Art Journal Page: Border of flowers

It’s my monthly art journal session on Monday evening, and this month’s theme is ‘Spring Spraying’. Spray inks, stains and paints are always a fun, and fast, way of making a background. Occasionally, the spray reaches the page… Using stencils and then embellishing with other media, such as white pigment pens, finish the page off nicely.

Speaking of finishing a page… There are some who ask, ‘when do you know a page is finished?’. Here’s an example. The first pic shows where I originally finished the page. It was only when I was editing the photo for posting that I decided I hadn’t finished after all. The second pic shows where I left it after a little more work:

spot the difference

Added a border – there was a border from the edge of the stencil, so I just highlighted it. It frames the page and emphasises the artwork
Added outline flowers in hickory smoke archival ink – adds interest between the coloured flowers and continues the theme. Cutting them off at the frame emphasises the border to the page. I’ve offset stamped the yellow centres to each of the flowers
They’re subtle additions, but I’m a lot happier with the composition now.

I also have to admit to a mistake in the quote, where ‘path’ has replaced ‘course’ inadvertently. I couldn’t wipe it off, as it would have removed the stain beneath. Had it been over an acrylic background, I’d have had a chance to wipe it off.