Thursday, September 19, 2013

A square spread in my new altered book (AB)




This started with a magazine image, and a very thin magazine image at that.  I laid down my "glue" of choice for this spread, which was gesso.  I'm on a bit of a gesso kick, since I'm trying to cover up the background of these book pages.  Of course, gesso (and even wet glue like Elmer's) is too much for these thin magazine images as can be witnessed by all the wrinkles I created.

When I first saw this square in one of my trade magazines, I thought of "Fair Squared."  Seems my art always runs to the mathematical side of my brain.

But when I cut seven two inch squares from an old letter, and added the inch and a half overlays, I couldn't get the layout right.  Suddenly, it hit me that I was thinking this spread all wrong.  That's when I used the ampersand and created what you see here: fair "&" square.

I hope you like it, because it's not one of my favorites (and it's not even that good).  Technique I tried was to use two squares, one on top of the other.  Using some of my old square sticker letters put the squares into perspective.

10 thoughtful remarks:

Halle said...

I really like it!! You are too hard on yourself.
Job interview today for me. Wish them and me the clarity to make a good decision.

Unknown said...

This is wonderfully thought out. I love it!

Dawn said...

Lol Elizabeth, its a fab spread sweetie and perfectly demonstrates your ability and skill at turning something that would probably have ended up in the trash into a beautiful work of art. It speaks volumes my lovely and the colours work beautifully.
Huge huggles x x x x

Darla said...

Your inspiration to use the ampersand was spot on!

Darla

Dianne said...

I like the use of these types of phrases in altered art...we use them so much without thinking about them or where they came from. Using Fair & Square in a visual way is very clever!

Rebeca Trevino said...

i love it.
that mathematical brain of yours is being whimsical. what a great result. it makes perfect sense to me.

Dandelion and Daisy said...

I do like that layout. It's art it isn't suppose to be perfect, wrinkles give character (or that's what I tell myself every time I look in the mirror!) Seriously, they do add texture. What if, you drew an outline around each box with pen or pencil would that anchor the letters? But, don't mess it up playing around with it. Been there, done that and it is fine the way it is.

dawn said...

Hello, finally made my way to your blog, busy day!

I really love everything about this, that saying is something I say to the kids. Wrinkles are always fun in art journaling in my opinion. Those squares and letters are perfect and look great.

Sorry you don't like it as much, I don't always like my pages either. Good for you getting another page done, I'm way behind on my art stuff.

Thanks so much for the comment on my yellow kitchen. Took me so long to do that post, I overthink it too much. Had a few others to share with it but just stuck to that one. I will share the whole space on T time soon.

Drinking tea and going thru my cough drops like crazy. Ha! Still working on my album, sadly not done yet. Maybe in time for T time though, YAY!!

Take care and have a wonderful weekend if I don't get back here.

p.s. Sam is grounded as of today and is sitting in his fave chair with a stack of cooking magazines. Thought that would give you a Friday Smile!

Rita said...

I like your Fair & Square!! :)

Anonymous said...

It's all good. Just sometimes it's (gooder ha ha) than others. Magazine pages are hard to play with gesso... or almost anything else for that matter....I love using magazines that print on uncoated papers now. Don't know if you ever get an Edible Witchia there but we can find Edible Boston, which is free and I love the paper they use to redo.....

Mostly I wish the intuitive keyboard on my ipad would let me actually spell correctly....xox