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:

 

WATCH THE VIDEO:



 

Hi Everyone,

If you have been following me, you will know that I just love colourful backgrounds.  For this Art Journal page I decided to challenge myself and try to stick to just a plain white background.

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. I covered my page with white acrylic paint so that I have a nice, smooth surface to work on.  You can also use white gesso if you prefer.  Make sure that the page is completely dry before you carry on.
2. Use a charcoal pencil and draw the outlines of the birds on the Birds-in-a-Row stencil. 
3. Use white acrylic paint to pull the charcoal from the outlines of the birds to create a grayscale image. This also "fixes” the charcoal so that it does not smear and allow you to add more layers on top.
4. Draw one of the birds on the stencil on patterned paper and cut out. I used wax paper that I created with foam stamps and acrylic paints.
5. Use the Birds-in-a-Row stencil to adhere the image of the bird with matte medium next to the other birds. Make sure that it lying flat with no air trapped underneath.
6. Use the stencil to add details to the birds with the charcoal pencil and blend it with white acrylic paint – this will give it a more painterly look and soften the rigid pencil lines.
7. Do the same with the coloured bird, but you use a Derwent Inktense pencil.  I used a lime-green acrylic paint to pull the coloured outlines into the image.  This will give you a graduated coloured look from dark to light.
8. I used yellow and blue acrylic paint to create some interest and details to the bird.  Remember to add a small white dot in the each of the bird’s eyes – now they will look alive.
9. Print out the quote and use transfer paper to transfer it to your page.  Use markers (I used Big Brush pens) to write over the “pencil” lines.  I used the same technique for the grayscale birds and used my charcoal pencils and white acrylic paint to create the word “copy”.  
10. Add some interest and details to the words and the birds with different colours of markers in different nib sizes.
11. Use the Swirls 1 stencil and the Teal Green Derwent Intense pencil to draw swirls behind the row of birds.  This will anchor the birds as it looked like they were floating in the air.
12. Use a water brush to activate the Inktense pencil and go over it with a marker when it has dried.
13. Remember to add the date.

 

Download quote:

Quote Birds Art Journal Page.pdf

Watch the video here:

 

ART JOURNAL PAGE – CHANGE IT, YOU ARE NOT A TREE!

     INSTRUCTIONS: 

1. Spray Dylusions Ink Sprays in Postbox Red, Squeezed Orange, Pure Sunshine & Bubblegum Pink though the Polka Dots stencil. I always clean my stencils and left-over paints and inks in my telephone directory.  This paper is perfect for collage. Make sure that each layer dries properly before adding another.
2. Tear a piece of Island Dots patterned tissue paper large enough to cover the whole background and adhere with Liquitex Matte Medium.  Only adhere small sections at a time as the Matte Medium dries very quickly.  As the Ink Sprays are not permanent the tissue paper will absorb the ink underneath.
3. Apply a layer of matte medium on top of the tissue paper – this will ensure that the ink sprays are sealed so that more layers can be added.
4. Apply Dina Wakley Media Heavyweight Acrylic Paint in Ruby and Lemon with a palette knife.  The thick creamy consistency of this paint makes it easy to add texture and marks to the background.
5. Apply Umber, Blackberry Violet & Lapis through the Tree stencil with a palette knife.  You can temporarily adhere the stencil with repositionable adhesive spray if you do not want any paint to seep underneath the stencil.
6. Apply Blackberry Violet, Lapis, Lime, Turquoise and White paint with a paint brush to the tree – the thick consistency of the paint allows you to create brushstrokes.
7. Randomly add dots with a sponge dauber – I used Turquoise, Magenta, Tangerine, Lime, Lemon, Lapis, Sky & White.
8. Write the quote in pencil and when you are satisfied with the placement – write over it with the black Edding Paint Marker.
9. Used the Edding paint markers in various colours and add outlines and details to the paint dots.
10. Add a layer of Indian ink with the Faber-Castel Big Brush pen in Deed Scarlet Red over the quote to make the quote stand out against the busy page.
11. Outline the word of the quote with the white Edding Paint Marker and lastly add the date.

PRODUCTS USED:

Strathmore Bristol Smooth Visual Journal 9x12

Dylusions Ink Sprays - Postbox Red, Squeezed Orange, Pure Sunshine & Bubblegum Pink

Stencil-Art Stencils - Polka Dots & Tree

Patterned Tissue Paper - Island Dots

Liquitex Matte Medium

Dina Wakley Media Heavybody Acrylic Paint - Ruby, Lemon, Umber, Blackberry Violet, Lapis, Lime, Turquoise, White, Magenta, Tangerine & Sky

Edding Paint Markers - Black, White, Orange, Dark Blue, Light Blue, Yellow, Red, Purple, Pink & Green

Faber-Castel Big Brush Pen - Deep Scarlet Red

Watch the video on Youtube:

Hi Everyone,

Happy Spring! I am so glad that winter is over, although we are still waiting for the Highveld Thundershowers.  With this page I really enjoyed playing with some new stencils and my latest obsession - Derwent Artbars.

POPPIES ART JOURNAL PAGE

 INSTRUCTIONS:

1.     Start by colouring the blank page with Derwent Artbars in Kiwi, Spearmint, Turquoise, Orange and Process Yellow.

2.       Adhere pattered paper towel with gel medium to the page and seal it with gel medium over the paper towel.  Let dry thoroughly otherwise the paper towel will tear.

3.       Mix Dina Wakley Heavy Body Acrylic Paint in Turquoise, Lime and Night with water to create a wash and paint a thin layer over the paper towel – the previous layers must still be visible.

4.       Mix Dina Wakley Heavy Body Acrylic paint in Lemon & Night to create green and use to a brayer to apply a thin coat.

5.       Use Ellen Vargo EEV06 stamps by PaperArtsy with Heritage Crafts Free Flow Acrylics in Dark Blue and Green Field to add texture to the page.

6.       Rub the Inktense block in teal over the page and apply Liquitex Mattte Medium over it.  The layer of Inktense block will dry permanent and unify all the previous layers.

7.       Grate the red Inktense Block with the Derwent Grate ‘n Shake and mix it with the Liquitex Blende Fibre Gel.  Lightly mix in a small amount of dark red, orange and yellow to create a slight variation of colour.

8.       Apply the coloured Fibre Gel through the Poppie stencil and let it dry overnight.

9.       Use the Quotes 1 stencil and apply black Heritage Crafts Dimensional Fabric Puff Paint through the stencil with a palette knife and dry it with a heat gun or hairdryer.

10.   Carefully draw in the stems of the poppies with the Poppies stencil and the black Edding 750 Paint Marker.

11.   Use the red Edding 750 Paint Marker and fill in the gaps in the poppies left by the stencil. 

12.   Add leaves to the stems with the Swirly Leaves stencils and the black Edding 750 Paint Marker.

13.   Use the black Faber-Castell Big Brush pen to add shading around the poppies and add dimension to the flower leaves with Deep Scarlet Red around the outer edges and the Orange Glaze to the insides.

14.   Add yellow Edding 750 Paint Marker to the insides of the Poppies.

15.   Thicken the stems of the flowers and add dashes to the stems and outline it in white. Also add detail to the leaves in white.

16.   Outline the words of the quote with the white Edding 780 Paint Marker.

17.   Use the puff paint to add seeds to the centres of the open poppies.

18.   Remember to add the date to your page.

PRODUCT LIST

Derwent Artbars - Kiwi (A18), Spearmint (A32), Turquoise (A15), Orange (A04) & Process Yellow (A01)

Papertowel (Woolworths)

Liquitex Gel Medium

Dina Wakley Heavy Body Acrylic Paint - Turquoise, Lime, Night & Lemon

PaperArtsy Stamp Set - Ellen Vargo EEV06

Heritage Crafts Free Flow Acrylic Paint - Dark Blue & Green Field

Derwent Inktense blocks - Teal, Red, Orange & Yellow

Liquitex Matte Fluid Medium

Liquitex Blended fibres Texture Gel

Stencil-Art Stencils - Poppies, Quotes 1 & Swirly Leaves

Heritage Crafts Dimensional Fabric Puff Paint - Black

Edding 750 Paint Markers - Black, Red & Yellow

Edding 780 Paint Marker - White

Faber-Castell Big Brush pens - Deep Scarlet (219) & Orange Glaze (113)

Watch the video:

Hi Everyone,

I planned to start this blog entry by saying" Happy Spring!", but here in Johannesburg we skipped spring and jumped right into Summer!

I had so much fun playing with the Mermaid Stamp by Prima Marketing.  I absolutely love the Derwent Artbars,  you will most definitely see me using them a lot in my art journal.  I also discovered that I can stamp with the Derwent Inktense blocks and that once activated with liquid the stamped image is permanent.

Instructions:

1. Place bleeding tissue paper circles on your page, spray it with water and leave to dry naturally.(See the video on how to make your own bleeding tissue paper below).
2. Apply a wash of Topaz Blue Heritage Acrylic paint and water over the circles and dry with a heat tool.
3. Dab Heritage Free Flow Acrylic Paint in various colours though the Fishinella stencil randomly over the background.
4. Tear strips of bleeding tissue paper and adhere it to the background with Gel Medium to form sea grass.
5. Spray White Linen Dylusions Ink Spray and then water over the background and dab it off with paper towel to mute the vibrant colours a bit and bind all the images together.
6. Spray Dylusions Ink Spray in Polished Jade and Dry Martini through he Sea Damask and Sea Creatures stencils and let the background dry while you stamp and colour the mermaid.
7. Rub the Prima Marketing Mermaid Stamp with an orange Derwent Inktense Block and stamp it on a slightly damp page of Daler-Rowney Heavyweight Paper. The image will be permanent once dry.
8. Colour the mermaid with Derwent Artbars by picking up the colour with a water brush - I used my Pentel medium water brush.
9. Cut out the mermaid when it is dry and adhere it to the background with Gel Medium.
10. Paint a piece of the Heavyweight paper with a mixture of Heritage Pearl paint and Dylusions Callypso Teal Ink Spray and stamp the seashells included in the Prima Marketing stamp set.  Cut out and adhere over the bikini top of the mermaid with Gel Medium.
11.  Apply Design Memory Craft Glass Bead Glitter Gel through he Blowing Bubbles stencil with a palette knife and let dry on its own. 
12. Write the quote in pencil and when satisfied with the placement go over it with a black Faber-Castell PITT Artist Brush pen and once dry with the silver Edding Calligraphy pen.  I later went over it again with Edding Fine tip blue paint pen and added highlights with the Edding white paint pen as well.
13. Use a white Gelly Roll Glaze pen to add scales to the mermaid's tail and some swirls to the background with the Fishinella stencil.
14. Add shading and details to the mermaid with Design Memory Craft Big Brush pens in various colours, as well as the Glass Bead Glitter Gel bubbles.
15. Adds some Pearl paint to the mermaid for a subtle touch of bling.

Watch the video:

How to make your own bleeding tissue paper:

Hi Everyone,

My son is a music student at Wits and have so many guitars, but there's one guitar that is extra special as he bought it from his favourite guitarist. He also received some stickers and a signed photograph from him.  He asked me to frame the stickers so that he do not lose it, but I created this canvas with a picture of his guitar instead.

          INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cover the stretched canvas with black Gesso – remember to also cover the sides of the canvas.
2. Collage pieces of serviettes with Matte Medium to the background.
3. Crop the photo of the guitar and print on plain copy paper with a laser printer. Carefully cut out the guitar so that the left over piece can be used as a template/stencil.
4. Play around with the placement of the guitar and stickers and use temporary adhesive spray to adhere the template to the canvas.
5. Spread fibre texture paste through the template to create dimension.  Carefully lift the template and leave overnight to dry.
6. Print another copy of the guitar on plain copy paper and tear a piece of wax paper as large as the copy paper. 
7. To print the image of the guitar on the wax paper I need to temporarily adhere the wax paper to the copy paper so that I can feed it through my laser printer.  I found that if I spray the temporary adhesive over the entire piece of wax paper, I am unable to pull the wax paper from the copy paper without tearing the image. It seems to adhere permanently where the image is printed.  Only spray adhesive on the outer edges of the copy paper and adhere the wax paper.
8. Carefully cut the image of the guitar from the wax paper and use Heritage 3D Crystal Acrylic in Sienna to adhere the image overt the fibre paste image.  Use an old store card to remove any air trapped under the wax paper and then seal the image with clear gel medium on top.
9. Spread Golden Black Metallic Acrylic over the collaged pieces of serviette to try to blend it into the background.
10. Remove the backing paper from the stickers and adhere it in place and use an old store card to really make sure that the stickers are firmly stuck down without any air trapped underneath, otherwise the stickers will start peeling after a while.
11. Apply clear gesso over the shiny stickers so that more layers can be added on top.
12. Use Viva Décor Inka Gold Metallic Rubs and Stencil-Art’s Flames stencil to add flames to the background, seeing that the band is a heavy metal band. I used a palette knife, my fingers and Ranger’s Craft Nib Tool to get into the really small spaces.  These metallic rubs really blend easily so layer the different colours to add dimension and interest to the flames.
13. Mix the Lava Red Metallic Rub with water and apply a thin wash of colour to the stickers so that it can blend into the background. 
14. I really want the flames to stand out so I repainted the background with black acrylic paint.
15. I adhered the signed self-adhesive picture of the band to the canvas and sealed it with clear gel medium on top.
16. Add more details and shading with Portfolio Water-Soluble Oil Pastels and blend with your fingers.
17. Use a fixative spray to make sure that the water-soluble oil pastels do not blend or move.
18. Finally seal the whole canvas with Polyurethane Hard Varnish in a Matt Finish to protect it from scratches and dust.  Use a foam brush to apply the varnish as to avoid brush strokes and loose bristles getting stuck to the canvas.  Place the canvas on some paint jars so that the sides of the canvas can be sealed as well and leave it to dry.

    Watch the video on Youtube:

Hi Everyone,

I am so excited to stock mixed media and other art books in the shop.  I plan to do a monthly book review of one of these books available in the shop at www.stencil-art.co.za

Today's book review is Water Marks by Monique Day-Wilde.  I am always so happy to support local artists!

Water Marks is the latest book by Monique Day-Wilde and is locally published by Metz Press and is also available in Afrikaans.

This is not just another book about muted, delicate and translucent watercolours.  Instead rich, vivid images, are created not only with watercolour on paper, but also with a mix of other media and materials in all kinds of unconventional ways.  All this while still retaining a watery feel and enhancing and expanding the possible textural effects. Although flowers are the central theme throughout the book, the focus is on the techniques that can easily be applied to any project.

The reader are eased into the book with an introduction to the materials, tools and techniques used in the projects with useful tips from this experienced artist-writer. All crafters and mixed media artists from the absolute beginner to the experienced will find something useful and exciting in this book! 

Learn a multitude of techniques in 28 step-by-step projects with media like Acrylic Inks, Watercolour paints, Fabric Dyes, Acrylic Paints, Watercolour pencils and many more.

The quotes at the beginning of each section are an added bonus! This book encourages you to experiment and play! To quote Monique Day-Wilde: “Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment – it’s just a piece of paper!”. There is even a section showing you how to incorporate your “happy accidents”!

I am sure you will enjoy this book just as much as I did. 

Watch the video: