Reductive Stamp Carving

I've been taking an art journaling class from Jane LaFazio for the past five weeks.  This is my second go round with this class - I took an earlier version last year.  My goal was to learn enough about using watercolor so I could keep an art/travel journal when we're out and about.  I have to admit, it is a very humbling experience to be in a class with so many talented and creative women...I am most certainly on the bottom rung of accomplishment in this group.  But, I really enjoy going to class.  Jane is an excellent teacher, and the other participants are all extremely positive and supportive.  So, while I do not appear to have any "natural" talent with watercolor, I am at least learning something, and am really enjoying the atmosphere of creativity.

This week Jane taught us a technique called "reductive stamp carving."  The image above is a print of my second attempt at this technique.  It's actually four different stamps...first a stamp with no carving for the base color (yellow), then three more versions, each with successively more area carved away on the stamp (orange, then red, then black).  While there are lots of things I could have done better, I do kind of like the overall look of this one.  And, Jane says this is a process learning lesson...not one where you'll necessarily end up with a beautiful, finished product.  So, here's me learning something new... 

Even though this class doesn't appear to have helped me uncover any hidden artistic "gifts," I am having fun and enjoying the company.