Explore Your Soul - MTW Main July Challenge

Hello everyone!

Today I would like to share with you this Art Journal spread called Explore Your Soul.

It is a mixed media project, that measures 19” x 12.5” and I created it in a large art journal made by my art teacher, who is also a professional bookbinder.

The particular piece is my entry to the More Than Words July Main Challenge which is about exploring and arrows. 

When I read the word “explore” the icon of a compass immediately came to my mind. Every explorer needs one in order to find one’s way and not get lost.

Then I remembered something my husband had told me when we first met. He believed and still does, that every human soul originates from an animal. It could be a real or a mythical one, just like the dragon.

I love dragons. I really believe that they are guardians of our dreams and our souls.

For me, the most challenging thing for a person to do is to try to explore one’s own soul.

The arrows are symbolized by the points of the compass and show all the possible directions that one can choose to begin one’s own journey.

To create this spread I followed a procedure of first creating the textures and then applying many layers of colors to achieve the desired result.

I used texture pastes and a palette knife to build up the dragon’s eye and the compass around it.

Then I used different types of colors to give depth, create shades and accent some details.

Below is a list of the materials I used.

Decoart Crackle Paste

Decoart Sand Paste

Ranger Multi Medium Matte

Art Basics 3D Gloss Gell

Art Basics Soft Matt Gel

Art Basics Gold Crackle Paste

Decoart Media Shimmer Mister Violet

Decoart Media Shimmer Mister Turquoise

Decoart Media Shimmer Mister Yellow

Decoart Americana Marigold

Media Fluid Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide

Media Fluid Cobalt Turquoise Hue

Media Fluid Paynes Grey

Media Fluid Raw Umber

Media Fluid Titan Buff

Lindy’s Starburst Drop Dead Gorgeous Green

Bo Bunny Glimmer Spray Bronze

Infusions Powder Royal Blood

Infusions Powder Green Man

Americana Decor Stencil Old French Script

Andy Skinner stencil Snake's Web

Iron Orchids Decor Stamps Signage II

Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black

Memento Ink Tuxedo Black

I hope you like it!

Thank you for visiting my blog!

Until next time

Be Brave, Be who You want to Be!