The background here is another of my CitraSolv papers.  When I'm working with paper that's been altered with CitraSolv, I can savour the scent of oranges!

Here's my first picture done on a background made with CitraSolv.  I was so in love with the effect that I almost didn't want to draw on it, but I'm getting over that!  Can you see the words at the bottom of the page?  They look like some ancient undeciferable language that's carved in stone. So Cool!

CitraSolv is an all natural biodegradable cleaner and degreaser that has become well known in artist circles because of the magical effect it can have on magazines and because of it's image transfer abilities.  It can move ink on just about any magazine but on National Geographics it can cause a really amazing tranformation.  I've been googling around and read that it worked best on older National Geographics and also that it worked best on newer ones.  There seemed to be confusion over which magazines work best.  So here are the findings of my own experimentation with two National Geographics, one from 1994 and one from 1999. 
I followed the instructions in the Somerset Studio video and sprayed the pages of both magazines thoroughly.  I let them sit for an hour.  My garage was quite cold.  It's November here in Ontario and the temperature is not freezing but it's definitely coat weather!  After an hour, I squished them and goo came out the sides!  Then I got a box cutter and cut out the pages and laid them out to dry. 

I can see why there is a controversy over older or new magazines. 

This is the magazine from 1994.  The images in the pictures are still recognizable but they look aged;  almost like a strange lichen has grown over them.  Many of the images are quite striking and I'll definitely want to use them

This is what happened to the magazine from 1999.  This is the crazy psychedelic look I was hoping for.  The original images are unrecognizable and the ink has created marvelous patterns and bubble shapes.  The colors are the same as they, were so my undersea images are marvelous blue and greens.  I can't remember what this was, but it must have been mauve!

I also sprayed another glossy magazine.  If you are from Ontario, you'll be familiar with the Food and Drink magazine put out by the LCBO.  Unfortunetly the CitraSolv had no effect on it unless you rub the page and then the ink smears.
So there you have the results of my experiments!  I have a lot of great  paper now and I'll be using it in all kinds of ways so stay tuned!

This has been a wonderful day so far!  The sun is shining and I found out that this piece that I entered in the Cloth Paper Scissors "All Buttoned Up" contest has made it to the finals.  It may not make it into the magazine, but just making it to the finals is an honor. 

Then I had my printmaking class and  our work is going to be displayed in our local gallery.  Yay!

To top it all off,  I received the most fabulous collection of artist trading cards made by Mrs Milner's graphic design class as a thank-you for my skype demo!!  Each card is a wonderful work of art!  Thank-you so much!!! to all Mrs. Milners students!!!  You guys have so much talent!!!!!
I should probably  go and buy a lottery ticket now, but I don't believe in lotteries...but if I did, I would!
I hope everyone else is having a good day too!

Simon liked his fish raw and served on the floor.

For the last two sessions of my printmaking class we have been working with a technique called "drypoint".   This involves scratching a plate, in this case aluminum, with a needle and then inking it with Carbonnel etching ink and running it through a press.  Our teacher gave us some little 4 by 4 inch pieces of aluminum to practice scratching on.  I did a pear, then carried on with a teapot, teacup, cherries and more random doodles.   I was totally amazed when we printed it.  Had I been thinking about drawing something perfectly for a series of prints, I could never have gotten this whimsical atmosphere.  I love how the printing technique produces an aged and weathered look. 

I'll probably be putting some of my prints in my shop, but for now they are too new.  I haven't numbered them or signed them yet.  Maybe when they're a little older I'll let them go out into the world.

Tyger, Tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
If you're familiar with this quote by William Blake you'll probably be thinking that this little tiger is more cute than fearful.   However, I remember this poem from childhood and never really thought of it as scary.  This tiger is done in an Eric Carle inspired way and so he could hardly be fearsome.

If you collect ACEO's he is in my Etsy store now!

Sometimes when there's a new snow fall, Basel breaks the snow and knows where the path is and I trudge along afterwards.  I know his ear looks very long.  I actually just trimmed his ears because the fur was growing a full three inches longer than his actual ear!  He's a bit of a wooly mamoth and he doesn't seem to feeI'm looking forward to winter and these dazzling bright days.  Maybe I should be careful what I wish for!
I've been experimenting with watercolor monoprinting here.  I didn't soak the paper quite long enough so I  enhanced it with GIMP.  

Everyday I walk my dog in the woods and I was inspired by the animals I see to paint these Christmasy woodland creatures!   They are one of a kind Christmas Cards that I've just put in my ArtFire store.
I had a devil of a time scanning them because they have so much white in them.  If anyone has any tips for scanning pictures with lots of white, let me know.

This month the Melange Team Challenge is "Home".  I have many of mixed media pieces that explore the idea of houses and homes.  I am facinated by the houses people build for themselves and how they personalize them.   I feel like a sociologist when I look at peoples homes because they all tell a story.

I picked this home to be in the challenge because I don't think I've put it on my blog before.  I looked!  This is a house I would love to live in.  I looks like it would have interesting windows and lots of nooks and crannies and the trees could possibly be from outer space.

I used an old paper bag to draw the house on because I love brown paper and the front garden is made with japanese paper.  It's all mounted on canvas and painted with acrylics.

Check out the  links to the other melange team members!  You will be amazed at the talent in this team!!