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Saturday 23 July 2016

Encore It takes two... for PaperArtsy

Hi!  I've got an Encore post for you again today - still gathering in the projects which have only had a sneak peek here at Words and Pictures.  This one is from July 2014, and it's nice and summery, so I thought July would be a good time to share it again.  It was created for one of my regular (irregular these days!) guest appearances at PaperArtsy, and here's what I wrote back then...
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Hello everyone, Alison here from Words and Pictures, and I'm delighted to be back at PaperArtsy to share a little something with you that didn't really go as expected!


I set myself the challenge of using only two Fresco paints to create my little reversed canvas, and had a wonderful time playing with one of the Hot Pick Plates, number 1301.





I turned the canvas round to use the recessed space as a shadow box, and started by layering my two paints onto it.  I used Pea Coat (but mine is still the old translucent version) and Limelight - also a translucent - double the challenge!












I stamped the gorgeous butterfly and text from HP1301 onto some tissue paper.  I'm lucky enough (or hoarder enough) to still have a few sheets of the original Crackly stock.  I stamped in a combination of Potting Soil and Coffee Archival inks for a dark but not too dark look. I then used the same paints to layer washes of colour over my butterfly and the little flowers in the corner.








Once that was done, I glued the tissue paper into the canvas using lots of Satin Glaze under and over it, as well as all over the edges of the canvas for a nice sheen.  Rather than spend time tinting Grunge Paste, I decided to use up some leftover Ferro paste that I had to add stencilled vines and butterflies around the edges of the canvas.






At this point I was planning to leave the metallic look to go with the brown stamping and my metallic embellishments.  It was going to be all nice and golden brown in look, with just some blue and greens in the background... that was the early thinking as you can see below, but that all changed in the end!










The reason it changed is that I decided to alter all the metal using my two paint colours.  I allowed myself some Gesso in the mix so that I could pre-coat the metal before adding colour.  I did lots of layers and washes and dry-brushings of my two paint colours over the various Finnabair Mechanicals Flowers and Numerals.











Once the embellishments were all painty, the textured leaves looked wrong in gold, so I started to build up layers of washes and dry-brushing over those too - still only using the same two colours, mixed in various proportions for different colour shades and finishing with some pure Limelight dry-brushing, and Treasure Gold in the end too.










I sanded back the flowers with one of the fabulous PaperArtsy sanding blocks to create some metallic accents.  I liked the look so much that I decided to accentuate it with some Treasure Gold.  I used both White Fire and Florentine to gild the metal and the vines...













... even adding some shimmer to the main butterfly with a brush...








...as well as the little textured ones on the frame, which I also decorated and outlined with a PITT pen to add definition.


So, there you go... just two paint colours (plus some Gesso for the occasional touch of opacity), lots of altered metal, and some tissue paper stamping in my reverse canvas.  I hope there's something in all that to get your creative juices flowing!
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Thanks so much for stopping by.  There's a new creation on the way next (in fact, two in a row), so I'll hope to see you again soon.  In the meantime, happy crafting all!

And finally, another twosome from Albert Einstein (almost certainly my most quoted individual):

There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.
Albert Einstein

Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein

34 comments:

chrissie said...

Always great to see your encore creations. This is a real summery piece and maybe the inspiration for lots of us to realise that a canvas can be used both ways up..end

Still laughing at the second quote lol

Have a lovely week

Love Chrissie xx

Redanne said...

Definitely worth a second look, those blue and green tones are gorgeous and look even more beautiful with the gilding and the dry brushing. The butterfly is stunning... I too, love that second quote, it is so funny and so true! Anne xx

ellyscard creatief said...

Wow, what a beautiful piese of art, great creation.

Lauren Hatwell said...

I remember this well and it's such a treat to see it again Alison. My favourite blues and greens. Gorgeous! Lx

Sophie said...

Oh, Alison...mir fehlen die Worte...
Was für eine schöne entzückende Arbeit.

Sophie xx

Pamellia said...

Wow, gorgeous Alison! Love seeing these encore projects, as a fairly new follower, many of them are brand new to me. Hope you are having a wonderful summer! hugs :)

Marci said...

I remember this one, I loved these colors. Impressed you only used two colors to achieve all of this. Nice to see it again.

Helen said...

oh yes, I remember this beauty! Lovely to see it again.

Sandy said...

This really is a handsome piece of art work Alison. The colors are perfect together and the balance is perfect. Talk about have a good eye - you sure do Allison!!
Sandy xx

Mary Elizabeth said...

I know you are missing your craft time. ( I foresee some hibernation weeks in your future :)); however I adore the encore posts. This is fun to see how your vision color-shifted from browns to this vibrant (yet washed) greens and blues. Stunning paint job on the floral elements. I love sanded portions to reveal the metal. Really beautiful! -- ME

Dorthe said...

Hello dear Alison, such a fresh and sommerly canvas.
You really used every tone you could of these two gorgeous colors. I love your flowers, and that beautiful stenciled green leaved frame ,a beautiful art work !!
Hug from Dorthe

Hazel Agnew said...

How juicy, fresh and vibrant Alison. Gorgeous composition. Thanks for reintroducing such a star. Xx

Paper Profusion said...

Beautifully lush and strong Alison! It looks particularly well photographed amongst the ivy. Hope life going really well for you. Nicola x

Meggymay said...

A gorgeous encore project love the colour combinations you used and the super details.
Yvonne xx

craftimamma said...

Oooh, I remember this beautiful reverse canvas! I think you did an amazing job with the two colours especially as they were both translucents. The results are gorgeous!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Sue said...

Really lovely, great choice of colours, and a real challenge to only use two! xx

Brenda Brown said...

It's lovely to see all your encore posts Alison and be reminded of the amazing art you have created, this canvas is no exception, it's beautiful. Love both your Einstein quotes too xxx

pearshapedcrafting said...

I hope you don't think I have been ignoring you! I have been trying to meet a few(interesting) craft deadlines and haven't been able to catch up until today, although I still have 'stuff' to do! You can well imagine that I love this as you have used some of my favourite colours! The fabulous embellishments are a perfect addition to this reverse canvas! Hugs, Chrisx

SueC said...

Lovely to see this project again Alison, love the colours ! Sue C x

Rita said...

Wow. Fabulous project with lots of interesting techniques used too. Lovely to hear from Alison. Hugs Rita xxxxx

Margik said...

This is gorgeous, Alison. Your encore project is fabulous with that beautiful combination of colours. Hugs, Mar

Cocofolies said...

Thanks for this beautiful Encore post Alison. Your frame is stunning using only two colours of translucent paints, it's surprising! And I love the little textured butterflies, and your altered metal embellishments, all fabulous!!!
Coco xx

SewPaperPaint said...

What a beautiful blast from the past, I can't wait to see your creations when you return! Big hugs and be safe, Autumn

Deborah Wainwright said...

How Lovely Alison, the colours are scrummy and the composition works so well, love it! I hope you are well and still enjoying your work trip. Hugs Debsxx

sally said...

A lovely "revisit" and 2 splendid quotes to start the week !!!

Sally xx

craftytrog said...

So happy to see this one again! Love those blues and greens Alison! xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Gorgeous Alison, love the colour combo. Happy crafting, Angela x

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is glorious,it was a favourite at the time and it's lovely to see it again,

Lucy x

Mrs.B said...

A gorgeous project Alison, love the colours, so zingy and fresh.
Avril xx

Karen Petitt said...

This is so beautiful Alison! Love, love, love! Karen x

Tina Z. said...

stunning and I love these colours.

Etsuko said...

I remember this, beautiful canvas and always I love your blue and green!! xx

Anke said...

So beautiful, Alison. Great work !

Hugs
Anke

Jackie PN said...

So gorgeous! Such color!!
hugs,Jackie xo