts.
ReplyDeleteNow to the artwork which is inspirational in so many ways. Just love everything about and how you brought them together on one page.
Love Chrissie x
Your Masters collage is lovely Valerie and great birdie pics, I can see you are going to have to buy more fat balls! Xx
ReplyDeleteBrilliant and "masterly" collage piece Valerie, they will always be my Renaissance favourites (well and the softer Raphael too). You have done a great job combining them on this wonderful mixed media piece!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful and inspirational collage, I love the woodpecker photos, I have one that feeds on the coconuts that are out for the birds, I always rush for my camera but he's always gone by the time I find it.
ReplyDeletexxx Hazel.
Yes, they are very shy, I was lucky he didn't see me hiding behind the curtain!
DeleteIn deiner Collage hast du diese beiden großartigen Künstler wunderbar verbunden!
ReplyDeleteIst der Buntspecht hübsch!... und auch die Täubchen!
... ich muss noch raus gleich und staune, wie früh du immer unterwegs bist.
Ulrike
Great collage with so many layers and so much to look at, and I like the subtle colour mix. I didn't realise these two great artists were commercial rivals.
ReplyDeleteLoved your bird photos, superb to get photos of the woodpecker, I hope he gets plenty to eat elsewhere, and the photo of all the tits (I think they are all tits?) waiting for their breakfast is wonderful.
No, they are wood pigeons, the tits are much smaller.
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous collage Valerie! One of my favourites, wow!! Waffles and coffee...sounds like the perfect morning! I love all of the birds you captured, so much easier to see them now that the trees are naked! lol. Have a great day today! hugs :)
ReplyDeleteLove this beautiful collage! The birds waiting for breakfast made me smile...even if they did remind me of "The Birds"!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful collage Valerie, fantastic layers and detail. The birds waiting for breakfast also made me smile, how wonderful that they are so close to you :) Enjoy the rest of the day, hugs, Shirleyx
ReplyDeleteGreat Journal page and so full of details and textures. Your bird photos are fantastic.. We have woodpeckers like those here. We call them Downy Woodpeckers. They are amusing to watch. I need to start filling my bird feeders. I only feed them in the winter and just haven'y started yet but since the bad weather is here really early I had better get it in gear. We had 3 inches of snow yesterday :(
ReplyDeleteVery inspirational work, Valerie! I love your take on the Masters. Thank you for inviting me to the Art Journal Journey. I will check it out! Your bird photos are awesome!! Big Hugs!! Pam
ReplyDeleteHey! Don't let me shock you - I know I have been absent - why is there always so much to do and so little time! I love woodpeckers - we have three different sizes feeding here all winter. I have tons of birds in the winter and I love every minute of it. I no longer feed in the summer as the birds draw the copper head snakes - not a good thing!
ReplyDeleteI love your collages - your journal pages. What visions you hold in your head! I took a lot of art history classes in college. Loved them. I also lived in Bologna, Italy for a while - Michelangelo has several sculptures in Bologna. Bologna is also a short drive down to Florence, my favorite European city. I have never seen anything more beautiful than DAVID or the PIETA in Rome. My very favorite though is the PIETA in the Duomo in Florence. The bearded figure holding the body of Christ is thought to be a self portrait. The look on his face is the most tender and loving I have ever seen. There is a lot of diverse history behind this sculpture which remains my favorite. As you can tell Valerie, I could go on and on!
I do love your collages Valerie as you mix history, art history and fantasy --- I also love your use of metallic paints.
Sandy xx
Very nice your bird photos. Your Art Collage with the two old masters looks amazing. I like it very much.
ReplyDeleteDear Greetings
Sabine
Valerie, beautiful art today and I enjoyed the photos of the woodpecker. He is large. Take care and stay dry and warm.
ReplyDeleteHugs,'C
Gorgeous journal page and love the bird pics too! Big hugs, ~Diane
ReplyDeleteI like your piece a lot, it has a wonderful feeling to it! Your bird pictures are so sweet too!
ReplyDeleteFantastic journal pages, love your take on the rivals.
ReplyDeleteSuper photos, the birds soon know where to call in winter.
Yvonne xx
Hi Valerie, Waffles and Jam sounds good. Now I'm hungry!! Love your gorgeous piece and the elements you use. The Woodpecker tried but in the end he was too big. Glad the little ones got back to their meal!! Great photos you captured.
ReplyDeleteIt's very cold here too but predicted to warm up by the end of the week.
Hugs
What a fun art journal design and love the woodpecker and pictures.
ReplyDeleteHugs Diane
Wonderful journal page with great layers. I really love this amazing collage.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful birds photos too.
Hugs, Mar
Your colors are so rich, and I love all the layering. Hope all is well!
ReplyDelete