Saturday 18 February 2012

Pages of a book. . .

This was a little something that I sent to B at Sweetlimes for our February swap. We are now into our second year of monthly swaps... Blue Scarf is on 11x15cm cardboard
I started using pages from a book that I had lying around and now I can't stop. These are three of nine that I have done so far. Girl about Town is on a 20x20cm canvas. I'm about to tackle a 100x100cm canvas. The theme will be the same...lots and lots of houses. I must be mad... wooooo, don't all shout at once :)
Red popped out of the blue... Here's how I do them.  1. I prepare my background with gesso. 2. I paint my canvas one colour then with a piece of cardboard I scrape another colour over the top. 3. I stick bits of pages down with clear gesso. Then finally I colour in with ink, watercolour, pencils or pastels... et voila! a mini obsession going on... I'm sharing this with you and everyone over at Sunday Sketches
Please let me know if you use my Here's How...I would love to see what you come up with... Ta Ra for now...

20 comments:

Unknown said...

They are soooo lovely!!

Netty said...

They are terrific pieces and particular love all the great layers. Annette x

Tammie Lee said...

Catherine, they are each so fun and wonderful!
Thank you for sharing your how too, sounds awesome.

Tracey FK said...

This is an awesome obsession and I hope that it goes on for a while longer... I really really like that blue scarf girl and how lucky for the person getting that in the swap... really enjoying visiting and seeing your work... xx

Becca said...

Lovely pieces!

Gwen said...

These are gorgeous and I love to peer through layers...lovely!
xx

Heather said...

these are so cool - I love the first girl in all of her pastels!
Thanks for sharing your porcess - i have always wondered how people do this kind of work!
your faces are a delight to see ! can't wait to see more!
hugs

Victoria said...

Wow!! I am dazzled!I love them all..the little girl with red is my fave..and i adore the first one..her face is so soulful and her heart is shining through..and I am in love with the colored background..that particular shade is amazing!Like a Victorian teal/French blue.
I am finding some of yorur pieces..are carrying such a rich antique/vintage-y feel..like "from another era"..I am really enjoying that! I hope you know what I mean..anyways..just stunning and pure magic!!
Shine on
victoria

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful creations ~ love the characters and your art style is charming ~ Excellent ~ Happy SS ~namaste,carol (A Creative Harbor)

Christine said...

Thanks for sharing your process for these beautiful works, you do have your own special style Catherine!

Debbie said...

these are all so wonderful! I love the words showing through and really love the houses and your girl about town! so cute!!

Debbie said...

these are all so wonderful! I love the words showing through and really love the houses and your girl about town! so cute!!

m7 said...

wow great stuff! i love your work...and it's weird, but i like your name too..

Sabina said...

Love these! Especially the blue one with the houses! Cute but also very sophisticated. The girl has a great face and I really like how the houses make such a nice background without "competing" with the girl.

WrightStuff said...

Well, you may have spotted that I am also a total addict when it comes to book pages - there is just something about them - especially old ones that have started to yellow round the edges!

My fave of these is the top one - blue scarf. I like how you've kept it simple, yet there's still so much going on... (if that makes sense!).

Alexandra MacVean said...

Love your book pages. Very nice job. LOVE "Red" and I really ought to attempt mixed media! :)

Molly said...

i love the way you've used book pages in your art. i'm particularly fond of your jaunty girl about town!

Alicia C said...

what a great process! thanks for sharing it -- also, love the look of writing on girl's skin - it sort of relates the way we are all so filled with thoughts, pretty much all of the time - a visual representation of a need to quiet the mind

Joanne Osband said...

I really like the layer effect you achieve. Thanks for sharing your process. I love the look/attitude you achieved with the Blue Scarf. The houses are phenomenal and provide a perfect background for her jaunty style. Red, she looks so innocent and charming.

Elina Ellis said...

wow! What a great idea! I have never tried anything like that, but I absolutely love the way it looks!!!