here we have the last spread in a visual journal that I started working in back in 2009…
as finishing this journal this month has been a challenge I set for myself I am entering it in Susi’s Art Journal Journey May challenge…
lots of my painted pages began because of inspiration from a Julie Prichard online class that taught me so much (she is a wonderful teacher!)…
the first spread I completed above in this 1958 Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia was inspired by a Pretty Paper Hearts challenge blog that no longer exists …
links to several other spreads can be found here…
below you will find a bit of my creative process for the last pages which got quite thick…
strips of my citra solv paper and torn vintage map (thank you Carmen ♥) blended in with some white gesso…
using some of my unmounted rubber stamps on pattern tissue paper…
and lots and lots of layers of Distress Stains (one of my favorite Ranger products!!!)…
using my hand to blend and smear the stains and YES it DOES stain your hands :)…
to finish off the gutter of the book I wet my hand a little and used a small paintbrush to gather enough color to finish off the center of the pages…
above you can see my pages before I found my tiny seashells and starfish from a trip to Florida…
I did try and not make the pages too bulky but you know how it is once you get going…
I am a big mermaid fan…
twenty-eight spreads (double pages) in the recycled encyclopedia that originally covered French Literature — Gothic Architecture and now all it needs is a cover…
“Enough is abundance to the wise.” ~Euripides
and a bit of extra fun with my mermaid and free Photofunia…