New Beginnings....

Along with getting caught up on getting back to my routine; I started two new projects.  We're getting ready to start a new Round Robin project in March.  And this time, each of us has chosen a color or combination of colors for the other artists to use as guidlines.  My problem: I love ALL colors, so how to choose?  I started with my all time favorites; purple and green.  They are still my favorites, but I don't especially like them together...so I changed it to Purple (AL shades) and chartruese....getting closer, but still not sure.  Finally I went with all shades of purple plus black and gold (which I changed to metallics) and splashes of blue green.  And while I'm still questioning my decision, I'm leaving it where it is!  Enough waffling around already!
The next step was to prep my book.  I like to rescue unloved, broken books and use them to make something new.  So I cut my book down to size and wrapped the covers with canvas paper.  And painted in a base using many shades of purple.

I painted in abstract-y blocks to frame the edge and drew in my lettering. In case you're curious, the words read "A Magical ART Journal Journey.....celebrating the color PURPLE with touches of BLACK, METALLICS and BLUE GREENS"  Next order of agony is deciding how to do my sign in page....it's lucky I have a month right?

The other thing I started was a new painting....when I started sketching out my new book, I wanted to include a small painting of a woman with peacock feathers in her hair.  But she REFUSED to be small.  SO, I skipped using her for the book and started putting her on canvas.  This is a VERY rough stage of my painting.  And I usually sketch it out on the canvas before painting, but I didn't have any gesso to cover the painting underneath, so I "paint-sketched" right over the old piece!  In fact, you can still see it in places....look for the green (or don't- it's not very attractive here ;))

This was actually a very freeing way to paint- I also painted most of it without my reading glasses so I couldn't get too nit picky with anything.  There is MUCH left to be done, but for the moment, I'm just relishing having a new WIP!  A VERY good feeling indeed!
I'm linking with Paint Party Friday a little early.  Be sure to stop by the party- always so much beautiful work to see there!
See you at the party!
xx
Stephanie