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...

Saturday 23 May 2020

Bluesy Daisies



Hello all - hope you're doing okay.  Is anyone else experiencing the same time-slippage as I am?  Time feels expansive and plentiful, passing slowly, and then you look up and suddenly days have gone by in a flash.  It's weird!

I'd planned to be back with another post quite soon after my Skype's the limit page spread, but somehow here we are more than a week later.

Ah well, I'm here now with another flowery page - one that took well over a year to finish.  Not that I was working on it all that time of course!  I got part way and then other things took over and the page got shut away and forgotten about.

I work in lots of journals simultaneously, and I just happened not to open this one - the large Dylusions journal - for many months.  When I did, I found some half-finished possibilities that were finally ready to be completed.  You saw one with my hand-painted Daisy, daisy (daisy) page, and now I'm back with some Bluesy Daisies today.










This one is really best in close-up.

There are lovely textures...














... touches of shimmer, courtesy of the paint pigment, nothing added ... 














... and gorgeous, subtle pools of colour blending and moving across the texture.














This was where it had got to about a year ago - some texture paste through a Donna Downey stencil for the flowers, with additional tiny grungy square "pebbles" from a Crafter's Workshop stencil.















And all of that I'd given some soft tinting to with some Sennelier watercolour paints...









... on the petals and flowing across the page and around the texture.













When I came back to the page a couple of weeks ago, I needed to find something for the light area in the lower left-hand corner.  Maybe I'd originally had a plan, or maybe that's just the shape of the stencil.  I toyed with a couple of photos, but they weren't making me happy.














I was in the mood for something a bit more spare and spacious.  I didn't want to crowd the flowers or their leafy stems.  This simple looping of fine twine seemed to fit the bill.












I love how it casts shadows when the light hits it, so you get a bunch of extra loops!















I peeled some of the thick cardboard backing away from these Quote Chips so that they wouldn't be so bulky within the pages of the journal.














It probably doesn't matter really - there's a full thickness one on the Skype's the Limit page, and that's in the same book.













And that bark heart is pretty chunky, so there may be an impact on later pages if I'm working across the full spread.  Not to worry, it will all add to the artsy imperfection!












I must have been in a sombre bluesy mood with the original creation - all those misty greys - but now in spring I found myself reaching for some fresher greens to brighten the mood just a little.














I used some Fresco paints in watery washes, so that I could echo the "messy" colour application of the watercolours.














And I used them to add extra shading and highlighting to and around the flower heads as well as for the green leaves.







I have to confess that even with those brighter greens, most of my favourite bits of this spread are where the greys are strongest.





I even ended up softening the greens with more grey.  I guess the original impulses were making their way back to the surface!







There's some white spatter (of course) and then we're pretty much there.












How do I remember what I did a year ago, you may be wondering...

Well, at the time I was in the habit of scribbling down my processes/products on the facing page in this particular journal - so I added the new steps as I went too.

And from that I see the final layers of grey were done with Distress Crayons.  It was three weeks ago, so I'd forgotten that!











There's an airy lightness about the page which pleases me, but with a slightly wistful, melancholy atmosphere.  And that seems a pretty accurate reflection of this slightly strange limbo we're in at the moment.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you're having a gentle weekend.  Stay safe, stay well and I'll see you again soon, either here or elsewhere in Craftyblogland. 








The night was so very still that one should have been able to hear the whisper of roses in blossom—the laughter of daisies—the piping of grasses—many sweet sounds, all tangled up together.
L.M. Montgomery

I'd like to share this at Art Journal Journey for Mia's lovely Flowers theme
I'd also like to join in with Anything Mixed Media Goes over at the Bleeding Art Challenge

32 comments:

Rita said...

This is Absolutely Stunning Alison. I love the fact you have given a tutorial explaining the details for each step. I so agree with you regarding time at the moment. 10 weeks since I was out, someday's I can't stop and other days are wistful and lazy.Today is a craft day as the weather is awful, my poor garden is looking bad with the heavy rain. Hope you are well and keeping busy. Stay Safe. Hugs Rita xxx

Valerie-Jael said...

This is a more-than-wonderful page, Alison, love it. So many gorgeous textures and extras, yesssssssssssss! I know what you mean about the time just now. I'm up by 6 at the latest in the morning, and think the day will be soooooooooo long and then it's dark and I'm exhausted doing nothing! Strange! Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie

Mia said...

What a lovely layout, Alison. What a fabulous page. Daisies are among my favorite flowers. And I love that you chose to color them blue. It is a wonderful vintage looking page. Thank you so much for joining again my challenge at AJJ! Kisses!

Christine Alexander said...

the daisies are so pretty, I love all that rough texture and soft colour. Great idea using the opposite page as your scribble pad for the process :)

Redanne said...

You have certainly explained 'time' well Alison, you really have got it spot on. I was required to go out once last week, the first time for 80 days and it was surreal and not an experience I want to repeat any time soon.

Your journal page is so pretty, I love daisies and you have brought them to life and the whole page is very restful. I am glad you found the time to finish the page. Take care and keep safe. Anne xx

Helen said...

I love those daisies, and the whole page is just beautiful. Have a good weekend

Craftyfield said...

You are so right Alison, time is moving differently since Covid made its appearance! Today I got as far as putting gesso on my page but nothing creative came up. Maybe tomorrow... Your page is so subtle in its range of greys, very restful!

My name is Erika. said...

Good things are worth waiting for. This is a beautiful finished page Alison. The blue flowers look wonderfully vintage like old china. And it is so much prettier without the TH portraits. Thanks for joining us at Art Journal Journey and Mia's challenge. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. hugs-Erika

Anke said...

Was für eine wundervolle Arbeit, so schön zart und wunderschön.

Einen schönen Sonntag
wünscht Dir
Anke

Christine said...

So restful. After my busy few days your page has been perfect.
Thank you for the talk through the creation.
This is an Inspiration post that I will bookmark.

Chrissy said...

Gosh I love daisies in any colour shape of form and these beautiful blue ones are gorgeous,I love the white splatters too and the blues and greens are so soft..and I love the textured centres and heart with the twine, lovely page.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Nan G said...

Love the moodiness of the blue and grey. Matches time currently which is moving oh so slowly but wait...it’s the end of May already! I need to get out my stencils and have a play with watercolor ground and paints. Your pages always spark ideas dear Alison. Thank you! Warm long distance hugs, Nan

craftytrog said...

Such a beautiful, calming page Alison, very inspiring! xx

suzyb said...

Very lovely Daisies. Time kinda blends all together sometimes. I don't know what day it is half the time, but like you, I look at the clock and where did the time go??? Strange times indeed. Lots of time to reflect, thankful for what we have here in Victoria, BC. All things considered we have done really well in this crisis. Learning a lot about our neighbours, more that before anyway. It's a good thing. Stay well Alison and love this piece.

Fliss said...

An absolutely gorgeous page Alison. The flowers are so beautiful in blue and love all the different textures you've achieved.
Sorry for the lack of visits lately, time got away from me for various reasons!
Stay safe and well.
Fliss xx

Sue said...

What a beautiful page Alison, I love the gorgeous colours and textures. You are totally right about the time at the moment. I'm getting up really early, but still don't seem to have time to do what I want to do, and that's not really much at all??? Take care and have a happy week, Sue xx

Amanda said...

Time I’ve never been so busy, but busy doing what? sometimes I don’t know but time has gone. It’s most weird at the moment. I’m glad you found your unfinished page and given it life, beautiful soft daisies billowing on the page look fabulous.
Love
Amanda x

Marci said...

Your blue daisies are so pretty!

Margaret Mifsud said...

Well, I am glad I'm not the only one suffering from time slippage. The days go by so slowly and yet the weeks are flying past. It really is weird.
This page is so lovely Alison. So ethereal and simply delightful. Love the light airiness of it and loving the texture too. Simply stunning! Stay well. hugs xx

Mac Mable said...

What a wonderful happy and thoughtful page Alison and the texture and 'loose' watercolouring looks fabulous. I always enjoy your thought process and how after introducing the greens you knocked them back with the grey...your initial thoughts x. It was funny Alison after listening to you video/conversation the other day you now have a 'voice' and I liked that x.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Oh Alison, I apologize for taking so long to visit. I'm still trying to get over my illness. Playing catch-up is difficult.

This is so unlike you, dear. When I think of you, I think laden, bold, and layer upon layer. Instead, I got minimal and soft. This is superb and stunning in its own right, Those sparkling blue flowers are incredible and perfect for Mia's theme at Art Journal Journey.

Lagene said...

Gorgeous creation, I love how you scribble the process on facing page and came back to it to add down the road!

Dorthe said...

Hello, just heaRD your lovely voice on you-tube and then seeing this poetic piece, so beautiful with the layers and distressed painting. Ofcourse I also love the shimmer you added , and the twine and heart with the wonderful sentiment , too- So very beautiful, and lovely. Hugs, Dorthe

Roosterhead Designs said...

Beautifully done Alison! Love the colors here and the wonderful crackly layers~ The textures are complex along side the soft & simple daisy pattern. It's just so lovely~ TFS and hope you enjoy the warming weather : ) Hugs, karen o

Meggymay said...

Sorry I am late calling in to thank you for linking this gorgeous page to Art Journal Journey. It is a beautiful painting and flowers.
Stay safe.
Yvonne xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Nearly missed this, very pretty. Happy crafty weekend, Angela xXx

Let's Art Journal said...

What a stunning page! I love the softness that you created and the blue daisy flowers with the texture look amazing 😁. Happy and creative wishes! Take care! Hugs, Jo x

Monika Gulyas said...

I love your hand-painted flowers, Alison!!! They are beautiful!!! Great journal page!!! xx

Neet said...

I want to gently run my fingers over the petals of your Bluesy Daisies. I loved seeing the texture you got with your paste and the blue watercolour paint you used afterwards really brought them to life.
Love the string with the heart and the words that are so perfect for this page. There is something about blue and true that sticks in my mind and this says those words you have used are perfect for the page.
Again, lovely work - but then it always is Alison.
Hugs, Neet xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

I see this is one of my 'escaped' comments as when I first saw this I was so in love with the fabulous texture on your blue daisies! Oh! I still am, it's just that my eyes are drawn now to the circle and the quote! Hugs, Chrisx

Patty O'Malley said...

Beautifully serene page, Alison! Yes, I'm losing track of my days lately. I guess it's because of the change in routines.

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

This is a beautiful piece Alison, reminds me of china ware with those pretty blue painted Daisy's. So glad you went back to finish this page and share it with us all. Sorry I am late, i'm having awful problems with blogger right now, trying to make the most of it whilst it's behaving.. Take care Tracey x