it's all in the details

in all the discussion we have been having about making embellishments (paper beads), keeping journals, and decorating the backs of our ATCs, i have been thinking that the underlying message here is that really what we like about our art and that of others seems to be the details. we're drawn to things that are not only interesting, but seem to have some sort of care of extra little oomph in the details.

that is the very reason why this particular page from one of 2 stuffed/glued/taped/sewn/written on pages from my London Visual Diary is my favorite. here's what i had:

a case of the non-inspired blues
about an hour before i dropped into bed of exhaustion (i was sick at the time--of all the luck... go to London and get sick!)
a popsicle stick (from chocolate bar called a Magnum, which i only bought because two people i was with in London insisted it is the best icecream bar they have ever had, and made us search for them! i thought.. this darn thing is going in my journal now, after all the trouble we went through to get it!!)
a rainy day outside making me sleepy
paint pens
photographs from previous days, printed from an epson printer
an xacto knife
corner rounder
glue

so. i took all that and combined it into this page. it was hot, so i kept wishing i had a fan. i made a little hand held fan from a photo of myself taken in a mirror in an Abbey Road gift shop, and used the popsicle stick. i cut out a 'window' in a page, then glued it to the page behind it, leaving a pocket to slip the 'fan' into. behind that, i drew a little self portrait is poster paint pen, acquired at a local art supply store.

this page probably most accurately describes my experience--hot, weird, and visually insane!

never underestimate the power of sleepy, anti-biotic addled brains when creating!

just remember, if you get lost, edge some pages with a dark color. punch some holes. thread some cool yarn through it. go nuts!