Wednesday, July 23, 2014

A significant book celebrated

Yes, I am an avid reader, I constantly have a book on the go, but there are some books that have been more influencial in my life. The Famished Road by Ben Okri being one of them. For me this book marked a turning point, it was so magical and well written, and signified change and a desire to live, love and flourish. I can honestly say I made some significant life changes after reading it ....

So I decided to celebrate this book by dedicating a mixed media page in my art journal to it, and I loved the final line in the book : A dream can be the highest point of a life. Just have a little think about what that means ....... its so deep and meaningful.
The background was created with torn patterned paper, then I added a thin layer of gesso and colored with my gelatos. I then added a layer of tissue paper and wrote the first and last paragraph of the book all over the background in a purple gelli roll pen. I did some stamping, embossing, added stars and chipboard pieces from Southern Ridge Trading Company which I painted with my Paper Artsy Fresco Chalk Acrylic Paints. I also added some detail around the strange planet-like asteroids using a Tim Holtz stencil. The edge border was stamped with a border stamp from Lost Coast Designs, to frame my picture.

The hill is a pattered green paper, and the words are heat embossed. Agatha Star, one of my favourite Stampotique stamps, is stamped on mixed media paper. Her face and legs colored with copics, her dress in acrylic paint. She was then fussy cut and added to the page, looking longingly into the magical and mysterious heavens  ...
I wonder if anyone else finds so much meaning and significance in books, sometimes I feel the author is speaking those words just for me .... and I just love it when it happens :)

Thanks for visiting x

11 comments:

  1. I love books too - always great to really get something meaningful from a book! Love this amazing creation Nikki!! Great background - clever to use the actual words from the book! Agatha looks like she is standing on top of the world having her own dream!!!

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  2. There is so much to look at on these pages (and not a purple zebra in sight) and to be inspired by as well. Well done!!!

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  3. You definitely convinced me to take a look at that book, not only by what you're telling about it, but also because of the art it inspired you!
    Thank you for joining the Stampotique Designer challenge :)))
    xx
    france

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  4. You have treated this book with the utmost respect with your art, Nikki. It is amazing to be so moved by the words on a page, but even more so when one acts upon those words, as you have! Heartfelt! Brilliant!

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  5. Need to check that book! Nikki, your pages are amazing! Agatha looks great there :) Thank you for joining the Stampotique Designer challenge. Magda

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  6. The purple zebra turned out brilliantly ! Great pages, Nikki !
    Corrie x

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    1. Yes, the purple zebra background was somewhat muted ... thankfully :) Thanks for the wonderful comments x

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  7. Totally gorgeous Nikki, have a lovely weekend :)

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  8. This is beautiful Nikki, this book obviously had a great impact on you, and this is reflected in your journal pages. Thank you so much for sharing them with us at Stampotique. Sue xx

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  9. Great pages :) Thank you for joining the Stampotique Desginers Challenge. Gez

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  10. It's a fabulous journal spread Nikki, great idea to use something that means so much. Thanks for joining us again at Stampotique this week.

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