Thursday 5 March 2020

New challenge at More Mixed Media and Rain's Thursday Art Date

Hi Everybody!

I'll get started straightaway, as today I have several challenges on my programme. The first one is the monthly challenge at More Mixed Media, which is always an anything mixed media goes challenge, with optional green for this month. You have 4 weeks to join us there. 
My journal page is A4 size. I used 2 images from LaBlanche which were transferred onto paper using a turpentine transfer. You can find tutorials on YouTube to learn how to do this, for example here.
It's easy to do but you need to work outside because of the fumes! The background was first painted with diluted acrylics in diagonal stripes of blue and green.  I am also linking to Eileen's theme of green at AJJ and to 





Thursday is also time for Rain's Thursday Art Date, and her theme this week is 'What do you see?', a theme I like, as eyes and seeing are often an integral part of my artwork.
At the end of the 1990s I suddenly saw strange lights and black flecks in front of my eyes, and thought at first it was a migraine. Later in the day - it was  Friday - I went to the ER of the eye clinic and was examined. After the doc had put drops in my eyes to widen them, he gasped with horror when he saw what had happened. The retinas on both eyes were torn, and on the right eye there was a gaping hole. Both eyes were given a laser treatment straightaway, a torture which took more than 2 hours, and then I was packed into a hospital room with bound eyes. It was a very scary experience, and the staff couldn't tell me if I would be able to see again. The next morning they operated on my right eye, and on Monday on the left one. It took several weeks before I was able to gradually see again, and I was very thankful that after a few months I could see and read well again. There were more operations to follow, 12 in all, and then cataract operations on both eyes. I can't see as well as I could before, and I don't know if there will be more operations in the future. But I am very thankful that I can still see and take part in life normally. Perhaps this explains my fascination with eyes.
And one thing I did see in the time where I was recovering from my OPs was that I had wonderful friends and neighbours who cared for me, helped me and encouraged me, and that was great!

And of course, I'm sure we all know the wonderful quote from
Antoine de Saint- Exupéry:

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

This altered art piece from Paul Klee was made a few weeks back, but I think it belongs here:



And I love to see the peaceful radiance of Buddha figures, here in 2 pieces made in previous times:



I like making half-visible faces:






And the Eye of Horus is always fascinating:



This is one of my Modigliani Knockoffs I painted some years back - I love his philosophy of painting the eyes - 'When I know your soul I will paint your eyes'






And this was a drawing I made of my eyes after I had recovered from the first operations:


And some photos from Pexels:








If you're still awake and with me after all that, well done, have a cup of tea, coffee or something stronger as a reward!

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

89 comments:

  1. You were so very lucky to get the laser surgery and so quickly. Beautiful post on eyes, just wonderful.

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    1. And lovely green art for PPF too!

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    2. Thanks Christine. I was indeed lucky to get the treatment straightaway.

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  2. What a fascinating story, dear Valerie. I had NO idea. It's simply wonderful that you can see and have such a great gift of making art. You truly amaze me even more.

    That's a stunning entry for Eileen's theme at AJJ. I got sick using turpentine one time, so had to switch to turpinol, which is VERY expensive. Your transfer is so much better than any I've ever made. Thanks for sharing it with us at
    art Journal Journey.

    I love the eye art you created. The faces you created are especially great. They are truly imaginative and wonderful.

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    1. Thanks E. Turpentine stinks, but it's cheap and works well. Lots of people react badly to it.

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  3. Wonderful Artwork and photos. Love all of it.

    Love, Hugs and Blessings

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  4. What a traumatic experience, I do hope you are ok now and keep the joys of crafting going. Life is precious... Lovely art work here and awesome colours.xx

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  5. Liebe Valerie
    da hast du einiges mit machen müssen mit deinen Augen, das war ein einschneidenedes Erlebnis .. danke fürs teilen hier und es berührt mich sehr, Ich habe noch morgen ein Posting da schreibe ich drüber, Ich bin so froh dass du sehen kannst und deine wunderabre Kunst ziegen kannst ach es ist wundervoll das alle smit zu erleben. Besonders mit der Halbgesichtfläche aber auch die anderen Ideen sind fantastisch!
    Du hast mal wieder dich übertroffen mit dienem Posting!
    Ich wünsche dir einen schönen Tag!
    Lieben Gruss Elke

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  6. Draußen??? Brrr!
    Erinnert an da Vinci! Sehr cool!

    Oh Himmel, OUTCH! Das muss schrecklich gewesen sein mit den Augen. Mein Ohr ist fast taub, ich hatte eine Freundin, die langsam erblindet ist und dachte, ach, ist ja nur ein Ohr.
    Nicht sehen können... Aber dann Freunde und Nachbarn, das ist schön!

    Eins meiner Lieblingsbücher, ich habs im Original, das einzige Französisch, das noch geht ;-)

    Auf dass du heute auch Sonne "siehst", hier ist sie auf jeden Fall. GlG, Iris

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    1. Ja, war schon hart mit den Augen, aber ich kann sehen. Und ich bin auch sehr schwerhörig, muss immer Hörgeräte tragen, sie helfen sehr.

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  7. You are really gifted Valerie ... Everything you do is so beautiful! Thank you for the link. I knew nothing about this turpentine transfer.
    What a scary experience you have endured …
    The eyes are very special and I cannot imagine what will happen if I could no longer see!
    I wish you health and that you could see it as an Eagle!
    Enjoy your day!
    Hugs!🤗

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    1. That's a lovely thought of seeing like an eagle, thanks!

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  8. The horror you experienced is something I can barely imagine. And now you have this dreadful lupus affecting your fingers so badly. Your inner strength is obviously very great, Valerie. I think of you each day as I see my two little birds sitting peacefully on a bookshelf. Best wishes, David

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    1. Thanks David. Sitting in a bookshelf is a great place to be!

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  9. Wow a totally powerful post. Thanks for sharing your story. I totally get your fascination with eyes. Great new creations and lovely old ones. Super pictures too. Your posts are such a breath of fresh air for me!

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  10. Find out your retinas had detached must have been so scary. I'm glad you got your vision back to create your beautiful art. I especially love the photos you take of your walks around the Rhine. You have such a wonderful eye.

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    1. Thanks CJ. It was a scary time, and I'm lucky it ended Well.

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  11. I hardly know where tp start, Valerie. So first, thank you for sharing your lovely French green bee with us at AJJ. Second, I loved all the art here. I feel like I've beeen to an art exhibit featuring you. What a fabulous exhibit it is!

    It must have been a horrifying experience to almost lose your eyesight. Thank goodness the doctors had the skill and compassion to treat you immediately and repair your torn retinas. The recovery must have been very difficult as well.

    I'm happy you have enought eyesight left to be ale to create such wonderful art.

    Hugs, Eileen

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  12. Well, I just love the first pictures you share with us, the green and blue background with the script for the clock and bee (love that image!) is fantastic. So powerful, it is one of the nicest pieces of work I have seen in a long time.
    But then I came to your story about your eyes. How awful for you it must have been very frightening, not to mention worrying. So glad you came through it with the love and care of friends and neighbours and the hospital team of course.
    Love all the other pictures and photos you shared with us but I cannot get over that half face with the tangling on the other side. Did you draw that yourself? It is amazing, just imagine that in a rubber stamp! It would be a total sell out I am sure. You sure have a lot of talent.
    Hugs, Neet xx

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    1. Thanks Neet. I made the tangled face a couple of years back, I love tangling when I can move my fingers Well.

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  13. Valerie,

    Vision is precious indeed. I learned this even more when DH had to have retina attachment surgery on his left eye in 2017. It was scary. He knew something was wrong but never in either of our imaginations thought about this being the problem. He had the procedure done the same day of diagnosis. The process took more than a year but he's doing much better. His vision isn't perfect but at least he can see unlike many who never regain their sight after the reattachment process. You and he are quite blessed. Fabulous artwork for today's prompt, my dear. Have a doodletastic week! ;)

    Curious as a Cathy

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    1. Thanks Cathy, so glad your husband could be helped too!👁️

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  14. First of all I can relate to your eye problems. I have a hole on my right retina and because this happened gradually over time , I learned to live with it, they could have operated but couldn't say it would work. Eyes are so precious, I'm so pleased the ops worked out for you.
    I love all the art pages you shared in this post today and thank you for the awesome page you are linking to Eileen's theme at Art Journal Journey.
    Yvonne xx

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    1. Thanks Yvonne. Sorry you have problems, too. Have a nice evening!

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  15. Wow, wow, and more wow. Well, first, your eyes. That had to be the scariest all-time experience, or high on the list. I cannot begin to imagine, especially as one who uses eyes for art and so much more. I am grateful you were well repaired and healed but boy, that's frightening.

    Your art shares today are glorious. I'm partial to the blue/green background in the first and love the Klee and Modigiliani "knock offs." But truly, I love them all.

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    1. Thanks Jeanie. It was indeed a scary time. Glad you like my eye-works.

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  16. Wonderful creations. Must have been such a scary experience with your eyes. So glad you can see again.

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  17. I love the Little Prince quote :) And when the thoughts in my head go out for a stroll it doesn't always end well lol The drawing of your eyes is striking!

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    1. The older I get the more my thoughts seem to go for long walks!

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  18. Wonderfully beautiful photos and art about eyes! You are very talented in both!
    I am so sorry to read about your eye surgery. I do hope that you are still ding well. So scary ❤

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    1. Thanks Jan! I am still doing well and hope it stays this way.

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  19. Wow Valerie that was chilling reading about your eye problem!! That must have been so frightening for you and your family. I am glad you came out the other end with working eyes. Something we take for granted until they are threatened! No wonder you see eyes with such great detail. Loving all your artwork and photographs, even more, today!

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  20. Wow Valerie, that must have been such a scary time when your eyes needed surgery. We take our health for granted don't we, 'cos we only notice it when things go wrong. Your art works are brilliant today - I love your doodlings. Have a very happy and creative month, Sue xx

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  21. Thanks Sue. Have a creative month, too!

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  22. Having that problem with y oiur eyes must have been a frightening time Valerie, so good the operations were a success. We take sight, hearing etc for granted until something happens don't we!! Beautiful art work and eyes photos, our dog had beautiful eyes, golden and we always thought he looked very wise 😁 I find Buddha images very calming and relaxing too.

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    1. Thanks! Dogs and cats always have lovely eyes, and cows, too, always fascinating!

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  23. What you went through, oh my. I am glad you can see and draw and paint right now and hope you don't need any more surgeries. Good luck. Aloha from Hawaii.

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  24. Nobody can speak to the value of sight better than you after all you went through ... though it was clear to me that even without your sight for that period of time, you were seeing through what you felt from your friends who were there to care for you. Your artwork is inspired and gorgeous. It opens our eyes to the depth of thought in your mind and heart. Wonderfully done, Valerie and I am so grateful for your recovery and what you are able to do with your restored sight.

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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    1. Thanks Andrea, good friends and companions are so important in life.

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  25. I am so glad you still have your sight. What you described sounds like a very scary time. I can't imagine how worried you must have been- but I am glad you got the medical attention you needed and that the surgeries went well. You have such a positive attitude and thank you for sharing your story with us. Lovely artwork too! :)

    Hugs!
    ~Jess

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    1. Thanks Jess. Things like that show us what's really valuable in life!

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  26. Replies
    1. Hey Val, nice pictures and photos you've got in here! :)

      The kitties are my favorite because, I adore cats... <3

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    2. Thanks Hot Guy, pity I'm not 50 years younger!

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  27. You were very very lucky that it was caught early Valerie, being a sufferer of migraines i've had tests similar it's always a worry. I'm glad you recovered still being able to share your amazing art with us all along with captured and seen artworks. You always share something of inspiration.. Eyes are amazing things!! Take care lovely & Happy PPF can't believe it's another birthday already HUGS Tracey xx

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    1. Thanks Tracey. It's always important to get things checked out! Stay well, have a great weekend.

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  28. Replies
    1. Thanks a lot, and so good to see you around again!

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  29. What a frightening experience with your eyes - and such a relief that they were able to repair and restore your sight. It's not surprising you are drawn to eyes after all that... and your collected artworks and photos here are all definitely "eye-catching"!

    The blue-green page at the top is just fabulous - such vivid colours with that beautiful vintage advertisement text and the clock - the turpentine transfer definitely sounds smelly, but a great result.
    Alison x

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    1. Thanks Alison. Turpentine transfers are great, but smelly, as you so rightly noticed!

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  30. Amazing collection of Art VJ

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  31. The half visible face is my favourite Happy PPF. Thanks for dropping by my blog today Valerie

    much love...

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  32. wow Valerie, I didnt know about your eye surgeries. sight feels so vital. I'm so glad you can see, and that you have such a gift of making beautiful art for us to see. I love your half faces and all the various depictions of eyes. a marvelous post. xo

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    1. Thanks Michele. Being able to see is something very precious indeed.

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  33. Wow, that sounds so scary, I'm glad everything was sorted with your sight and that you are able to share your fabulous artworks with us 😁. I'm loving the first green and blue page with those beautiful stamps - gorgeous! Wishing you a happy Friday and Weekend! Hugs, Jo x

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  34. Muchos y variados trabajos Valerie, se ve que eres una artista muy versátil, me encantan las caras!!

    Gracias por las explicaciones del Mixed-Media 😉

    BESOS .... Feliz Fin de Semana!!

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    1. Muchas gracias! Que tengas tambien un buen fin de Semana!

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  35. What a scary experience!! You are truly blessed to have regained your vision and express your art in all the years since!! Your work is fabulous and your photos always so intriguing! Keep up the great work of sharing your art with the world!!

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  36. Really a beautiful, art filled post.

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  37. You know when you wrote about seeing colors I thought of torn retinas. OH my, how scary. That could have been a life changing event more so than it was probably actually was. I am really glad everything turned out ok in the end. What a story. Green is a great color (a favorite of mine) and your latest art piece is amazing. Thanks for sharing it with us at AJJ and also thanks for sharing all those other pieces of art. They are inspiring. Also I apologize for taking a few days to get to this comment as I have been sick. Happy weekend. Hugs-Erika

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  38. Wow! What an array of Wonderful mixed media artwork and gorgeous animal photos ~

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  39. Hi Valerie :) What a story you told about your eyes....that is scary and I'm so happy it all turned out well and you can see. Vision is precious! I love all of your work, especially your Paul Klee and your half visible faces. So much colour to admire! "Sometimes the thoughts in my head get so bored they go out for a stroll" - I LOVE that, it made me giggle!!

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    1. Glad it made you laugh, but sometimes it really feels like that!

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  40. Val, I am keeping in my prayers for this necrosis to heal up! Hugs! Love all the eyes, especially yours and the Modigliani dude's, haha. XOX

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  41. I hope you are ok now! Lovely works Valerie!

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