This week I am the guest currator on the Crescendoh blog (http://blog.crescendoh.com/crescendoh/). As part of my week, I created a project to share. I was working through some tough personal things at the time. It was a day that I was really struggling to find the words to make sense of what was happening in life. I decided to create an art journal page for my project and because I knew I couldn't find the words to journal I used words from the Superchick song Beauty from Pain. I find great comfort in the promise of that song that no matter what we are struggling to deal with that we can survive it and in the end we will find beauty from the pain.
(FYI- I am skipping the supply list on this one today because I didn't keep one as I worked. I just wanted to create without thinking about details like supplies. Pretty much everything is Sizzix, Tim Holtz, Ranger, Stampers Anonymous, and The Crafter's Workshop.)
I think as I worked on the page and added layers of colors, images, and elements that it became really reflective of my mood. It feels heavy and jumbled. I used black ink to darken one side of the page and let it fade as it moved across the page to blue sky.
The base of my page is a scrap piece of cardstock from my scrap bin that I had exprimented with misting on. I added a stenciled ledger design over the previous misting with black soot Distress Ink.
I used a scribbled distressed design stamp along the edges, which I think really adds to the mood of the page. I also applied a piece of printed tissue paper on the page that is wrinkled and scrunched.
To add branches, I used a scrap piece of cardstock from my scrap bin. After I cut it I realized the back side had paint on it. I loved the look so I flipped the piece over to show the paint.
I used two branch sections. For one, I decided to only adhere it at the base and let the rest of it just lay on the surface. It gave it added dimension.
The bluebird is a symbol of happiness so I wanted there to be one on the page. Though she is small and kind of over shadowed by the other elements, she is there lurking and ready to fly again.
I used a die cut tag to help my text stand out. I used manila cardstock and dabbed on distress stain randomly to add a bit of color.
It has been a couple of weeks since I made this page and when I look at it, I can still see the sadness in it. But more importantly, I can see how art was there for me when I needed to somehow express what was in my heart but I wasn't able to find the words to say it. Creating the page and losing myself in the inks and stamps and elements helped me to function and do something when I wasn't sure I could. It was comforting to have this outlet to run to.
Many times I have thought about Crescendoh's motto of Art Saves and wondered what my story would be. In a strange twist, I was invited to tell my story at a time when I was working through a big and real heart ache. As I worked on this page it suddenly came to me, "When words fail, Art Saves". It has been true for me many times in life but never more so than this day when creating this page gave my heart a voice and a safe harbor.
If you would like to read my Art Saves story, you can find it here: http://blog.crescendoh.com/art_saves/2012/06/when-words-fail-art-saves-by-tammy-tutterow.html
