A Picture within a Picture
Hi there
Snowed on the way home today. Didn’t settle, but it was nice – albeit just for a moment in time.
I want to talk about that super show we had on Sunday, when we launched those new Stamp Pens and Jazz’s new KISS Seasonal Wreath Stamps.
I don’t know if you watched until the end of the two hours, but towards the end, I reviewed that Landscape Mask technique which was launched last November. Remember the one?
With the Tree stamps?
Well, the landscape masks that come with each set of stamp are 4×4 inches. So I thought on Sunday I would repeat the landscaping process, but use the 6×6 inch masks instead, which are also available.
I had an interesting moment on Sunday. I had prepped the artwork for the masks, and was repeating the process live. Here‘s a step by step in photos…
Thing is, I’d already done the job to completion, stamped up the trees and everything. Like this, on another background of course, using the same colours etc. We call this staging in the TV game!
I even used the new stamp pens to add tiny leaves, birds and the little fawn! I had decided to split the large piece into 2 smaller parts, to show you how you can break it up too.
Fully intended to show you the finished cards like this:
Just be chance I laid the trimmed, finished half on the freshly made background. And Boom! A whole other idea appeared! A picture within a picture! LOOK!!
This has to be an art form, I thought. So I did a bit of digging, and lo. A picture within a picture like this is definitely a thing! It even has names. Nested pictures is an obvious one. But there’s more. Read on…
It‘s called the Droste Effect. The Droste effect describes a specific type of recursive picture in which a smaller version of the larger image is featured within the larger image. In photography, this is called mise en abyme: inserting a replica of an image within itself. Maybe you remember Pink Floyd’s album cover, Ummagumma (1969)? That kind of thing.
So you see, sometimes we stumble upon something super cool quite by chance. But we have to be open to it, don‘t we? I think this snapshot within a picture definitely merits further investigation. Mmmm. Food for thought…
Can I say, I’m quietly excited about the future of Clarity. We have had such a good first week back to work. The team is in harmony, the work is pouring in – and they’re going full steam ahead, fulfilling orders and keeping it going. I just feel as if a weight has lifted, a cloud. Perhaps it is because I have finally closed the door on Hochanda/Create and Craft in my heart, turned the page. That was then, this is now. Onwards and upwards with vigour, eh?
Looking forward to tomorrow too. Janice Phillips is coming down to see us, and to see what we’ve done with her photos! I hope she likes it all !! Tune in at 4pm. I am thinking we could show you too, provided she’s happy with it!
Love always,
Barb x x x
25 thoughts on “A Picture within a Picture”
hello. I didn’t make it to the end, our Internet went down, and thanks to open reach we are now back on line..just now, so will catch up. I loved using the masks, and hope to do some more soon.
Just love this technique ! Right on time too as I got an email to say my order which includes the masks is on the way xxx
It’s a lovely effect. Must try that. Serendipity eh! X
Beautiful artwork!
Looking forward to the Clarity TV with Janice tomorrow!
Watched to the end, brilliant show as always. Clarity ‘Selly Telly ‘ so much better and more relaxed than C&C . You make the time to explain the demos and bring in other ideas and items as occur. So satisfying that not rushed from one thing to next as before. So pleased you’ve turned the page so onwards and upwards for you and the Clarity team. Loving the technique with masks too. Looking forward to tomorrow should be able to join you live.
Loved that artwork on Sunday. So glad you are finally getting to grips with what has happened and turned the corner. As you say ‘onwards and upwards’ xxxx
So pleased things are going well at Clarity towers.
I watched the show to the end and was inspired. I’ve pulled out many of the baby stamps from my stash and am ready for a crafting binge for the next few days using your smallest mounts but I know the stamping pens will be fantastic.
Being a computer 🦕 and hopeless with technology I finally had hubby sort me out with Facebook, just hope I don’t mess it up.
Onwards and upwards indeed.
The masks and stamps are sat in my basket, it’s not something I’m good at so am thinking about it until I see Linda’s lace plates to see if I have to have one or the other for now. The Sunday set will probably arrive tomorrow ! Ive also got some ink sat in the basket too …. And the ATC cards and stamp …. Oops ! Looking forward to Janice tomorrow, I’ll have been back at lunch club tomorrow so by the time I get back about two I’ll be tired so will try to stay awake! X
The Landscape masks and tree stamp set are on my wish list, along with quite a few other things, so will be ordering one of these days I hope. Yet to watch the second hour of Sundays show, and will need to catch up with you and Janice on Clarity tv, and possibly the 7pm shac. Love the art. x
I love this type of “image within an image” artwork! Reminds me of some of Rene Magritte’s art such as The Human Condition, where images flow across boundaries within the picture. A painting inside a room continues the landscape outside the adjacent window, or clouds outside a window float across the walls inside the window. Artwork flowing outside of the frame is a great metaphor for not letting barriers stop us in life from creating what we can. I will not allow my Mojo “taking a holiday” stop me from creating the artwork I see in my mind. Thank you Barbara for getting me back on track, love the new Facebook Group, love the new goodies and Clarity TV shows! Looking forward to seeing what you and Janice have in store for us tomorrow. Take care, travel gently and keep on being creative!
Ken, the Magritte exhibition is on in Melbourne. Will go and visit and maby get some inspiration at the same time.
Jenny, enjoy the Magritte exhibition! I’ve always been fascinated by the “weirdness” of Magritte’s artwork ever since seeing posters of his art as a schoolboy back in the sixties! 😊
I’m always taken by Magritte’s style too, Ken – saw a fantastic exhibition at the Musee Magritte in Brussels earlier this year. Took a load of pics as I thought they could be inspiration for creations with Clarity products!
So glad you’re feeling more optimistic about Clarity- you and the Clarity team work so hard you certainly deserve a good result!
Looking forward to tomorrow’s show and the SHAC!
I’ve been cataloguing and reorganising all my Clarity supplies for the last few days – think it will take a month tbh!!! I keep getting distracted by stamps I forgot I had, then I have to make a few cards 😂 We still have lying snow, and more forecast overnight too – pretty brass monkeys here -3C according to my app!
Good to see your mood lifting. can’t wait for my order to arrive and get crafting. maybe get my mojo back too. Thanks xx
I bought the stamp pens and loved the landscape masks so ordered the 4 x 4 to have a go. Just loved your demos. So pleased Clarity are coming through the other side of all the turmoil. Thanks Barb xx
Love the look of the picture within a picture, need to clear my desk & get crafting. Think I may try the arm sweep to make it quicker instead of trying to tidy up properly but getting distracted by forgotten finds !!
Meanwhile looking forward to the 4pm live with you & Janice – I think you will find that she is hoping that you will let her show us the stamps xx
I did enjoy the Sunday show and watched it through to the end with a small break to phone lovely Sue and put in an order for the wreath and pen set and to have a brief chat with her.
Like you I really liked the picture in a picture effect.
Also pleased that you are feeling positive for the future for you and Dave up at Clarity Towers – quite apt that (you may have got a bit damp at the basement level when C&C sank but you had wisely built yourselves a staircase to climb above the wave of destruction they caused when saving their own skins).
I watched the news from California at lunchtime reporting on the awful fires there and immediately thought of you. Hope all’s well.
Loved the show on Sunday and the stamps. Looking forward to seeing Janice later today and her pictures (if she gives you permission). Glad you have found a resolved the C&C/Hochanda episode and moved forward. The Clarity team seem genuine in their desire to see the business flourish. When I’ve spoken with Sue (even recently) she’s upbeat; nothings too much trouble (checking sizes of products/query regarding the stamp club) and always has a minute or two to ask how you are. You don’t get that often in retail; they just want you off the phone as quickly as possible. Good service; good people, good company.
Loved the show on Sunday and in awe of how your new ideas transform into production and voila another Claritystamp success.
Looking forward to seeing Janice this afternoon.
Isn’t it great when things just fall into place and you have that eureka moment.
I am looking forward to seeing Janice this afternoon. She is such a talented person and full of fun. xx
New Year, new opportunities – always a chance to turn the page on last year’s challenges. I love this effect – I’ve done something a bit similar with stamps like the window ones (or the old postage stamp frame) and then flowed the scene outside the frame, but this really steps it up a level! Another one on the list to try…
Incidentally, I saw a blue tit in the garden this morning – off to find my stamps now!
Hello Barb, I have not finished watching Sundays shows, but definitely will now. I have both the 4 x 4 and the 6 x 6 masks, and now I am itching to try this technique. Have not caught up with the Janice episode either yet due to work, but will try do that before this mornings and this afternoons shows, which I am going to try sneakily watch. If it’s cold this weekend, I am going to catch up on crafting, I’ll get hubs to do the washing and ironing. Take care and stay warm everyone. Bx
Thank you Barbara and Clarity Team! A huge – thank you to you!
With all the excitement and efforts by your team as I have been watching and enjoying on the shows it has encouraged me to get out some of my Clarity stamps and colouring supplies this week. After losing my creative mojo this is a good first step in the right direction. I joined the Mini Makes ATC group and am excited to start making mini makes and ATCs. The inspiration in the group and by Barbara is exceptional.
Another fabulous show on Sunday – the demo’s and products as always were brilliant. Dave’s creative idea and creation of the stamping pens is fantastic.
Scene building and using masks is something I am excited to start- thanks to you. Barbara, your fabulous Clarity products, your amazing demo’s and step by step instructions are a fantastic resource for me. The picture in picture shown in this post is stunning.
Thank you to Grace and others on the Clarity Team for your tremendous work keeping the Clarity groups safe, kind, inspirational and supportive. Greatly appreciated.
Truly grateful to the Clarity Team.