It's unbelievable how Halloween has sneaked up on me this year, where has that time gone? Witches and bats never go out of fashion for Halloween right? So, here is a throwback mixed media journal page. For anyone starting out with mixed media, I would highly recommend you invest your money in good quality paper, at least 140lb/300gsm weight. Believe me it will save you a lot of frustration! That is what happened with this Halloween painting. Water soluble crayons were mostly used on this piece along with a little acrylic paint. Everything was going fine with the background colour until I added the water. Then I got the worst paper pilling, meaning the paper started breaking up and causing little nubs of paper all over. Well...at that stage I could have chosen to throw the piece away and start afresh but my first reaction was to try and save it. I gently removed as much of the paper nubs as I could and then covered the page with a thin layer of soft gel medium. It worked! I think the texture on the page has added to the Halloween feel. I was lucky that time and have learned my lesson since! Have you had any unexpected things happen to you in your art making and how have you solved them? Happy Halloween and enjoy the rest of your week. Until next time, Happy Creating!
After spending a day at Monet's House and Gardens, my husband and I were up again bright and early, this time our destination was the Place of Versailles.
Marie Antoinette's life as the last queen of France has always fascinated me, with her over the top lavish lifestyle. So, I thought it only fitting that this little 4x4 mini acrylic canvas painting should have real gold leaf in the background!
Lavender was among one of Marie Antoinette's favourite colours, I have incorporated that into her eyes.
We were in awe at just how extravagant her lifestyle was, every turn in the palace was adorned with magnificent paintings, murals, tapestries, chandeliers, carvings, mouldings, marble, mirrors and of course gold and more gold!
We knew the palace and gardens were extensive, but we had no concept of just how vast they actually are until we had to walk them!
We took the 15 minute shuttle train to Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon located within the palace grounds. This was Marie's house where she liked to go to in order to escape the court's etiquette and gaze.
Marie Antoinette commissioned the Hameau de la Reine, a rustic retreat near the Petit Trianon, with a working farm and dairy, cottages, watermill, tower, lakes and gardens. Seemly the queen and her ladies-in-waiting would dress up and pretended to be peasants! Is it no wonder the starving French people revolted?
We loved our time at the Palace of Versailles, I was continually asking myself as I roamed through the grounds and halls - 'would the king and queen have walked or stood here? or walked along these paths or corridors?' Whatever your thoughts on Marie Antoinette, can we agree she was indeed an intriguing character?! What are some of your top historical destinations to visit? Until Next time, Happy Creating!
