Thursday, March 13, 2025

We Don't Live in a Barn

 Hi everyone. Happy Thursday.

     Today I have another journal page for my Home Sweet Home challenge at Art Journal Journey. My inspiration for today's page was a comment my mother used to make whenever (as kids) one of us would leave a door open. She'd always say, " Close the door. We don't live in a barn." That quote had me thinking about all the animals whose home is in a barn.


     I started by drawing and painting the barn and the silo behind it. Notice I left the door open. Grin. The weather vane is a bit large for the barn, but I think the barn needed one so I stamped it on the peak.  Then I colored in the lawn part with green markers, the dirt area with brown and tan markers, and I painted the sky with a wash of blue water color paint. To add more depth to the environment, I then went back and collaged in some paper scraps over the grass. I also used white paint and a water based Stabilo pencil to fill the sky with  clouds. 

     Last fall I picked up this set of farm animal stamps that were marked down from the now out-of- business Stampendous stamps. I thought the animals were cute. I hadn't stamped anything from this package yet, so I opened it up, stamped the animals on white paper, colored them in and then fussy cut them.  I also added the bike image as well  the image of George and his dog Sam (which are TH pieces). George and his dog Sam  biked over to the barn to visit the animals after school one day.

       I'll finish this post with a few more photos of my tulips. They have now passed, but I actually like them as much when they start to die and dry out as when they first bloom. They may not be as beautiful as the fresh tulips, but they are interesting to look at. And the colors really seem to become richer for a little bit too.




Have a great rest of your day!





13 comments:

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Speaking of living in a barn reminds me of my last trip to England where we visited people who lived in a converted farm building. It was gorgeous and such houses are in big demand and command high prices. It was an old building and all the essential components had to be retained and it really did make a great house. All the best - David

Tom said...

...every mother says, Close the door. We don't live in a barn.

Jeanie said...

Oh my! Those tulips! SUPER WOW! Sometimes I feel like I live in a barn! Love the piece.

CJ Kennedy said...

All I could think of your title was my father shouting at us 😆The animal stamps are cute, but the pig needs wings. Looks like a nice day shaping up. Enjoy the sunshine.

Angie's Recipes said...

What a wonderful country life!

The Happy Whisk said...

I remember hearing that saying often as well.

Christine said...

Lovely page and gorgeous tulips

Cloudia said...

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing 😊

Elkes Lebensglück said...

You portrayed it beautifully with the painted barn and silo and the animals. I know that saying too, but it's different: Close the door, otherwise the mice will get in.
Your slightly wilted tulips are so beautiful. I like them that way, too!
I hope you have a nice rest of the week!Hugs Elke

Iris Flavia said...

Just the start of the day here! Oh, I love your page! Indeed such cute animals and scene. Yesterday this turned into a barn here, too. Reckon someone moved in or out, main door wide open all day - in this frickin´ cold (we live first floor, the cold keeps creeping in).
Right, the whole flower´s life-cycle is beautiful!
I always drive Ingo nuts with this, LOL - have a happy Friday, hugs

Aimeslee Winans said...

I like everything about this page. The clouds, ground and grass, especially. And those farm animals are a hoot. I think I like flowers a lot at that stage. I kept a bouquet I received in a coffee cup once and left it alone for months. The little roses felt just like crepe paper. I still have it, makes a great centerpiece, lol. xoxo

*Vicki* said...

Wow, what a very cool page! I love the whole scene and even that character lurking next to the barn! Love that you've used the collaged paper scraps in there for the grass! I need to remember to do some of that on my pages! The flowers are so stunning too! Thanks for the inspiration my friend!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

I have heard that barn expression as well, but it was never used in my home when I was growing up. The tulips did actually look quite lovely even at the end of their bloom.