Vacation Scrapbook

This is a little scrapbook I did over vacation.

I take art supplies wherever I go.  We drive to the cabin so I had a little more room.

This time it was my painting field kit, an assortment of papers, and a smallish container of gesso.

I also had some extra blank books.  Through the year I make hundreds of  paper bag books and file folder books for school.   This scrapbook uses the paper bag book.

You can find full directions on how to make these books in my previous posts.



Paper Bag Book Tutorial

File Folder Book Tutorial

On a rainy day at the cabin I spent some time applying a coat of gesso to the pages of the scrapbook.


I wasn't sure what medium I would be using for all the pages so I just primed them all. That way I was ready for anything!

On some of the pages I added some torn book pages, crumpled tissue, and old newspaper to the gesso while it was still wet.

This was all random.  Then when I started to create a page I would then take this texture into account.

I put wax paper in the pockets to stop them from being painted shut.

The gesso dries fairly fast, I would go do something else for a while and then come back and paint the next set of pages.

So my cover page is painted in watercolour. There is some crumpled tissue on this page which gave texture to the grass.

I added a figure cut from a magazine but I could have also used one of my own photos.


I used a Sharpie Pen for detail.  I am absolutely smitten by these Sharpie pens.  They are still permanent and seem to last longer than the Sharpie fine markers.  Nice fine lines.

First inside page is a painting of the Cabin.  Text added from magazines and the computer.

The computer text I added when I got home but I used my summer reading material on site.

The flap from the bottom of the paper bag shows a little map of the inside of the cabin.


Built in "lift the flaps" are another great feature of paper bag books.

Most of my books have this spinner feature.


For my vacation scrapbook I used it for my usual question.

Spin the wheel.......yes!  the beach.

The next 2 pages were about some day trips.





I added a photo and some sand.

The titles were made at home.  I painted some paper with dashes of paint, warm colours for one, cool colours for another.


Let dry.

Using a stamp pad I stamped some letters.  I also stencilled some letters using a brush and that same stamp pad.

I used the next bottom of the bag flap to remember all that great food.....

More photos.

The last page of the book has a frame cut out.  At school I tend to use it as a puppet theatre.


It can hold a number of photos....

and makes a great pocket to hold any tickets, brochures,  or other things you have collected on your travels.

Finally I painted my back cover in acrylic.


That's it, a great keepsake to remember your summer.




See you next time.

More Paris

Well I'm back from Paris after a whirlwind 10 days. Still struggling with jet lag and trying to get organized for school which starts in 3 days.

It's hard to belive so much history, culture, architecture, and art can be contained in one city.....truly inspiring.
If you bear with me I just have to post a few more pictures......

Here is the main gate to Versailles. Originally a hunting lodge for the King it became the main palace for Louis the 14th.  Please feel free to click on the photos to see larger.

Inside you once again find yourself staring at ceilings......

Here is a portrait of Marie-Atoinette who was married to Louis the 16th.

This is the famous Hall of Mirrors 70 metres long with an amazing ceiling and mulitplie works of art.

The treaty of Versailles was ratified here in 1919 ending World War 1.

Here is a gallerie at the Grand Trianon or the summer palace which is in walking distance of the main palace.

Here is my photo of the Louvre back at the old palace in the Tuileries quarter.

Here is the "Wedding Feast at Cana" by Polo Caliari or Veronese which is in the same room as Mona but tends to get overlooked.  Veronese packed 130 life sized figures onto this 7x10 metre canvas. I loved the cat in the bottom right hand corner.

Another favorite is Coronation of Josephine by Jacques-Louis David.  Another 6x10 metre canvas that you need to see to appreciate.

 and a view of the Arc de Triomphe from the street.
That's it for now.  My husband has the bulk of the photos but he is still in Europe.  My head is buzzing with ways I can incorporate everything I saw into new projects. Thanks for suffering thru the vacation photos and I hope to have new tutorials up shortly.

P.S. sorry for all the spam in the comments section but it seems I have been targeted by some unscrupulous vendors........I'll try to keep a handle on it. They are just so annoying...I'm averaging about 8 a day.
See you soon!

Bonjour!

Well I'm here in Paris having an amazing time.  Despite my jet lag I have been pounding the pavement the last few days trying to take everything in.   Everywhere you turn there is something awe inspiring.  I just want to paint every street scene.

Here is Notre-Dame.

With incredible it's incredible facade.  This is part of the Portac of St. Anne as you are walking in the door.

Once you are inside there is stained glass at every turn capturing your attention.

  I made my first trip to the Louvre yesterday.  I was there when it opened and ran to the Grande Gallerie with everyone else to get my 10 seconds with "Mona".  I could then relax and take in and contemplate all the other work that fills the Denon wing.

Like Ghirlandaio's "Portrait of an Old Man and a Boy"

and Caravaggio's "The Fortune Teller".

The "Venus de Milo" did not disappoint.

The ceilings were absolutely breathtaking and more elaborate as you went on.

I can't wait to see Versailles tomorrow.


I'll try to post more photos when I get a chance...the Wi Fi is pricey and a bit tempermental.

See you soon. 
Gail

An Adventure in Paris

Well I am off to Paris tomorrow where I plan on spending lots of time here at the Louvre as well as Orsay, the  Musee Orangerie, the Musee Rodin etc, etc,......

This is my first visit so I am very excited to immerse myself into all this culture and history. As well as a chance to try out my rusty French.

I plan to blog along to keep my family up to date so if you are interested you can tag along.

Au revoir and I'll see you soon!