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...

Friday 21 June 2019

Inspiring Herbs

Hello all, and welcome!  I'm on a bit of a roll with my Neal's Yard Remedies found words.  (If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can find out in the previous post, Pace Yourself.)  So here's another journalling page for the Art Journal Journey theme, Words To Live By.  This one heads into my favoured world of wildflowers, but let's imagine there are some herbs too somewhere in the deep layers of the background.


And this really is a very layered background.  I've been doing a series of landscapes in this large 10x10 inch journal from Paperchase.  (I may choose to share them soon - they feel a bit personal, so we'll see.)  In those landscapes I've been playing with a lot of textural paint, heavy body acrylics and palette knife work, and this page layered some more over the top of one which wasn't really working for me.






I don't have any process photos, I'm afraid.  I've been doing my best to stay in the moment, follow the flow of what's happening in my imagination and on the page.  That doesn't really allow for stopping to take a picture!













The dip pen has been in action, working with black India ink.  Black is a rare departure for me, and one that seems to release something of sadness into the work when I use it.














There's some book text transferred into the layers of paint in various places, as well as a bit of script stamping.
















Paint and pen work give a lighter touch of greenery to the black shadowy stems of the flowers.















And the flowers themselves are done with some more of the heavy body acrylic, trying to capture the fullness of the heads of the blooms with all that texture.












They have a very different energy from the watercolour versions I've been playing with in recent months (have a scroll through the Watercolour Birthday pictures if you missed those).












Here are the Neal's Yard words, which I went over with my dip pen and ink to give them a less formal appearance.  I really like the effect, so you'll see it again soon.













I am, as regulars here know, hugely inspired by meadow grasses and wildflowers, but if we're in a garden rather than a wild meadow, one of my favourite things a proper Elizabethan herb garden.












Walking down the tiny paths amongst foliage in greens and greys and blues, twisting a leaf between your fingers to release the fragrance of pungent mint or tangy lemon balm - all the senses tickled.













In Stratford upon Avon, on Shakespeare's birthday each year, people parade through the streets wearing sprigs of rosemary in his memory (There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember, says Ophelia), and the whole town smells amazing.














There's a slight shimmer to the teardrops of High Flow acrylic dripping down the page.












And the scribbles and scratches and paint textures all add to the interest which comes from mixing your media in so many layers.

I hope you've enjoyed dipping in to these painty layers with me.  There are some more Words To Live By on the way shortly, and maybe those landscapes will put in an appearance too.  In the meantime have a great weekend (we're nearly there), and I'll see you soon.








Next to the larder, a door led out to our courtyard, which Mamma had kept filled with herbs. An ancient rosemary bush took up most of one side, and the air in summer was always full of bees. Sage, thyme, various kinds of mint, oregano, rocket, hyssop, lovage and basil grew in Mamma's collection of old terra-cotta pots. A fig tree was slowly pulling down the wall, and a tenacious, knotted olive tree had been struggling for years in the sunniest corner.
From Appetite by Philip Kazan

I'd like to share this at Art Journal Journey where they are looking for Words To Live By
I couldn't even count the number of different mediums used here, so I'd also like to play along at the Creative Artiste Blog where they are up to their 50th Anything Mixed Media Goes challenge

30 comments:

Helen said...

this is a simply stunning page, Alison! I love the soft, subtle - dare I say it, early summery - feel to the page (ever hopeful of some summer weather!) and your pen work is perfect for the page.

Margaret Mifsud said...

Ooohh!! This is just so beautiful Alison! The background is simply amazing and quite ethereal with the bits of script shining through here and there! The different layers of paint, the stamping, the pen work, it has all come together so beautifully and your wildflowers are just stunning!! An awesome piece of art!! hugs xx

Chrissy said...

Gosh, that is beautiful Alison, just makes me want to reach out and touch it..gorgeous textures and colours, beautiful page.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Valerie-Jael said...

Beautiful page Alison, love the cool and muted colours. Rosemary does indeed smell lovely. At our local ice-parlour they are now selling home-made ices with rosemary and basil, combined with lemon - heavenly! Have a great weekend, Valerie

Astrid Maclean said...

Really stunning, - I think this is going to be a new favourite!! The many layers really draw in the eye, and for me the contrast which the black provides really works... it reminds me a bit of the work of Laley Mille (can't quite remember how she spells her name). Anyway, love the cool look of the Neal's Yard words too and I couldn't agree more on the wonderful uplifting scent of herbs....

Cestina said...

How odd, my first attempt to comment never appeared. I had seventeen herbs in the courtyard two years ago. Time to reinstate maybe? Also how about a miniature Elizabethan knot garden next to the Tudor Tavern?

I was asked yesterday where my inspiration for Small Worlds comes from. A post like this is one example. Just lovely xxx




My name is Erika. said...

Another gorgeous page Alison! The blue you are using lately is just perfect! Happy weekend. Hugs-Erika

Dorthe said...

Oh it is gorgeous Alison, -so love how you created the flowers with the heavy paint, making them 3-d and love the telling about Shakespeare`s birthday and how it is celebrated - wonderful with the doodling, even I have the same feeling about black,- and almost also never wear black clothes of any kind !
Hugs, Dorthe

Mac Mable said...

I so enjoyed the journey with you in your herb garden. A glorious and creative piece of art, love, texture, scribbles, grasses, herbs, text and wildflowers...what more could you want.....nothing.....x
No I don't wear black clothes very often.....I have never thought of it in my crafting but I will now x

experiments in paper said...

This page embodies such a wonderous, natural elegance and grace - I can almost feel the gentle breeze that wends through these lovely flowers, and smell the herbs. Your pen work adds a lovely dimension and depth here as well. Your painting has evolved so beautifully, Alison - and inspires me to break out my own acrylics again. And what a fabulous quotation - shall have to have a look at Mr. Kazan's works. Thanks for a lovely gateway into the weekend - hope yours is delightful! xxx Lynn

froebelsternchen said...

Gorgeous! I am in awe of this super , organic and so artsy style Thank you very much for joining us over at Art Journal Journey! Much appreciated dear Alsion!
Happy weekend!
Susi

Lys said...

Always delightful to have a walk in your garden, Alison. There's always something amazing to discover. Ah those layers... I love your AJ!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Playing catch-up is a bit difficult, especially when I was gone for two days, only to come home to an extremely unstable internet. I've rebooted twice just to get through this beautifully created and well written post.

I can envision you walking through an Elizabethan herb garden, gently smashing a leaf to release the scent of a given herb. You certainly did that in your art you shared. The layers upon layers was what gave this its incredible depth. This is a stunning entry using Halle's theme at Art Journal Journey. Your journal page is absolutely incredible, Alison. Thank you for sharing it.

Meggymay said...

Stunning, a gorgeous page with great painty layers, the flower layer looks so touchable .
Yvonne xx

Redanne said...

This is such a beautiful page Alison, full of depth and texture, my eye was immediately drawn to the gorgeous wildflower blossoms and then the words. The subtle hints of colour at the base of the flowers is truly beautiful and I think the pen work really adds to the whole piece. Delightful! Anne xx

A Pink said...

A really Stunning page, Alison . To say I love it is a big understatement . Dare I say it , I think for me its one of your best yet !!
x

Patty O'Malley said...

Love this beautiful page!

Anne (cornucopia) said...

Beautiful artwork. I like the greyish blue colors.

Craftyfield said...

Wild flowers and grasses are a favourite of mine too! A lovely Mixed Media page, Alison, love the layers and textures.

Neet said...

Absolutely beautiful Alison, and yes, of course we can see the herbs in the background.
Love the light touch of green on the stems of the flowers and the heavy body acrylic used on the heads of the flowers is just perfect. I bet this is even more stunning, if that is possible, in real life.
Another winner.
Hugs, Neet xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

WOW!!! The flowers and the birds all are gorgeous! LOVE the layering of the pen and the paint! Stunning creation...and love your hand drawn goods!

Sue said...

This is such a beauty Alison, your dip pen adds so much, I love it! Have a very happy week, Sue x

R's Rue said...

Beautiful.
www.rsrue.blogspot.com

Meihsia Liu said...

Love this fabulous art journal page, Alison. The texture and colors you created are amazing. :)

Halle said...

Stunning! I love everything about this page. The soft watercolor feel mixed with the texture. Amazing!!!!
Thank you for linking up with Words to live by on AJJ!

Cocofolies said...

Un petit mot en français pour une fois, chère Alison :)
C'est tout simplement super beau... Comme toujours, on prend un réel et extrême plaisir à te lire, autant qu'à admirer chaque image et petit détail, tant il y a de délicatesse dans ton travail artistique.
Bravo, je file lire ton post précédent pour découvrir de nouveaux tampons ?... :D
Off to the previous post! ;-)))
With hugs and love
Coco X

craftytrog said...

Beautiful art Alison!

Judy McKay said...

Beautiful art journal page. Love the texture and your image. Stunning. Thank you for joining us at Creative Artiste this month. Judy DT

Let's Art Journal said...

What a beautiful painting! I love the quote from Appetite by Philip Kazan, so inspiring 😁. Wow, it looks like you had fun building up the thick layers of paint and texture that you created is amazing! Thank you for sharing these lovely painty layers of artwork! Creative hugs and wishes! Jo x

Brenda Brown said...

Delightful as always my friend. The use of the dip pen brings some beautiful effects and the structures in those blooms are incredible. Love it. Hugs Brenda xxx