Yellow and Gray Inspiration

I love the combination of yellow and gray. Do you? When I paint, I love to use all kinds of bright colors - aquas, pinks, oranges. But, I also really like to pair a bright (or even in the pastel version of the color) with a more muted color like gray. I think the contrast is really pretty. 

  While I was wondering the aisles of Michaels (I know, I know, I have a problem. Ha!) I found some fabulous scrapbook paper by My Mind's Eye. It was in a little 6x6 paper pad which I love. That size works really well for background paper. The patterns are shrunk down compared to a 12x12 sheet, so the small size looks great on the canvases or journal pages I work on. The colors in this pad were a perfect jumping off point. Sometimes paper is all you need for a little inspiration. LOVE. L.O.V.E.

So with this My Mind's Eye paper as my inspiration, I used an old wood block that I had laying around and started to cover it up with the pretty paper. I have quite a few of these blocks laying around. I did stock up around the holidays (sales + gift cards = happy camper) with canvases, but wood is my favorite. It is super cost effective to go to a home improvement store and have some wood cut down to the size you prefer. Well, or have a very handy hubby cut the wood for you. :)

After attaching my papers with Mod Podge, I threw on a layer of gesso. Then hunted through my stash of paint to find my pretty yellows and grays (pictured above - so yummy! Right?). Besides the color choices, I planned on just letting the piece come to me. No real thought as to what I wanted to paint - just the colors.

From the background I began to see a face emerge, then a headband with a feather (I have seen a lot of feathers lately) and then the words...be brave in truth. Right? I love that saying. I love the word brave. There are so many degrees of bravery aren't there? But, I know for me...speaking truth and trying to be true to who I am & my tender, sensitive heart takes a bit of courage. 

Here she is all finished and just waiting for a varnish bath. After that she will be on her way into my shop. :) 

What color combinations are inspiring you lately?

Summer of Color - Yellow!

When I think of yellow, I think of....

And when I think of sunshine I think of these two little cuties...

The song "You are my Sunshine" was the special lullaby I would always sing each night when I put my kiddos to bed... so even though I have heard it a billion times - it still puts a sweet smile on my face.

Besides using yellow this week, Kristin challenged us to find a way to incorporate anything metallic into our work. You can't really see it in the picture, but I used some gold and bronze metallic paint in the background. I really don't bring out the metallic paint until Christmas time (we are half way there already! Can you believe it!?) so it was fun to use.

I have been working my way through my Canson Mixed Media journal and I have found that the pages like to buckle a lot. I mean, I don't mind it that much and it is holding up a bit better than the black sketchbook style books I have picked up at Barnes & Noble. 

Anybody have journals that they just love?? Do tell! :)

The Summer of Color has been super inspiring. I am loving all the different color challenges & I love visiting all the lovely blogs...SO fun!

I am off for a much needed little vacation with my hubby.

Be back Sunday to check in & see what everyone is up to.

Have a wonderful rest of the week. :)

XO,

Jen