an all time favorite Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song TEACH YOUR CHILDREN inspired this two page spread for Elizabeth’s BACK TO SCHOOL theme over at Art Journal Journey…
I challenged myself to use colors I don’t often use and found a napkin along with some of my mother’s old paints that helped move me in that direction…
not totally comfortable with my color matching my favorite heavy gesso came to the rescue once again…
then I got distracted for a bit by my paint tray noticing a small corner of paint sticking up… sure enough the layers of paint peeled out easily and yes I did save those bits for what I am not exactly sure 🙂 …
then it was back to trying to make my pages work on a lovely rainy day here in Virginia…
it was fiddly fun cutting and pasting thin pieces of napkin to carry the design from one page to another (that napkin was too good to cover up completely)…
it took me awhile to get some matching turquoise and greenish yellow for my painted pages…
some Adirondack BOTTLE stamping ink applied with a wet wipe worked for one part since a lot of my Tim Holtz DISTRESS STAINS seem to have lost their color over time…
a little more doodling with my gold paint pen and my pages are complete (tricky to photograph on a rainy day)…
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good-bye.
Teach your children well,
Their father’s hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picks, the one you’ll know by.
Don’t you ever ask them why, if they told you, you will cry,
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you.
Can’t know the fears that your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth,
They seek the truth before they can die.
Their children’s hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picks, the one you’ll know by.
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
Magpie's Nest ~*~ Patty Szymkowicz 
Wonderful pages Patty! Great song too! xxx
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A really wonderful post, page and song!
Just gorgous Patty! I am looking forward to seeing what idea you will have for the dried paint.
Happy weekend to you and Mr. Magpie and thank you very very much for so many fantastic entries to Elizabeth’s lovely theme this month!
♥♥♥
Susi
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I love that song and your page as well. Have a happy day. xoxoxo
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I love, love, love seeing photos of your art supplies. And how they come together. But there’s something about a messy palette that says “I do art, I do it a lot.” And, I might add, you do it well!
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Hi Patty, I sooooo love that song and the journal page you have made is fantastic. So many people these days don’t teach their kids the things they need to know, and that is sad. Thanks for another wonderful page for AJJ, Alles Liebe, Valerie
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One of my all time favorite songs! Love these pages and that you used some of your mother’s paints to them. I, too, save those paint skins and still haven’t decided how to use them. I have seen them incorporated into paintings by others but just haven’t tried it myself yet.
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great song and lovely art too…good words to live by i think have a good weekend too
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All my friends tell me I was born too late, because my favorite songs come from the 1970s. This is a genuine favorite, and the beautiful art you created to go along with it is simply incredible.
That dried paint is called a skin, and there are lots of tutorials on the internet that can give you ideas for how to use yours.
Thanks for sharing this great entry, and the song I can’t get out of my head, for AJJ. I adore it.
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You must have an enormous ‘stash’ of supplies Patty. The various napkins are always interesting. Good on you for using colours that are out of your comfort zone…and doing it well. I’ll be singing that song all day now….thanks.
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These are bright colors for you but you made a fantastic page with them. I love this song too, and how clever to think of it. As a teacher, you made a very inspirational piece. Hugs-Erika
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Oh what nice new pages, soft colored and well composed with the peakock tissue. Fantasy is endless they say, yours indeed sweet friend. WOW!
Liebe Grüße
Sabine xox
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A fantastic page and song. I think the brighter colours look great and I do wonder when we will see the dried paint you saved.. I really liked seeing your work space, you seem to work in a small area like me with all your crafty items spread around.
Happy weekend.
Yvonne xx
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Lovely journal pages Patty! I love the peacock and the way you have carried it’s colours throughout the piece – beautiful! You are officially the ‘Scissor Queen’, it’s so difficult to cut thin napkins ;-). I would use the dried paint as well, it looks lovely – can’t wait to see what you use it for :-). Wishing you a happy weekend! J 🙂
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Oh Patty what a wonderful post. The page spread with the use of such wonderful napkins, your mothers paints, and your own wild play, 🙂 are saying ,-love and play, and be yourself. And Thank you so much for adding the text the that lovely and wise song, I love it !! Hugs and happy Weekend, to you dear !! xoxo
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Great to see you try another colour combination, that’s always fun to do (with me blue hardly ever seems to work). Nice to use your mother’s paints. Your pages look a little different too. I like the little orange border at the top and the peacock feathers and I’ll try to follow your advice.
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Beautiful page with all the fancy cut napkin pieces to create your art. I also love the song, thanks for including the video 🙂 I hope you are doing well. Today it’s dark, dreary, raining and I love it the cozy atmosphere and the break from hot sun. Hugs, Shirleyxx
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I seem to have missed a lot here Patty! Love these pages and the view of your creative space! Hugs, Chrisx
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Such a great song and such a wonderful expression of it in your journal. Sweet peacock. xox
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Re-reading this and I’m glad I did because it gave me a chuckle. I thought I was the only one who saved those shiny smooth paint-pan peelings. And I haven’t figured out how to use them yet so if you come up with some great ideas, let me know!
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One of my favorite songs of all time!
Yes, you sure did some fiddy fun cutting- I’m impressed! heehee I had to giggle at those paint pieces you pulled and saved! I do the same! I used some once for my mermaids texture- worked beautifully!!!
Glad to hear, or not, that it was not just my distress stains that lost color- I thought I had a bad batch! Maybe we both did! “)
xx
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