Hi Everyone,

As previously mentioned I released 4 new stencils featuring different angles of faces.  I have never tried an abstract painting before and decided to give it a go while I played with the new face stencils.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and vibrancy of the Heritage Craft Products' Artist's Acrylics as it is not expensive.  I have found that the Metallic Artist's Acrylics are however translucent.

Instructions:

1. Cut a mask of the whole stencil with Wax Paper (Deli Paper) and adhere to the background paper with Adhesive Spray. (I use wax paper from Checkers - it works great on the Gelli-Arts Plate as well!)
2. Make a wash with Black Acrylic Paint and water and cover the background.
3. Use Cosmetic sponges or a stencil brush to create some texture with Metallic Acrylic paints and stencils. Dry each layer of paint before adding more paint. I used Heritage Craft Products Metallic Artist's Acrylics in Regal Red, Sapphire Blue, Brilliant Gold, Emerald Green & Amethyst and Stencil-Art stencils (Crazy Arrows, Crazy Triangles, Bent Squares). I have cut some of my stencils in circles so that it does not leave such a straight border when I use it in my art projects).
4. Add more texture with white Acrylic paint (Heritage) and Stencil-Art Scrambled Letters stencil. Repeat with Dark Gold Artist's Acrylic and Spiral Burst stencil.
5. Remove the wax paper mask and spread some black Texture Paste (Heritage Craft 3D Contour Paste) through the stencil to create a raised outline for the image. Dry before adding colour.
6. I used Heritage Craft Products Artist's Acrylics in Red, Blue and Yellow to "colour in" the face.  It was quite fun to just add and mix the colours.  I did, however try to create highlights and shadows with the lighter and darker colours. 
7. I used White and Black paint to add details to the face.
8. I used the 3 primary colours and Black and White to cover the too busy background. 
9. You are more than welcome to e-mail me if you need some more information at sareana@stencil-art.co.za.

Youtube video:

Hi Everyone,

I have been working hard at designing a series of stencils of different face angles.  My daughter, Danelle was my model for all the designs. 

All 4 stencils were released today and is available at www.stencil-art.co.za.  I will be posting some ideas on how to create the following artwork using the stencils in the next couple of weeks on Youtube and Facebook.

Classy Girl - Heritage Craft Products Acrylics

Sporty Girl - Heritage Craft Products Acrylics

Preppy Girl - Derwent Pastel Pencils

Flower Girl - Dylusions Ink Sprays

Hi Everyone,

Today I am playing with one of the Donna Downey's stamps.  Unity Stamp Company released a series of  "face" stamps by Donna Downey.  Some are available in the shop at www.stencil-art.co.za.

1. I applied Heritage Craft Gesso Paste to the background with a paintbrush.  I spread it quite thickly as I wanted to add texture with a cake decorating roller I bought from the Chinese Market in Randburg at R40 each. (If you like to negotiate I'm sure you could pay cheaper).  I also use these rollers on my Gelli-Arts plate.
2. I am using Gelatos in warm colours to create my background. Donna Downey recently demonstrated this technique on the Design Memory Craft Youtube channel (http://youtu.be/4KvatjVacag). 
3. After finishing my background, I coloured in the face on the stamp with Design Memory Craft Stampers Big Brush pens.  As this pens are filled with the India Ink, it stays wet for a while and dries permanent. I layed the tissue paper over the stamp and gently rubbed with my fingers and a soft Speedball Brayer to transfer the ink.
4. I stamped the sentiments with Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black on plain copy paper.
5. I tore some pages of women out of magazines and chose one that will fit in with my colours and the stamped face. 
6. I painted the spot where the face will be with white Gesso as I planned to colour in the face with Gelatos.
7. I used Gel Medium to adhere the body and the stamped face to my page.  I used an old Gift Card to flatten the paper and to make sure that there was no air bubbles or wrinkles in the paper.
8. I used Gelatos to colour in the face and added highlights, shadows and details with the Big Brush pens.  I love the fact that the Big Brush pens does not dry immediately, there is always time to blend the ink or even wipe it off if you do not like the effect.
9. I used the Gelatos in the same colours I used for the background wanted the body to "disappear" into the background.
10. I sprayed Fixative Spray  over the Gelatos before I stamped the texture around the face of the stamp on the background of my page with Jet Black Archival ink by Ranger.
11. I stamped the face randomly in the background with the Archival Ink
12. I decided which sentiment to use and adhered it with Gel Medium to the page, again making sure that there is no wrinkles.
13. I used the Champagne Gold Gelato to add some colour around the face to draw attention to my focal point.
14. I used the Big Brush pen in warm grey around the sentiments as the white copy paper was to bright and distracting attention from my focal point (the coloured face).
15. Lastly I stamped the date.

Video on Youtube: