Following on from my previous post....
The second spread in our board book was to include a whimsical character and be based on a childhood trauma and our page needed to be the opposite of said trauma. Fortunately I didn't experience any (as far as I can remember) and so my spread was to be based on a happy memory instead.
Rather than focusing on anything in particular (this was the hardest part, deciding what to do!), I used lyrics of the first pop songs I can remember hearing as a child. Namely, and I've included links on YouTube so I can go and listen to them again whenever I feel like it!
Grocer Jack by Keith West - Excerpt from a teenage opera (1967)
Little Boxes by Pete Seeger (1963)
Little Arrows by Leapy Lee (1968)
My page included two whimsical characters - one is me and the other my best friend, my Mum! This wasn't a conscious decision, I did one and then another and it just looks right. They were painted onto watercolour paper, cut out and glued onto the background.
My characters aren't perfect - even though I've now got some of the 'proper' crayons! It really isn't as easy as Tam makes it looks - I guess I'm not a natural at this, but I'm going to have a lot of fun practicing I think.
Here's some close ups - I must be mad!
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What a funny mouth - and it looks as though I have a bad case of dandruff - it's supposed to be shine! Why have I got talcum powder on my forehead and down my nose - hehehe!! She's much prettier! Beautiful green eyes, but still a bit of dandruff! I enjoyed doing the background. Book text, water soluble crayons, white acrylic paint, more crayons, rubber stamping, printed text coloured with the crayons, more white acrylic paint and rubber stamping.  I know I haven't quite got the whole 'cohesive' thing absolutely right yet and I was rather heavy handed with the shadowing around the characters.  I do still like the finished pages though, and as I said before it's all a learning process and we learn by our mistakes after all. The main thing is I'm enjoying the process - it's a lot of fun! Thank you again Tam - wonder what's next! |
14 comments:
marvellous whimsy characters and they havent got dandruff so stop being negative!
Your characters are full of personality, they are quirky and special - almost dream-like in their beautifully created environment ... and now you tell me again what is wrong with them ......
Love your pages, I haven't got a board book yet but going into town tomorrow so hope to find one in a charity shop.
Stunning artwork Sherry. Love everything about your pages. :) I can imagine you are going to have lots of fun practising your new found skills. :) Just love your Whimsy's... Brilliant.xx Thanks for sharing.xx
How'd you get your eyes so good. The characters absolutely come alive. I am now humming Grocer Jack away in my head as I sew your box together.Lol.
wonderful! i've been seeing a lot of great work from this workshop and i am tempted to join!
Omg ! These are wonderful whimsey characters! Gorgeous pages. Can't see any dandruff either!! Stunning work!
Jan x
i'm really drawn to the girl in green holding the flower
it must be nice playing with those watercolour crayons, you have achieved a lovely finish with them
love your whimsies they are so cute! They don't look like they have dandruff at all! I am doing this course as well and am learning so much x
I wonder if journaling will be addictive for you. I really think this 2 page spread turned out great. They are not supposed to be perfect, as a matter of fact, I tell everyone who purchases anything from me that nothing I do is perfect.
It will be interesting to see what is next in the class.
Wow, fantastic art, your characters are gorgeous they have a magical look. Great backgrounds as well
Sherry,
I think you are very much a natural at this. Your artwork is really fantastic.
Angela
PS My mom was my BFF, too.
I think you are too self-critical and I agree with the post above, you ARE a natural. I remember all those songs (Junior Choice right?) - my favourite was Three Wheels on my Waggon :-)
Oh Sherry these are lovely, don't be so hard on yourself, you're only just beginning and I disagree with you saying you are not a natural.
Drawing and painting your own stuff is much harder to master than stamping etc. When I say master I mean paint on the paper what it is you are imagining in your brain not technically perfect work.
There is a good reason why Hero Arts say anyone can stamp.
I love that it is you and your Mum :-)
Gini
xx
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