'What you do speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you say.'
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tuesday 11 June 2019

We have a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday... 


It's a Man's World


Think men, boys - of all ages - or maybe something for Father's Day, 16th June - or a celebration of all things men!
You're free to interpret the theme in your own unique way,
using any medium you like 😊

We can't wait to see what you create! 
The challenge will be live until 24th June.

Don't forget to visit the Challenge page to see the wonderful artwork the design team have created. 

I went with a journal spread this time.
While searching for something else, I came across some Artistic Outpost stamps I've had for a long time but never really used - in fact, I think I'd only used one of them, but I lent them to a friend and I think she used a couple of them. Last time I stayed with my friends in France, who I've known for over 30 years, my friend's brother and his wife stayed a couple of nights. While chatting at the dinner table, they were telling me that their hobby is flying balloons - they are 'montgolfiers', named after the first brothers to fly a balloon. Wow! What an unusual hobby - and their daughter is a champion balloonist... 


I used my 6x6 journal and started with a layer of cream coloured paint, with bits of Dark Umber and Yellow Ochre. Looking at it now, I wonder why I bothered covering the kraft paper because it looks as if the background is still kraft coloured 😉
I started by stencilling lots of numbers with various colours of acrylic paint, using a couple of different stencils, then adding text and more numbers with stamps and other paint colours. I then stamped some of the text stamps from the plates, and finally, the images. I stamped and cut out part of the man in the balloon (Monsieur le Montgolfier), part of the 'L'Homme Ailé' poster and the other winged man (Tim Holtz).
The words were all from the two plates, stamped on card, then cut out and edged in black. 
My imagination was running riot while creating, and I could almost feel the excitement of that wonderful day in Paris, so long ago...
Sorry I can't make the image any larger, so you'll have to click on it if you want to see the details.

I do hope you'll join us during this coming fortnight.

I'm linking this to More Mixed Media's Anything Goes Challenge and to Simon Says Wednesday's Masculine Challenge..
I'll link to Art Journal Journey's Challenge, too - Words to Live By.
In the bottom right hand corner you'll see a little snippet of washi tape that says, 'It's never too late...' and they are my words to live by 😊 I think we often limit ourselves because of age - too young, too old - when in fact any time is a good time! Take a risk!

Thank you for visiting

I'll be back soon 

Cath
xxx

16 very kind comments from lovely people:

brenda said...

Looks like lots of work on your journal pages Cath and despite what you say about it still looking like Kraft, I thinks there is lots of colour variations and they all stand out individually from the base colours. Isn't it just the best when you come across forgotten stamps, I find you look at them in a totally different way to when they were new.

B x

Rosie said...

Great pages for men, Cath

Meggymay said...

An awesome journal collage spread, you have so many interesting images added, I clicked the picture to get a better view.
I also enjoyed reading your post about where your inspiration came from today.
Yvonne xx

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, what a magnificent journal spread! I loved hearing about your friends and the memories that creating these pages bought back 😀. The design is amazing with the different phrases and fabulous images - I love it! We have had a couple of nice days and now rain is due again, so I'll be hibernating in my craft room ...lol 😉. I hope you are feeling better and wishing you a great week! Jo x

My name is Erika. said...

That is an unusual hobby and I love that name for being a balloonist. I didn't know that, although my French is pretty basic. And I love this page. It is has great steampunk feel. I also have that stamp set and have not used it much either. Guess it is time to get mine out and make some art with it. Hugs-Erika

Halle said...

What a great page! I think I'm falling in love with these grungy masculine pages. So different from what I tend to create.
Thanks for linking up with Words to live by on AJJ!

crafty-stamper said...

Fabulous masculine pages love all the inky background and vintage stamps-what a great name for flying balloons and great inspiration behind your pages-see the snippets of info you learn through blogging!
Carol x

froebelsternchen said...

A really unusual hobby and I can say I would never want to be in a balloon by myself.... but it must be wonderful if I only had not fear of hight. I am in love with this terrific grungy masculine journal spread! This design is simply amazing and all the different phrases and fabulous images make it into Mixed Media art on its best! Masterly created and fantastic that it is linked to AJJ dear Cath! THANK YOU VERY much ! That makes me happy!
Have a good week and I send some sunshine in your direction as we have a African heatwave just now here!

Big hugs, Susi

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous journal spread Cath, there's lots and lots of interest and details here and I love the images. It was interesting to read about your friends hot air balloon hobby, very unusual.
Avril xx

Joan said...

What a fabulous spread Cath, so much interest and lovely to hear about your friends hobby too. I have that stamp set too and had forgotten about it!


Joan

pearshapedcrafting said...

Indeed it is NEVER too late Cath! You might imagine this is getting me in the mood for the start of our holiday tomorrow! What fun to see France by hot air balloon! This page has such an amazing feel to it! Hugs, Chrisx

debby4000 said...

Fabulous journaling pages.
Thank you for joining us at Simon says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.
luv
Debby

Neet said...

Your love of France and the French language comes out in this journal page Cath. Magnifique!
That is a wonderful spread and what a lovely story about your friends brother and his wife who are balloonists, or should I say Montgolfiers? Wow what a hobby and how proud they must be of their champion balloonist daughter. One can just imagine you sitting creating with your mind back all those years ago sitting around the dinner table - it shows in your work.
I did have to enlarge your picture and so glad that I did because there was so much to see, just fabulous!
Hugs, Neet xx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I'm not quite sure how I missed this Cath. I love the masculine feel and colors you chose. I have to admit, there is a LOT going on here, and every time I look, I see something I missed the first time. This is a real beauty. thanks for sharing it with us at Art Journal Journey, dear.

Sandma's Handmade Cards said...

Wonderful journal pages Cath. I can see how much work you've put into these. They are perfectly masculine x

Crafting Queen said...

Great backgrounds and love how the layers work together.