"REFLECTIVE" MIXED MEDIA ART JOURNAL PAGE

Hello everyone!  Welcome back.

I hope that you are finding time to be creative, experiment and try new things.

 I would like to share some art journal pages I made recently.  These were done through a really inspiring new series of weekly online classes throughout 2016 called Wanderlust 2016. Besides the weekly classes, there are all sorts of additional informative videos and challenges you can take part in.  One of the things I am really finding fascinating and fun are the biweekly word prompts to create your own art journal throughout the year.  There is no tutorial or required products, just the prompt.  The rest is up to you and your imagination.  If you've not signed up, you might want to check it out.  

The prompt for these pages was "Today I am feeling ...".  With a new year just beginning, I was feeling very "reflective" of the events of the past year and all of the lessons I had learned.  So from that, emerged these pages.

I will gladly share the products I used with you and the steps in creating this pages.

Supplies used:

• DecoArt Media Matte Medium
• DecoArt Media White Gesso
• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titan Buff
• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Carbon Black
• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Paynes Grey
• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Quinacridone Gold
• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Yellow Oxide
• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Primary Magenta
• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titanium White
• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Cobalt Teal Hue
• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide
• DecoArt Media Antiquing Crème Raw Umber
• DecoArt Media Mister-Orange
• DecoArt Acrylic Flesh Tone
• Water in mister bottle
• Archival Ink Jet Black Refill
• Archival Ink Jet Black Ink Pad
• Yvonne Blair Inky Art Journal-6” x 8”
• Sized and inkjet printed picture of girl in mirror on Premium Presentation Paper
• Paint Brushes
• Water Brush
• Baby wipes
• Dictionary page
• Metal Calligraphy type pen nib and holder
• Tonic Craft Scratcher Tool
• Micron Permanent Black Pen 02
• Micron Permanent Black Pen 2-Chisel Point
• Pen Nibs
• Distress Inks – Tattered Rose, Rusty Hinge, Hickory Smoke, Stormy Sky, Peacock Feathers, Worn Lipstick (for colorizing the girl in the mirror)
• Tim Holtz Mirrored Ideaology Sheet
• Seth Apter Stamp set Solar System
• An Old Toothbrush

Size the image of the vintage girl standing in front of the mirror.  She is 6 ½” tall by 3” wide (including the mirror).  Print out a couple of copies on Premium Presentation Paper or a quality paper. Brush DecoArt Media Matte Medium over the entire printed image with a fairly heavy coat.  Smooth out brush strokes.  Set aside to dry.

Tear a dictionary page and using DecoArt Media Matte Medium, adhere the dictionary page to the center area of the Inky Journal (or whatever art journal you decide to use).  Then brush over the top of the dictionary page to seal it.  Let dry or gently heat set.

Randomly add some DecoArt Media White Gesso to the pages using a scraper or a flat edge to give texture to the pages.  Air dry or gently heat set.

Using DecoArt’s Media Fluid Acrylics Titan Buff, Yellow Oxide followed by Cobalt Teal Hue; add color to the pages.  First brush Titan Buff randomly over the pages, covering most of the surface but leaving areas of the dictionary text uncovered. Next using a baby wipe, add Yellow Oxide to the pages and randomly create lighter and darker areas on the pages. Gently heat set.

Here is what the pages will look like at this point.

To add a contrasting color, smear Cobalt Teal Hue onto the pages using your fingers and a baby wipe for a different look and texture. Gently heat set.

Using a fairly stiff brush and/or your fingers, add a bit more DecoArt Media White Gesso randomly on the pages.  If using the brush, pounce the brush on the pages to produce a stippled effect thus adding more texture.  Gently heat set.

Using a baby wipe, gently add some DecoArt Media Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide to the pages to “warm them up” and meld all of the colors together. Gently heat set.

Using some sort of scratcher device, scratch the surface of the paint to distress the background even further.

Gently shake DecoArt Orange Media Mister and gently spot randomly onto a journal page.  Spritz with water, hold the art journal upright and allow the spray to run down the book.  If you want a more concentrated burst, simply hold the mister close to the pages and gently spritz a specific area.  Heat set to dry.

You can also use the wooden handle end of a paint brush dipped into the mister bottler to manipulate the color on the pages.  Gently heat set to dry.

This is what the background now looks like after adding the DecoArt Media Orange Spray.

Brush a fairly heavy amount of DecoArt Media Crackle Glaze randomly over the pages or even more texture.  Let air dry.

Brush DecoArt Media Raw Umber Antiquing Cream over the crackled areas and let dry.  Use a baby wipe or a damp cloth to remove the excess Antiquing Cream.  Gently heat set.

Cut out the printed image of the girl looking in the mirror and lay her in place on the left page of the art journal layout.  

Use DecoArt Media Matte Medium to adhere her in place on the page.  You may want to brush over her with more Matte Medium as a sealer but it is not necessary, since you have already sealed her.  Let air dry or gently heat set.

To colorize the girl, I used DecoArt Fleshtone paint mixed with a little water to dilute the opaqueness of the paint and painted the girl’s arms and face using a water brush.  After that dried (or can gently heat set), I added DecoArt Fluid Acrylic Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide to warm up her skin tone.  I repeated this procedure on the mirrored side image as well onlyl made it a little lighter.

Colorize the top of the girls outfit using DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Primary Magenta mixed with Titanium White and a touch of water to dilute the paint.  This was brushed on the top using a water brush.  For the rest of the image, I used pen nibs and Distress Inks.  Because she is sealed with DecoArt Media Matte Medium, the colors glide over the paper without soaking in, making it easy to color and shade the image.  I used Peacock Feathers on the skirt and hat, Rusty Hinge on the circles of the skirt, Tattered Rose for blush on her cheeks, Worn Lipstick on her lips and Stormy Sky on the frame of the mirror.

Create a “dirty wash” from a mixture of Paynes Grey, Quinacridone Gold and water.  Tint according to how dark you want the color to be.  This wash was used around the girl and the mirror to provide depth and shadowing.  Use a paint brush and your fingers to smooth the color and remove any excess.  Repeat adding color until you achieve your desired results.  Gently heat set.

Here is a photo of the girl and mirror after she has been colorized and the “dirty wash” has been added.  I also added a line behind the girl and the mirror to “ground” them better onto the pages and not leave her floating around.  This line was added using a Permanent Black Marker.

I love Seth Apter and his new line or products.  These circles are from his wonderful Solar System stamps.  You can find them and many other sets through Impression Obesssion.  I randomly stamped two circular images or portions of those images onto the pages using Archival Jet Black Permanent Ink.  Gently heat set.

Create a wash using DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Carbon Black and water.  Cut out the other image of the girl and the mirror you originally printed and lightly tape it over the image glued onto the art journal page.  This will mask the image.  Using an old toothbrush, load it with the black wash.  Hold the tooth brush head over the pages, pull back on the head of the toothbrush allowing the black wash to randomly splatter on the pages.  Gently heat set.

I chose to write my word onto the page in pencil before trying it in permanent ink.  Then using a metal calligraphy type of pen nib and holder, I filled in the letters using Archival Jet Black Ink refill since I did not have any black India Ink.  It worked just fine.  Let air dry or gently heat set.

Using a scrap from a Ideaology Mirrored Sheet, cut various little shapes that will be glued onto the pages.  The symbolism here is that the mirror has shattered thus allowing what lies ahead to come forth.

Glue the pieces in place across the two pages to tie them together.  I used PVA glue on the backside of the shapes even though they are supposedly self adhesive.  Once in place and dry, I used my fingernail to peel off the protective covering over the mirrored surface.

Using a Permanent Black Marker, begin journaling around the outside edge of the pages and wherever else you choose on the pages.  Gently heat set.  Finally, add a bit of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Carbon Black paint around the edges of your pages to frame them and pull everything together.

I used some things that I have not used before on these pages and found that to be a lot of fun.  The more you play and experiment, the more you will get out of your comfort zone and broaden your artistic horizons.  

I hope you'll take some time out for yourself to experiment and play with all sorts of mediums, colors and combinations.  It's so much fun!!!

IT'S A WINTERY WONDERLAND ~ SO LET IT SNOW WITH DECOART!

Hello everyone!  

Welcome to my blog and my Winter Challenge Piece for 

DecoArt's Winter Challenge.

Are you ready to join in on the fun for another DecoArt Media Challenge?  This challenge has a winter theme full of blue and purple hues and maybe even some snow!  Even if you're not a blue or purple fan, you're still welcome to join!  Simply create something wonderfully  "Winter"!

This challenge opened December 28th and closes January 29th...so there is still time to create and share with all of us on the DecoArt Media Blog. The DecoArt Design Team will choose the winner of this challenge and that winner will be announced on Facebook on February 2nd.

There have already been several beautiful winter projects posted on individual DecoArt Design Team member's blogs.  Be sure to check out the links to each of those by clicking on the BLUE DecoArt's Winter Challenge link above.

And now on to my project and the complete tutorial for you ...

I created an adorable and very useful little snowman coaster; perfect for resting your hot cuppa coffee or cocoa with marshmallows as you sit by the fire and watch the snow flurries rush past your window.

This was a fun, simple and useful project to make.  Grab that cuppa something warm and join me in this pictorial step by step tutorial using the fabulous DecoArt Media products!

Supplies for project:

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titanium White

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Phthalo Blue

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Cerulean Blue

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Ultramarine Blue

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics English Red Oxide

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Phthalo Green-Blue

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Burnt Umber

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Paynes Grey

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Medium Grey Volume 6

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Yellow Green Light

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Sap Green

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Primary Magenta

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Vermillion

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Yellow Oxide

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Interference Blue

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Interference Violet

DecoArt Media Gesso White

DecoArt Media Tinting Base White

DecoArt Media Matte Medium

DecoArt Media Ultra Matte Varnish

4” x 4” tile for coaster – in this case, a Tumbled Tile

Paint Brushes

Pencil

“Let It Snow” sized on computer and printed on copy paper

Old Toothbrush

Stylus

Cork backing for coaster

Instructions:

Step 1:  Paint a blank coaster with DecoArt Media White Gesso and let dry or heat set.  In this case, I used a more porous tumbled coaster but any type will work.

Step 2:  Playing with DecoArt Media Tinting Base, mix various colors of blue to decide colors to create a wintery sky background. 

Step 3: Mix DecoArt Media Tinting Base and DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Phthalo Blue and brush onto the coaster as a background.  Let dry or gently heat set.

Step 4:  Using a fairly dry brush, brush light, wispy strokes of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Ultramarine Blue onto the background to create almost an effect of seeing the cold air circling around on the background.

Step 5:  Create a landscape by lightly brushing DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titanium White on the lower portion of the coaster and create a horizon line.  Then lightly brush DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Interference Violet particularly around the edges of the sky to create an iridescent light effect of the wintery sky.

Step 6:  Begin painting little pine trees on either side of the landscape background.  First use a small brush and DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Phthalo Green-Blue to create the first layer of the pine trees.  Then add some DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Yellow Green Light to the trees to vary the green color. 

Step 7:  Using a small brush, dot the trees with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titanium White to create a snowy tree look.

Step 8:  Use a small piece of sponge or a makeup sponge and randomly dabble a mixture of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titanium White and Cerulean Blue onto the wintery sky.

Here is a photograph of the coaster to this point in the process: a wintery sky and sort of blowing snow effect for the background with pine trees blanketed in falling snow.

     

Step 9:  Using a same small sponge, randomly dab DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Interference Blue onto the wintery sky to create some subtle iridescent blue highlights.

Step 10:  Sketch the snowman in place on the coaster using a pencil or you can sketch your snowman onto a piece of paper first and then use DecoArt's Graphite Grey paper to transfer the image to the tile.

Step 11:  Paint in the white areas of the snowman using DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titanium White. Gently heat set or air dry.

Step 12: Paint the scarf of the snowman first with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics English Red Oxide.

Step 13:  Add shading to the scarf first with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Yellow Oxide mixed with a touch of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titanium White for the lighter highlights.  Add DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Burnt Umber for the darker highlights.  Add pattern to the scarf using a small detail brush and DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Yellow Oxide. Outline the scarf with a detail brush and DecoArt Fluid Acrylics Burnt Umber.  Gently heat set or let air dry.

Step 14:  Repeat Step 13 for the snowman’s hat.

Step 15:  Paint the snowman’s carrot nose with a small brush and DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Vermillion followed by outlining and shading in DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Burnt Umber. Gently heat set or air dry.

Step 16:  Draw the snowman’s face using a pencil.

Step 17:  Randomly add a wash of water and DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide to gently “age and warm up” the coaster. Gently heat set or air dry.

Step 18:  Using a stylus and DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Payne’s Grey, dot the snowman’s eyes and mouth in place.  Gently heat set.  Add color to the snowman’s cheeks by mixing DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titanium White and Primary Magenta.  Gently brush the blush onto the cheeks.  Add small, subtle smile lines under the snowman’s eyes and a little shading around the nose, cheeks and sides of the snowman’s face using DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Paynes Grey. Gently heat set or air dry.

Step 19: Using a detail brush and DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Burnt Umber, paint the woody part of a small pine tree on the right front side of the snowman.

Step 20:  Add needles to the pine tree with a detail brush and brushing small strokes first with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Phthalo Green-Blue followed with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Sap Green.  Gently heat set.

Step 21:  Make a mask to cover the face of the snowman using a piece of scrap copy paper.  Cut it out and lay it in place over the snowman’s face.

Step 22:  Create a wash using DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titanium White and water.  Circle an old toothbrush around in the wash mixture and flick it onto the coaster to create snowflakes.  Gently heat set.

Here is a photograph of the coaster as you have completed Step 22.  Coming into the home stretch now with just a couple more things to complete it!

Step 23:  Using a fairly stiff brush, stipple “snow” onto the pine tree limbs using DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titanium White.

Step 24:  Generate “Let It Snow” in a whimsical font on a computer about ½” tall.  Make the letters white and the background black.  Cut out the sentiment and place it on the coaster.  Use DecoArt Media Matte Medium first as an adhesive by brushing the Matte Medium onto the surface of the coaster where you want the words to go.  Place the words and press in place.  Then brush over the words with Matte Medium to seal them in place.  Brush over the entire surface of the coaster to seal it.  Matte Medium dries clear.  Gently heat set or air dry.  Apply one more coat of Matte Medium as a sealer.

Step 25:  Finally, brush over the entire surface of the coaster one more time using DecoArt Media Ultra Matte Varnish to give the surface and silky smooth texture and another layer of sealer.

Step 26:  Cut a piece of cork adhesive backed paper just a bit smaller than the coaster.  Then remove the backing and lay the cork backing in place.  There you have it; a great little coaster!  Make a whole set or give them as gifts!

Won't you join us over at DecoArt's Winter Challenge?  You could be the lucky winner of a fabulous prize package of DecoArt Media Art Products worth $120!  Click on the link above for all of the details on how to enter.

Good luck!