Friday, May 20, 2016

Going On a Safari

Friday is here. Hurrah! Hurrah! Does anyone have anything exciting on their weekend agenda? I'm hoping to get some yard work done, finish reading my book and squeeze in a little R & R as well as some art time.
I will just have to wait and see what comes up though. Sometimes weekends have a mind of their own.
So today I have a journal page for both Paint Party Friday and Art Journal Journey. Thanks to Eva and Kristen for hosting PPF!
This month's theme at AJJ is journeys, and in my imagination I was on an African safari. I think that would be a wildly exotic journey for certain. I would want to see giraffe's on my safari, so I made them the main focus of my page. 
The background on my page was an experiment with gesso and spray inks. For some reason very little of the ink stuck to the gesso, so it created this lighter space where the gesso was and became dark where there was no gesso. I like how it created a frame for the page.
I will say the page looks better in real life than in the photo. I always seem to have a hard time  photographing colors painted on red.
Anyhow, most of the page is hand sketched and painted except for the one tree on the Savannah and the one zebra which I stamped, fussy cut and added to my page.
Wishing everyone a nice spring weekend!
Thanks for stopping by my blog too.

25 comments:

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Oh, Erika, I like your safari. It is adorable.

I have also found red hard to both scan and photograph. There is something in the color shift that seems to affect red more than other colors. I think it's an awesome piece!

Sound like you have a BIG weekend planned. Have fun whatever you do.

Valerie-Jael said...

Love your Giraffes on their Savannah. Thanks again for all your hard work for AJJ! Have a great weekend, nothing exciting planned here!Happy PPF, hugs, Valerie

Nordljus said...

Your giraffes are adorable! I always find that digital cameras struggle a lot with reds, trying to take photos of red flowers on a sunny day is an absolute nightmare. But even with the camera's struggle, your page looks great and I like that red frame around the page. I'm looking forward to the weekend too. Drawing, reading and relaxing :)

froebelsternchen said...

Your page is excellent Erika! This little zebra makes it so deep ... love your giraffes - great!
Happy weekend ! Happy PPF! Happy AJJ - thank you for another fab idea!
I have nothing on my agenda yet and that is what I like most about a weekend - I can tell you!

oxo Susi

sirkkis said...

Really wonderful Safari. Giraffes look fabulous.
Enjoyable weekend to you ❤

Faye said...

Cute as can be! It's what I would expect a safari to be like, never having been on one. I can't tell which giraffe is stamped. They all look great.

Faye said...

Wait, you said zebra. I see him now. Well, all your animals are great, but especially the giraffes.

Irene Rafael said...

A delightful journal page. I especially love the teeny tiny zebra!
~~ Irene

Krisha said...

What an adorable group of giraffes! I really like how the boarder appeared around the page, no inks don't always do well over gesso, but then there are always wonderful surprises when the two are used!

Thanks for visiting me and leaving me a comment.
Have a wonderful weekend!

~*~Patty S said...

Thank you for taking us along on your imaginary safari with your cute giraffes Erika!
Your Journey's theme is a fun one.
Happy beginning of the weekend.
Today is our second sunny day in a row so I am headed outside = WOW
On the weekend the skies let loose again...things are growing like crazy :-)
oxo

Susan said...

Oh, this is so much fun. Love the giraffes, the zebra and really like the inks on the gesso. Great page! Happy PPF

denthe said...

I love the colours you used for this, it reflects the heat of the African landscape. I love your new header too!

DVArtist said...

Oh this is such a fun and happy painting. I am planning on getting a leather scupt/painting finished. Have a great weekend.

Kristin Dudish said...

Such fun... Giraffes are one of my favorite animals!
Your journey looks like a fun one!

sheila 77 said...

Your giraffe family is delightful and the little zebra in the background is fun too. Isn't that good the way the gesso and the ink worked out, serendipity indeed.
Have a great weekend, your programme sounds very nice, hope the weekend co-operates.

Meggymay said...

I love those giraffes, they have a lovely expression on their faces. Its a fabulous Safari page.
Yvonne

Robin said...

Very cool giraffes! I almost missed the zebra in the background. As for the gesso issue, I found Golden makes a "Gesso and Grounds" Absorbent Ground. Ink and watercolor will not adhere well to regular gesso. This product helps the watercolor or inks to soak in and stay. It's worked for me and I was so glad that a knowledgeable customer service staff member knew exactly what I needed. It's not that expensive either, especially if you use the coupons you can get online. Hope that helps. Happy PPF and have a great weekend.

Indira said...

I dream of safari too. Maybe we can both go together :). Terrific art!

peggy gatto said...

Delightful page!!!

Rike said...

What a wonderful picture, I like it very much!
Rike

Nancy Chan said...

Your safari giraffe are cute. Enjoy your weekend!

NatureFootstep said...

I like your safari :) Can I follow?

Re my wet cat, it is no cat at all, it is a waterfall I manipulated :)

Beth Niquette said...

What lovely funny giraffes.

Giggles said...

What a great safari, such fun giraffes! Love the little details and depth...good for you!!

Hugs Giggles

Anonymous said...

Pretty sweet giraffe's on this safari! xox