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Serendipity - A Joyful Discovery
by Cindy RolandStamping Deck Cruise Director
In the dictionary serendipity is described as the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for. I prefer to consider it a joyful discovery. I have always enjoyed experimenting with paint, inks, and clay. So why not combine some of my favorite mediums with one of my favorite tools, rubber stamps. Backgrounds are a passion for me. Color is too. Lots of color, surprising colors, colors that command your attention, whether through their boldness or through their subtleties. They may be backgrounds, but they demand attention be paid to them. So, why not take those backgrounds and make them the center of attention. Instead of them supporting a subject, make them the subject of discussion.
This is how I chose to express my idea of what I consider serendipity to be. I started out with plain pieces of paper and splashed ink and paint and metallics all over with some bold color combos and some very interesting techniques. With each one I never knew what I would end up with until I finished the background and then it would speak to me and tell me what stamps, ink, mattes, and embellishments would complete my joyful discoveries. It is impossible to plan them out and part of the reason they are successful is the surprise element involved with the finished project. You never know how they are going to turn out until they are finished. This is a good way to allow you to be free and experiment. Just remember that you are doing this to have fun and it's only paper.
Since we just left Florida and the Caribbean on our way to Texas, this month I thought the colorful backgrounds would suit our destinations. Since we were around the Bermuda Triangle where mysteries abound, what an appropriate intro for making art by letting the colors and patterns mysteriously lead the way. I hope you let yourself be adventuresome and just try one of these little art pieces for yourself Just start adding color and layering on more and topping with your stamps and see what you come up with by yourself, you may be pleasingly surprised. But, don't just send them as cards, consider framing them and making them pieces of art. You will feel that way when you complete the first one.
The first one I worked on started out as two pieces of odd sized 5 inch square bright yellow textured cardstock. I added pink, salmon, peach and gold paint in blobs around one of the papers. I then took the other piece and put it right side down on top and gave it a twist with my wrist. The paint just glided around in a circular motion on both pieces. Viola, when I pulled them apart I was stunned to see a mirrored image of luscious color. My very first serendipitous result was very satisfying and the odd size worked out perfectly to fit on a CD mailer.
This one started out as a dark gray cardstock, very cold and dull. I added some bold color and smeared 2 pieces of the same color together and suddenly that dull gray cardstock had some life breathed into and I could turn it into something warm and wonderful.
The other half of the gray cardstock was turned into this art piece by adding a few more colors of ink to it and stamping it with different stamps. Underneath is still that plain old gray cardstock.
I wanted to add a tropical feel to this one but all it started out with was some colorful inks on a simple white cardstock. Amazing what a few drops of paint and an equally bright matte can do to plain old white cardstock. 
I have loved working with the Twinkling H20's from the very first set I ever bought. There is truly nothing quite like them. The colors are so rich and they really do twinkle. I only wish the scanner would show them off the way they look in person. I dressed this little art piece up with some glitzy gold and a gleaming sun for a little extra pizazz. I am so pleased that you chose to spend your valuable time reading my article and looking at my work. I really do appreciate it. My greatest wish is that I may have inspired you to open up and allow yourself the freedom to just mess around. I want to recommend a wonderful book by Nancy Curry titled "Textured Effects". Not only does she have some beautiful pieces of art in there to inspire you, she also encourages you to experiment and appreciate what you might come up with. She is a wonderful artist and a lovely person. You will enjoy it.
Well since it is March that means we are getting through winter and preparing for spring. I hope you have fun touring around in our big state of Texas. Take a swim in the gulf, and soak up some of that southern sunshine. You might want to sample some of that Texas sized hospitality if you are thinking you would like to take a trip inland to some of the most famous big cities in the world. Don’t wear yourself out as you still have to go to a real Texas BarBQue. Oh, so much to do! It is a good way to bid winter farewell and help usher in the spring. Next month we will be heading to South America and it sounds like we have a lot of fun things planned for you. So stick with us on our tour of the seven seas
If you have any questions about my work, feel free to write and ask me. I love to hear from you. Have a wonderful month and we will see you the next time on the grand SS Reflections.
Cindy Roland
cindyrolands@ssreflections.com
Stamping Deck Cruise Director
S.S. Reflections, Inc.
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