Get Messy Prompt-Love and Lessons Learned

For my first spread in my new little (it measures 6 1/2 inches by 6 1/2 inches) get messy art journal I decided to do challenge 2-love and lessons learned. I decided to do it about my relationship with my adopted sister, and what happened to it after she suffered memory loss. This was a really intense spread to do but I am really glad I did it.

Below is what the spread originally looked like. This book is one of those little gift books and all the spreads have text on the left but very diverse and interesting photos on the right. all the photos are also printed in sepiatone which is why I chose it as an art journal.

This book does not have especially heavy or interesting paper so I did coat the pages with acrylic matte medium before I started. I put it on thick with a big brush so the brush strokes would stay and give the pages some additional texture.

I used Liquitex Ink! in Prussian blue and Carbon Black for making my background.  ink+water=lovely visual texture. I use old eye drops bottle full of water and a water brush to control where the ink runs.

I also used my white Molotow paint pen to outline the woman and frame on the right page. Then since I am horrible to draw people I chose to photo copy several of my photographs on to tracing paper (see I am slightly obsessed with the tracing paper). All are photos I took while staying with my Sister and Nephew, 2 of the photos are of reflections of us. I chose these intentionally because when copied on to the tracing paper they looked very shadowy and indistinct.  

Here you can see the original photo on the bottom and the copy on the top. 

I also chose a typical Amanda shop window selfie. Taken in the window of the Swarovski crystal shop thus the hanging strands of crystals. 

One of the things that I love about copying/printing on the tracing paper is you can see the image through both sides of the paper. So often if you want the color or contrast less intense or to fit the flow of the page you need the mirror image of the photo you have chosen. All you have to do is flip the tracing paper over and adhere it face down. which is what I chose to do with this image. however before doing so I did trace my outline with a white colored pencil: 

Then I added journaling on top. 

For the left hand page I labeled and dated the left side of the page. Then I did some more personal journalling in red underneath. I then layered on the 2 photos and added more journaling on top. I choose this photo of my nephew reaching for me because he and I still have the same wonderful relationship. But sadly my sister and I do not. 

Below is the fill finished spread with the tools that I used to make it: 

I am going to be sharing this spread with my Sister as well. Maybe art will be able to tell her what I have not been able to any other way. That is one of the wonderful things art can do.