Happy Sunday, creative friends!
It’s Sunday, which means it’s time to step into the wonderfully creative world of Lisa Oxley, our talented Curated Collective Team member.
This week, Lisa has created an enchanting mixed-media art journal page filled with colour, flowers, texture and two very fabulous little characters!
There is something about this page that makes you stop and smile. Two tall, whimsical ladies stand proudly in the centre, complete with gorgeous floral dresses and enormous black crowns. Around them is a colourful garden of painted layers, flowers, leaves, patterns and playful marks.
It feels a little bit quirky, a little bit magical and completely Lisa!
So let's have a closer look at this week's creation.
Starting with Colour
Lisa has created a beautiful contrast between the clean white areas of the journal page and the bursts of colour surrounding her figures.
Turquoise, pink, orange, yellow, green and blue have been layered across the page, with each colour adding another little piece to the background.
Rather than trying to make the paint perfectly smooth, Lisa has embraced loose brushstrokes and uneven layers. You can see the individual marks and colours coming through, which gives the background that wonderful mixed-media feel.
This is such a great reminder that your background doesn't have to be perfect before you move on.
Sometimes those unexpected brush marks become the best part of the finished page!
Meet the Queens
And then we have our two fabulous ladies!
Standing tall in the centre of the page, they immediately become the focal point.
Their long, simple figures are beautifully outlined, while their dresses are filled with gorgeous floral imagery.
But, of course, we can't forget those crowns!
The oversized black crowns are such a fun addition and give the characters their own personalities. They also create a strong contrast against the colourful dresses and background.
It's a wonderful example of how a very simple shape can become a memorable character with just a few extra details.
Flowers Everywhere!
Flowers are a recurring theme throughout the artwork.
They're tucked into the dresses and then appear again around the figures as delicate hand-drawn stems, leaves and blossoms.
This repetition works beautifully.
The floral designs on the dresses connect the characters to the garden-like background, making the whole page feel as though the ladies belong within this colourful little world Lisa has created.
I particularly love the way some of the flowers are bright and filled with colour, while others are simply outlined in black.
That variation keeps the page interesting without making it feel too busy.
Layer Upon Layer
One of the things that makes Lisa's work so enjoyable to look at is the number of little details you discover.
Look closely at the background and you'll find painted strokes sitting underneath doodled flowers, decorative patterns, dots and darker marks.
This is the beauty of mixed media.
You don't have to choose between painting, drawing, stamping or doodling.
You can use them all together!
Start with paint, add some marks, cover a little of it up, add something else, and then come back with a pen or pencil.
The artwork develops as you go.
Don't Forget the Black
Although this page is bursting with colour, the black elements are what help everything come together.
The crowns, outlines, botanical drawings, decorative motifs, dots and border all introduce those darker accents.
They give the eye places to stop amongst the bright colours and create a lovely sense of balance.
It's also a great trick to remember when you're working with lots of bright colours.
If your page starts feeling a little too colourful or lacks definition, try introducing some darker marks.
Sometimes just a few bold black lines can make everything else pop!
Little Details Make a Big Difference
The longer you look at Lisa's page, the more details you find.
There are tiny leaves, little flowers, decorative patterns and clusters of dots tucked into the composition.
None of these elements needs to be the star of the show.
Instead, they encourage you to look around the page and discover something new.
That's one of my favourite things about art journaling.
The first glance gives you the overall picture. The second glance reveals the story.
Bringing Everything Together
At the bottom of the page, Lisa has added loose blue and black marks beneath the figures.
This simple grounding element gives the ladies somewhere to stand and helps anchor them within the artwork.
A darker border around the outside then finishes everything beautifully.
It's not a perfectly straight or polished border—and it doesn't need to be.
The slightly distressed, handmade quality fits perfectly with the rest of the artwork.
Your Sunday Dose of Creativity
Lisa's page is a lovely reminder that art journaling doesn't have to be complicated.
Start with some colour.
Add a few marks.
Draw something that makes you smile.
Add flowers.
Add more colour.
Maybe give your characters a crown!
And most importantly, don't worry too much about where the page is going.
Sometimes the most interesting artwork happens when you simply follow your creativity and allow each layer to suggest the next.
We hope Lisa's whimsical page gives you a little inspiration for your own creative time this week.
Thank you, Lisa, for another gorgeous piece of inspiration! 💕👑🌸
We'll be back next Sunday with another creative peek into Lisa's art journal.
Until then, grab those paints, open that journal and make a little creative magic of your own.
Happy creating!
