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Thursday 21 January 2021

Aall & Create meets Sweet Poppy, Stampin Up and a Victorian poet

And now for something completely different.   I have long been a fan of a verse called Invictus.  Written by William Ernest Henley, it was allegedly a poem which kept Nelson Mandela grounded during his 18-year imprisonment on Robben Island.  It is a poem full of strength and promise against adversity and it speaks to me. 
I first applied gesso then acrylic paint to a blank canvas and stencilled the Aall & Create compasses and Sweet Poppy octopus and bubbles directly on to the painted surface. Having planned my layout, I formatted the verse to fit around my intended images and printed it on to tissue paper.  I then stamped my images directly onto the tissue before adhering the tissue to the canvas with Fusion mediumThe small clipper ship, compass and anchors, are all by Stampin Up.  I restamped some images on to white card - notably the Aall & Create ship's wheel with it's perched hornbill and the large blue anchor from the "Navigate Home" set, added colour with my Copics, fussy cut them and applied them on top of the original inked image.  

I added an additional hand coloured Sizzix die cut of a toucan to the large blue anchor and a tiny bit of turquoise texture paste through another die cut to give a bit of texture.  I'm not sure I like the colour of the texture paste.  Worried I would make a mistake after all my efforts, I decided to leave it there although I feel sure there is room for more on this piece.   

I am entering my card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp - Make your own background
Watercooler Wednesday -#305 Helen's Anything Goes with a masculine twist
Timeout - #179 "You"
Stamping Sensations - More favourite stamps.  I just love this nautical set by Aall & Create
The Male Room - #46 Animals
Path of Positivity - #87 Anything Goes with the option of a Positive Twist
Crafty Creations - #417 Anything Goes

And because the verse might not be so easy to read in the photographs of my project, I have included William Ernest Henley's poem entitled "Invictus" below.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.


9 comments:

Crafting Queen said...

Beautiful creation, love the layers. Thanks for joining Stamping Sensations. Anesha

Helen said...

What a beautiful way to present this special poem, Lesley! A very special gift! Thanks so much for joining us at Watercooler Wednesday Challenge this week! Take care! :)

Dawn T said...

I'm totally blown away checking out this project. It's amazing. Thanks for sharing it with us at Watercooler Wednesday this week.

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles said...

What an interesting project Lesley. Great combination of images used to blend with the words. That poem is very powerful in its own right--especially the last two lines.

Thank you so much for joining us during our current challenge over on the Path of Positivity. Good luck in the draw!

☺ Lisa D.
Path of Positivity – My Challenge Blog!
Décosse’s Dynamite Doodles – My Personal Blog!
Owner & Co-coordinator for The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up!

Joyce said...

This is a wonderful piece of art. Thanks so much for playing along at Time Out.

brenda said...

A fabulous nautical inspired creation, thanks so much for sharing and sharing a 'Favourite Stamp' with us at Stamping Sensations challenge.

B x

Gerrina said...

Beautiful how you show us a piece of what you love is such a beautiful way! Thank you for joining us at TIME OUT!

Sari / Granne said...

Totally fabulous project, love how much details you have added to your artwork. Thank you so much for joining us in our Animal challenge at The Male Room. I hope to see you in our new Steampunk challenge.

Lady Joyful said...

This is lovely. Great detail on your design. Thank you for joining us at The Male Room - Charlotte/Lady Joyful, DT