Background Tutorial #2
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 Posted In mixed media collage artist Edit This 24 Comments »
ok..here's the second background tutorial. This one has a lot of different steps, and stuff. First--I took an 8 x 8 canvas panel, and a glob of white gesso, and One drop of Golden's blue, and One Drop of Burnt Sienna. I globbed the white gesso on my brush, lightly dipped it in blue--and painting in one direction, I covered the canvas. Then, I lightly tipped my brush in burnt sienna--and stroked it across the blue/white mix. This is all done with wet on wet paint/gesso, and not cleaning the brush between colors. Let that dry. (takes about 10 minutes).
After the bottom layer had dried, I took some Folk Art cheapie crackle medium (which I NEVER use)..and brushed it first going in one direction (side to side), then brushed it going in the other direction (up and down). I let the crackle medium dry (after reading the directions on the side of the bottle), and then put down a light coat of bright turquoise Folk Art paint. I kinda dry-brushed this coat on to give it a peeling paint look.
Then while that was drying (boredom setting in again)...I put some off white paint on the checkered stamp, and stamped away...
Then, I put some light blue paint on the same stamp (not cleaning between colors), and stamped a few times. Then--put some lime green paint on the stamp, and stamped away again...
Reached over and grabbed another stamp--which turned out to be a circle--and thought some bright pink would add nice contrast....stamped that a few times... Also, took the white pen and made some dots, and outlined them with a thin point Sharpie.
Ok--(You can stop at any of these stages--for a variety of backgrounds).. Well...I was going for muted. The quickest way to mute colors is throw some antique white, which has been watered down on your project. I did this, and hated it--so immediately took a white T-shirt (my rag of choice), and scrubbed it off.
I really liked it at this point, but it needed a little something more...so I took some sequin scrim (I think that's what it is called--It's the foil stuff that they punch sequins out of), and I added some texture with it, and antique white Folk Art paint.
WA-LA!! It's done, and I am happy with the results. Each step made a new background. Any of them could be used at any point.
After the bottom layer had dried, I took some Folk Art cheapie crackle medium (which I NEVER use)..and brushed it first going in one direction (side to side), then brushed it going in the other direction (up and down). I let the crackle medium dry (after reading the directions on the side of the bottle), and then put down a light coat of bright turquoise Folk Art paint. I kinda dry-brushed this coat on to give it a peeling paint look.
Then while that was drying (boredom setting in again)...I put some off white paint on the checkered stamp, and stamped away...
Then, I put some light blue paint on the same stamp (not cleaning between colors), and stamped a few times. Then--put some lime green paint on the stamp, and stamped away again...
Reached over and grabbed another stamp--which turned out to be a circle--and thought some bright pink would add nice contrast....stamped that a few times... Also, took the white pen and made some dots, and outlined them with a thin point Sharpie.
Ok--(You can stop at any of these stages--for a variety of backgrounds).. Well...I was going for muted. The quickest way to mute colors is throw some antique white, which has been watered down on your project. I did this, and hated it--so immediately took a white T-shirt (my rag of choice), and scrubbed it off.ohhhhh..I Liked that! So, then I took a piece of rough sandpaper, and scrubbed the heck out of the piece. I scrubbed in both directions to really give it a worn look.
But, it looked kind of bland to me. So, I took my watercolor crayon in Magenta, and colored around the edges, and in a few spots in the middle.
After that, I loaded my brush with water, and went over the crayon. Then, I grabbed my Folk Art antiquing gel, and squirted a glob or two all over, and immediately scrubbed it away with my t-shirt. YUCK!! TOO Dark!! I loaded my brush full of water, and threw it on the piece. Then scrubbed some more with a clean area of T-shirt. Leaving some of the antiquing gel, but removing most of it.
I really liked it at this point, but it needed a little something more...so I took some sequin scrim (I think that's what it is called--It's the foil stuff that they punch sequins out of), and I added some texture with it, and antique white Folk Art paint.WA-LA!! It's done, and I am happy with the results. Each step made a new background. Any of them could be used at any point.So, let's see--I used:
1. Gesso and paint mixed
2. Crackle medium
3. Bright colored paint
4. Stamping in 3 colors of one pattern
5. Stamping in a contrast color.
6. Muted it with antique white paint, watered down.
7. Scrubbed it with a t-shirt and water.
8. Scrubbed it with sandpaper.
9. Added water color crayon
10. Added antiquing gel in brown
11. Highlighted with off white, using sequin stuff.
Hope you enjoyed it! Have a Happy, Creative Day~!!!
24 comments to make me smile:
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!!
Suzan, thanks so much for going through this process on both backgrounds. So interesting so actually see the steps! It's inspired me to get going now on some of my own!
Awesome Tutorial. I loved several of the stages. I am definitely going to have to play with this one. Thanks for being so giving and with photos, too!
Absolutely amazing. I need to get my hands on some canvas...
thanks for these tutorials, they are super! both backgrounds look fantastic!
love your blog....thanks for sharing !!
I'm also 43, but a Leo, and I can see that with our love of art and antiques, that'd we get along great !!!!
My flea market finds that you might like, are on my old blog. I started a new blog this year...well....just because I was feeling the need to have something fresh in my life.
Hopefully you can stop by sometime and say "hello"
Love the part about boredom, LOL ... That´s why I love my heat gun!
This is great. Don't forget to show us the finished pieces with these backgrounds. They'll be amazing no doubt.
Hi, It's ladyinblack1964. Thanks for pointing me to your blog! I'm making a list of supplies right now and I'll try out some of your background techniques as soon as I can!
I'm just starting to learn to work larger than ATC size. Biggest I'd ever done till recently was 4X4!
Does one need to be wearing the T-shirt at the time? I can see how that would be convenient! LOL
Your background is awesome...I'm going to make one right NOW. Thanks!
Pat
Excellent tutorial! Thank you!!!
another fabulous tutorial! thanks!
I love yout Blog (work), thnkx for sharing your Backgrounds!
I sort of picture a mad scientist when I read your bg tut #2! Thanks for sharing another tutorial with us.
I love this background and the process is very interesting. I'm just venturing into the mixed media area having been a rubber stamper for about 11 yrs. Great tutorials. I shall be back to check on your blog.
I think I'm gonna give this a try on a tiny canvas this afternoon. Thanks for these "lessons" just what I needed to get out of my comfortzone :-)))
You make it sound so easy. Thanks for taking the time to share the process with us!
Suzan WOW!!! At so many steps I would have said I LOVE it as it is, but you really know when to stop (and how to push forward) Fantastic Tutorial, thanks SO very much for putting your creativity into words = AMAZING art!!! I took a Misty Mawn workshop at A&S last May and loved doing backgrounds. Seeing your tutorial REALLY makes me want to get busy. Thanks again!!!
Thanks for another excellent tutorial, some more goodies for the shopping list me thinks lol:)
Thank you for both tutorials and freebies. They look fabulous.
I love your tutorials, esp this one! Thanks for sharing what you know.
Oh MY, Suzan - this is gorgeous! Love it and thanks alot for the tutorial!
it looks raw earthy and natural. Fabulous you definitely have the touch its a gift to know whe to stop or add to a canvas. Im still learning but tutorials like this helps thanking you. smiles Michelle
Thanks for sharing, I'm sure going to try this!, and you're right, each step gives a new useable background.
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