Lisa playing in Roz's Art Deco Ladies Journal!

It's always a bit terrifying  worrying making the first entry in someone else's journal, especially if you're not totally au fait with the theme (like that? 😉 - Art Deco did start in France...)  Luckily, Roz's last journal was Art Nouveau so I kinda knew the difference.  But still had to check with my friends at Wikipedia!

Anyhoo, Art Deco was around in the 20s and the fashion was really interesting around that period, so that's what I focused on.

Firstly I found lots of pics in Pinterest and then drew some of these ladies using white cartridge paper.

Then I concentrated on my background.  I love vintage-looking papers, and found some music paper, French and Italian book pages, part of a vintage French map and an old post card in my stash. 

I then white-washed the pages with white gesso to give it an old feel.  But didn't take a pic...

Next I set to colouring my girls.  My usual media of choice is watercolour, however I felt that the cartridge paper would warp too much.  Then I considered Copic markers, but being alcohol based, they're not friends with water based fineliners.  Did not want smeary bits.  So I settled on Derwent coloured pencils, and I'm glad I did, because I think it adds to the vintage look!  (But geez, can't remember the last time I used these pencils 😲!)

I did the majority of this spread while Scott and I enjoyed a mini break down at Ocean Grove.  Of course, we were down there the only time this summer that it hasn't been 35 degrees and sunny...

...But it was still lovely to be away!  Except that when it came to fussy cutting my girls out, I had to sit in the kitchen there under the brightest light I could find, which was not bright at all, squinting the whole time!!!

Finally I glued my girls in, using Liquitex matte gel medium - my favourite glue.  Then, I added some metallic gel pens as accents, and a quote from Coco Chanel, and voilá! 

Hope you enjoy it Roz!  It was a fun spread to make.

Happy Arting!  Cheers, Lisa