Friday, 23 January 2015

This and that on Friday

Hi Everybody!

I am not sure where the days between Monday and today went, but they went!
We had a grey and cold day here, but we have to take the weather as it comes, 
and just hope it won't get really bad!

At Art Journal Journey we still have one week of 'Inspired by the Masters', and I have another Van Gogh inspiration today. I kept to the same theme as 2 days ago, with a window looking out onto a scene. I painted the background (A3) with blue over gesso, and then had fun spritzing white paint and gold ink onto it. My coffee maker now has some white and gold spots on it, too, I think it looks quite nice. The scene in the middle is one I painted for the last 'Inspired by' challenge, and didn't use because I didn't like the colours. This time I gave it a coat of diluted gesso, which made it much better, and then glued it onto my blue page. The window frame was made with strips of white card, and the flowers and trellis were punched with some gorgeous giant punches that a friend sent me for my birthday. 

I am also linking to Paint Party Friday, hosted as always by Eva and Kristin.






I have been rather fascinated by the toadstools growing on so many trees around here. We used to call these ones 'fairy steps' when I was a kid.





These are really huge ones on a massive, old tree, that lost half of its branches in the big storm back in June last year.


And believe it or not, the blue balloon is still bobbing along the Rhine....



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


50 comments:

  1. beautiful toadstools. Love your Van Gogh interpretation. Sorry about the coffeemaker!

    ReplyDelete
  2. gorgeous pages,love the blues!
    Amazing tree shots, thank you

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wonderful painting, love the colours, and the window frame. Great photos, as always! Have a nice weekend, hugs, Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  4. Absolutely LOVE your van Gogh through the window!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nothing like looking out a window and taking in the beauty of Van Gogh. I love you take on the inspiration. Really beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wonderful Van Gogh interpretation! Has a real Spring feel to it!! Great photos as always too!!

    Hugs Giggles

    ReplyDelete
  7. Fantastic window scene! Happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow das ist besonders schön mit dem Fenster! Bin begeistert... hihi ..ja ich kann auch noch so gut aufpassen -hab sogar schon extra eine große Schachtel hier für's Spritzen mit Farbe..irgendwas kriegt immer ein paar Spritzer ab, was eigentlich nicht bespritzt werden sollte...lol!
    Die Baumpilze sehen interessant aus ..und der Ballon will wohl dass Du ihn mit heim nimmst!

    Knuddel --- hab nen schönen Tag
    AJJ dankt herzlichst!
    xxx
    Susi

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ich kann den armen Ballon leider nicht retten ohne sehr nass zu werden!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I notice how Scandinavian my mind is - I could never think adding 'things' on top of my works! :)
    Simple, less is more is my kismet...but you know how to mix - I really like this!
    Never heard 'fairy steps' before but next time when I see them I'll shout *fairy steps* (in Finnish) :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Eine total schöne Fensterszene ist das geworden!!!!
    Baumpilze gibt es in diesem Jahr hier auch sehr viele - sicher durch die viele Feuchtigkeit der letzten Monate. Komm gut ins Wochenende, liebe Grüße, Dagmar.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fantastic 'Van Gogh' work Valerie with such wonderful colours to see through a window.

    Love the photographs and another big smile seeing the blur balloon still bobbing along.

    Hope the weather stays nice for you today as well

    Love Chrissie

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lovely and inspiring creativity, Valerie. Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your window scene is very lovely Valerie. I particularly like the 'window box' of flowers at the bottom.
    Have a fine day :o) ((hugs))

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a nice piece. You not only caught the essence of Van Gogh but you also made me wish I could look out my window and see a much warmer view. Love your fungus photos too.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I like your take o Van Gogh - that blue colour always reminds me of his work for some reason - perhaps the starry night painting! I love the trellis punch - gives the window a nice touch. Most of the chairs at my dining table are spattered in paint as that is where I do my painting for the moment - They're perspex so it does come off but no sooner have I cleaned them than it happens again!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Interesting photos today my friend and just LOVE your window art.xx{The Journey is the Start – my personal blog}

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love your window scene Valerie, great flowers across the bottom! I can't believe that balloon is still there, wow! Have a great day! until next time, big hugs :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. You have captured is style so well, Valerie.

    ReplyDelete
  20. This has to be one of my favourites you have done so far. I love everything you do, its just this one speaks to me. I love concept of the window view and the colours and just the whole feel of this piece I love and find inspiring. T x

    ReplyDelete
  21. You create such beautiful art AND decorate your appliances, too?! You are really amazing! Go blue balloon Go! Have a great weekend. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  22. oh I have done concept of window many years ago. I put my hubby as Santa in my neighbors window.

    Yours is lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh, really nice work, I love the cutouts! The toadstools are cool, they remind me of the designs in wonderstone rock up close!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Valerie, I love your Van Gogh inspired painting and his quotation. The photos are beautiful, too. I love the tree fungi. Have a good week.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Valerie the colours are very much Van Gogh and I love the scene behind the window. Those toadstools are amazing.
    Hugs
    Desíre
    {Doing Life – my personal blog}

    ReplyDelete
  26. Yes, wonderful pictures, I love the picture of the globe luminosity is beautiful, good framing !! Magnificent tribute to Van Gogh !!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Gorgeous work, Valerie! I can definitely see the Van Gogh inspiration. And those toadstool photos are aMAZing!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Very good work Valerie. I love it! I love Van Gogh, but you know that. Lots of texture in your work. Those toadstools on the tree are beautiful. We had a tree that also had toadstools, but I didn't know that's what they were called. I know now. Great photos. You are very good at your camera work. What camera do you use? Have a great day and be happy.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Another great page!! You do Van Gogh well. Love all of the fungi pictures. I love taking pictures of all of the fungi that grows in the woods here. I just need to make myself get out there more often.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Great post Valerie.... the balloon made me smile!

    Hope you have a lovely weekend

    Karen x

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi Valerie, sure enjoyed your window creation inspired by Van Gogh. You work really looks like the masters style with the bright color and free form.
    Happy to see the smiling Blue Balloon still floating on the Rhine.
    Great pics too.
    Have a nice weekend.
    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  32. Love your Cypress trees painting, reminds me of when I got my class of children to use it for inspiration. You've framed yours beautifully.
    Its lovely to see your Rhine photos, especially the last one, it is so dramatic.
    Have a great weekend.
    hugs Brenda xx

    ReplyDelete
  33. Brilliant Van Gogh make Valerie, I always love his cypress tree paintings! Great textures on some of the photos too!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Really wonderful! It is quite chilly and the rain is pouring down. Right now we are in Northern Florida and we will be here a week. You get me so excited with your Van Gogh renditions - I want to try some.
    This one is really lovely - l feel the motion in the sky and trees.
    Sandy xx

    ReplyDelete
  35. Me again - I just had another peek through your post. Gorgeous colors in your Van Gogh piece. And I do believe you must have a good population of faeries living nearby as all those toad stools are marvelous!
    Sandy xx

    ReplyDelete
  36. A beautifully Van Gogh style creation Valerie and love those frilly funghi too.
    Have a lovely weekend.
    Fliss xx

    ReplyDelete
  37. Beautiful art page, love the through the window scene and a great tribute to Van Gogh.
    have a good week end
    Yvonne xx

    ReplyDelete
  38. Great van Gogh inspired piece - I recognized the style immediately and love that quote.

    Those fairy steps are awesome! The silly balloon too.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Your painting is so pretty and really makes me feel that I am looking out of that lovely window into the equally lovely scenery beyond.
    Love those fairy steps. :)
    Hugs,
    Teresa

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wonderful layers and colors! So cool! Happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  41. What a beautiful take on the old master's painting! I love the additions. Your photos are wonderful and what a surprise that the blue balloon is still bobbing along.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Didn't even have to read the text to know who inspired your work, Val. Beautifully done: VanGogh and lace complementing each other!

    -Barb

    ReplyDelete
  43. What a lovely post my friend. I LOVE the window scene you created. Looks fabulous. And I always wonder about the weird growth on trees. Great photos once again.

    Hugs~

    ReplyDelete
  44. Die Idee mit dem Fenster ist klasse. Sieht super aus. Und "fairy steps" ist so ein passender Name.
    Liebe Grüße von Sabine

    ReplyDelete
  45. I adore your Van Gogh inspired piece, as much as the last one! Just beautiful Valerie! I also love the tree lichen- isn't Mother Nature wonderful to supply us with such great inspiration! love and hugs

    ReplyDelete
  46. I love how you made this, with the little window. And that's one of my favorite quotes!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Love your Van Gogh themed painting. I think the contrast between the hole punched paper at the front and the looseness of the painting is really intriguing. Happy PPF Valerie x

    ReplyDelete
  48. Lovely journal page, the window frame is a great idea too! ~Diane

    ReplyDelete
  49. Your rendition of Van Gogh is so creative. The pictures of the toadstools on the tree is unique. I haven't ever seen anything like that. Blessings, Janet PPF

    ReplyDelete
  50. I love all the texture in you work. That tree is amazing-----speaking of texture

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. All your comments are much appreciated! Please be aware that by leaving a comment you are voluntarily sharing your name and / or the details of your blog.