I spent a lot of time thinking about today's Inspiration Challenge, but was working on cards for this months Cards for a Cause. While I was looking over my stamp collection, trying to find an image that I thought would work for Ramon Santiago's style, I happened to see this one. I do not know the source for this image as it was part of an unmounted sheet that I bought a number of years ago. I liked the power of the lines in this image. I tried to keep the portrait part simple and clean. My inspiration is no particular piece of artwork, but more the overall style and subtle emotion that the artist captures. I used markers to ink the stamp and add detail. Then, because I was not quite happy with the colors I painted over it with Frost White Shimmer paint. This gave a lovely shimmer to the robes, so that they look like silk. I still was not completely happy with the color so I added another shade of marker which did not seem to dry. I ended up embossing with clear embossing powder. It still has a lovely pearlescent sheen which goes nicely with the radiant pearl background. I cut the woman out and mounted her on a contrasting background. I started out with just the tangerine rectangle but added the sloped Cajun craze piece at the bottom for some movement, balance and interest.This is a background piece that I did yesterday to use up the rest of the paint on my pallette. For texture for yesterday's MIX challenge I ran it through a mosaic embossing folder. I can imagine this woman watching koi in a tiled pool in a garden. I really like how this turned out. There is a whole story going on here.
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2015 GMT Views: 843
Favorited:2
Registered: May 23, 2009 Location: sunny california Posts: 9825
Sun, May 10, 2015 @ 9:32 AM
Kathy, this is so striking. The color combo with the blues and greens against the bold red and black is so artsy. Great choice of the ef bg. Great card.
Registered: December 16, 2008 Location: Woodinville, Washington Posts: 11566
Sun, May 10, 2015 @ 12:13 PM
Beautifully executed! I love your story, and I am just amazed at your focus within the spirit of the inspiration challenge. Thank you for being so deeply inspired!