Song of the Sea progress

Since the online class Song of the Sea opened I have been working a little each day on my vessel.
My vessel is the journal we have been creating.  Gina is a wonderful teacher. I have been inspired to stretch and work outside of my comfort level.  I'm learning new techniques and watching the videos again and again.
We began by painting background papers on large sheets of watercolor paper.

I also chose a book to transform into my journal. I found a wonderful child's book on the sale table at Borders.  The book is called Sea Stories compiled by Cooper Edens.  He used his vintage image collection to illustrate the book.  The images are so wonderful, it has been a little difficult to rip pages out and gesso over others.  But I am keeping in mind this is my vessel and my story of the sea. Right now the cover looks like this:

But not for long.  The back cover has already been altered.  It too, will be different by the time it is finished:

The thing that is really cool about this whole romance with the sea is that over on Creative Every Day site the theme for September is water!  Right now I am all about water.  Since the beginning of the month I have walked on the beach.  Thought about the beach, stood on the cliffs in my little town by the sea and gazed out on that vast Pacific.  I've walked the studio pug through the harbor and on the sand.  My life revolves around the sea and it has for as long as I can remember.  My life by the sea has never seemed so present and blessed.

"We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea - whether it is to sail or to watch it -

we are going back from whence we came."

-John F. Kennedy

It's back to the studio for more gesso slapping, ripping and tearing in the name of art!

XOXO