2013 Art Calendar Challenge - June

I'm not sure I'm getting the hang of this art calendar thing yet.  I know an art journal is a place to experiment with new supplies or techniques and to have fun, and I'm certainly doing that.  I also know that as a journal, the final product doesn't have to meet any criteria but my own.  But as a recovering Type A Personality, it's hard for me not to expect more from myself (wry laugh).

From a distance, my June art calendar looks a little bit like a hot mess.  I started by adhering a variety of leftover scrapbook papers and book pages using spray fixative, a new product for me.  (It worked great, but it is VERY sticky and even the wax paper I put behind the pages would have adhered permanently around the edges if I hadn't pulled it out and replaced it with new wax paper before I continued.)  I next swiped on some watered-down white gesso to the background papers to mute the colors and blend everything together.  Then I played with some new Heidi Swapp stencils and Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists.  The mists are very subtle and have a pearlescent shimmer that is noticeable only close up.  (For the record, I really liked what I had at this stage.)

I then added some stamping in black and red ink or acrylic paint: cursive text, a variety of eyes, and some circles. Most of this layer ended up obscured by the squares of paper for each day of the month, so I will do this step a little differently next time.  For example, I would stamp only the text and circles (or other basic shapes) at this step, and wait until the very end to add the eyes (focal images).  That way I could space them better.

The squares were cut from free art papers (several Stampington magazines include some in each issue) and then date-stamped.  Once everything was in place, I went back and added more eyes and the "Art Begins with a Vision" sentiment.  (Even though in the case of this project, I began without a vision!  Maybe that was my problem?)

I guess upon further reflection, this art calendar isn't so bad.  I would change some things if I could, but instead I'll just take the lessons I learned and apply them to next month.  To see other art calendars a la Kate Crane, please hop over to The Kathryn Wheel.

I hope you're having a great weekend.  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Strathmore Visual Journal with 140 lb watercolor paper; miscellaneous scrapbook papers and book text; Krylon Spray Adhesive; Golden white gesso; Heidi Swapp chevron and polka dot stencils; red Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists (but it's really more of a pink/mauve); black and blazing red Stazon ink; black acrylic paint; text stamp by Inkadinkado; round and square eyes and art sentiment rubber stamps by Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi; pair of eyes stamp by Hampton Art; date squares cut from free papers in Somerset Studio magazine; date stamper by Smash; plastic stick-on letters and numbers (unknown); matte gel medium.