Hi Everyone,

I have been trying out different colouring-in pencils lately and have been enjoying the Koh-i-Noor Polycolor pencils especially.  These pencils are oil-based that makes application and blending so easy.  

I used grey graphite paper to trace a colouring-in image onto a A4 Canvas Panel. The image I used is from the Colouring Book - Simple Blessings by Karla Dornacher. I bought this colouring-in book as a PDF downloadable file from her Etsy Shop

I used a Pigma Micron pen to outline the image in black. I will not ever use a Micron pen again to draw on Canvas as the rough texture ruined my pen.  The Posca paint Pens are a much better option.

I sprayed the canvas with lots of water and start sprinkling Brusho Crystals until I was satisfied with the background. I tried to use more earthy colours on the bottom; blue, yellow and red in the sky an green on the leaves.

I painted all the areas that I wanted to colour-in with Dina Wakley Clear Gesso to smooth the roughness of the Canvas.  I coloured in the image with Koh-I-Noor Polycolor Pencils and used the Derwent Blender Pens to create a smooth application. 

I used the Posca Paint Pens in Black and White to add the borders and doodles. I was so pleased with the end result!

Hi Everyone,

Water colour mediums have always been a challenge for me.  I like lots of layers and permanent mediums is just so much easier to work with.  I have decided to challenge myself to use more water soluble mediums, and thus I have been "playing" with my Distress Markers.  

"Dare to be DiFfeRent" Art Journal Page with Distress Markers

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. I am working in my Strathmore Visual Journal with Bristol Smooth paper and as always protect the rest of my journal by placing a sheet of wax paper behind the page I will be working on.
2. Randomly add colour with Distress Markers and the Distress Marker Spritzer to the page.  It worked best for me when I placed the brush nib of the markers just over the edge of the Spritzer tool. Remember the ink will blow from the spritzer and not the marker.
3. As the ink in the Distress Markers are water-soluble I seal it with Liquitex Matte Medium.  I prefer to use a brayer to lightly apply the Matte Medium, a brush will move and blend the colour too much.
4. Make an absorbent ground by mixing 3 parts of Liquitex white Gesso with 1 part Liquitex Modeling Paste and apply as smooth and thinly as possible with a palette knife. 
5. After making sure that the absorbent ground is dry, lightly sand it to get rid of the uneven and rough parts. This will help to preserve the brush nibs of your makers.  You don’t need to do this if you are using pencils.
6. Use the Vases 3 stencils and draw 5 vases on the background with the fine nib of the Distress Markers. I started drawing the vases with the same colour, but changed by mind and erased it with a damp cloth.
7. Colour directly with Distress Markers on the flowers and stem stamps from the Flower Garden stamp set by Tim Holtz and stamp quickly before the ink dries.  If this happens, just spritz it lightly with water to activate the ink.
8. If you want to change the placement or colours you stamped, just erase it with a damp cloth.
9. Start adding colour to the images by dragging the outlined colours into the centre with a water brush and add more ink as necessary.
10. Try not to layer different colours over wet ink as it is water based and will always reactivate when liquid is added to it.  Also be careful not to use too much water to blend as water will make the ink run all over the page.
11. Decide from which direction the light is coming from, this will determine your shading and highlights.  This is especially important as light reflects from shiny surfaces, in this instance the glass vases. I have decided that my light source is from the right, therefore I my vases will be darker on the left side.
12. I create darker areas by colouring directly with the marker and blending it with my water brush and then picking up ink from an acrylic block with a water brush for the lighter areas.
13. Wipe the water brush on a dry paper towel to clean it when using different colours.
14. Use a dry paint brush to blend out a colour without adding water, this will only soften the colour and not lighten it as when adding water.  Sometimes is also easier to lay down a different colour by picking up the ink from an acrylic block with a dry brush.  For bold, dark strokes of colour using the marker directly.
15. If you would like to change anything in the image, like lengthening the one flower stem, use a damp foam brush to remove some of the colour and use the marker to lengthen it.
16. Add the water line to the vases.  The stems of the flowers will be distorted and enlarged by the water and the vases will look darker where it is filled with water.  Also add some of the colour of the vase over the stem to create the effect that the stem is inside the vase.
17. Add reflections of light shining through the vases and casting shadows behind it – this shadows will be coloured as the vases are transparent.
18. Start adding colour to the flowers by dragging the ink lines from the stamp with the water brush.  Be careful to not drag the water brush over the lines, otherwise it will turn into one ink blot.  You need to keep the detail of each leaf of the flowers.
19. Create depth by making sure that the flower stems are correctly placed – in front and behind certain areas of the vase.
20. Keep on adding layers of colours to the flower, and try not to add more colour over wet areas as this will just blend the colours without creating depth.  It is easier to move around the page and work on dry areas only.
21. Keep on adding colour to the vases to create dimension and depth and use the Picket Fence Distress Marker to add highlights.  This marker goes on clear and dries opaque
22. Use a light wash of Frayed Burlap to create shadows on the left side of the flowers and stems.  If you add to much colour, add water and blot it with a dry paper towel.  I changed over to a paint brush as the water brush was dispensing too much water and was starting to bleed into my images.  I just picked up some water that I spritzed on my acrylic block to blend the frayed burlap to create subtle shading.
23. Write your quote directly on the page with Black Soot and Hickory Smoke and remember if you make a mistake you can simply wipe it off and start again.  Use the fine or brush nib depending on the size of your letters. Use Picket Fence to add highlight to the letters.
24. Use the fine nib to add final details to the flowers.
25. Lastly add the date.

PRODUCT LIST:

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Hi Everyone,

Have you ever wished that you can use your watercolours on normal paper?  I have to confess that the colouring-in bug has bitten me as well!  I have tried my watercolour pencils in my colouring-in book, but the paper did not take the water to well.  I found this "recipe" for watercolour aborbent ground on the Liquitex Website - 1 part Liquitex modeling paste with 3 parts Gesso.

Derwent Watercolour Pencils in Colouring-in Book.

Distress Markers in Canson XL Mix Media Journal.

See below video on Youtube for details.

Art Journal Page with PaperArtsy products.

Hi Everyone,

For this Art Journal page I tried to use as much of the PaperArtsy products as possible. I love the Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic paint by PaperArtsy, it dries fast to a matte finish that makes is particularly easy to stamp and doodle or write over.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Use a square piece of Cut-and-Dry foam by Ranger and start applying one colour of paint at a time.  I am using the four colours from the Lin Brown limited edition 3 set of Fresco Finish Chalk Paint by PaperArtsy. Make sure that each colour is dry before adding the next colour.
2. Stamp the flowers from the PaperArtys JOFY 09 Stamp Set with Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black. Use masking tape to mask some of the stamped flowers so that you create the impression that they are behind and infront of some of the others. Stamp the sentiment that is included in the stamp set.
3. I also used the masking tape to cover parts of the stamps that I did not want to stamp.
4. I am not mounting the stamps so that I can manipulate the stems to stamp in different directions.
5. Use a small paintbrush and  "colour-in" the stamped flowers and leaves. Do not think to much about this, just enjoy laying down colour.  You can always paint over a colour if you do not like it or add layers of translucent paint.
6. Use the Posca paint pens to add details to the stamped images, the paint pens gives more control and a steady flow of paint that is difficult to achieve with a paintbrush.
7. Add the outlines and details with the black Posca Paint Pen.
8. Create a border around the page by first drawing a rough outline with a thin black Posca Paint Pen (PC-3M) and then adding black and white squares with the thick nib (PC-8K). 
9. Add the date and you are finished - a real quick page and so much fun!

PRODUCTS USED:

1. PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics - Lin Brown Limited Edition 3,London Bus, Snowflake & Limelight
2. PaperArtsy Jofy 09 Stamp Set
3. Ranger Archival Ink Pad - Jet Black
4. Posca Paint Pens PC-3M - Black, White, Light Green, Red, Yellow & Light Blue
5. Posca Paint Pens PC-8K - Black & White

WATCH THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE:

Hi Everyone.

Slowly but surely winter is coming... We have been having such a nice warm autumn, just feeling the chill in the evenings and mornings.  

Ever since this Bloom Stamps by Jamie Dougherty for Prima Marketing was released I wanted to try it out and I absolutely loved it!

Instructions:

1. Tim Holtz’s tag tutorial for March 2015 inspired my art journal page.  I started off by adhering Tim Holtz tissue tape to the background.
2. Apply Distress Paint in Abandoned Coral, Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Broken China, Cracked Pistachio & Picked Raspberry.  I kept the layers of paint moist by spraying it with water and then when I laid down all the colours allowed it to run and blend into each other.
3. Create a mask of the image to cover the stamped face while applying texture paste to the background. Stamp the face with Archival Ink on wax paper, dry and cut out.  I also used the mask to decide on the placement of the image.
4. Stamp the image with Tea Dye Distress Ink to create a soft outline – this will avoid harsh lines in and around the image and allows me to blend the outline into the face.
5. Use repositionable adhesive spray to temporarily adhere the mask over the stamped image.
6. Use masking tape to keep the Butterflies 1 stencil in place and apply Ranger Texture Paste with a plastic palette knife.  This Texture paste is creamy and light and so easy to apply – my new favourite product!  It also absorbs colour and can be dried with a heat tool.
7. Use Ranger Snowflake Embossing Powder over the wet Texture Paste and melt with a heat tool.
8. Use Derwent Artbars to add colour to the image.  The Artbars can be used directly on the image and then activated with water or use a water brush to pick up the colour from the Artbar.
9. Add highlights and shadows and remember to let layers dry before adding more colour.
10. Add more vibrant colours to the image with Derwent Inktense pencils, the pencils also allow me to add finer details like the patterning on the butterflies.  The Artbars have a soft watercolour effect, while the Inktense pencils are vibrant and bright.
11. Use Dina Wakley Matte Gel Medium to activate the colour on the butterflies, this will give a shinier effect to the images than water and will also create a different texture.
12. Add more detail to the hair with different sepia tones and activate with gel medium.
13. Shave small pieces of flesh coloured Artbar with the Shave ‘n’ Save and mix it with gel medium to make your own paint and apply to the face.
14. Keep on adding layers of colour to the face making sure that the layers dry before adding more on top.
15. Use silver Heritage Artist Acrylic metallic paint to add a touch of silver to the butterflies, this paint is very translucent, almost a glaze which will allow the underneath layers to show through.
16. Add final touches to the face with Posca Paint pens in white and black, as well as Inktense pencils activated with gel medium.  By activating the Inktense pencils I make sure that it is permanent and won’t blend with any colour added on top.  The Posca paint pens have some open time to blend, but will also dry permanent.
17. Outline the butterflies with a Posca Paint pen in silver.
18. I was not happy with the butterflies that was cut in half by the mask and decided to rather have the butterflies going on top, so I applied the texture paste and embossing powder.
19. Writing the title with the white Inktense pencil allows me to remove it if I am not happy with the placement or size. Once I am satisfied I will go over it with the Silver and White Posca Paint Pens.
20. Outline the Texture Paste butterflies with the Silver Posca Paint pen and lastly add the date.

PRODUCTS USED:

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MAGIC FAIRY GIRL ART JOURNAL PAGE

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.       I fell in love with this image ever since I saw it in the Summer Brochure of Poetry.  I scanned the image into my photo editing program and changed the colour and wiped out the background.  I resized it and made a laser printout.

2.       Apply Omni-Gel Transfer Medium over the front of the image with a foam brush, any acrylic gel medium will work.  Let each layer dry naturally and completely in between, also change the direction of the application each time from up and down to side to side and up and down again – I applied 3 layers. 

3.       Do no try to speed up the process by drying each layer with a heat gun, as this makes the image quite brittle and easily tears when removing the paper.

4.       Spray water on the back of the image and carefully wipes away the paper.  I used as soft brush to wipe away some of the smaller pieces of paper.  As more paper are removed the image will be clearer and clearer. 

5.       While I wait for the image to dry, I make a start on the background in my art journal.

6.       Apply Bundled Sage, Evergreen Bough and Pine Needles Distress Ink with an Ink Blending Tool to the background. 

7.       Spray water on the Dots stamp from the Dylusions Basic Background Stamp Set and randomly stamp on over the background.  This will create some subtle dots to the background where the Distress Ink reacts to the water.

8.       Use the flower and stem images from the Dylusions How Does Your Garden Grow Stamp Set and stamp with Barn Door and Salty Ocean Distress Ink.  Spray with water to create some interesting blending.  Remember this ink is not permanent and will always re-activate with any medium that is applied on top of it.

9.       Use the Festive Berries Distress Stain to create blotches on the page by dabbing it randomly on the background.

10.   Apply Lemon Heritage 3D Crystal Acrylic to the background with a rubber kitchen basting tool to create texture.  This 3D Crystal Acrylic is transparent and quite thick, it is also very glossy and tends to stick pages in your art journal together.  That is why I will always use this medium in my bottom layers or add matte medium on top.

11.   Dab some Mowed Lawn and Mustard Seed Distress Stain on a craft sheet and mix with white Gesso.  Apply with a brayer to the background to mute the bright colours.  My background images was disappearing so I wiped some of the gesso away with a baby wipe while it was still wet.

12.   Apply Mowed Lawn and Mustard Seed Distress Stain to the background and blend with some water and a paintbrush.

13.   I sprayed my background with White Linen Dylusions Ink Spray from a distance – this thin layer of white ink will blend with the Distress Stains underneath.  Use a baby wipe and wipe some of the Dylusions Spray away through the Loopy Flowers Stencil.

14.   Cut out the image of the girl from the dry image transfer.

15.   Use the Butterfly 3 stencil to create wings for the fairy.  Mask off the parts of the wings that will be behind the fairy with masking tape.

16.   Apply Faber Castell Glass Bead Glitter Gel through the detailed part of the stencil and leave to dry naturally, as this gel mediums tends to bubble and stay sticky when dried with a heat tool.  As the gel becomes dry it will turn transparent.

17.   Attach the image with Heritage 3D Contour Paste, I used a thick layer of medium as I wanted to lift the fairy of the page a bit.  This was a mistake as there was a lot of air trapped underneath the image and it took a long time to dry.

18.   Apply a layer of matte medium to seal the background and all the water-soluble mediums.  This will enable me to add more layers without worrying about the mediums underneath.  I wiped the matte medium and mix of distress ink from the wings of the fairy with a baby wipe.

19.   Add solid wings with the Butterfly 3 stencil and Ranger Liquid Pearls in White Opal.

20.   Add subtle colour to girl and wings with Faber Castell Big Brush pens – this ink is transparent, easy blend able and permanent once dry.

21.   Add some shine to the wings by applying Heritage 3D Crystal Acrylic Glass with a paintbrush.

22.   Add Ranger Liquid Pearls in Lavender Lace to the wings to create a delicate change in colour as the light catches the wings.

23.   Use the Big Brush pens to add some more colour to the wings, I constantly wipe my fingers on a baby wipe as to not blend the colours together.  Also add some Diamond Ranger Stickles to the raised areas of the wings.

24.   Add a border of flowers with the Cherry Blossom stencil and Barn Door Distress Paint.  Add a thin layer of paint with a Stencil brush.  Add dimension and subtle change of colour to the flowers by lightly dabbing Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed Distress paint to the centre of the flowers.

25.   Use the Cherry Blossom stencil and Posca Paint Pens to add leaves to the page.  Add interest to the flowers and leaves with Posca Paint pens.  These pens are water-based Acrylic Paints and is opaque and permanent once dry.

26.   Add shading around the images with Big Brush pens.

27.   Add the quote along the stem of the flower with a Pentel Brush pen. The quote is quite small and reads: “Those who do not believe in magic, will never find it.  – Roald Dahl.

28.   Lastly add the date.

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Hi Everyone,

My first art journal tutorial for 2015! I hope this will be a exciting year with lots of amazing adventures for all!

I titled this page: NEW BEGINNINGS

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Decide on the placement of the face and lightly draw the outlines.
2. Start writing thoughts down on the page, I am writing down all my ideas and plans for 2015.
3. Randomly stamp the background with clear embossing ink and emboss with embossing powder to create texture.
4. Apply Gel Medium through the Dahlia mask and stamp it randomly on the background – this will act as a resist once you add the PanPastel colours. Make sure that the gel medium is dry.
5. Add extra dimension to the background by layering PanPastel colours through the stencil.
6. Seal the background layer of PanPastel with Matte Gel Medium – apply a thin layer with a brayer. I used my soft rubber Speedball Brayer.
7. Use the Sporty Girl stencil and draw the outlines with Big Brush pens.  Blend the harsh lines and add colour to the whole face.  Also add shadows and highlights with the Big Brush pens and blend each time.
8. Apply a dark colour of Acrylic paint (Dina Wakley Heavy Body Acrylic Paint – Night) with a sea sponge around the face to draw attention to it.
9. Pull everything together by brayering a thin layer of white Gesso over the whole page.
10. Use Acrylic Letter Stamps and acrylic paint to stamp the title of the page and add highlights by slightly offsetting the stamp and stamping in white.
11. Add Shadows and highlights to the word with the Big Brush pens in Warm and Cold Grey.
12. Lastly outline the word with a black marker once the paint has dried and add the date.

PRODUCTS USED:

 

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