Journey by Number

I love vintage maps.  They're cool.  They're full of colors, lines, shapes, words, numbers, grids...a vintage paper map is loaded with creative goodness.  Maps mean a trip, a journey, traveling, driving, flying, visiting, a change of scene, a local adventure...even more creative goodness.  I love numbers and shapes and patterns and circles and squares.  I use stamps to create repeating circle and square and grid patterns or add lines and letters and numbers and shapes of all kinds.  I love adding totally touchable texture with modeling paste or glass bead gel with stencils.  love that people ask me if it's okay to touch the canvas and I always say yes!  It's such a great compliment.  

I begin every canvas with by creating a collage from items that bring me inspiration such as torn pieces of scrapbook paper, vintage magazine print, dictionary pages, junk mail inserts, business reply envelopes (numbers and patterns!), things with grids like vintage journal entry papers, dress pattern papers, playing cards with numbers and letters, tags of all shapes and sizes...the list is unending because delicious and inspiring pieces of paper are all around.  

And so I take these individual pieces and combine them with bright colorful paint and splashes of ink to make my version of mixed media collage art.  It's fun!  It's playful!  It's bright!  

The Journey by Number series combines vintage maps, numbers and patterns.  I wonder if you've visited one of the places on the map!  You never know.....   Thanks for visiting!!...xoxoxo....

The Giving Tree

"The Giving Tree" is a commissioned mixed media art collage that I completed over the summer.  My customer requested a custom collage for her sister's birthday.  She had recently retired after working as a librarian for many, many years and this was a special time that she wanted to recognize.  She told me a little about her sister, her love of reading, her children, her grandchildren.  She also said her sister loved bright, vibrant yellows and ocean blues.  Of course I accepted this commission - how exciting! And inwardly I needed to squelch that initial voice of worry in my head...

If you follow a favorite artist, you'll at least once have heard them say that some of their best creativity came from following the emotional process and trusting their instincts.  I am here to tell you that this is true, but not necessarily easy.  There comes a point when you need to shed the past and stop asking for permission.  It's okay to make mistakes, begin again, and ask yourself to go deeper.  There comes a point when you need stop listening to the voice of worry...or...hear those voices in a different way. Open up your arms and allow yourself to be vulnerable!  

I started this commission by doing what I knew how to do....I started from a place of comfort.  I imagined a bright, textured sun and a vibrant blue sky with light, slim clouds gently moving across the landscape.  That is perfectly respectable!  So I went about doing just that.  I selected the canvas size, set the first couple layers of paper in yellows and blues, and selected the flower stencil I'd use for the sun.  Once the modeling paste was set, I looked at the canvas and saw potential for a tree.  "But that's not what I'm working on here", I responded to the tree, "I'm working on a big beautiful sun and a brilliant sky with light clouds..." 

I brought to canvas to my customer for an initial review of color and design.  And I couldn't stop seeing a tree...a tree...that's a tree...look at that tree...a big, beautiful, full bloom tree...  But my customer and I discussed the sun, the sky and the horizon.  At the end of our meeting I surprised myself by asking for the names of her sister's children and grandchildren....to include...maybe for the clouds?...."I'm a tree...a tree...I'm a tree and the names belong mixed into my beautiful leaves," said the voice of inspiration.  "But I've spent so much time on the sun and the clouds already!" I responded to the tree. "I'm a tree....I'm a tree!!...I'm a Giving Tree of life and love and family and faith..."  The tree won.

After several weeks of work on the initial canvas, I started the commission over again from scratch. Which at the time frightened me due to how much time I'd already spent and given that her sister's birthday was long past. But the tree was screaming at me at this point and I had no choice but to begin again.  I shared this new inspiration and design with my customer and she was very supportive (thankfully!!).  And so I continued on with the tree.  I thought I was just about finished when I received an email.  My customer thought a little more about the tree...and shared that her sister spent a lot of time reading.  She said it would be lovely if I could incorporate a reader into the canvas, but that it wasn't necessary.  

Oh boy.  Oh my goodness. I still needed to include the family names, the granddaughter's cute phrases to their grandmother and the inspirational message. Oh boy. A reader. Where would I fit a reader? I need a larger canvas! Oh boy..... Now that she said it, I couldn't turn away.  I had to figure this out. The idea was out there...released into the universe.  And the tree seemed to agree....

And so I introduce "The Giving Tree" a commissioned mixed media art collage by Danene Elise Designs.  Now when I look at this picture, I can't imagine The Giving Tree without her reader.  As it turns out, this custom collage pushed me into a new place emotionally and artistically.  I am incredibly grateful for this experience.  And my customer loved the end result.  Thank you for visiting and I invite you to reach out xoxoxo!! 

Road Trip: Enjoy the Journey

"Enjoy the Journey" is an original, one of a kind mixed media collage that I made by layering an 8" X 8" deep edge wooden panel with strips of scrapbook paper, modeling paste and mod podge for texture. I used Golden Glass Bead Gel to give this additional texture and movement, and I added color with vibrant blues, purples, yellows and oranges. The front grill of the car is an upcycled group of computer resistors and the headlights are vintage buttons with a touch of patina. 

I love the idea of a road trip: it's a beautiful spring day and you're cruising down a winding road in a vintage car...the day is full of possibilities and the tank is full!  

This mixed media collage is available through my Etsy store - danene elise designs.

Thanks so much for visiting!  xoxo

Home: Where Our Story Begins

This is my first mixed media collage for 2015!  I wish you a very happy and healthy new year! 

"Home: Where Our Story Begins" is an 9" X 11" mixed media collage made using a wide edge canvas covered in layers of scrapbook paper, vintage ephemera, colorful paints and modeling paste for added texture.  This collage includes vintage buttons, vintage ribbon, a fabric flower and a fabulous painted Masonite heart.  The houses stand out in vibrant primary colors against a mixed yellow, orange, green and blue background.  

This mixed media collage is available through my Etsy store - Danene Elise Designs.  

Thanks so much for visiting!!...xoxoxoxoxo....

We Like Us

"We Like Us" is an 8" X 10" mixed media collage made using Tim Holtz Layering Stencils, Stampotique Stamps, vintage ephemera and vibrant blues, yellows, reds, greens and purples.  The canvas is layered with pieces of scrapbook paper, vintage dictionary pages, paper shopping bag pieces, mod podge, paint, modeling paste.  

It was important to me that each of the Stampotique stamps that I used had a visible heart. I used Smooch ink to color their hearts purple as a sign of their bond to one another and their intention to be true to themselves. Let me introduce you to Liaka, Connie Shows off her nails, and Buru.  These guys are the coolest.  I feel like they're inviting me to hang out with them for a bit...and I know you're invited too!    

Thanks so much for visiting!!....xoxoxoxoxoxo

She is Inspired

"She is Inspired" is an original, one of a kind, mixed media collage that I made by layering a 8" X 10" canvas with strips of scrapbook paper, modeling paste and mod podge for texture.  This is a collage made using Tim Holtz Layering Stencils, a Dylusions stamp, vintage ephemera and vibrant oranges, reds, yellows, blues and greens.  

After layering the canvas with vintage papers and adding texture using modeling paste and the Tim Holtz Alphabet stencil, I went to my fabulous, fabulous Dylusions Stamps stash and chose Curious Corin to add a bold statement to the canvas.  She's colored in using vibrant and shimmery Smooch ink.  When I look in her eyes, I see strength and positive energy which I find to be quite inspirational!!  Do what you love....    

Thanks so much for visiting!! xoxoxoxoxoxo

Journaling Fun

I'm having a great time working on this journal cover.  Journaling is super popular right now and I have a tendency to shy away from 'the most current at the moment thing' but I have to admit that spending time focused on coloring in the cover of my fabulous new journal has been both rewarding and relaxing. I think I get it! 

I love using the gel pens too. I've already used an entire black pen due to retracing the gorgeous design. I'm filling in with sharpie colors covered by the gel pen or the colored gel pens on their own.  The gel is so shiny - I love the added flair.

Even more exciting knowing that there are blank journal pages waiting for attention...and to think I've been blocking myself by not joining in the journaling fun!! Thanks for visiting!!...xoxoxo