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Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Goin Downy Oshun - A Peek-a-Boo Project


Many dream of a summer vacation at the beach, I am more of a mountain person myself. Growing up in Pennsylvania we never went on family vacations, but my da had sister who lived in New Jersey, we’d go visit them sometimes. I don’t remember ever seeing the ocean until I was in college. Here in Maryland many enjoy “goin downy oshun” meaning going to Ocean City. These are the inspirations for this artwork.




  1. Gather Supplies.
  2. Trace Center Circle of onto Magazine Image of Your Choice.
  3. Set Aside for Later
  4. Paint Top Part with Neon Acrylic Paint and Fuchsia Stencil Butter.
  5. Paint Bottom Part with  Ocean Blue and Turquoise Stencil Butter.
  6. When Fully Dry, Glue Both Parts Together and Press Flat and Weighted Down.
  7. Go Through Sticker Book and Choose Stickers of  Your Choice.
  8. Layer and Glue Stickers to Prepared Circle. 
  9. Glue Sticker Assemblage to Back of Frame.
  10. Press and Weight Down Full Assemblage. 
  11. Once Dry Add Glossy Accents to center of Frame.
  12.  Use Tweezers to Add Mini Gems to Assemblage.



Final Thoughts

When we went visiting my Aunt Irene and Uncle Robert in New Jersey the bathroom we used in the basement had wallpaper with mermaids in bathtubs. They were risqué retro in design and something my tender boy’s eyes never could have imagined. Cousin Val had a Show and Tell Phono Viewer & Record Player that was magical to a country boy without a television. 

To many the beach is just the getaway they are looking for as summer slips away and the return to the school year for students and teachers is on the horizon.


When I went to the beach for the first time in college I did enjoy watching the waves, walking on the boardwalk, and saltwater taffy. I however hated the crowds, the heat burning off the hot sands.


The beaches I prefer are of the Pacific Northwest or those found in Northern New England. They are less crowded, the water much cooler and covered in pebbles not sand.





A Favorite e.e. Cummings Poem

maggie and milly and molly and may 


maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach(to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose(like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea.


Natalie set it to music,  maggie and milly and molly and may , on her Leave Your Sleep the double concept album is "a project about childhood" and is a collection of music adapted from 19th and 20th century British and American poetry about childhood.


Supplies:  Stencil Butter Ocean Blue, Turquoise, and Fuchsia, Neon Pink Acrylic Paint, Scissors,  Paintbrush, Magazine Pictures, Stickers,  WeldBond, Accent Glossy Accents, Mini Gems

I cannot wait to see your interpretation of this project. Share it on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Page on Facebook. I would love to see what new creations you are working on!


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