Deb Clarke's Memorable Movies - Before I Go to Sleep by Janie O'Brien

• Collaged fragments of movie scenes representing Nicole Kidman's character - Christine's fractured memory. This movie has stuck with me since I saw it sometime after it was made in 2014. I had read the book of the same name by SJ Watson and been impressed and was very impressed with the movie which often don't live up to their original books. Nicole Kidman's acting was phenomenal and I always love Colin Firth. If you enjoy the mystery/thriller/suspense genre films,  then you must see this; it a winner.

 

Gypsy Soul for Rebecca-Lee Fisher by Janie O'Brien

I wanted to sew this pretty trim around the end of this work, so I made the entire piece on tyvek and stuck it in Rebecca-Lee's journal.  It is all collaged pieces. I hope you enjoy it Rebecca-Lee.

 

Janie's Art Nouveau piece, adapted from an Erté design of the period, in Roz's journal.

I painted on 2 coats of Atelier Gold Paint, then sprayed some darker gold Lindy's spray through a mesh, for a bit of texture. I then placed my pre-prepared piece of art work on the page and stuck it down

My next move was to repaint the red with Dr PH Martins liquid acrylic ink (super product - very dense colours) At this point, I also started adding glitter to the fall on the head dress.

Half of the glitter is now applied - quite a long process and my thumb started getting numb from squeezing the glitter, glue bottle.

Pretty well finished. The collage pieces of stylized peacock feathers were added, Lindy's Moonshadow mist spray were added to the head dress and garment (painted on, not sprayed). and curly whirlies added in gold added with a 3D pinhead applicator.

Janies play in Lisas Music and Lyrics.

My latest, in Lisa's Music & Lyrics journal. I didn't realise how hard it was going to be to choose a song I loved, and that I would love to interpret 2 dimensionally. I loved and enjoyed a number of Aussie songs, but 2/2 artistically depicted had already been chosen. I thought it best to go in another direction, so I eventually chose to go with Send in the Clowns by Stephen Sondheim. I had been saving images for three likely  to be used songs, so already had a number of nice pics collected. I cut them out, and started playing with them on paper, until I saw in my mind's eye what I wanted it to look like. A dark moody background was called for and this was achieved with Lindy's starburst sprays, printed tissue & stencils. Once an interesting depth was achieved i stuck down my collage elements into a predesigned picture. Below are the 3 finished pages

Outside of the flap I created and stuck on.

inside the flap - the lyrics to the song. The water blotches represent tears 😢

The main finished double spread; faces you can recognise.....?

Just Janie in Annabelle's journal

Janie's page in Annabelle Reid's journal. 

I have given a brief overview of my procedures under each picture. Annabelle, I hope you enjoy my art, cheers. Your journal is called Just You and the piece of art I've created is a collage  which I love doing and represents my love of the whimsical.

This is the beginning. Annabelle has provided A4 watercolour sheets with an A5 flap. First I spray the page with walnut frosted in, then stamp selected images and lastly, stick down torn Australiana papers. Click on images to enlarge.

I have previously selected images from my stash and fussily cut them out. I scatter the images onto the page and begin to make a careful selection and placement for them. These are changed around for a while until I'm completely satisfied with the result; then I stick them all down. Lastly I use black and white inks to enhance some of the images, then I apply a spray lacquer.

Panel 1

panel 1 part 2

panel 2 (underneath the flap)

panel 3 (top of the flap)

Entire image with under flap showing. Click on image to enlarge.

Wendy's Layout in Janie's SIMPLY WHIMSICAL

Before I started work in Janie's Journal, I thought to myself how far I have grown when it comes to working in another artists journal. I remember my very first swap and the feeling of being so very nervous that I would make some sort of mistake in that person's journal. Then I looked down at the blank page in Janie's SIMPLY WHIMSICAL journal and couldn't wait to start experimenting...lol.

I gave the page a light layer of gesso and have wanting to try the 'streaking' or dragging effect for some time, so why not now! I can always paint over it if it doesn't turn out. After the gesso dried, I used a paint spatular to drag a few colours from top to bottom and bottom to top to get the streaking I was hoping for. Not quite happy with the way it was going by using the spatular, I ended up using a dry hard bristled brush and found this gave me the more smudgier look, which is what I was looking for. I then used a few stencils using the same paint colours that had already been placed on the background.

When I was happy with the background, the whimsical feeling arose when I thought about using some of my 'skatter cats'. I had recently used a few of these cats in another journal and as I save all my templates of anything I draw,,,yep!...too easy...I grabbed my skatter cats, gave them a bit more colour with some watercolour paints and they were ready to be placed on the page. I used a tacky glue to adhere them and then went round the cats with a wash on white paint and then highlighted then with a black watercolour pencil. The final touch was to write the word 'FRIENDS' above the middle skatter cats and my simply whimsical layout was finished. I really enjoyed just playing in Janie's journal and hope you all enjoy the outcome as well. Thank you.

P.S. I have also included the video below, if you would like to watch the whole process.

HAVE A GREAT DAY !!!!!

Janie O'Brien's amended post

This the cover. I used inks with stencils. Inside the front cover there is a pocket with file cards for you all to tell your story, and hopefully you will also complete a small whimsical portrait of yourself.

This is the back page. For this page I used water colour and made my own collage elements for the foliage. The little man in the spotted raincoat leading a dalmatian doggy is also a collaged element.

This page is the main journal page. I have done a few changes since my first post. Completely mixed media and with a smile represents my life here in Cairns with a friend looking on who I miss immensely.

Janie's "Simply Whimsical" Journal page June 1 . 2017 "My world"