Tuesday, October 19, 2010

MIXED MEDIA / ART JOURNAL PROJECT

Look what I whipped up last night!  I have to tell you that I am having the best time playing with canvas and background techniques!! I have been watching some of the background techniques that Donna Downey teaches over on her blog. She does weekly video's in her Inspiration Art Journal. I had been looking for some raw canvas to work on, but I'm wasn't sure where to find it. I just happened to be looking around in the artist section of Michaels and found this "Medium Texture Real Artist Canvas" by Fredrix in a pad format and decided to give it a try. I knew I needed something that would hold up against lost of wetness, me spraying it with water. AND IT WORKED!! I'm so excited.  I will say that I have also created a panel with a heavy watercolor paper and it works as well.  You can check out Donna's art journal pages HERE.  And her "Inspiration Wednesday" video's HERE.  Now some weeks may not be your style or you may not like them at all, but take away the technique and create your own version.  That's what I did with this one.  This doesn't look anything like what Donna would create!


Donna used a "journal" to explore techniques. But I don't have one. So I decided to finally use that 7 Gypsies Photo Stand I've had forever. I'm going to hang each panel on it, so I can flip through my pages. I trimmed the sheets down to 6 x 8".


 LOVE mixed media, but really don't have any skills in that area. So this will truely be an artistic journey for me. You should have seen me staring at the blank canvas when I first started this one.  It took me forever to get me background done.  If you are interested in this kind of art / growing as an artist, then I encourage you to check out Donna's Blog! I also found some downloadable Mixed Media Video's over at Cloth Paper Scissors. Here is a link to some FREEBIES.  And here is a link to some you can purchase for 14.95 (scroll down the page to see them) : HERE.

I got a chance to ask Donna about here journal in a video chat the other night.  They are handmade using a very heavy cardstock.  You can check them out HERE.  Or be a rebel and do your own thing, like me! 


Since it's Fall it just seemed like the logical direction to go in for this panel.  And when I think of fall, I think of rich colors and texture.  I started with some acrylic paints then started layering old book paper and some tissue paper, then more paint and Glimmer Mist - Harvest Orange.  The 2 large dies are from Creative Cuts and More - HERE.   Mine started out a bright orange.  I ran it through the Big Shot with an embossing folder and layered on some acrylic paint and Glimmer Mist - Harvest Orange.  I used some really old "Provo Craft" dies to create the smaller leaves.  Again adding acrylic paint.  Adhered to front of panel and traced around the edges of the leaves and edges of panel using a charcoal pencil (you can get these in the artist section at local craft store).


Next I opened up my Fall embellishment drawer and found these old rub-ons.  I did a google search and found this great quote.  I typed it up (leaving lots of space between the sections of words and printed.  But I didn't want the background to be white, so I cut some thin cardstock chalked up the paper, lightly adhered it over the words on the computer paper and then ran that same sheet through the printer again.  Now the words printed on my chalked paper.  I sprayed the paper with "Fixative" spray, tore close to the words around each one, and inked up the edges.
BTW the creamy chalks are the best.  I used my Craft T Products set for this project.


The other chalks I like to use are the Pearlescent ones from Pebbles Inc.  I think you can get them at Hobby Lobby.


Thanks for letting me ramble along again!  Hope you were inspired to create something fun and make sure and email me if you have any questions!

See all my MIXED MEDIA TUTORIALS HERE
See all my MIXED MEDIA / COLLAGE PROJECTS HERE
See all my ART JOURNAL PROJECTS HERE
I'm linking this one to the following inspiration challenge blogs!
The Shabby Tea Room posted a gorgeous fall colored cake to inspire us.
and The Pink Elephant challenged us to use orange and brown!
Don't forget to hop over and join us for the Creative Cuts and More blog hop tomorrow.  Lots of holiday idea's!!

10 comments:

JaniceAileen said...

What are you talking about, you do mixed media art WELL! This is gorgeous! I got the idea of doing a mixed media deal for each month of the year as a decoration piece for the home and placing images the I love from each month. Ooh, ooh, ooh, thanks for the inspiration!!! :)

HappyCrafter said...

WOW!! This is amazing! I haven't tried working with canvas or other mixed media before, I will check out Donna's site, and yours too to see what else you come up with!

Vicki Chrisman said...

I love canvas also! Beautiful project!

Laura Kirste Campbell said...

I love mixed-media! You've done a smashing job of it, Melisa!! It's fantastic! Layers and texture are key elements, and you've got those going here! Wonderful! Keep going for it! I love your mixed media pieces! Fun aren't they?

Liz Williams said...

Wow, what wonderful little masterpieces these are. I can hardly wait until Saturday. It will be such a pleasure to meet you. Anita puts on a really great shoebox, and we always have a great time.

Angela said...

I totally adore this! and I love how you were a bit of a rebel! you must be so happy with the finished project! thank you for including all the links!!! I will be sure to check them out! can;t wait to try something like this myself! Thank you for playing along at TPE this week!

Debbie said...

Simply lovely!! Thanks for sharing this clever project with us in the Tea Room this week :)

Pattie said...

Very pretty - I love the colors!
Thanks for joining us in the Tea Room!

Sudha said...

Lovely, so artistic.

Silvia said...

This is such a beautiful card. I love all the texture on it. Thanks for joining us at TPE!

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