More Gypsy journal play yesterday. I started with acrylic paints and ended with gelatos.

I used masking tape down the center of the pages to help protect from moisture bleeding through to the rest of the book. I ripped off way to long of piece so I ripped it up and stuck it randomly on the pages. I added the mesh tape as more texture before giving a light coat of gesso to the entire page.

I started with pinks and purples…then added the circles in yellow. After it was dry I went back and started layering on some blue hues. All of this with my fingers. I have so much more control with my fingers and the paint flows and melds so nicely together.

After drying again I decided it was too blue so I came back in with some gelatos to highlight some of the pink and purple peeking through the blue. I also enhanced the circles with a couple shades of yellow.

This journal has me writing and thinking deeply. Perhaps it’s a stage in my life…getting older…seeing my kids getting closer to leaving the house than the cradle.

Or perhaps it’s writing with a nib pen and ink that inspires me. My grandpa used to write his sermons with a nib pen. I have a couple pages of sermon notes in my treasures. My handwriting is very similar to his. Genetics are amazing!

Me and grandpa…circa 1974