Friday, September 19, 2014

Magical Journal Journeys


Inspired by two very different artists . . .

A double blog post for our Magical Journal Journeys collaboration
because I'm so far behind and trying to catch up.

What have I been doing to cause these circumstances?
I'm blaming it on the veggie garden. I've either been out there picking
tomatoes, peppers and eggplants or I've been in the kitchen
cooking, pickling, freezing, drying, jarring etc. so they don't take over the house.
I'm not complaining. I'm just saying. That's my excuse.
It's great to have a productive garden ~
I'm just saying I have a lot of respect for farmers. Imagine if you had veggies 
coming out your ears and still had to take care of the cows, pigs, and chickens.

Enough of that! I'm supposed to be talking about artists.

Matisse
Lisa Wright's chosen artist is Matisse. 
He was a master of color and had no fear of it. He even went so far as to say, 
“Seek the strongest color possible. The content is of no importance.”


He often used many different amazing patterns in one painting.

FRONT

I used two of the patterns I painted in Jeanne Oliver's 
“Studying Under the Masters” class to create a double sided tag 
with 2 of Matisse's paintings attached.
It was so much fun copying Matisse's patterns
and I love the way he never bothered to make everything perfect.
They were so much more beautiful for not being 
laid out with a ruler and painstakingly painted.

BACK


He did many figures, mostly women, and many of them were nudes.
Again, they were never a perfect representation of the human body
but still had such substance and realism anyway.
That was something it was very difficult for me to imitate. I tend to fiddle too much 
trying to make something perfect (which of course is impossible!).



I don't know why Matisse had a longing to be a vermilion goldfish,
but I think there are worse things to be. They are quite beautiful, 
and don't have fishermen angling to make them into supper.
Lazing around in a pond all day could be quite the Zen experience. ;-)



Next journal arriving at my door was Katina Wright's whose chosen artist is 
Jennifer Judd McGee

I was not familiar with JJM's work and it was a delight to discover her.
Her pieces are very modern and 21st century. But I can still see that there is
something similar to Matisse's work...maybe it's the use of patterns!

I had a bit of a technical (or tactical?) error with Kat's pages.
I did a fold-out panel but did not think to put it on the right side instead of the left.
All of the journals are traveling unbound this time and I didn't think 
that I was putting the panel on the side that would be bound (smacking self in forehead).
I'm hoping when the ring binding is in place it won't matter...


I had fun with the multitude of patterns and the zentangle-like pen work!


Jennifer's landscapes and towns are like fantasy places and 
I immediately thought of Oz and added the hot-air balloon
and the quote by Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.


Kat cleverly added a sign-in page with a square for each artist to fill.
I had done these zentangle-ish illustrations for my main pages
but didn't use them. They fit perfectly on my sign-in square!

There you have July and August!
I have the very last journal on my desk here in September.
It happens to be Priti Lisa's whose artist is
Modigliani

I'm thinking Modigliani won't be TOO hard, 
but that's what I thought about the other six artists, and I was wrong.
(Okay, I should have said seven artists. 
My own choice, José Manuel Merello, 
may have been the most difficult of all.)


So, off to the garden with hopefully some time for art this afternoon!


Since I haven't participated in Paint Party Friday in ages,
I'm linking up there also.


Have a great weekend!


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12 comments:

  1. Lovely work, the work of Matisse always makes me happy. Valerie

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  2. Wow Maggie. Wonderful bountiful garden and art. You made some amazing art here. Love the colors, and patterns in your Matisse. Love that you went to Oz with Jennifer Judd McGee in a hot air balloon. Perfect quote. xxx

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  3. Stunning work. I love your Matisse work, I think you nailed it on the head about the patterns not being measured - it's such a release to paint like that. We always seem to get it in our heads that things should be perfect and of course there is no need. They should be as we want them to be!!
    You really nailed Jennifer's art. I found her really hard.

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  4. Your bold use of colour and pattern is delightful.

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  5. OMGosh!!! All I can say is WOW and WOW again!! Both artists beautifully done! Kat and Lisa will be so thrilled by your pages! You always inspire me! Nice job on both artists! XO

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  6. Simply gorgeous a great Gardner/cook canner as well as an wonderful artist you are the whole ball of wax my dear... I love all of these...so inspirational!! Thanks for sharing!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  7. Your work is gorgeous - I love Matisse for the same reasons you do - in Studying Under the Masters I did this nude (http://bellefrogworks.blogspot.com/2014/01/studying-under-masters.html) That was my first attempt at a nude and the fact that it wasn't anatomically perfect was freeing. I am not familiar with Jennifer's art - it looks intriguing but very hard to "recreate" You did a great job

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  8. Your artwork is so amazing. You are a master of so many mediums, it is hard to say which one affects me the most. These are just beautiful--each in their own way.

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  9. Maggie, Enjoy your garden. I wish I had one to work in. A garden is so nourishing to the soul~*
    Peeking again at your beautiful work. Your are not behind, you are busy. Its good to be busy in life, for me it seems to keep things in perspective.
    I love your work more the second time peeking... :)
    XO

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  10. Wow Maggie.. !! These journal pages are gorgeous. I adore Mattisse's use of colors also. So very vibrant and inspiring and I like the quotes you've added. I think the goldfish is my favorite. Jennifer Judd McGee is not familiar for me but I guess I need to google her. All those patterns look gorgeus :)

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  11. you know what? it wouldn't be so bad to be a vermilion goldfish...
    not after i thought about it...what is more curious is why he thought to say that.
    anyway your pages in both books were so beautiful and thoughtful that
    i was inspired and driven and happy to have my work snuggled in a book with yours.
    ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
    ps: yes. merello was difficult, very.
    simplicity might be the hardest button to button.

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  12. Maggie, again I missed this. Where was I all year? Sheesh. Your work is magical. I wish I could draw the human body as well as you do. Your work is fabulous. I love the Matisse quote. Your lounging lady is so good.

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