Hi everyone, today I have a fun art journal project for you all: it’s something a bit different then my usual work but I really wanted to try this out. I saw this fun challenge and really had to participate: https://www.aallandcreate.com/challenge-1?utm_source=Natalie%2BMay
You’re asked to use certain elements in your project, if you would like to know which ones, than follow the above link.
I’m working in my Winsor & Newton Heavy Weight Wire-O Sketch Book and I took pictures of the different steps so that you can see the project grow with me:
Step 1:
Since there is the spiral in the middle of the sketch book I decided on working on a different sheet of paper and adhering it in the book when I’m finished: I started by measuring the space I was having on each side of the page: in my case that’s 14,5 x 20,5 cm. So, I cut that out of some cheap watercolour paper twice (one for each side) and then taped both parts together on the back. Then I primed the combined pages with The Crafter’s Workshop “White Gesso“ (TCW9001). While that was drying I looked on-line for an old map of Europe, printed that on regular printer paper in black and white, tearing pieces of that I didn’t liked (but I wanted the compass to still show, my first vintage element which is, in different forms still used in this modern age), I decided where the map should go on my project and then cut it in two (so that when in the end I separate both halves the map would be on both halves and not connecting the pages). I also looked through some newspapers for numbers in black or blue and tearing them out. And I also printed a gorgeous digital stamp from Aurora Wings called “Poppies“ (showing a face) sizing her to what I thought should fit on my right hand page nicely.
When the gesso was dry I adhered the printed map and the newspaper numbers to the project using The Crafter’s Workshop “Matte Gel Medium“ (TCW9011) and using a brush (washing the brush afterwards since the medium acts like a glue). After the medium dried I applied a thin coat of The Crafter’s Workshop “Clear Gesso“ (TCW9007) to create some tooth on my project for the paints, embossing paste and pencil I would be using next. Using carbon paper I traced the printed poppy-face on the project and going over the lines for a second time with a pencil to make the lines darker/more visible.
Step 2:
I used the same white gesso as before and applied that over the face and the flowers to create a nice base for my other paints to work on, for this I used a small brush. This also makes it way much easier to see what is face and flower and what is the map underneath. Then I applied The Crafter’s Workshop (white) “Modeling Paste“ (TCW9005) over two different stencils (for added texture) with a palette knife and set the pages aside to dry. I used the following The Crafter’s Workshop stencils from the gorgeous new Summer 2017 line: “Love Sonnet“ (TCW737s) (featuring letters) and “Crazy Waves “ (TCW743s).
Step 3:
You know that phase that you sometimes have where you think “oh boy, I shouldn’t have done that“. Well, this was it for me: I hate covering up all the pretty stuff I already have going, but to go forward I have to. I applied The Crafter’s Workshop Heavy Body Acrylic Paint in the colour “Blueberry Pie “ (TCW9021) over the map and around the digital stamp. I diluted the paint with some water and wanted to create a thin layer over the map, but where I planned the title it should be more opaque since otherwise the title wouldn’t be readable. So, I ended up applying the paint and then taking some of with a baby-wipe. I worked on the blue colour until I liked want I had. I also added some white “Spun Sugar “ (TCW9016) The Crafter’s Workshop Heavy Body Acrylic Paint when the blue paint was still a bit wet to create a better canvas for my title and bring back some contrast in the embossed parts and enhancing the newspaper pieces with the numbers. I kept adding layers until I was happy.
Then I started working on the poppies: I used The Crafter’s Workshop Heavy Body Acrylic Paint in the colour “Candy Apple Red“ (TCW9019) and applied the paint with a small brush. I also used this brush to create texture in the petals with the heavy body paint (creating texture the way the painters of old used to do).
This way I ended up using three main colours: red, white and blue, which are also the colours of the national flag of the Netherlands (Europe), where I live. My country is also famous for their flowers.
The poppy buds and hearts of the flowers are green for which I used Americana DecoArt acrylic paint in the colour “Hauser Light Green“. For the face I used America DecoArt acrylic paint in the colour “White Peach“.
Step 4:
Time to bring in some details in the painting and work on the title (which are letters). I wanted the title to say something about inventions, and I feel that the first part of this specific one is also true for art, which seemed fitting. I first drew in the title with a pencil and went over it with a Copic Multiliner (0.3) when I was happy with the lay out. I used a calligraphy style that I tough myself when I was a child (calligraphy is also a vintage element, in these modern days it’s called hand lettering).
I also went over the pencil lines in the flowers and the face.
And then I started working on the flowers and the face with paint, to create more dimension and definition. I used the same white/red and green paints as before, and also some Americana DecoArt acrylic paint in the colour “Warm Beige“ for the face.
Then I separated the two pages, edged both pieces with Archival Ink in the colours “Coffee“ and “Jet Black“ ink also going a little over the embossed parts to bring them more in the front and then adhered the pages in the Sketchbook using the same Matte Gel Medium as before.
Then I added the finishing elements: a tag with an image of the Eiffel tower that I also edged with the brown and black ink from before (I feel the Eiffel tower is timeless and is therefore a both vintage and modern element) and some twine/thread, hanging of the tag.
And some final pictures to show you more of the details:
And that finishes this art journal page.
This was a lot of fun to create, trying to fit in all the elements set in the challenge, and I’m looking forward to the next challenges in this awesome tournament!
I would like to submit this project to the following challenges:
- ITAC ‘17 Challenge 1 : Europe: #itac17 #itac17challenge1 #aallandcreate
https://www.aallandcreate.com/challenge-1?utm_source=Natalie%2BMay
- Aurora Wings: The Elements: I choose Earth (because Europe is a continent and flowers grow in the earth):
https://aurorawingschallenge.blogspot.nl/2017/08/challenge-55-elements.html
- We love to create challenge: Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes:
http://welove2create.blogspot.nl/2017/08/challenge-16-anything-creativemixed.html
- Eclectic Ellapu: Anyting Goes:
http://eclecticellapu.blogspot.nl/2017/08/august-challenge.html
- SSS Wednesday Challenge: Ad a Sentiment:
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-add-sentiment/
#thefaceofprintmaking #itac17challenge1 #TheCraftersWorkshopWhiteGessoTCW9001 #TheCraftersWorkshopMatteGelMediumTCW9011 #TheCraftersWorkshopClearGessoTCW9007 #TheCraftersWorkshopwhiteModelingPasteT #LoveSonnetTCW737s #CrazyWavesTCW743s #TheCraftersWorkshopHeavyBodyAcrylicPaintin #SpunSugarTCW9016TheCraftersWorkshopHea #eavyBodyAcrylicPaintinthecolourCandyApple
