Painting on Black

My friend Janet just did a couple ladies painted on black after seeing Pam Carriker's article in the latest Art Journaling magazine.  I had seen the article too but I had just not tried it yet.  Thanks for the nudge Janet.

I started by painted the page with black gesso and drew a face over it.  The dress is scrapbook paper with a wash of golden's quinacridone crimson on top.  The paper was too white and the wash made it just right.














This one I used paper for the dress again. In the background I used paynes grey and some white gesso.  I kept the black gesso for the hair but added carbon black and some watercolor crayons for highlights. I found it really interesting starting with a black background. If you need a change of pace give it a try.

Over the last couple of years I have taken quite a few classes and for some of them I either bought the videos or still have access to them.  I have been watching them again and getting new insights.  If you have not taking classes like me then there is a world of great videos on YouTube.  Just do a search on your topic and you will be amazed at what you will find.

GPP Street Team Crusade # 34 - Come Over To The Dark Side

I have always wanted to participate in the GPP Street Team Crusades. For some reason I never take the time. This months crusade is # 34 - "Come Over To The Dark Side" , and I wanted to participate but lately I am so busy that I could easily have let this one slide too so I just forced myself to do it. I love working with black gesso so yesterday I did these pages. I loved all the things Michelle did and if I had used spray paint mine would have looked so similar so I decided on a different approach.













I think this pages says how I was really feeling. Too much stuff to deal with lately. In one moment I am really excited about things and the next down in the dumps. So what is a girl to do, well journal about it of course. It gave me the opportunity to also use my cricut for some embellishments, that is where the city on the bottom comes from.













This next one evolved just because I found the crane picture on my desk and I liked how it looked on the black surface. I used some portfolio oil pastels to color the white of the picture and just blended it together. My white gel pen was giving me fits but I finally got it to work. This was fun. I think I will try to do this again.