We are coming to the end of the year for BOD2017 and one of our last lessons is an iconic portrait based on the theme of Persephone's descent into the underworld. Because I'm in the Southern hemisphere, the idea of 'descent into darkness' doesn't fit with my feelings of the season, so I decided to focus on her return to earth. She is often represented by symbols associated with the coming of Spring, including a wreath of flowers in her hair, torch, reeds, waterfalls, rivers and springs. Plants associated with her include Pomegranate, maidenhair fern, lily, daisy lavender. And so I began with turquoise, Iridescent blue green, Iridescent Green Gold and Gold paint scraped with credit card - delicious ♥
I didn't have a suitable all-over stencil for the next part, so decided to use one of my favourites on repeat
I drew in her face outline and halo, and then decided to add a different stencil into her hair - this will tone with the pomegranate colours as suggested by Effy.
Isn't it wonderful how serendipitous things can be? I was this far in my portrait before I went away last weekend, and when I got there I was served pomegranate!
Here's my pomegranate halo - I realise now that the hair needs to be darker
Love how her face turned out and I sat for a while with the background because I wasn't sure what I wanted to add. I was thinking affirmations and then I decided to add words that resonate with me at this time. Click on any photo to see it larger.
I am really happy with how this spread turned out.
See my Flickr album for all my art from classes with Effy HERE. Sign up to Book of Days or other classes with Effy Wild HERE. Now available : Book of Days 2018 AND Moonshine 2018 - both discounted until Dec 31st and even further if you purchase as a package.
Read all about Moonshine in detail HERE and Book of Days 2018 HERE. Effy explains the differences in focus : For those who are seeking a more ‘secular’ experience that focuses on meeting ourselves as we are on the page, self-care, and regular creative practice, Book Of Days 2018 may be a better choice for you. For those of you looking to create or enhance your own spiritual practice, learn how to use art as a tool for transformation on a spiritual level, commune with the divine through effort as offering, or track the phases of the moon & seasons of the year through art, Moonshine 2018 is definitely for you.
If you join either of these you also get this Persephone lesson as a bonus ♥
Today I needed to spend some creative time on something easy and fun. Something that didn't require too much thought with the added bonus that I could tick something off my list. I have a few special people with birthdays in December and January so I cut apart some watercolour paper I used in a class recently to demonstrate stencils. I looked through my stash of pretty serviettes and found some appropriate colours. Then I stitched the watercolour pieces to blank card fronts - some with a single line of machine stitching
some framed with a double edge
I quite like the messy look and I want to add stitch to many more of my projects in 2018. I did add words to one of the cards, but the rest will wait to have their additions when I decide which card will be used for a future occasion
Very happy with how these all turned out
I'm following the prompts of the original Documented Life 2014. Week 48 : depict gratitude in a creative way And from the blog for Life Documented 2017 HERE :
Prompt: To create an abstract piece
Technique: To apply the colour wheel and freedom!
I have just had a wonderful creative weekend away with a friend (see my last post). It made me think about all the things I am grateful for :
My friendships, and that I live within half an hour of the beach
for roses - their colour and their perfume
for the gift of creativity, for my gorgeous family, for sunshine and the coming Summer holidays and for online community sharing like this Life Documented project ♥ I decided to use that list to depict gratitude in a creative way in my abstract spread. Here's how that happened.
Gorgeous hot colour sprayed freely through stencils (apply the colour wheel and freedom). I am grateful for the love of my family and friends :
I am grateful for roses - I love the depth of colour of this (below) and part of the quote from my weekend where we saw abundant roses and enjoyed their fragrance in the sunshine
I am grateful for the beach, and for sunshine and the coming Summer
I am grateful for the gift of creativity and the inspiration of the Documented Life project over the years and the supportive online community - the butterfly is a recurring symbol in my art. I am grateful for my artistic growth.
I know I have a few elements that are not strictly "abstract" but the finished spread makes me very happy.
You can see all my posts about this project HERE and my Flickr album HERE. See you in December!
