2019 #5 Maps & Plans: Behind Every Window with EEG {by Lotte Kristensen}

2019 Topic 5: Maps & Plans

Lotte's art tonight proves how a strong concept that's boldly executed gives a powerfully emotive piece. The strips of different maps are a clever idea that gives a textured effect to the stamping.

Hey everyone, it's Lotte here and today I'm sharing quite a simple project, using the delicious stamp set from Emma Godfrey (EEG26).  All the work you would normally have to do to create a textured background is being done by using strips of old map pages, and the interest is then added by stamping the same image in different colours.  I got the idea from seeing the wonderful photos from one of my favourite Instagrammers, Barcelona Facades - which does exactly what it says on the tin! 

So, first I dug out a selection of old map pages and cut them into 0.5" strips:

Next, on a piece of cardboard measuring 6.5" square, I stuck them on using a glue stick:

Then I stamped the window stamp from Eclectica Emma Godfrey EEG26 in Versafine Inks - Crimson Red, Spanish Moss, Onyx Black, Vintage Sepia, Imperial Purple and Blue Lagoon. 'staggering' the images slightly.  It will take a little time to dry properly on the glossy map pages, so I set the piece aside to dry while I got out my trusty Dymo tape printer.  You just can't go wrong with a few Dymo'ed words!

Whenever I'm on a bus, or walking past houses in the streets, I'm always struck by the fact that there are so many lives going on, each with their own story, most of which we will know nothing about.  So it seemed fitting to reflect this on my piece, and after printing out the words, I trimmed the edges before sticking onto the now dry stamping.  Lastly, I layered the whole piece onto black cardstock.

And that's that!  Simple but effective, I think.  I had played around with quite a few other ideas, involving folding the map pages (because that's always a problem with maps, right?!) but it all ended up too messy-looking, so I much prefer this.  I love the map print behind the images, which further talk of the idea of so many different lives in so many different places.

Well, that's all for today - I hope you feel inspired to have a go at incorporating maps into your artwork and don't forget to share your creations on social media.

Until next time :)

Lotte x