Wednesday, 14 January 2015

Modigliani, Moo Mania and More

Hi Everybody!

Hope your day was good! The river is still rising here, so I am hoping it will soon be less. The ducks and geese are loving the flooded meadows by the Rhine, so t least they are enjoying it!

For Art Journal Journey I was once again inspired by Modigliani. I prefer his earlier works to his swan-necked ladies, although this lady does have a rather long neck. She is called Maude Abrantes. I started out with a background which was gessoed, and onto which I had stamped some autumn leaves. I added more colour with water colours and pastels. I drew Maude onto white paper, and painted her with water colours and pastel chalks, and glued her to the background after cutting her out. She looks to me neither happy nor healthy. I found a fitting quote from Modigliani again.






Moo Mania and more's new challenge is 'Anything goes', and I used a stamp from Crafty Individuals to make some triple stamping. Well, if you count the fussy-cut thistle on top, it was quadruple stamping! You can link up all sorts of projects, not just Moos, so hop over and join us there. Remember - anything goes!





We had a nice sunrise this morning, and the first half of the day was cloudy but dry.


Dark clouds were blown along by a fresh wind.


The Rhine has got wider and made new lakes:









On my evening walk I took a picture of our beautiful flower shop.


My way home lead me through 'Narnia', aka the path through the park which was once the moat.


Have a great day you all, take care,
and thanks for coming by!

37 comments:

  1. Lovely Modigliani interpretation and nice 3D effect of the thistle! and of course the ducks like the swollen river!

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  2. Your work today is absolutely wonderful, LOVE the portrait and the tag for Moo Mania, fantastic photos, too. You offer so much every day! Hugs, Sarah

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  3. Wundervoll ist das Portrait ! (Ja sie sieht etwas kränklich aus..aber das muss so sein...sie ist ein blasse Schöheit dieser Zeit!) Dein Tag ist herrlich..hier mit den Nahaufmahmen sie man diese Dreifach aufgesetzten Teile super gut - das ist sehr schön !

    Willkommen bei MOO MANIA DT liebe Valerie!
    Ich freu mich sehr !

    Art Journal Journey dankt besonders!!!
    xxx
    Susi

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  4. Awesome art and photography once again. Especially loving the vibrant thistle card. Snap I am also a bird lover xxx
    Hugs Desíre {Doing Life}

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  5. Fabulous, both of them, - your protraits look amazing!

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  6. am vergleich mit den washi tapes sehe ich, dass du diesmal etwas kleinformatiger gearbeitet hast (sonst nimmst du ja gerne auch richtig große seiten)... gefällt mir sehr, sowohl die frau selbst als auch der Hintergrund sind dir super gelungen! auch die distel gefällt mir gut, ich hab ja ein Faible für "Unkraut" (und auch immer genug davon im garten;))
    hoffe, das wasser steigt nicht zu sehr! dir einen schönen tag!

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    1. Es ist wieder A3, aber mein Portrait ist etwas kleiner, also mehr Hintergrund!

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  7. Ein schönes Portrait und das Moo ist wunderhübsch geworden, Valerie.

    Ich habe heute durch Zufall gesehen, dass Du mit im DT bei MOO-MANIA & MORE bist.

    Herzlich willkommen.

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  8. Stunning artwork on your master's inspiration page Valerie. The face is wonderful and drew in straight away.

    Love the piece you made for Moo Mania and more and congratulations for being chosen to join their team.

    Still looks to be a lot of water in and around the Rhine--hope it stays dry for a while to take it back to normal. It is good that it it doesn't stop you from your 'adventures'. Wonderful pics of the magical lights at night.

    Have a great day

    Love Chrissie

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  9. Wonderful artwork! Love the muted colours. The thistle is beautiful! Xx

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  10. Stunning creation, gorgeous design and most beautiful colour combos. xxx {The Journey is the Start – my personal blog}

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  11. Bin total begeistert von deiner umwerfend schönen Malerei in so leuchtenden Farben! Einfach super.
    Auch das Disteltag gefällt mir sehr...
    Schwimm nicht weg! LG Ulrike

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  12. The MOO is stunning ! And the colours you have used in Maudes' portrait are so beautiful!

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  13. Love the layered Thistle piece! The geese and ducks seem to be enjoying the rising river!

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  14. Gorgeous artwork today Valerie! Love that triple stamping! Beautiful photos! Have a great day, hugs :)

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  15. Amazing work again... The colors on your work is amazing. Wonderful photos once again my friend.

    Hugs~

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  16. What a fabulous painting Valerie, her face us mesmering. Great Narnia pic too. Xx

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  17. Beautiful painting, I love the writing as a highlight. Your purple Moo is gorgeous. Cheers, Shirleyxx

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  18. Boah,deune seite ist wzunderwunderschön geworden,ja sie sieht etwas krank aus,aber das gehört in die zeit.
    dein blaues blumentag ist auch tollmund die naturbilder sind traumhaft.



    knuddel

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  19. I love his faces and your styling of his art is right on!!!

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  20. Great journal page!!! You did a great job on the face and the quote is perfect. Your weather is still wintry I see. Today is very cold her and grey...no signs of yesterdays sun showing up here :(

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  21. I love your journal page, such a striking face! We're all snug now waiting for the snow :-) xx

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  22. Valerie, I look like the lady in your art journal page today; however, I feel so much better. Love the photos and your thistle tag is stunning. I hope to get more active with my art this year because you are such an inspiration to me. I've been busy working with some paper napkins for a background paper.

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  23. Hi Valerie, you never cease to amaze with your incredible talent. This is a special piece and provokes so much thought. Adding the verse around is perfect.
    Great walking pics!! Looks so cold. Love the lamplight
    We are expecting a warm up to 66 degrees by the weekend. I can't imagine, but will take it, if it really does warm up!!
    Hugs

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  24. Such vibrant colours here today Valerie :)

    Love the Narnia lamppost!

    Karen x

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  25. Actually Valerie, I love her. She looks like someone who has a lot of depth and knowledge and some one I could trust a lot. I really do like the way you did this piece!
    Sandy xx

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  26. I do love your painting of Maude, such an expressive face and wonderful quote as well. The thistle looks awesome, bet it took ages to fussy cut that one.
    Yvonne xx

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  27. I agree! It's a beautiful painting and quote - and the colors are so warm and expressive! xo

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  28. Maude has a strong personality and looks quite stern; you have painted her in very beautiful intense colours which is appropriate for her, I think.
    That's a super piece for Moo Mania too, in these glowing electric blues.
    And you've finished with such a lovely set of photographs, my special favourite today is the flower shop.

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  29. Intense emotion in that face. Your rich colours, in the background as well as in the painting, are stunning.
    Hugs,
    Teresa

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  30. Gorgeous work, Valerie! Those colors are yummy! I so love your photos from your walks. Your blog always makes me happy! :)

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  31. Ah ha, so you do live near Narnia ;) T x

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  32. Wow- that water is still coming? Oh my!

    Valeria- your portrait of Maude has me in awe! Your coloring of the background and then that you cut her and added has given such beautiful depth to your already fine portrait! I really love this and am adding it to my "favorites of Valerie!" teehee xoxo
    ps- I'm no hope with the cleaning of the room! lol

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  33. Hach, das wird ja eine Serie - auch dieses Porträt ist wieder klasse.

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  34. great journal pages !!..love the rich backgrounds and d expressions !!

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