A Year of Rumi : June/July

I wanted to explore Effy's "A Year of Rumi" lessons this year in my art journal, since last year I explored them as monthly art cards.  I always wanted to do June's lesson in my journal so am very thankful that I've finally made time for my version. I began with a dark background for my page from using up paint from my May prompt which faces this one. This gave me the opportunity to start with gorgeous iridescent and interference paints for my background. First I painted over some book paper with Titanium Buff and drew an outline of my face - it was a good solution for adding light over the dark base as well as for sketching in my hair line before I began to add colour.

I adore butterflies, metallics and Rumi   

Sharing 2 images of my completed page. Above in daylight and below taken at night to show how this really glows

I already managed both a journal spread for July as well as the art card last year so am now ready for the August prompt. 

Find out more about A Year of Rumi with Effy Wild HERE. And see ALL my posts about this class HERE.

A Year of Rumi : May inspiration

I last created a Rumi page inspired by Effy Wild's class in April. Finally had a chance to look at May's lesson : this was Effy's version

I decided I'd just go with a single page in my journal and began by transferring the figures from the template provided by Effy using carbon paper. By leaving the figures faceless, they can represent any loving relationship. First I blocked in some colour and then created some more of the paper stitched elements that I've been enjoying lately.

The moon is an acetate shape stitched over book paper, and the rest is organza stitched over book paper. The words are present and loved.The rest of the page evolved fairly quickly and represents all the people who have stood beside me supporting me through this year. I've included symbolism that holds meaning for me.

I am really happy to report that  chemo and some conservative surgery have worked to clear the breast cancer from my body without me needing a full mastectomy 💜 I got the news on Friday. I need to complete my recovery from surgery and then have radiotherapy, so I'm not quite done yet, but so grateful for this outcome. This lesson was just what I needed to celebrate this weekend. I don't mind that it didn't turn out to be related to Rumi's quote and love how my creative process supports and reflects what's going on in my life. 

Flashback to last year's May "Klimt in the Garden with Rumi" mixed media card - see the details HERE. 

Find out more about A Year of Rumi with Effy Wild HERE. All the lessons are available for instant access in the classroom. See all my posts about this class HERE.

A Year of Rumi : Peace be with you

This month's Rumi quote is about Peace and the connectivity of the human condition, and the golden thread of kindness. Since Effy shared a photo of this lesson on her blog last year I thought you might like to see what she did and how mine differs. 

Learning every day - what would happen if....I start with scrapbook paper that has large florals in gold for my background?

Butterfly serviette makes me happy

and really thrilled that since I used glazes you can still see the original gold shining through

Find out more about A Year of Rumi with Effy Wild HERE. All the lessons are available for instant access in the classroom. There's also a very supportive and inspiring FB group. See all my posts about this class HERE.

A Year of Rumi : March with FREE lesson links

I'm being inspired by Effy's A Year of Rumi online class again this year but in my art journal this time. See what I did with the class in 2019 HERE. See my January and February 2020 posts in my art journal HERE. Last year Effy shared a speed painted version of her March lesson on YouTube. Find that HERE.

I really love the roses in this one and what Effy did with the eye, but it's taken me until now to attempt my own version since I wasn't quite sure which way I wanted to take it. Effy has very generously decided to release her Darling Human tutorial for March FOR FREE FOR ALL with no strings attached. Go HERE. The PDF contains everything you need to enjoy this lesson, including links to the videos, supplies list, and a step-by-step walkthrough.

I thought this would be a great springboard for my Rumi lesson since it's a one-eyed portrait and Effy also demonstrates working with a right hand facing ‘palette page’ which you can then turn into a painting and a perfect place for a quote. With those 2 inspirations, here's what happened in my journal. Click on any photo to see it larger.

Find out more about A Year of Rumi with Effy Wild HERE. All the lessons are available for instant access in the classroom. There's also a very supportive and inspiring FB group. See all my posts about this class HERE.

A Year of Rumi : January

Last year I did Effy's A Year of Rumi art journal class. I used it in a different way from others and created a series of mixed media art cards. Check out all those posts HERE.

My art cards were inspired by the Rumi quotes but completely different from Effy's lessons. I'd always had the thought I'd go back and repeat them in my art journal more closely inspired by her art. 

We started in December 2018 with a lesson for the cover (the intention of the class is to make a calendar by the end of year so 13 pieces of art) This is Effy's (advertised on Patreon HERE)

You can find details of my art card below for this prompt HERE. I did use her techniques in my journal in August - sort of ♥

January's quote : ''The source of now is here.'' The lesson is about celebrating being in the present moment and working with a monochromatic colour scheme. This journal spread will be completely different from my art card last year which colourfully celebrated our holiday in Hawaii! Effy chose a Lotus for her focal - I've chosen the lovely Pohutukawa flower since that is all around us in New Zealand currently. Now the challenge of the monochromatic colour scheme with Red. Happily I was able to make use of a gift card from Warehouse Stationery on the weekend some of which has inspired my direction for this spread - gorgeous new pastel acrylics ♥

I have a lovely pohutukawa stencil that I applied with red first, then gold to the tips and flower base

and later the leaves. Also added tapa stencils to the background. I know this needs more dark but isn't it pretty already?

I decided to use a technique I haven't used for a while to place the quote before I did more. Type your quote into a Word document and choose a font you like - I chose Curlz MT. Print a black and white copy to see you like the font size (mine is 48). Then space the words on your page so you have room to cut them out. Get an old calendar page and hold up your test page so you can see where the position of the words will fall.

Adjust as needed, trim calendar page to fit your A4 printer. Print. Wait to dry and then I zapped with workable fixative just to be safe (since my calendar is glossy paper) before I cut and placed them. 

Decided they were softer trimmed to a curve with my dancing vellum pohutukawas from my inspiration pack above.

And now I have the colours I need to pull the rest of the spread together. Brown Faber Castell Pitt Pen can be smudged/blended with your finger when first applied and is a softer option than black. Flowers finished with gold Sakura Gelly roll metallic pen. See more detail by clicking on the photo to see it larger.

Next day I decided that all the spread needed was some gold dots to complete. It's not quite monochromatic but I am very happy with this. 

I already did both a card and a journal page for the February lesson last year : 

Not sure if I'll be inspired to repeat this lesson or if you'll have to wait until March for the next one. Find out more about A Year of Rumi with Effy Wild HERE. All the lessons are available for instant access in the classroom. There's also a very supportive and inspiring FB group. See all my posts about this class HERE.

Klimt in the garden with Rumi : Last of this series

I have adored this year-long monthly project. See how I began HERE with an idea to fill my mixed media Klimt in the Garden Collaged Box with art cards inspired by Effy's A Year of Rumi prompts. I think you can still sign up for this although my cards are no indication of the art you'll find there, only the quotes used.

The cards begin as 300gsm watercolour paper cut to 5 3/4" square. This last prompt once again needs a candle. I did one for August, so need to create this in a different way. I dug through my box of gatherings for this project and was immediately inspired by my samples of painted fusible together with this lovely piece of polymer clay and a gorgeous Tyvek bead originally made by Carolyn Saxby and gifted to me by a friend. Using that paper cast would be cool too if I can manage it. 

First I need a background layer and I love the glow that comes when I start with gold. Then I tried my layout. Working this small is a challenge every time. I think I can include all the elements I want though. 

I always put a meaningful backing fabric on the back of my finished cards. This black with gold seems appropriate for the festive season but also a tinge of sadness that this is the end. I decided to use one of those heart samples for the label

I thought the paper cast was going to have to count as my garden element this time, but then I was able to add a sweet seed head stamp with Staz On ink and even managed to sneak in a butterfly. I love the final result.  

I've managed to include sari ribbon and hand stitched elements on most of my cards, and metallic machine stitching on all. It's so lovely to see them all together. Click on the photos to see them larger.

You can see the entire series in my Flickr photo set or look through my blog posts HERE. I will definitely have to pursue another mixed media fibre project next year.