MMDT Challenge #6: Blue

Challenge #6 was a photo challenge; we were to choose a famous artist and let him/her inspire the photos you take/use.

Having never studied art history, this challenge was just that: a challenge! My first thought was to take a bunch of photos, cut them up into 1” squares and place them on a page in no particular order and call it “Inspired by Picasso.”  After a little more thought, I remembered the print that has hung in my bedroom for many years: “Master Bedroom” by Andrew Wyeth. I love the works of Andrew Wyeth. His watercolor images bring me a certain unidentifiable sense of peace: a lighthouse in a storm, a barn window, a hunting dog asleep on his master’s bed. Here is my inspiration piece, “Master Bedroom”:

When I decided to go with a dog-themed layout, I realized that I had yet to create a tribute page to my dog Blue, whom I lost this past August very suddenly to a brain aneurysm at the age of 6. Blue was a beautiful smooth-coated, blue merle collie and, as you can see, she was very photogenic.

For this challenge, I used Toffee Grid Paper from www.snapncrop.com, Page Pattern #72-Two Page Spread with Borders from www.tamipotter.com, patterned paper from Basic Grey’s “Max & Whiskers” collection and coordinating card stock from Stampin’ Up! I used no special processes or embellishments as I wanted the photos to be the center of attention in this layout.

 Imagine my surprise when I started going through my photos and found the one at the top of page 1, almost identical to Wyeth’s subject with her head on the polar bear as a pillow! Blue’s two favorite things to do were play with her giant ball and go for long walks. Some of her puppy pictures comprise the border. 

The top left picture is Blue in Aspen, CO; next is Blue showing her baby sister, Risi, around at a vacation cabin in Michigan; bottom center is Blue learning that she can swim in Williams Bay, WI. The border consists of Blue posing pretty for her mama, sniffing her 1st birthday present and chewing on a stick as a puppy. I inked some chipboard letters and applied Liquid Glass (Close to My Heart) for her name, my simple title.

She was a beautiful girl and I miss her everyday. Thank you for sharing my memory.