T for Tryst! - Craft Barn Alpha/Dictionary Challenge.

I can't believe we're onto another letter in the Craft Barn Alpha/Dictionary Challenge already. Click here if you would like to find out more about this challenge to illustrate dictionary definitions either in your own altered dictionary, or in an art journal or on ATCs - the possibilities are many, but why not just take a look over at The Craft Barn and you'll discover just how a whole collection of talented artists and crafters are exploring words and their meanings in original ways.

 I've chosen the word 'Tryst' for this week's letter T: a journal spread about secret meetings in secluded places.

Although in my dictionary, tryst was defined as a pre-arranged meeting, I have always associated it with lovers, especially those of long ago whose liaisons were forbidden or - at least - dangerous! A couple of years back I taught students 'The French Lieutenant's Woman' and I was struck by how certain descriptive passages were reminiscent of the Pre-Raphaelite painters. This was a novel about forbidden trysts and the consequences for women of risking their reputation for a few snatched moments with an admirer. For my journal page I took two Pre-Raphaelite paintings and did little copies in the middle of my journal page, which I then hid behind a stamp by Crafty Individuals of a shuttered window stamped onto card painted in the same colours as my background. I cut round the shutters carefully with a craft stiletto so that it is possible either to peep through into this past world of clandestine meetings...

or to open out the whole image like a card.

The page on the left is based on Hughes' painting 'April Love' and it reflects Spring, new love and daytime.

The page on the right is a farewell tryst and I tried for a twilight feel with moths instead of butterflies and more shadow than sunlight. If you click on the images, you will be able to see in a little more detail.

For the backgrounds on both my pages I dabbed on Frescos in shades of green: Hyde Park, Tinned Peas, Hey Pesto, Limelight and Sage. I stamped leaves on in Versafine green and added tissue leaves and a poppy from paper napkins. My moths are Paper Artsy stamps and a Retro Cafe Art Gallery paper cut moth. I also stamped some script from a Paper Artsy plate on the inside of the window shutters with Coffee Archival ink.

I used a die-cut of a Tim Holtz book-plate for my definition, painting a layer in Fresco Holly, Crackle Glaze and then a layer of Guacamole. I edged this with a little Treasure Gold.

The butterflies on the left page are cut from Graphic 45 'Steam Punk Debutante', a design alas no longer available.

The blue butterflies were stamped onto the background in Peacock Feathers distress ink and then embossed with clear embossing powder so they do glisten in real life! This technique was inspired by a beautiful canvas I saw on Alison's blog 'Words and Pictures'. Her dragon fly really gleamed and reminded me of Ellen Terry's beetle wing costume. The bird is a Retro Cafe Art Gallery paper cut.

It's been so hot while I was painting and photographing and writing up, I'm worried I have not made much sense! Everything seems to have been created in a kind of stupor! I began to envy these doomed lovers in their shady rendezvous! I'm off now to check out other Alpha-Dictioneers who I hope have not melted away in all this heat!