"Finally Sisters, Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think on such things." Phil 4:8
This is the very first verse I ever memorized intentionally. It was at a Beth Moore Conference and it spoke to me then and everyday since! I have wanted to create a canvas with this verse ever since that day and I finally did it! I LOVE how it turned out and hope that it inspires you to dive into expressing yor faith in art like this!
I started with a 24x8 canvas. I wanted to do a "She Art" inspired canvas with a girl figure and my verse. I printed the main words each in a different font -
Download Phil4-8. Be sure you print them with a copy machine or with a laser printer so that the ink does not bleed when you add it to your canvas. (or print it at home and take it to an office supply and make a copy!)
I say this because I did not do that - and mine bled! SO I just went over them with a pen after it was all complete but I would have prefered to have them not bleed! I cut out the words and sprayed them all with Papaya Splash from Amuse Studio.
I chose the Authentique Blissful 6x6 paper pad. I also used my fav - dictionary pages! I decoupaged them all to my canvas with Mod Podge and then added a little Gesso on top just to soften them a little.
Next I sketched in my she. This is probably the hardest most intimidating step - but it gets easier the more you practice! I sketched in pencil first on my canvas, then laid my bacground piece in top and re-sketched the dress shape on that paper. Then I cut it out and played with it til I got it the right shape. Next I took my flesh acrylic paint and filled in the arms and face of my sketch. Then I decoupaged on the dress shape and added the accent belt piece. I added the hair and shaded the face and arms a little. I decided to add some white trim and a collar to the dress so I just painted those in with white acrylic paint. After it was completely dry I went back in with my doodle pen and added all the details.
You can see my pen added most of the details to the hair - the white highlights I added later.
Next I placed all my words on my canvas and decided on placement. I wrote the "Whatever is" in first then stamped the arrows - from I was here stamp set from Amuse Studio.
Than I decoupaged on the words themselves. While that was drying I decoupaged on some butterflies that I cut with my Butterfly Trio Dies from Amuse Studio. I also added a paper doily along the top edge. Let it completely dry - and then the fun begins! Doodling! It is basically scribbling with a purpose! LOL! You just want to define the shapes and pieces that you want to draw attention to. Here you can see it around the word pieces.
Here you can see my doodling around the butterflies - and also along the edge where I added some white paint in a scallop shape. The doodling just set the elements off. You can also see here that I added some more stamped images. Modern Zinnia from Amuse Studio along the edge in Eucalyptus Ink (I did emboss the Zinnias with clear embossing powder just to add more texture) as well as Script Background from Amuse Studio with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. I also used some old faves -my running stitches (TAC) and Punchinella (Unity).
The last thing I added was the flowers buttons and twine. I used glue dots to adhere them all. Buttercup Buttons, Flax Paper Flowers, and Seattle Bakers Cording all from Amuse Studio!
I just LOVE the way it turned out - and cannot wait to do another one! I am contemplating offering an art journaling bible study at our church and have been praying about it for a long long time! What do you think? Would you come to a class/study like that? I know I would love to attend one myself! It is not the creating part that makes me nervous it is the Bible Study part! I know God would lead me through it all - and I just need to lift it up to him and he will provide all that I need! I think I will talk to my pastors soon about it!
This canvas was hugely inspired by a fellow artist. I have long been inspired by the works of Christy Tomlinson. Last year I took the plunge and took an online class with her and Junelle Jacobsen "The Art of Wild Abandonment" - I loved every minute of it! If I could I would take every class offering by both this amazingly talented ladies - but alas my time and funding does not allow that! Maybe someday!
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