Friday, March 22, 2013

I love you Pumpa

I don't really have the words right now. I'm still in shock and denial. Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my grandpa's death. Today, I lost my remaining grandfather. My Pumpa.

Last night, I was trying to decide where to go with this bright orange background in my Art of Spring journal. Today, I knew I had to dedicate it to Pumpa. I didn't follow any of the workshop tutorials for this (I haven't watched the one on blooms yet); I just let the page take me where it needed to go. Where I needed to go.
Rest in peace Pumpa. Say hi to Grandpa and Grandma Giesler for me.

A heartwarming note: yesterday was World Down's Syndrome Day. My grandparents' first child, Laurie Anne, had DS and passed away from leukemia just after her first birthday. It's a small comfort to know that she's in her daddy's arms now.

Layers / my process:

1. A simple, bright orange background using leftover paint from the previous spread (gesso, azo orange, Indian yellow hue, raw sienna).
2. I felt like it needed a bit of toning down once I knew the subject, so I added some strips of handmade and tissue papers (brown and white), one and a half skeleton leaves that had been embedded in the white paper and an off-white glaze (titan buff, glazing medium).
3. Collaged flowers using cut and torn scrapbook and watercolour papers in shades of blue (the watercolours were from the initial workshop videos).
4. Painted the flowers in different shades of blue (smalt hue, anthraquinone blue, gesso), then added the stems (sap green, brown India ink).
5. Alphabet and word stickers (K & Company), plus the date I cut from a small calendar were collaged next.
6. A bit more paint to tie everything together (anthraquinone blue, sap green, permanent red violet).
7. Doodle, doodle, doodle (Sharpie pen).
8. I found a small feather among my papers and felt it appropriate to add. It belonged to my finch, Michael, who's been gone over a year now. 

2 comments:

Angie said...

Very lovely tribute page *hugs*

Lizzie Barbie said...

They are so very beautiful, your grandpa would love them. So sorry for your loss.