I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Thursday 5 May 2016

Encore - Inevitable dusk

Encore Posts
Projects which made their first appearances elsewhere for Design Team duties or Guest Designer opportunities, but which only had a sneak peek here, are being gathered together in the pages of my virtual scrapbook while I'm away.  Please don't feel that you have to comment all over again!

Hello all!  I've just arrived back in the UK, and there's lots of unpacking and unopened post to be dealt with before I can settle down at the craft table, so in the meantime here's another little encore or two for you.  After the farewell to Country View Crafts, let's enter the sombre tones of the Inevitable Dusk!  These pages were created for The Artistic Stamper in June 2013 (that's almost three years ago - good grief, Charlie Brown!) and here's what I wrote back then.
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Hello all, I'm here today with something that - for me - is a little different.  In fact, when I saw the new Artistic Stamper texture stamps, I wasn't sure that they were for me - very geometric - but I thought I should stretch myself.  And I have to say, I had huge fun layering them up to create the background textures in these pages.


There are some things I'm really pleased with about this, and some that I might do differently another time...  I really like the texture on the main brother and sister image.  


I mixed some drops of Chipped Sapphire and Salty Ocean re-inkers into texture paste on my craft mat, and then smeared it through Andy Skinner's brilliant Children mask.  I'm also really pleased with the highlighting, done with white acrylic paint, and some pencilling.  And I made sure to give them some solid "ground" to stand on.


I started out by gessoing some pages in my Concise Encyclopaedia (same book as my previous layout) and used Dylusions sprays to lay down the first layer of colour.


I started to layer in the texture stamps using Archival inks, Distress Inks, Distress Paints and Picket Fence Distress Stain.


It was at this point that I forgot to take any more process photos - sorry! - but I'm really pleased with the effects of layering the products.  


You get some resist effects from the paints, so there are areas of translucence and great textures.  


Obviously there's some inking for definition of the resist and shading at the edges of the pages, as well as to create the twilight path for the siblings.  The quote is by Susan Scarf Merrell.  


It's stamped onto watercolour paper and inked with Chipped Sapphire.  


Certain words got a touch of Salty Ocean too to highlight them. 


As with some of the background chevrons, I used a white pencil to add some texture and help embed the words into the page.  


I'm also really happy with the twilit path leading to the smaller sibling pair, travelling off to who-knows-where... 


... though I'm not sure I didn't go a layer too far with the pair themselves.  I liked them better one step earlier - but I haven't got a photo of that, so you'll just never know!


So there you have it... To me it feels as though it has a different flavour from normal, but I don't know.  Is it typically "butterfly" after all?  I'm curious to know what you think!


Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by, and I'll see you soon.
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So there you have it.  Actually, my question still stands about whether this is "typically butterfly" or not.  I think I would probably do the wording differently these days... those white panels seem a bit stark against the softer tones of the background, but I know I was thinking of echoing the white highlighting.  And I'm still not sure that chevrons are really "me"!  Ah well, it's all part of the learning curve, isn't it?  I hope you're all well, and I'll be back with something new for you in a few days.

Our brothers and sisters are there with us from the dawn of our personal stories to the inevitable dusk.
Susan Scarf Merrell

27 comments:

Helen said...

oh, Alison, I remember this one - those children are gorgeous, love the texture. But 3 years ago as near as? oh my....!! Looking forward to a new project soon. xx

brenda said...

It's a very thought provoking quote Alison and an adorable little image.

Hope you get unpacked and sorted soon, it's always the very worse part of travel.

B x

maria's knutselplezier said...

What a great page!!! I love the colours and the image!!!

Have fun!!
Maria

sally said...

Welcome home Alison & good luck with wading through the mail, I always think that it's worse than the laundry!

I'd forgotten about the lovely children so it's nice to see them get an airing.

Sally xx

chrissie said...

Welcome Home Alison! I bet you will take a while to settle down again.

Love the pages. They are so new and different but beautiful and scary all at the same time. Always great to see something new and thank you for sharing how you used the products

Love Chrissie xx

Lauren Hatwell said...

Atmosphere! Atmosphere! ATMOSPHERE! What a fabulous journal spread. Lx

Flo Langley said...

Pleased to hear you got home safe and sound. Oh, the laundry :) Love your project. From the heart. I have these stencils/masks but to my shame, have never used them. You have inspired me to get them out and have a play. As for you question at the end of the post, your work is always amazing. Always evolving. That's what makes it exciting and you!
Hug Flo xx

A Pink said...

Welcome Home! Alison
Love these pages. Didn't see them the first time around ( shame on me ) so its a real treat to see them now . Thanks so much for sharing again .
hugs x

pearshapedcrafting said...

I do remember this and still love it! Looking back through journals often brings thoughts of how you might do something differently but I certainly don't think you could improve on how you used that stencil! Have fun unpacking!! Hugs, Chrisx

Astrid Maclean said...

Alison, I remember this piece so well, it has been one of my all time favourite pieces of yours. The story behind it and the play of light and colour are spectacular! Great to have a look at it again!

maj. said...

Totally stunning!!!!!

Marci said...

One of my favorites! I loved it then and I love it today.

Dorthe said...

Good you aRE safe home again, Alison, I bet tired and filled with wonderful memories. Relax and take care.
This spread I think is as you say, maybe a bit different from your other creations, but all the same so you, with the beautifully mixed colors, and the wonderful story of the children saying goodby to the other two, almost vanished in another future. Gorgeous texture and stamped background.
I hope you can enjoy some sun at home .
Dorthe xxO

Redanne said...

Always worth a second look, this one is a real beauty. I really like the way the children appear to walk into the distance.

Welcome home too, I hope you get your unpacking done so that you can relax and make some art! Anne xx

Sandy said...

Back home! I sure hope you have some pictures for us of your journeys. Your pictures of New York last time were terrific. Would dearly love to see the ones from China.
What does Alison look like really ---- although you would do the wording differently I do think they sound like they come from your creative world especially!
Sandy xx

Sandy said...

Went back for a closer look - muted colors almost looking monochromatic. Now that's you. The colors really over shadow the geometric shapes and the geometric design at the bottom reminds me of the sea. Amazing piece of work!
Sandy xx

SewPaperPaint said...

We always look back at our projects and think "I should have..." But in this case, I think you resulted such lovely play and journaling. Fabulous concept and I love the geometric border! Hugs, Autumn

Willy said...

Wow what a beautiful spread, love colors and texture!!

Fliss said...

Such a beautiful page spread Alison and love the serene colours which compliment the lovely text quote.
Glad to have to back and looking forward to more of your lovely creations.
Fliss xx

Meggymay said...

Welcome home Alison, I also remember these pages. they create a moving and atmospheric scene, with great wording .
Yvonne xx

Corrie Herriman said...

Welcome home. I like these pages... even with the white words. I do think your style is a little different these days... but this is lovely too !
Corrie x

Almo said...

I don't recall seeing this lovely spread first time around Alison so it is so nice to get a 2nd chance. I really like the white shading around the Children in the foreground throwing light onto them. Welcome home good to see you back from your travels, I look forward to seeing more of your wonderful projects once you are unpacked and rested. Mo x

Anonymous said...

Alison, I'll say Welcome Home!
This is a beautiful spread, it has such a sense of atmosphere to it.
Wishes
Lynne

Cocofolies said...

Also a warm Welcome Home Alison!!
And I'm very pleased to start my little "catch-up" process with you and this post... That's strange, because I don't remember this one, although you used a pair of masks by Andy S. that I love. Fabulous texture on the larger one wow, I totally love the unreal atmosphere on these pages!!! (also the quote is a great one I think, I keep it for later, thank you).
Hugs, Coco xx

Brenda Brown said...

Welcome home Alison, I can't believe that it's May and you have completed two legs of your incredible journeys this year. Love your beautiful atmospheric pages, you have collected so much together on your blog already and what a clever idea it was too. Xxx

Sue said...

Welcome home Alison, at least you have some sunshine to come home to, the snow's gone thank goodness! I really like this piece, it's full of feeling and atmosphere, so in that, it's very much you! Enjoy the laundry! xx

Mrs.B said...

A belated Welcome Home Alison, hope you're setting back to mundane UK life.
Lovely to see this as I think I must have missed it first time round. Such an atmospheric piece.
Avril xx