Saturday, January 27, 2018

Let's Be Adventurers

Some days you just aren't quite sure what your adventure will be. Of course there are many possibilities.




So I took a gelli printed page and put some gesso over it to dull it down a bit, and then I added some strips of book pages.
I used this set of arrow stamps to stamp these phrases all over the page (Technique Tuesday) . I also used this suitcase and airport trolley stamp (Unity Stamps). A little coloring finishes them off. But they needed a frame.
So I gave them a bright orange one. If you are going to frame them in, then make that frame bold. And then I added a few little orange sticky dots to dress them up. Finally I used some small scalloped scissors to fancy up the edge just a bit.
This is my page for Art Journal Journey today and my link to this month's theme New Year: New Adventures.

And I had a little unexpected adventure driving into the school parking lot Thursday morning.
Not the best picture as it was taken through my car windshield but this Eastern Coyote was walking out and onto the sidewalk.
Here's a better photo I borrowed from the internet to give you a better view of these animals.

http://www.vnews.com/Getting-more--wolflike--is-the-key-to-the-future-for-coyotes-13816136
It looks like a dog, but it was definitely a coyote. Eastern coyotes are actually a hybrid of coyotes and wolves (and maybe even dogs). When I was a kid we didn't have coyotes around here at all, but in the last 45 or so years the western coyotes moved east through Canada and bred with wolves (and perhaps wolf-dog hybrids).  Then moved south down into New York and New England. I read that some people want to call them coy-wolves because of this. I've been to several lectures on them and I think it's a fascinating natural history story.
Plus it was cool to see!
I hope your weekend includes an adventure, whether it is  big or small.
Thanks for visiting.

14 comments:

kathyinozarks said...

Good morning, loving your newest art page and wow I love that you got to see a coyote up close. we have many here but do not see them very often. wolves and coyotes are not friends usually-when we had our wolf-she was our furry family member for many years-she would howl three times at the coyotes when she heard them getting close to the house-to back off and the always did. Now that she has passed-several years now-the coyotes are heard up close to our house.
all beautiful animals.

froebelsternchen said...

Wow - that was an adventure for sure to see such an animal at such close range. Seems to be a really fascinating natural history story about them. And your page is fabulous - you have such clever techniques always! Thanks for all the inspiration Erika! Your month is going to be a celebration of adventure at Art Journal Journey! WOW!
Happy adventurous and enjoyable weekend my friend!
oxo Susi

Valerie-Jael said...

OOoooh, lucky you seeing a coyote, wish I could see one, but we don't have them here. Great journal page, love all the details and the colourful arrows. Have a nice weekend, I just got back from an outing with my friend, it was good to be out and about again. Hugs, Valerie

Dortesjs said...

lets ! great arrow journal..and WAUE you saw a wold..great..we are having some in denmark but "they" think its a problem ;O(((

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

You could turn that beautiful entry into a pillow! It is gorgeous and with the edging, it reminds me of a pillow, too. I would say you had TWO adventures to show us today: the awesome art you created and the coyote. Both are adventures in my mind. I adore your arrows. At first I thought they were hand written. I admire your stamping abilities, too. Thanks for sharing this page and the photos with us at Art Journal Journey today. I hope it's a good one.

Divers and Sundry said...

We have foxes in this area, but I've never seen a coyote, tho there are supposed to be a subspecies around here. Exciting! I'd definitely call that an adventure!

Eileen The Artful Crafter said...

I love this page, Erika. It's bright, colorful and quite thought-provoking. I'm about ready to try my hand at gelli printing, but keep procrastinating - afraid to jump in and likely waste materials. lol

Your coyote sighting is very cool - along with the info you shared. When I was a teacher in NJ, occasionally bears would come down from the hills and walk into town! One day we had to keep the kids in school late until the police could shoo the bear back home.

BTW, I want to thank you for your comment on my (journal) drawing skills. I wasn't insulted at all. In fact, that's exactly how I feel about it myself. Very surprised. Guess I chose a good word for this year - bloom - lol.

The T-ladies have inspired me in so many ways. Thank you ;-)

Jeanie said...

That coyote is definitely an adventure! I've never seen one in person.

You capture my mood with those arrows going everywhere. I have no idea where I'm going right now, but it's a good ride!

Meggymay said...

Love how the arrows are directing us on this fantastic page, each inviting us off an an adventure. Great colours and I had to smile as I read that you fancied up the edges with scalloped scissors.
You caught a super shot from the car window of the coyote , like our local fox I wonder if it had come in close to habitation because it was hungry.
Yvonne xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow! Some adventures in this post! I love your colourful page and I love the photo you took of the coyote! How wonderful!Enjoy the remainder of the weekend!Chrisx

Astrid Maclean said...

How amazing to see a coyote!! Your page is amazing again, so vibrant, and those arrows pointing to different adventures are such a cool touch!

Laney said...

I love how this page shows the idea of so many possibilities. It has so much energy and movement to it. It's a bit scary to see a coyote so close. We can sometimes hear them and people do see them in their yards - though usually a bit further out in the country. I think I would be apprehensive if i saw one so close.

Astrid Maclean said...

Wow, how amazing to see a coyote!!! And I adore your page, - those arrows pointing at all the different adventures are such a cool idea, and it's a truly wonderful list! Fabulous work!! Have a good week ahead!

Words and Pictures said...

I love the colour palette here - those arrows are so dynamic, full of adventure. And what an adventure to see the coyote - the rusty coat and autumnal leaves are perfect together in that final photo.
Alison x