My muse invited Alice's rabbit pal over for a visit

...this week, much to my surprise.  A less colorful version of this same event is  that after saying no to an Alice in Wonderland skinny project, about two months ago, and at the 11th hour, I decided I'd join in....  the deadline had long since passed but because there were a few drop outs, my offer to contribute was accepted.

I thought it would be a relatively easy feat.   Boy was I was wrong.  After about 20 solid  hours of creating, and to the point where my eyes had dried up from staring into the blue screen, I finished.   Or I could also say, I gave in!   When all was said and done, I felt like I too had  fallen down the rabbit  hole!

I lost count of how many different versions I created.  My muse went from considering Alice, following her heart, to Alice pouring her heart out... and on and on and on.  I opted at one point  to 'call a friend' and poll the audience and  lucky for me, both Marsha and Michele rushed to  the scene to offer some very helpful critiques - (I owe you both!)  Although some of their suggestions aren't reflected in the final version, they are  tucked away for reference when I return back to Wonderland. 

Considering how much time I spent  on this project this week,  I thought I would blog about my whacky and unpredictable  creative  process as it went along.    To be frank,  I need a good reason to laugh at myself and how deeply involved I ended up getting.  Since I could use the company....I hope you'll be able to share in some of my laughter...after all it's at my expense! Heh, maybe you will  even identify with some of my  'thoughts' ...to use the term loosely and  creative decisions that creep into your own  art work.  The right brain can play clever little tricks on me at times and I'd love to hear from you if  you come across  similar foibles and also fall right into your own rabbit hole?

Along the way, I also discovered I had begun to sing this old song in my head after about 10 hours into the project....Remember this one?  Before I googled it I'd thought it was a Doors tune by Jim Morrison...but no it's Jefferson Airplane!!  I have always wondered about the amount of  LSD involved in both these lyrics and in Lewis Carroll's mind.....what's your take on this?  Ya Think???

White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane

One pill makes you larger

And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you

Don't do anything at all

Go ask Alice

When she's ten feet tall

And if you go chasing rabbits

And you know you're going to fall

Tell 'em a hookah smoking caterpillar

Has given you the call
Call Alice

When she was just small
When men on the chessboard

Get up and tell you where to go

And you've just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving slow

Go ask Alice

I think she'll know

When logic and proportion

Have fallen sloppy dead

And the White Knight is talking backwards

And the Red Queen's "off with her head!"

Remember what the dormouse said;

"Keep YOUR HEAD."

Wish I would have taken that advice....maybe next time I'll pay more attention to not only the message but the brilliant images that come to mind in these lyrics.

So here we go....

***In the above  version I was trying to convey that Alice and the rabbit were in pursuit of her heart - it was dusk and thus the lantern.....but I didn't think the path in the background showed up well enough so, as you can see in the next version, I mucked about with the heart, adding legs, and then I thought it started to look too contrived.***

***This  just didn't seem to work ...so I went back to the drawing board and reconfigured the images into the dimensions of a 'skinny' page which is essentially the height being double the width.....****

I didn't mind this one - but still....too storybookish...so I began to play with cropping the image... and that's  precisely how the one  below 'showed up'....

Well, ok -might make a good cut and glue ATC at some point in the future....but I was still not 'feeling it' so   I scrapped these all together and started working with some new images

 Day Two

I loved this background (see credits below) and also found this hauntingly pretty woman from The Graphics Fairy.....but still not there....

Below - my muse began to consider 'hearts'....

Hearts...yes - lots of them...yes pouring out a tea cup - ya know, hearts and tea parties...that's Alice isn't it??  I'm thinking...it's a concept.......but pyramid power hearts...nope.. and they have no movement...they're awful..Scrap that one....and....oh oh, Trudi....why are you  still holding on to the rabbit....even if it was just his ears!!! 

OK - lots of movement with the hearts now...they do look like they could be pouring from the tea cup....but GEEZ Louise!! I thought you were going to get rid of those rabbit ears....and now you've gone and added a mushroom cap?  Obviously, it's time to take a break...a very long break....maybe even have a cup of tea...

Day Three

Sometime between midnight and the morning of Day 3, Alice's body  mysteriously disappeared and luckily, so did her mushroom hat with rabbit ears.  In their place....those thorny roses...  I remembe my muse thinking ....hmmm...good symbols for Alice's angst in meeting the queen....might have to work with those... 

Finally, above - after a suggestion is made to add in some color to the roses, I decide it's either off with my muses head, or it's time to wrap it up. 

Side note - because I hadn't saved my image to adjust, I had to

1)  go back and digitally paint each heart one by one, I kid you not.... do you see the irony???? 

2)  elongate it to fit the 4x8 dimensions.  I'm still not happy about that. A big compromise, but  one I was forced to make....because....the deadline for this project having already passed, ...I was late, very late for a very important date so ....

reluctantly, I pressed print....18 times for 36 front pages.

 And then the  back page - much quicker and easier to do...and an opportunity to add in the iconic (couldn't resist) pink flamingo!  Just because I could. 

I have them printed now and cut, but not pasted together. So, I have another few hours left before they see the bottom of the post office box.

Unfortunately, as is often the case,  I  now can see more opportunities to edit and adjust....make the hearts a deeper red, the frame a deeper purple, and correct the shadows on the hearts going every which way.

And, thought it may be a blessing or a curse,  it seems as a side effect of spending a good amount of creative daydreaming  focusing on Alice,  I've dreamt up several other ideas.  So  I won't be surprise if the rabbit drops by for another visit.  

Thanks for reading what I am sure is my longest blog post ever.  Your comments are humbly welcomed.

Image Credits:
*Tumble Fish Studio - frame and black and white border  from BIG WHIMSY, ballerina - TWINKLE TOES, legs from CRAZY LEGS
*Holliewood Studio - roses and vines from VOID, recolored
**Tangie Baxter -  hearts and wings  from MERCADO, recolored, font from LIBRARIAN
**Nicole Perry - tea cup and saucer, flamingo and books
*Clementine Studio - landscape, lantern and rabbit from PIONEER STORY
The Graphics Fairy - female figure, extracted by me, altered and colored
*Studio Gypsy - parchment scroll from MERCURIAL
Vehicle - personal stash extracted

*www.DeviantScrap.com
**www.Scrapbookgraphics.com

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STARK !!! - latest digital collage work

Baaing 747 - Yuk Yuk!

Image Credits - Holliewood Studios - STARK from DeviantScrap  for all images except

Background - Alberto Giralt - Spain

Tribute to Michael Jackson after watching "This is It"

Image Credits - Love and War

Stark both by Holliewood Studios

MJ image - from www

Background sky - Alberto Giralt - Spain

Eau de Toilette

Image Credits:

Figures - female - Boticelli, male - Library of Congress

Chandelier - Black Licorice by Tangie Baxter - ScrapbookGraphics

Tassel - VOID - by Holliewood Studios

clothes pin - www

ALL OTHER IMAGES and background - STARK by Holliewood Studios

Escher-esque

Image Credits:

Holliewood Studios - STARK - www.DeviantScrap.com

Figure - Mjduram - Deviant Art

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Sharing a glimpse of my digital art created with Tumble Fish Studio and Crowabout Studio's new images

Today I thought I'd post a few images from some of the latest packs made by Marsha's Tumble Fish Studio and Nancy's Crowabout StudioB.  I really seem to change 'gears' creatively when I am working digitally with Marsha's and Nancy's images   because they each have distinctively different styles.  And yet, I am beginning to see the potential for combining them together - especially when it comes to the vintage images of people. 

Here's the link to their images on line.

This first one below is an example of a combination of both -

The Jolly Adult Only Men's Club

Image Credits:
Tumble Fish Studio - Twinkle Toes, That's the Ticket, Froo Froo, Big Whimsy, Round Things and Snappy Dressers,
Crowabout StudioB - Men in Hats

The Over The Hill Club

Image Credits:  Crowabout Studio B  for all images with the exception of the B/W striped hills from Holliewood Studios - Art Dollies

Can Can Can You?

Image Credits:  Tumble Fish Studio 
Crow - Tangie Baxter - Mercado at SBG
Large Crow - portion from Mrs. Inman - Flickr

Art washes away....

Image Credits:  Crowabout Studio B - features new "Wild Things!!!"

Finally, below -  I received a wonderful email from Marsha yesterday attaching this fabuous Skinny she  had just completed for me.  No one does Tumble Fish Studio like Mama Fish (aka Marsha)

THANK YOU Marsha!

Hold On To Your Hat - by Marsha Jorgensen - Tumble Fish Studio

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SUNDAY POSTCARD ART - Happy Canada Day AND Happy 4th of July!!!!

"Paint the Town Red"

Image Credits:  Tumble Fish Studios - Twinkle Toes and City Lights, Brushes - Deviant Art, Paint - Holliewood Studios - Stark and Hat - Art Dollies

While red and white are definitely synonymous with Canada's flag - there's also a tiny little USA flag mid way up on the right margin - that one's for you!!!  Cheers!

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Can it really be true?

....that tomorrow is July 1st?  Am I the only one this year that feels as if I never saw spring?  

Could also perhaps be that I've been pretty much glued to my computer creating digital artwork like the  mad woman that I am turning into.  I should say happy woman as having such a wonderful variety of images now to tinker with, it has become a kid in the candy shop.  

My fabric collages in progress have taken the back seat lately, although I know I have a couple that I've worked on and not posted here and will be snapping a few photos hopefully during the weekend.  Unfortunately, no photos yet of my 'little journey doll' from the workshop last weekend.  She is still getting dressed!  

On to my latest  digital work - the stars and the moon must have been in a digital designer seeking pattern as all but one of the Creative Teams I've signed up on released new packs over the past seven days.  So many beautiful new images, I really don't know where to start.    And, as I get to know more and more of these creative wizards, I feel even more responsible for making sure I acknowledge their work - because they are all great people and I believe their work deserves to be recognized.   And no, I don't get paid for saying this!!!!

There were several, I honestly lost count, new releases at http://www.deviantscrap.com/  this week from Holliewood Studios, Tumble Fish Studio, and Crowabout StudioB - aka Hollie, Marsha and Nancy.   Nancy and Marsha also released their work in JPG format for those of you interested in cut and paste collage work.   So, if this entices you, pay them a visit at http://www.deviantscrap.com/  Again, I repeat,  it sounds like a plug, but it isn't!  

Tangie Baxter also released a new set of images  in collaboration with another designer and shop - http://www.thedigichick.com/   The title of their  release is ART Stomp.

Here we go -

"To Whom It May Concern...Love"

Image Credits:  Tangie Baxter and The DigiChick - Art Stomp, black and white images - Library of Congress

"Fly"

Image Credits:  Tangie Baxter - Art Stomp, Bird Stamp - Holliewood Studios - The Collector

And these two are both journal pages - and just for fun......

The last 20 pounds

Image Credits - All Tangie Baxter - Pig - Black Licorice, Woman - Haute Soiree, all others - Art Stomp

An Altered State of Mind

Image Credits:  Phrenology, Entered stamp  and Palmistry - from Deviant Art, Arm - Tumble Fish Studio - Froo Froo, Male Figure - Tangie Baxter @ Scrapbookgraphics - Black Licorice, Art Stomp

More to follow...Thanks for visiting!  I'm  planning to spend some great leisurely time getting caught up on all of my favorite blogs!!

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Workshop today plus lengthy musings.....about putting your left brain to bed early

Today I'll be spending the day at our local Bowman Arts Centre creating a doll.  (see below)  I woke up at 5 am to double check what time the workshop started and to then consider  any materials and tools I would need to gather  before I left.  I had  all week to do this, but kept getting distracted by other matters.  Read: procrastinating.

I haven't any knowledge of the artist who is conducting the workshop, other than what I've perused through on her website and I am going alone.  I joined the Textile Surface Design Guild in our community basically so I could take this workshop and keep updated on the workshops and events they plan.  There was a lecture  by the workshop leader on Thursday evening but I wasn't able to attend so I am walking into it essentially ' 'blind' you could say.  And I have to admit, I prefer it that way. When possible, I like to follow my muse and remain unaffected by outside influences for this particular workshop.  I am becoming more and more like this - reclusive you could call it, as the days move forward. 

So, of course, I couldn't find the email that had been sent to me (I have 1000's stored, but never the ONE I need to find) so I googled the artist and found this poster that lead me to the necessary information - time and place, plus a few details on what to bring.  I knew before that most of the materials will be supplied. 

Off and on throughout the past few months I have wondered what type of doll I would end up constructing, what would it look like, how would it become 'my' personal doll, but again, these were fleeting thoughts and no images popped into my mind.  Or so I thought. 

This is where again,  much to my surprise my muse popped by for a visit.  I was busily working on constructing a digital collage for Tumble Fish Studio yesterday and completed one by early evening.  I was content  to finish one image as per my creative team artist requirement.  Content yes, but not what I would say satisfied.  Given the requirement to construct a digital collage using a set group of images, I occasionally feel 'unfulfilled' personally as sometimes my own need for creative expression senses a void.  Don't misinterprete this to mean that I don't care for the images I am working with, quite the opposite is true.  It's more that I feel creatively confined when I am limited to a set group of images.   Last night this 'feeling'  persisted and so I gave myself permission to 'be' without the aforementioned 'parameters' and ended up creating one other digital composition.   It was late and my left brain had already gone to bed.  I am beginning to believe that my muse doesn't appear unless my left brain is missing!   Luckily, that happens quite frequently!!!!!

What surprises me, is now having slept and returned, I see that on 'another level' my creative mind or muse, or subconscious, or whatever you may like to call this process, had in fact been sketching out some imagery reflecting  'me' or my 'personal doll' all along.  At some level, it does appear I was 'preparing' for the workshop today. 

Workshop poster -

Here's the digital composition I created using  several of Tumble Fish Studio's new packs, available at http://www.deviantscrap.com/

"Fly"

Image Credits:  Tumble  Fish Studio - Big Whimsy, Twinkle Toes and Angels packs

After my left brain went to bed -

                                             True to Me

Image Credits:  Backgrounds (3) - Alberto Giralt, Outline of ballerina - TumbleFish Studio - Twinkle Toes, Heart - Mercados, out line of drapery - Haute Soiree  - Tangie Baxter

This last image  feels more congruent to being a reflection of 'me' mostly because it speaks of my own voice. Even though it is made up of different images from other artists, it is composed in a way that brings forward its 'own life'.  I think, at least.  What do you think?  Does your artwork reflect you?

  I look forward to today's workshop and wonder how easy it will be for me to find my creative  voice and express it visually in the form of a doll.

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Tumble Fish Studio at Deviant Scrap

This morning Marsha from Tumble Fish Studio and Deviant Scrap  released for sale today  some great new funky  collage packs in both  png and jpg formats.   There are dancing women, round bits, tickets galore and more!  I'm ready to go, have my sleeves  rolled  up and a call out to  my muse.... !!! 

Here's a preview  -

New Kits from Tumblefish Studio

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Life of Pi, etc.

Below are 2 new digital collages I completed this week, both still utilizing bits and pieces from Hollies' VOID

kit - both again, surreal.  My muse seems to be moving  toward a surreal direction  these days....  out of my control!!!  :0)

The first  image below was inspired by a book I read a few years ago - "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

"Pi"

Image Credits - Background - Alberto Giralt, Figure - Anji Johnston - thanks Anji!!! Holliewood Studios - VOID and The Collector packs - all at http://www.deviantscrap.com/

"Open Minded"

Image Credits:  http://www.deviantscrap.com/ Holliewood Studios - VOID (vine and roses)  Drapery overlay - Tangie Baxter - Haute Soiree, Background - Alberto Giralt 

. 

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I entered my first contest....

Let Your Light Shine

An email arrived today reminding me to enter a contest....I thought...what contest?  I followed the link and came across the Wacom Tablet Pen Scrappers site where they sponsor monthly contests, a free kit, and a chance to win some pretty cool prizes.  This month the topic was ...something you love and you have to utilize some of the elements in the kit.

To the right of my blog you'll see the direct link to VOTE.  If you have a moment, could you please?  Thanks!

Image Credits:

Mona, light bulb, ART font, black background grunge - all from Tangie Baxter - Steampunk

Frame, tags, heart and 'Do What You Love... - Pen Scrappers

Young girl - Rebecca McCeen

Background - Playing with brushes - Flickr

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SEASIDE ART Dolls and VOID

This past week proved to be a busy one for me as not only Hollie's VOID was released by I also began to work on Tangie Baxter's Creative Team and she released a set of images entitled "Seaside Art Dolls." I was delighted to have the cooperation of my muse to help create these imaginative  'creatures'!

Two Heads Are Better Than One

The Nordic Maiden

The Fishy Bride

Asian Angel

And this last one combines Tangie's  Seaside Art Dolls, Splatter Grafitti Breathe and The Purple Tide -

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