Finding joy in my cards

I had painted a centerpiece for a card featuring the word Joy and then was stymied what to do with it. Mat it on a plain card? Paint a background for it?

I decided to use a new set I'd bought from Stampin' Up to stamp/paint delicate flowers onto a yellow background. This seemed the best way to create something that would match the Asian lettering, watercolor effects, and happy mood of my centerpiece.

I spent quite a bit of time making the background, laid my bit of Joy on it and  realized it was not going to work. The centerpiece and the background weren't compatible. They weren't speaking the same visual language. *Sigh*

Now I had two design dilemmas. My "Joy" still did not have a home, and I had no clue what my yellow background with flowers was calling into being.

I stared at the long-stemmed wildflowers and "listened" to see if I could hear what they were saying. Suddenly the words came to me:

Voila! Merci to Monsieur Proust. Now I was happy but what about Joy? ; )

I examined my Joy again. I tried matting it on red and on gray but that didn't work.  I realized that Joy is best in the shadow of a little blue. I found the perfect shade of cardstock. It reminded me of twilight, the space between day and night.

Now I needed something to bridge my centerpiece to that blue background.

Digging through my paper collection, I discovered a robin-egg blue patterned bit of paper that spoke to me of possibility, of spring after a long winter. Not only did it tie my green and blue cardstock together, it also honored my Asian lettering. I liked the surprising color combination. Joy rediscovered! 

 

Compost Studios motto

Card making

Sometimes I wander repeatedly into my studio, pull out supplies, consider ideas, and make absolutely nothing. Writing comes easily to me but making art does not. I often feel blocked and uncertain. I'm still learning to just open up to the process and move forward even when I don't know where I'm going. This card was the result of forcing myself to stay in the chair at my studio table and push myself a bit. It incorporates bits and pieces from previous projects.