Sunday, January 10, 2010

Playtime! Gesso and snowflakes

Don't you just love it when you are working on a project that makes you jump out of bed to finish the last steps so you can see the end result? This is definitely one of those. My friend K- over at "running on ink" participated in a challenge and after reading all details I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get messy and play with gesso, scissors and paper.

Michelle Ward of Green Pepper Press Street Team hosts monthly challenges and provides wonderful information on the topic. This month's topic is Braving the Elements.
Below are two sheets I created with layers of gesso, handcut snowflakes used as masks and finally some smaller snowflakes stamped with gesso. These small flakes are my favorite part. I left the sheets dry overnight so the thicker gesso edges would be completely dry prior to a light sanding. I like the adds texture and contrast of the gesso used in this manner. I enjoyed trying Michelle's various brushing and monoprint techniques and look forward to trying some more. The blog also provides several complementary ideas from previous challenges.





Since this is my first challenge at this site I was not sure I wanted to start a journal so I considered alternatives to use this background. I thought about the challenge title "Braving the Elements" and then it came to me. Here winter brings many months of cold frigid weather so much so that one learns to prepare and to adapt in order that life can continue as routinely as possible. For instance last weekend when temperatures were 32 degrees below zero I didn't give a thought to stopping for fast food when running errands. I relaxed for a few moments in the car while eating and I watched a raven close by. Ravens are big time scavengers and in winter often tear open trash bags in the back of trucks in search of a few food morsels. As I saw that raven braving the elements, I shared my fries. Today I pulled out my large raven stamp and sat him on a snowpile as he was on that day. Here is a plain stamped image with my raven stamp. Stamped on the gesso backgrounds you will see the gesso behind the raven acts as a resist and didn't allow the ink to cover as the plain stamped image the gesso pattern becomes a part of the raven. What a serendipity to find each raven has its own style. Thanks K- and Michelle for tons of fun!






22 comments:

  1. Hey Jan! Thanks for coming to play with us on the Street Team! Love your pages, and love to hear your enthusiasm. How cool that you couldn't wait to jump out of toasty warm bed to come Brave the Elements from ALASKA! The falling snow on your site is very cool!!

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  2. I like the contrast in your background, and I think your raven inspiration is great! Thank you for sharing.

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  3. wow, wow...I LOVE THESE PAGES! I love the colors and also the contrast..oh man. Beautiful! Thanks for commenting on my blog :)

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  4. Jan, it's nice to find your blog through the Street Team. The colors you chose are lovely, and really compliment the monotones of the raven you added later. Aren't Michelle's challenges fun? You can go back to any past ones and just practice practice!

    Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Jan, this looks like a great technique. I love anything that adds texture. Thanks for sharing the link to the Street team..I'm off to check out the techniques there.
    Sarah

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  6. WOW. This is beautiful Jan!! I have never tried this technique but looks like I may need to. Thanks for sharing it with us on your blog.

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  7. love your snowflakes pages especially with the crow..thanks for your great comments on my piece

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  8. Thank you for your comment on my blog. I like your pages very much and te raven is beautiful. When I have some time I will look into your blog some more, for it seems to me you have very interesting topics and work on there. Love it!!

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  9. These pages are great! I love the colors and all the crisp yet subtle shapes of your snowflakes.
    Also, I love the falling snow on your blog.
    So glad you joined us.
    --Jane

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  10. Jan, these are incredibly beautiful! I've never worked with gesso before but I think you've convinced me to give it a try. Your work is gorgeous!

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  11. WOW, Jan these are awesome! I love your snowflakes and the Raven is perfect with it! I'm so happy you join in the challenge my talented friend!

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  12. What a beautiful journal page! I love how you incorporated the raven!!

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  13. These are so lovely, they make me forget how cold it is outside! I love your color choices, and the raven is perfect.

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  14. The raven is wonderful! Love the colors you used.

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  15. Looks like you had a blast braving the elements ! Your snowflake background turned out so well. I have a love for ravens and it is fun to see you messenger-friend hanging out on your page !
    Cheers !

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  16. your play looks great!
    I like that you took inspiration from your daily life to make this challenge piece more unique to you.

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  17. Nice to meet you thru the Crusades. I can not imagine 32 minus, I complain when we get down below 10 here. Your pages are great, and your snowflakes worked so well ... I think you and I chose the same paint colours!

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  18. i thought the background alone was beautiful! but the addition of the raven and snow is fantastic! love all the layers!

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  19. wonderful pages, love the texture from the gesso'd flakes on top of the painted ones. And the crow is Awesome, very creative choice!!xoSusan

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  20. I love the blues and purples you have here. This is a really pretty page!

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  21. The colors you chose look beautiful together. I really like the crow with the snowflakes. How neat that you live in Alaska!

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  22. Hi, Jan! Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog today! I am sure I will be grinning from ear to ear all week! This looks like such a fun project! And you are very generous to share your fries with Mr. Raven! :-)

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