Hello again, so I am on to my next art canvas which is specifically being created for my father using an image of an RAF Lightening as he used to work on these as an Engineer in the RAF before I was born, which brought his military career to an end as he wanted to be closer to home for me and my mum.
Initially I intended to use the image of the plane itself using Matt Medium to create and Image Transfer, unfortunately this process did not seem to work very well on a painted canvas so you will notice from the picture below that I have subsequently added a further image over the unsuccessful one.
I am determined to master this technique so watch this space and I hope to bring this to you shortly.
Back to the canvas at hand, I used an 8x8 pre-gesso'd canvas and painted the background using a mixture of Daler Rowney's Cryla Titanium Buff, and Liquidex Basic Acrylics in Cerulean Blue, Ultramarine Blue and Dioxazine Purple.
As you can see we have a way to go but I actually like the basic background and the new replacement image fits quite well within the remnants of the Image Transfer attempt which I am sure I will be able to incorporate into the final design.
Please note this is the canvas at its very basest form and I will continue to post progress updates and the final completed canvas in due course.
I look forward to hearing your comments or any tips you may have on image transfers.
See you soon
Emx
This is my first attempt at an Art Canvas inspired by a DVD from Kate Crane of Craft Stamper fame and using my new (as of July 2012) Paper Arty Fresco Paints and the techniques introduced in the DVD .
As explained in yesterdays post, my delay in posting this is purely down to family priorities and I hope you love it as much as I do.
Further additional inspiration came from Lesley too which enabled me both the confidence and foresight to use some rubber stamps introducing a summer theme (from Joanna Sheen) and the amazing sentiment of Tim Holtz and those all important flip flop embellishments, I had been hoarding for a day such as that day.
As you can see the background was created on a pre-gesso'd 8x8 art canvas. Firstly I applied the beach hut colour on to the canvas ensuring that it was applied in an uneven number of areas. I also decided that it would be fun to apply the paint direct to the canvas without using a brush but my fingers which made me feel more linked to the work as I proceeded with it.
Next came a layer of bright yellow paint again applied in an uneven number with my fingers and blending it in areas with the turquoise shade so there was no hard areas it was softly blended into each other and lastly a few odd patches of white gesso to highlight.
For my next step I used an old piece of bobbly ribbon and wrapped this around my brayer. Running this through white acrylic paint, I randomly applied this across the canvas to create the white circled areas you can see.
Note: although the sides are not apparent I also used the above on all four sides and dried the paint between each layer with a heat tool before proceeding with the next to prevent a muddy mess.
From the DVD and Lesley I have learn't that many layers add not only dimension but texture and interest so I proceeded to build this up using the following techniques:-
1. Stamping using bubble wrap and blue ink
2. Applying Archival Cobalt Blue Ink using a pen lid to create
circled areas
3. Using a clear star stamp image (from an old Craft Stamper
magazine) in Archival Cobalt Blue Ink
4. Archival Cobalt Blue Ink applied using the edge of an old
credit cards edge to apply lines
5. Finally applied some copper paint purchased as a sample
pot from a DIY store and used the edge of an old credit
card to scratch this across the surface to create the patches
of copper colour.
6. Stamped the Tim Holtz sentiment on to one thin layer of
white tissue paper using Archival Cobalt Blue Ink, tear it
from the rest of the sheet and adhere it to the canvas using
Mod Podge. Apply Mod Podge as a sealant over the top of
the sentiment once it has dried and it will turn the tissue
paper translucent so that the background comes through.
7. Stamp the image of the two girls in bathing suits and
colour them in using Promarkers and the limited addition
summer set. Cut the girls out and adhere to the canvas
using Pin Flair Glue Gel to give them dimension.
The final flourish was of course the coordinating flip flops. These embellishments were in fact buttons and so to ensure they would secure to the canvas I first had to remove the back binding and then used Pin Flair Glue Gel again to adhere them to the canvas.
I have to say for a first attempt at an art canvas I was extremely proud of myself and the outcome.
I hope you agree.
Emma xx
Happy New Year to all my blog followers out there, apologies I have been absent for so long however, unfortunately my father was taken seriously ill and so for some time I was unable to do the hobby I love or post anything for you all to see.
I am not a believer of New Years Resolutions, I believe life changes can happen at any given time of the year. One such change for me took place at the end of last year when I left the commute to work behind and found a job closer to home. This has meant that several positives have been gleaned from this. Firstly I am less stressed and therefore have experienced a much appreciated improvement in my long term health problems. Secondly I work closer to home so have more hours in the evening to enjoy my craft and art projects, reading and generally quality time with my husband.
Another change to my life last year was the introduction to the world of Art Journalling by the amazingly talented Lesley to whom I owe a debt of thanks and dedicate this blog.
She has instilled in me the confidence to source my inner artist, something I loved as a child but was beaten out of following with the usual lack of talent piers can put on us as a developing adult.
This canvas was inspired by the vintage scrap booking papers I had in my left over stash and so I decided to apply these to one of the 8x8 canvases I had purchased as a further transition in my artistic journey. These were adhered to the canvas using Mod Podge Paper and sealed with the same product. Once this had dried I then applied Distress Stains in Wild Honey and Spiced Marmalade to areas for shading, then I spritzed over the canvas using the brown Dylusion spray in my stash and blotted and blended this in to the papers with a baby wipe.
I am a big advocate of the wonderful artwork and tutorials on You Tube (this particular inspiration came from Marian Smith and her 31 Journal Pages of January) and the following stage was inspired by one of these tutorials. I have had the floral paint fusion stamps since their release and not had much in the way of personal inspiration for me to use them, but today they called to me. Based on the colours, I chose the Sunflower set of stamps and decided that I would compile the image (stamped using a dark grey stazon ink pad) on one thin layer of white tissue paper. Once I was happy with the composition and where I wanted to locate it within the canvas I tore the image from the sheet and adhered this directly to the canvas using Mod Podge and sealing again with the same.
I am now playing the patience game and need to wait for this to now dry before it will be ready to commence with the painting of the floral images.
Watch this space for further information and a final photo.
All the best Emma
