Fox and Butterflies

This week I decided to take a break from my usual routine and spend as much time as I can working on my current art journal. I realized the other day that I’m only three spreads away from finishing this, my seventh volume! It would be so rewarding to finish. Then I could get started on volume eight!

No hurrying through, though. I promise!

Here’s where I am so far:

fox and butterfly art journal spread, waiting for final layer

But how did I get here?

An Old Drawing

It started when, during a feeble attempt to sort through some stuff in my studio, I came across an old drawing of a fox. Nothing special, but special enough that I didn’t think it should continue to languish, forgotten, in a pile somewhere. So I decided she would come to live in my art journal.

First Collage Layer

She’s pretty big, so she took up almost the whole spread. I didn’t want to put much, if anything, over her, so I definitely would need to put things around her. Using lots of layers appealed to me, as it would add contrast with the straight-forward depiction of the fox. Lots of layers suggested starting with strong collage elements—black and white. Oh, and I couldn’t resist adding the gold foil dragonfly to the left of her head.

first collage layer for fox and butterflies art journal spread

At this point, it was terribly spotty and confusing. What is the eye drawn to? Everything. But that was OK. It left me plenty of opportunity to add, take away, bring forward, and push back—all with the goal of giving her a beautiful place to live.

Painting the Fox

the fox painted

With all the black and white, the natural first step was to paint the fox. That would certainly make her stand out from the background and would give me a clearer base for continuing.

But in adding color to her, I wanted to preserve the look of the pencil drawing, so I didn’t use many colors and was also careful to keep them transparent so that the pencil lines would show through.

Now it was time to find other collage elements, elements which, unlike in the first collage layer, were more representative than decorative and which would add to her emerging story.

Fox and Butterflies

Next, I looked through many of my clippings and other potential collage elements that I’d saved over the years. In the process, I was hoping to find sheets of butterflies that I used to have. Butterflies are very evocative and symbolic—perfect companions for as mystical an animal as a fox.

I never did find those butterflies, so it was time for a side trip to Etsy for some digital downloads. So fun! But, to tell the truth, I have mixed feelings about being able to lay my hands on just about any image I want. It was more rewarding going through old magazines and clipping out—and saving—what appealed to me. But it seems like the age of the magazine, at least as I remember and value them, is coming to an end. Just look at Martha Stewart Magazine for a sad example of the downhill slide. And where do I find those dog and cat food ads with all the great photos of canine and feline models?

Well, enough time on the soapbox, and back to the project.

Another Collage Layer

I found a pretty good selection of collage elements and tentatively arranged them over the spread. After photographing them, I let the project rest overnight.

tentative placement for the next collage layer on the fox and butterflies art journal spread

I liked my initial arrangement of the butterflies and papers behind them but ended up with something different.

pink makes and appearance

Pink Crashes the Party

Although I liked the initial color scheme of black, white, and burnt sienna, a desire for more color crept in, and once pink made its first appearance, it kept demanding more and more. What happened next was a flurry of activity, just letting the piece—and my collection of collage elements and art supplies—lead me where it would.

But it wasn’t all good.

Time to Assess

I actually prefer the arrangement of the two butterflies and their back papers in my original placement, but somehow along the way I lost sight of that. And not only did the dark butterfly on the left move down the page, but the dark one on the right moved up! I don’t like that, but what’s done is done.

Not really, I suppose. I could always cover up what I have with more layers, print out those same butterflies again, and go back to the original scheme. But I guess I’d rather try to solve the problem I created for myself in another way. In case I’m being confusing, simply said, I don’t like the balance of the blacks over the spread.

Anyway. I was happy with it before I looked at it again this morning. How annoying! Deep breaths………

Taking a Step Back

This is a good time to walk away from the piece for a while. There are things about it that I really like and a few I don’t like at all. It’s time to let those thoughts settle.

I know a few of the things I want to do, mostly with the flowers on her head. They need a lot of enhancement, both in color and value. And the piece is still very spotty and needs some restful places. It’s always helpful to have a starting point, and I have one. Then it’s a matter of seeing what else comes up, including what her story turns out to be.

I have hope for this one. But I’m not there yet. Maybe the fox has some suggestions!

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