September Theme
Journaling with Photos
Week 38 – September 19
Art Challenge: Silhouettes
Journal Prompt: There is no shadow without the light…
I love taking pictures in Silhouette. Even though you can’t see all the details, you get hints of images. And I feel like images can tell a creative story way better than details!
I like to “hide” the sun behind subjects in my photography — it makes for an interesting composition and instantly illuminates the object like this . . .
The picture above was taken in the Troll Fjord in Norway last month – just floating through on a zodiak boat sipping champagne. Life is good, eh?
Another way to take a picture in silhouette is to stand in a dark place and shoot into the light like this . . .
This photo was also taken in Norway – In Lofoten at a Viking Hut, no less. We were touring and I turned and I turned and saw this shot . . . it has so much meaning, don’t you think? The prompt this week is “there is no shadow without the light” and I think an open door is so metaphorical. A dark room with a door that opens into the light. This is the photo I chose to document this week.
I printed it on Moab Somerset Museum Rag Paper. This is pricey paper, but I use it for only my finest copies. I printed with no border and when it came out of my inkjet printer, it looked like velvet. I let the ink dry well, then sprayed it with fixative to set the color and prevent it from smearing later on.
I adhered the photo into my art journal using a gel medium and let it dry.
On the facing page, I layed down a coat of white gesso and then used Pam Carriker’s amazing Matisse Fluid Matt Acrylic paint in deep shades to “pull” the color from the photo.
Next, a favorite little quote written with a white uniball pen and I’m done!
I’m excited to see how you all take on the silhouette challenge this week! I love to incorporate photographs in my art journals!
We are honored this week to have the amazing Seth Apter as our Featured Artist! Check him out HERE.
For more information on this week’s challenge you can find us here:
http://arttothe5th.squarespace.com/
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Looking for previous challenges? click HERE
Visit our blogs: Sandi Keene, Roben-Marie Smith, Rae Missigman
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Comments
So absolutely love this. I am glad I was able to see this and touch it because it was so amazing and had a wonderful feel. I love it !
I’ve never read this quote before and it is wonderful! I think it can be interpreted two ways, maybe it’s a waste of time to search for this place OR maybe it is sad if you don’t spend your time wanting this peace. You can’t get what you want without wanting it. Thanks for the photo lesson on light, also. Simple yet extremely effective. I always thought the sun would somehow hurt my picture if I shot into its’ light getting all the dark images when I did. Never thought to TRY to do it – thank you so much. I adore silhouettes (need an ode to spellcheck here) and collected many stamps with them and tried to make them from pictures of relatives. Now I know the secret.
Mary – you seriously need to start a blog of your own! You have such a pure, beautiful and poignant voice!
Beautiful simplicity!
Thank you Sabrina!