Showing posts with label mixed media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mixed media. Show all posts

Thursday, February 7

Live Simply

Every now and again I enjoy spending a few days creating mixed media projects. Things can get quite messy with bottles of glue, paints, brushes and ephemera scattered all over the desk, chairs and every other surface in the room!

Here are some step-by-step photos I took of my most recent project, which is a decorated canvas. My favourite part of the process is just after everything is glued down and the first layer of gesso is applied. That's when it's all about the texture and design rather than the distraction of colour... but I also enjoy slopping all the paints and mediums around too!

Monday, February 4

Tutorial: Stamping on Patterned Paper


Today's tutorial is mostly traditional stamping with the slightest flavour of mixed media. I know many card-makers are uncomfortable with mixed media, but this technique only brushes the surface... and very lightly at that.


You'll need a piece of patterned paper, some stamps, white paint (I'm using gesso but any water-based paint will work), a paint brush and your colouring medium. I'm stamping on an old piece of lined Authentique paper that I've had in my stash for quite a while.


Cut the patterned paper to the size you need - in my case 5" x 5". Apply a coat of white paint to the area where you wish to stamp. Make sure you apply enough paint to cover the entire area. You may need two or even through coats of paint if your patterned paper is particularly colourful. Allow the paint to dry between coats.


Once the paint is completely dry, stamp your image. Choose ink that works best with your colouring medium. I've used a black Versafine ink pad and I'm colouring with Prismacolor pencils. Keep in mind that not all mediums are going to work as expected with the surface you have created... but that doesn't mean you can't have a little play!


Even though my paper doesn't have a lot of colour, I'm still choosing pencils that are in the same colour family and keeping my palette to a bare minimum.


I've chose a highly textured paper for this technique. When I colour with my pencils, as long as I don't press too hard, the lovely texture will become more obvious.


Some silver metallic pen gives a little bit of shine to my project. For those who are interested, I've included the colour guide below.


Stamps:

Photographs and written instructions are copyright Beccy Muir.
All rights reserved.

Saturday, June 10

(Almost) Altered Notebooks

I'm in the process of altering a couple of A4-sized notebooks - one will be a gift and one is for me to jot down notes when I'm in meetings. So far I have added the base texture with tapes and paste, and also glued down the embellishments that will hold all the lovely colours. When the glue dries I'll be adding a coat of gesso before going wild with sprays, inks and paints... my favourite part!


Friday, February 24

Mixed Media Canvas

Every now and then I get in the mood to make a mess! By the end of this mixed media canvas I had dried glue stuck to my desk, wads of masking tape on the floor, green fingers and a scattering of tiny flowers over just about everything. Despite the mess, I quite enjoy the process of creating these canvases. You don't have to worry too much about being precise, a slip, slop, slap approach is perfectly acceptable... although I can't guarantee the outcome!

GATHER ALL THE BITS AND PIECES

PREPARE THE CANVAS WITH LOTS OF TEXTURE

ADD MORE TEXTURE WITH CHIPBOARD, FLOWERS, METAL, ETC.

WHEN THE GLUE IS DRY, COVER EVERYTHING WITH A COAT OF GESSO

GO CRAZY WITH SPRITZES, SPRAYS AND PAINTS - MY FAVOURITE PART

BRING IT ALL TOGETHER AGAIN WITH A TOP COAT OF GESSO

ADD SOME SPOTS OF LIQUID PEARLS, A TOUCH OF GOLD PAINT, ETC.