Still trying, but now with some words

 So after making shapes and blobs and drawing some lines, I began to try to work out how the words might work with the imagery. 

After I had fiddled and played and tried and tested things, these are the notes I wrote on the back of each page.

The black pen is too harsh. Writing over the shapes and lines feels the opposite of the words. The writing style feels complicated.

Wet on wet doesn't work for. The lettering across the top still looks too complicated. Pencil is better than black ink.

Nice layout. Nice colours. Caps work well. Not sure the image and the words feel connected.

I like the way the words appear to bust up the complexity and create a little oasis. Pencil yes. Caps yes. I don't think the extra colouring works. I don't think the white elements work.

Barry's Washi tape worked beautifully. I like the oasis of lettering. Caps tick. Pencil tick. Simple/elegant.

Love the colours. The Japanese card is smooth. Pencil tick. Caps tick. Washi tape tick. ?My favourite?

A compilation of my three favourites at the end of the day.

After an overnight test, I came back and tried to add some extra interest in to a couple of favourites, adding layers to some of the shapes formed in the stones to see if it made them more interesting. Using lead pencil, and then watercolour.

The jury is still out for me on that!

I remain somewhat unsure aa to how I might bring transparency into the mix but I'm hopeful that it might linger at the outside edges of my thinking and work itself out and let me know!

Generally speaking I think I have got some good guide posts - the smooth Japanese card, the washi tape for masking out, the masking out itself as part of the design, the pencil, the capital letters, and the white pen. All good to keep going with. I think also the cooler greys. Maybe adding some extra dimension to the shapes? Still not sure!!!

Next question to ponder - is each page done in the same colour way and tones? Or does each page have its own colour? There are seven so...???