The Sea - New Challenge at Art Journal Journey

Hi Everybody!

Hope you had a good day. Here it was cold and we had a lot of rain, but the sun kept trying to poke through the clouds, and in the evening we even had a rainbow.

Today we have a new challenge at Art Journal Journey. Sheila is our hostess and has chosen the theme, which gives lots of opportunities to let your fantasy swim free and surface. You can see her lovely example at our challenge blog. Hope to see lots of you taking part again and sharing your creations with us!

I am starting off with a rather spooky mixed media piece, which I have called 'The face of the Sea'. I used an A3 paper which was given a quick coat of gesso and then sprinkled with Brushos in blue, pink and lime green. I sprayed it with water to get the colours moving and dripping. I added more colour where necessary with Gelatos. I drew the face, and gave it a coat of white paint, letting the underlying colours stain through. The waves of her hair were worked with felt pens, Gelatos, water-colours and a gold gel pen. I added some fish and shells (vintage German scrap), some fuzzy gold fibres, and  drew some seaweed.

I am also linking to Paint Party Friday, hosted, as always, by Eva and Kristin, and to Simon Monday challenge, anything goes.

Some photos of the skies in the morning and evening. The sky had a delicate, greenish tinge this morning:

The rainbow, always something special for me:

And the evening clouds rolling up:

Have a great day you all, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!

Flowers, swans and horses

Hi Everybody!

We had a cold but sunny day here, great for walking!

Today is the last day of the 'Favourite poem or quote' challenge at Art Journal Journey, and I have made a collage of all the projects I made this month.

Be sure to look in tomorrow to learn about the new challenge!

This lovely old house is near here, and I love the wisteria on their porch. And there is always a huge vase of fresh flowers on the porch, great idea!

The horses were busy grazing, as always.

The path down to the Old Ferry has become a green and leafy tunnel:

The swan was swimming very near to the shore this morning, so I was able to stand almost next to him

I love the lilac trees growing wild along the Rhine:

These pictures were taken from my favourite bench in the park:

Hope you find a favourite spot to sit and dream today!

Have a great day, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by.

Madam Butterfly

Hi Everybody!

Just a quick post again, it's already nearly midnight and once again time went by too quickly!

For Art Journey Journal, favourite poems and quotes, I have one more  journal page. The challenge ends on Thursday, and we have had loads of wonderful entries. I used a painted and crackle-stamped background livened up with various stencils. I glued on a few random things which were on my table and which I didn't want to just throw away - the stamps, the tree and a scrap of printed paper. The moon face is from Dina Wakley. and I have given her a butterfly dress. I little bird is bringing her a flower for her hair. I am also linking to Moo Mania and More, butterflies.

The morning sky:

Another little visitor, although I'm not sure what it is - anyone know?

Not very clear as I took it through my rather spotty window!

Have a great day you all, take care, 

and thanks a lot for coming by!

Retro

Hi Everybody!

Hope your week has started well. Spring has deserted us here and it was cold, wet and windy, a real blast from the winter which I had hoped was past. But sooner or later it has to get better!

Today a new challenge is beginning at TIOT - 1960s Retro, and anything retro goes - the decade with all its fashions or whatever, and all sorts of projects are allowed. My journal page is a flashback to the late 60s-70s, the time of peace, love, bright colours, bell-bottom trousers, Beatles, Abba,  magic mushrooms and much, much more. I painted an A3 journal page with gesso and sprinkled brushos while it was still wet. I used a home made stencil to draw the dancing queen, and painted her with black gesso and gave her a sprinkling of fairy dust. I added some of the typical words and symbols of the time. I am also linking to Art Journal Journey, Favourite poem or quote and to Simon Monday Challenge, anything goes.

My little winged visitors are still enjoying their food every day, and I enjoy watching their antics.

Even the horses needed their warm coats today:

The flower shop is my favourite shop in our little town

Have a great day you all, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by.

Logic versus imagination

Hi Everybody!

We had very changeable weather again today, but it was still fine for taking a walk. Tomorrow should be very wet and stormy. But bad weather is always good crafting weather!

For Art Journal Journey, favourite poem or quote I made a page using a page used to mop up another page sprinkled with Brushos. I added more colour wih Gelatos. Then I used various stencils - the big flourish is from TH, the birds from Dina Wakley,  the leaves, flowers and head are from me. I painted the head with white gesso, but the colours leaked through again, and I decided it would be wise to like it as it is....The quote is from Albert Einstein.
I am also linking to Simon Monday Challenge, anything goes.

Last week I had a look round the gardens of a Trust House run by the Church which offers sheltered and assisted housing for old people in one of the ancient houses in the Church Close. This beautiful relief is on the wall of the entry.

This sculpture is above it under the roof:

This huge copper beech tree, also very ancient is in the garden:

There is also a 'Lourdes' Grotto there, very beautifully made and kept. This is not my religion, but it is a wonderful, peaceful place to step into and be away from the outside world for a few minutes.

Have a great day you all take care, 

and thanks a lot fo coming by!