What is that saying about art imitating life? I think this page does that. The Art: I started by using a square piece of foam that was used as filler in a Tim Holtz Texture Fades package. I stamped squares on three sides of the page in gray, green, purple and hot pink. The next layer was the piece of paper towel at the top of the page. I added a bit of orange to it. Then I added the purple text that I stamped on tissue paper using a Hero Arts stamps. There is a small piece of numbers from an old book I have. The text at the bottom is an advertisement for paper and the very tiny text is a stamp I got at Michael's and stamped on tissue paper.I love stamping on tissue paper because it lets the other layers show through.
The final layer is a napkin with a flower on it. I use a water color paint brush and a bit of water to "cut" around the flower. I used sharpie paint markers for the writing and the outlines of the flower.
Thoughts: I know that I am made of many layers. When I was young I was often a different person depending on who I was with at the time. I wanted people to like me so I tried to be what others wanted me to be. It's taken 60 years for me to learn that I am who I am. I've grown and changed a lot from age 40 to age 60. I am more free and open. It took a while to learn that I don't have to tell every thought to every person I meet. I've learned to trust my instincts and now I find it a bit easier to know who it's ok to let see all of my layers.
It's a fine line.... being myself and protecting myself from those who might hurt me. It's all about boundaries, trusting my instincts and learning from my mistakes.
Link to: Paint Party Friday, The Documented Life Project
I love the texture on the paper towel...do you know what brand it is? (You'll have me looking at the quilting patterns on paper towels every time I go down that aisle at the grocery store!) I really like the way the napkin looks, so transparent and awesome! And, best of all, I love hearing the thoughts behind your art! Knowing the 'why' is always so important and interesting to me...it must be one of my layers! :) I understand what you were saying about being a different person, depending on who you were around. I think we all do that at some point in life, especially when we are younger. I think it is a common thing for a parent to say something like 'be yourself and people will like YOU' (as opposed to acting how others want us to act...because then they can't like the real us!) and we don't get it when we're young. Then one day, we finally realize what they were trying to tell us is absolutely true! I get mad at myself sometimes for wasting years of my life trying to fit into somebody else's ideals! I really like what you said "I don't have to tell every thought to every person I meet." It just made me think about how we sometimes give ourselves away to people who don't deserve it. We are all awesome people, and it's a privilege to know someone else, not a right. We have the option of removing those really good and special portions of ourselves from people who abuse the privilege of knowing us! I wish I would have learned that much sooner in life!
ReplyDeleteI think most of us wish we'd learned stuff much sooner. I love what you said about it being a privilege to get to know us. You are so right. Thanks for visiting. I appreciate you so much.
Deletegreat textures. Yes we have many layers, but agree its not always necessary to share them. At the great age am now my thoughts are Know Yourself for Who You Are, hugs Annette x
ReplyDeletehttp://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/
I think I may have to use that quote in my art journal.... Know Yourself for Who You Are. Thanks for stopping by and giving me a great quote to use. :)
DeleteI like layers...and I agree I am layered...but the layers keep changing. I have taken 60 years to still have no idea which one is the real one....so they all must be real:) I like your layered art:)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. My layers keep changing too. Thanks for visiting.
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