Art Journal Calendar Cover

Last night, in the early evening, I finished the front cover of my Art Journal Calendar.  To quote Karen Ellis, it was in it's "ugly stage" for quite a while.  In fact, I'm not sure it came out the other side completely. LOL

Watching Karen work (you can watch some of her Ustream TV recording or watch her live on Friday evenings), I have learned that art often goes through an "ugly stage" before you get to where you want to go.  I used to panic and quit at the ugly stage but thanks to Karen I've learned to work through it and usually I can get to where I'm happy with the piece.

I started by putting gesso on the printed front cover of the journal to cover up the commercial cover and then I rescued an old map that my husband found while cleaning out the basement.  He was about to throw it in the recycling bin but my idea of recycling maps and his differ some what (he has now been educated and will save maps for me!).

That got a few layers of paint and some spray ink using various stencils, as well as a couple of strips of text printed gaffer tape down the front edge and beside the spiral binding.

 I didn't take pictures while I was in the really ugly stages...I think I was too lost in thought on how I was going to rescue it...

I used a Dylusions stencil with random dots on it  and some course moulding paste to add some real texture along with the perceived texture of the various layers of paint and ink.

Anyway, for this cover, I wanted to play with a bit more of a grungy look and I'm not sure I love it, but it told me it was done so I have put down the paint and backed away...