Thursday, April 28, 2011

A round robin swap, my first with five other players

I've started a new round robin with five new players. The last one was so much fun, I'm sure this one will be also. For this swap, five other players signed up to create two tip-in pages, decorated front and back using their favorite colors. My colors and theme are the same as before. I am going with rust, but this time, I'm adding white to the mix. I'm looking forward to this swap, but know it is going to be a challenge, since this swap is all about colors.

My first recipient is Halle, who requested that her pages be blue. Although they could include other colors, and blue could be any shade or hue, the overall page had to "read" blue.


I was hoping this page would have turned out a bit better than it did, since I was actually going for an image of the earth as seen from the moon. Although I tried my best to turn it into a moon, I thought it looked a bit like an ice cream cone. I used maps and dressmaker tissue for the moon, over which I painted anywhere from a deep blue to a pale blue. I was going for a moon that was partly dark and partly light. I think I should have made it a bit round or elliptical, but I already had it in place when I realized that mistake.

For the earth, I started with a blue circle, then added the white swirls and deep blue land masses. Behind the earth, I painted a black sky, then added the words "Blue Earth,"the only words I used on any of the pages.


For the back side, I started with a deep blue fluid acrylic, then watered it down in spots. Next I added the paper lace I cut from my Martha Stewart punch, over which I placed a feather. I dyed the fabric last fall, and it was a good color combination to compliment the blue fabric I layered over it. Finally, I added an image of a little girl. I couldn't help putting some pink in Halle's page, because I know how much she loves pink. I just hope it didn't detract too much from the blue.


I actually got these two spreads turned around after I started working on them. I turned the "back" side into the "front" by accident because I started working on both sides at the same time. You can see I had more dark blue fluid acrylic on the right side of the above spread, which should have been the gutter side. I just hope I left Halle enough room for the gutter, which is now on the left of this spread. And another thing I feel I did wrong was sanding the center image. I wanted it set apart from the other images, but feel I probably shouldn't have done it that way. At least I raised the center head using pop dots. I just hope Halle can "imagine" the overall effect.


Originally I was going to add words to this side, but I couldn't bring anything together. I was thinking words like her heart was in a cage and she needed wings to fly away, but I couldn't make any words make sense. So, I left the spread so the images could tell their story, which can be interpreted by Halle and anyone who wants to add their own words. This background was created using three different pigment inks and one chalk ink.

The first page was made using 110 lb card stock and the second page was made using 110 lb watercolor paper. The icon at the top of the above page is actually an old pin back button that I removed the pin from.


For the tag, I started with a page from a psychology book, over which I added various blue inspired bits. The tiny earth from space started out being my model for Blue Earth, but ended up looking nothing like what I created. And yes, making these pages was a true adventure.


The back side of my tag has my information on it. It's a good thing Halle knows me so well, or she would need an interpreter to read this. I'm not sure this is what Halle was hoping for when she asked for blue pages, but I hope she's not too disappointed with what she got. At least she now has them, although they took awhile to get to her.

19 thoughtful remarks:

Unknown said...

I can't imagine why she would be disappointed with these amazing pages! I love how they are each so different but have that common thread of blue. (I suppose that was the point ;)) but I feel you really USED the blue element to allow yourself to experiment with a variety of separate themes and the end result is WONDERFUL! BTW, I like the entire spread but my favorite bit is the cage with the birds and winged heart- just beautiful!

Darla said...

You did a great job of using the color blue in so many different ways. Like the previous poster my favorite is the cage/bird/heart page. I like you tag a lot too.

Darla

Halle said...

I love my pages!! Not disappointed in the least bit! Thank you!!
I'm surprised at how hard just having a color vs a theme is for me right now. I'm having a heck of a time getting my ideas together...

elle said...

Elizabeth, you have done a stellar job! These are wonderful pages.

Anonymous said...

Halle's pages turned out pretty good.

I love blue, so that makes me biased :)

Xx,
Amy

Dianne said...

Outstanding work E! they came together very well. I think the tag is my favorite. Halle is a lucky gal.

peggy gatto said...

first of all, blues are my favorites!
second of al, IT IS GORGEOUS!

Marlynn said...

Oh, Elizabeth, you are just too hard on yourself. Your art work is always incredible and only you know what you first envisioned that you wanted it to be! LOL Halle is a very lucky girl to have such a wonderful piece of art from you. Hugs

Caterina Giglio said...

I think you did a great job and your compositions are looking good! btw love the swirls on the blue earth, just wonderful....

Lynn Cohen said...

These are all fun to see! Thanks for sharing.

Diane said...

Love these!--the blues just pop off of the page. I think you did a wonderful job, and this is one way of growing in our art by using colors that we normally would never use. I think that's a great challenge for any artist.

Theresa MacNaughton said...

Such lovely shades of blue! You did a great job - your swap partner will love your work! Theresa

Carola Bartz said...

I love the shades of blue - these pages have turned out so beautiful! I bet Halle will LOVE it.

voodoo vixen said...

Halle will be chuffed to bits with all that blue gorgeousness!
I got mail, thank you so much for my journal and jigsaw and other bits... I am doing my happy dance!!

Rent server said...

Wonderful job!

Angie said...

You have been so busy creating ...love them ...especially 'imagine'

Steph said...

WEll Hullooooo dear E!!! these pages are simply gorgeous!!! I'd love to do a swap sometime... :))

Donna: said...

Love all the blues in this project... - Donna

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Hi Elizabeth, love these blue pages, they're all wonderful and the one with the hint of pink will be fine; it doesn't detract from the rest of the page at all :-)
I love your use of the left over wood from the porch, they're both looking fabulous.
Anne xx