My Weekend Getaway - Part 1

Twice a year I get together with some girlfriends and we get artsy! This past winter has been a tough one for many of us and this time around many of us didn't get as much done as in previous getaways - but that is okay - we all left feeling good and rested.

I had ONE really productive day and the others were little bits here and there, but more just resting the brain and taking time for friends.

Here is what I worked on:


Foo Fighters Canvas

I started off working a trial piece my some asked for - a Foo Fighters canvas painted by me for his birthday (which was in February, oops).  

I did the trial version on an 11x14" canvas. I painted the base in a mix of DecoArt Media paints in Titan Buff, Bone Black, Titanium White and Medium Grey Value 6 Fluid Acrylics.  The brunt of the images on the piece is using layered image transfers.  I wanted a worn look and this was the best way I knew how to get the look fast.

The base are lyrics from a few of his favorite songs, then I added the Foo Fighters logo then the name in print.  As you can see I made sure I allowed for extra peeling as I did not want a perfect transfer, and where I did get it too good, I peeled or rubbed it off (even tore it).

Once it was totally dry, I went over it with paint to brighten up and cover up where I wanted imperfections.

This is how it stands now -he is more than happy with it ans says he'll take it as is - me being who I am, says nope...have to wait for the real piece!  Next one will be done on a 16x40" Gallery Wrapped Canvas...eek).

Roben-Marie Smith Class - Salvaged 

 I had signed up for this class thinking I would have time to do it 'live' - ya, nope! So I grabbed a few of my paper stashes and thought I would create the base of the journal while at my getaway.  Typical me, I go off on my own - not really following the videos (heck, haven't even watched most of them), but thought I would use this opportunity to use a bunch of my found papers along with papers from my stash of Flow magazines & books!

I simply gutted the book, and used the shell as my cover and added homemade signatures that were created with a boat load of  papers as mentioned above.  I used the five stitch binding to attach them to my cover.  As I was digging through my stash, I came across the packing tape from an order from Roben-Marie's shop a year or so ago and thought it was a perfect addition to the spine!

A peak at the papers in the signatures.... 

A perfect finishing touch!  A library pocket and of course had to add the date stamp.  It is an homage to my Mom who was a Librarian.  Even though she would no doubt give me a hard time for destroying a book, she would appreciate the creativity behind it! 

Collage Panel

Working on one of my homemade wood panels (9x12"), I pieced and placed out my design first to see if I liked it. If you can imagine, it all started with the window envelope and I designed it from there.  

The brunt of the vintage papers are ones I have gotten through SawatSKY's CREATIONS  (aside from the envelope of course).  She is favorite of mine to shop from as she is a Canadian based store and love to support a fellow Canadian!

One thing I do to extend my vintage finds is to scan some of my favorites.  I use them in a variety of different ways - in this piece, I used them on sticker sheets (check out the round label)!

TIP:  I take a photo of the layout so I have a reference point to reassemble!

I have taken so many classes over the years and learnt so much. For me the biggest thing was to TRY something DIFFERENT!  I got this idea a few years ago - to mix acrylic paint with Dorland's Wax to get a cold wax/encaustic look to a piece of  art, why not? Many artists and manufactures will tell you water and oil don't mix - I say Bu!!sh....

The whole idea with art, especially your own - is to just try, worst case scenario is it doesn't work...best - it does! When you create something that works and looks amazing, it is such a great feeling.  I truly love this technique and the look is so luscious and looks and feels like Italian plastered walls!

As I mix the DecoArt Media Titan Buff paint to the wax with my palette knife, I work it just until it is blended. 

I apply it to the board liberally and make sure I get it into all the nooks and crannies of the piece. The top right corner of this board has a torn piece of packing paper with all the wax pushed in to the edges and crinkles.

I adhere full sheets using collage medium on the reverse side of the paper only - and simply burnish down with my hand and/or brayer.

with each layer, I apply more of the wax mixture.  I am not overly concerned with bubbles and creases as they often dissipate as the piece dries or I work them into the final look. 

You can see where I really work the wax into each layer, edge and crease.  This has to dry naturally of course since if you heat wax....it melts; which at some point is a pretty cool effect!

I've already started to add another layer of colored wax here - gray. I just keep applying and scraping and rubbing in as I go along with each layer of paper added. 

The one thing I make sure along the way is to keep the window clean so I can see the ledger beneath. I use a baby wipe to do this as well as clean up other areas that have gotten too heavy.

Here are a few close up shots...

You can see I have carried the papers over the edge of the board as well.  I also continued the wax mixes on the edges too.

 

You can see how the colors change as the piece dries. 

Well, that is good for today, I'll have another one Wednesday for you and at the end of the week there is a huge surprise...so stay tuned!

In the meantime, you can usually find me more often over on Instagram or one of my Facebook Pages W2 Scrapbooking Mixed Media & Art Studio (only until end of 2018 then it will be removed) or the newer W2 Studio Arts (be sure to like & follow).

Don't forget to check out the online store - there are loads of great deals to be had with this being the last year - stock is moving fast! Be sure to use the coupon codes, they can be found on the home page.

until next time...

I was {ART} Challenged!

Last week I received a wonderful little package from a friend in the states - Kim (@jadesuttonart on Facebook and Instagram) sent me a little something because she saw it and thought of me and wondered what would Wendy do?

It always makes me smile when friends think of me - especially when it comes to anything artsy! Kim sent me three bundles of colored gauze (black, white & grey). It didn't take me long to get inspired for this one (which turned out to be plural - ones), wonder what I did? Here you go...

I pulled out one of my 12x12" homemade cradled boards (mdf topper) and go to work!  I used Prima's Finnabair Art Basics Heavy Gesso (sorry, sold out in the store, I wonder why?) in White and my faithful (and you all know favorite) Palette Knife.

You can see I decided to switch to my Catalyst Wedge to apply the gesso (oops)! I put a good coat on, but not enough to bleed into the gauze, just enough to allow it to grab and act as the glue.

Started out with the grey and layered it across the top.

Next came the addition of the black, repeating the same process. 

Then I added the white crossing over where they met. 

I had random threads of fiber that had come off the gauze so of course I included them as well along with some other fibers from the shop.

Once it was somewhat dry, I ended up pulling off the center fibers so I could now used my palette knife to scrape and drag Prima's Finnabair Heavy Gesso in Black over the black gauze and Some Grey paint (mixed with Heavy White Gesso) over the grey gauze.

Now it was time to start adding he fibers I had taken off previously.  This is a favorite of mine to use from the shop.  It is Linen Frayed Burlap in Smoke color (made by Maya Road)

I put some random swipes of the Heavy White Gesso to hold down the burlap fiber and the layer of White Gauze on top of it.

Not liking how it looked on it's own, I added a random torn piece of vintage pattern tissue from my stash...

...making sure that the various random threads where placed strategically (haha).

here are a few close ups...

As this one needed to dry I thought I would pull out some one (or two) of my 6x6" mdf panels and try some more (heck, why not?!).  Again, it started out with Prima's Finnabair Art Basics Heavy Gesso in White (yes, I used my palette knife)! I applied a fairly heavy coat (maybe venture to say too much).

Laid grey and black on it....

...then thought I'd use my brayer in embed it into the gesso.

Yuppers,  a tad too much gesso - kind of looks like the making of a cast doesn't it?! So more black was added!

Along with some vintage papers from my stash.

So what did I do, I started a second 6x6" to add to the 'series'. One is great, two is better, three is even more better, right?

I then added some of the vintage pattern tissue to help tie them all together.  Here are some close ups of each...

Now it was time to add even more texture, so I pulled out some drywall tape (mesh) and cut off random strips to add to each piece. 

Now that they were dried, this was my next step - addition of Dorland's Wax!

I mixed each of the 'colors' previously used with some Dorland's Wax. 

 

I started with grey and scrapped it on with my catalyst tool, really working it in.  Not worrying if I tore or moved the gauze.

Next was the Black, same process.

Then White.  Some areas I would really pull back the wax mix as I wanted the lower layer to show through.

I had lots of extra wax mixes left, so I pulled over the larger 12x12" board to work it in there too.

I allowed it to dry for over 24 hours as the wax takes quite a while to set.  You can't see in any of the photos, but there are some scrapes in the wax that I made with different tools (stylus, edge of my catalyst tool and pen nib).  I thought I would try a glaze now, really having no idea if it would work, but thought what the heck - why not, it's Wednesday! I tried it on the 6x6's only (so far). 

Mixed up a batch of Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Satin) and DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titan Buff and brushed in in pretty hard with my Dina Wakley Media Flat (1") Brush.

I allowed it to set for about 2 minutes, then went after them with baby wipes and scrubbed off hard in some places more than others as I wanted the black & grey to especially show up still.

I added one more touch with my We R Memory Keepers Sew Stamper Set (Straight Stitch).

I have not done any more with these (or the 12x12") one yet as I am not sure if they are 'done'! I still have quite a bit of the gauze left that Kim sent, and have a few more ideas on how to use it.  Thanks you Kim for thinking of me - thinking it might be my turn to send you something to see what you will do this time!!

To see Kim's creative genius, please check her out here:

Jade Sutton Art

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Kim was also a featured artist on Ranger - check it out here!

Until next time my friend....