Art Journal: Summer

Art journal collage on 9 x 12" drawing paper.

My dad found hundreds of 35mm slides from the early 60s to mid 70s, slides that he used to show us using a slide projector. They had not been kept in optimal conditions; temps from 65 degr F to 85 F but safe from dust and light. So I've been scanning them and finding so many surprises. One of my favorites is a photo of me when I was about 10, taken one summer when I was learning to dive by standing on the shoulders of my mom's friend.  

When I started this journal page, the idea was to use that photograph. It started with my first attempt at a photo transfer. I printed the photo on glossy photo paper, painted it thick with Golden gel medium and put it picture side down on Strathmore Drawing paper. It's not as thick as Watercolor paper, and smoother. Using a spoon I rubbed the back of the photo for a few minutes and carefully peeled off the back of the photo paper, leaving a rough reverse of the original image with a bit of faded 1970s color.

Here and there I added bits I cut from a stack of magazines and catalogs, an old map of California from my dad's attic, produce labels, ads, scrap paper. Softened some images with white gesso and edged images with Neocolor II wax crayons. Edged the lyrics with glittery gellyrolls.

This is one of about a dozen loose art journal pages kept in an archival paper box. This has more muted tones than usual; they each have their own "story" and character. Have you tried photo transfers, or built a page or piece of art around a photograph?