If you missed yesterday’s post about What the Second Floor Challenge is – here you go :
- Julie & I have made a one-year commitment to each other and our “Second Floor” project.
- Every few weeks we will issue a challenge (just something to spark some creativity – sometimes starting without a prompt can be very intimidating).
- Your assignment is to take that challenge and make some art.
- Here’s the most important part: at some point you need to “take it to the second floor.” What does that mean? It means trying something vastly out of your comfort zone. Doing something that might not work. Experimenting with a crazy idea. It’s all about pushing yourself. If it works, awesome. If it doesn’t work, awesome!
- If you want to participate publicly, we’ll have a linky list for each challenge. If you don’t want to participate publicly, that’s cool too. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself – not necessarily at your best – out there.
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We have a private flickr group set up for those of you who want to share sort of publicly but within the safe confines of a private group. If you want to join the group, you will need to e-mail to secondfloorchallenge(at)googlemail(dot)com we’ll send you an invitation.
For our first challenge we decided to go with the Challenge to
“Use Golden Acrylic Paint”
I usually only use golden Acrylic Paint as accents. I use them through a stencil to tie elements together or to paint a frame or the edges, or just a tiny embellishment. So this challenge let me think of actually painting the whole background of my paper golden in order to do something differently.
I gave it some texture by cooking the acrylic paint and also using rub ons before applying the paint. As I had watered down the golden acrylic paint a bit in order to reveal the Rest-Print on the paper and also the rub ons – the paper got a bit wrapped- and to tell you the truth – I do not like that – I do like the cooking though :)
So it could have been done as it was like this- but then decided to take it to the 2nd Floor.
I used twine and rolled it also in golden acrylic paint. I was a bit afraid that the golden acrylic paint would harden the twine too much in order to be still able to twirl it in the forms I want it. But no problems – after it dried I easily applied it in loops to my layout.
And here is the end result:
For me it looks more finished now and I liked using some of the extra golden paint on my twine. The Layout is a bit more shiny as you see it here.
What did I learn from this challenge:
- Golden or I would assume any metallic paints painted on big areas are hard to apply because you can see the direction of how the paint was applied and it makes it look messy and uneven. So next time I would definitely use a different tool and try to only paint in one direction.
- I like how the Resist Print and Rub-Ons are peaking through and in generell I like the golden color.
- Next time I would not water down the paint too much as to avoid the paper to wrap and adding a messy feeling to it.
- Although the twine rolled in golden paint was still workable, I do not like the look of it…it looks dirty – I would not do this again…
I used the following supplies for my Remember This Layout:
Not linked: Tattered Angels Paper, Package Twine
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Check out Julie’s blog with her result here
If you want to play along with us show us your project here on InLinkz or on the Second Floor Flickr Group:
Nat
Comments (31)
Eniko Farkas DeLisle
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Nat, I took the challenge & wrote about it on my blog…I think it’s a swell idea! Looking forward to the next challenge! xo
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Michelle Hernandez (@willieburgscrap)
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I’m going to try this today- it’s probably too late but I LOVE gold paint and glitter and anything that smacks of gauche fabulousness.
The final page might not be what you envisioned but I LOVE that second detail shot with the texture and the “Remember” word! I also like the gilded twine- it does look “dirty” but in a fantastically intentional and interesting way. I think the twine, the minimalist photos and the paint should be all that’s on the page- they look analogous and meaningful. What did you mean by cooking- heating up parts of the page while drying or sticking the page in the oven? That probably sounds like the stupidest question ever but I’m dying to try new things and scared of fumes. :) Ok, I will avoid the actual baking of projects. I will be part of this group as well- it’s such a fantastic idea- pushing yourself to the next level with fellow creative types I respect? Yes, please!
Aha- I just saw an answer to my cooking question- thank you!
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nathalie-kalbach
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Hi Michelle, so fun you are joining us! The cooking refers just to heating the acrylic paint until it starts to bubble. It works actually best with the metallic paints and the fuming is low- as I am pretty sensitive to that too :)
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Michelle Hernandez (@willieburgscrap)
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I’m going to try this today- it’s probably too late but I LOVE gold paint and glitter and anything that smacks of gauche fabulousness.
The final page might not be what you envisioned but I LOVE that second detail shot with the texture and the “Remember” word! I also like the gilded twine- it does look “dirty” but in a fantastically intentional and interesting way. I think the twine, the minimalist photos and the paint should be all that’s on the page- they look analogous and meaningful. What did you mean by cooking- heating up parts of the page while drying or sticking the page in the oven? That probably sounds like the stupidest question ever but I’m dying to try new things and scared of fumes. :) Ok, I will avoid the actual baking of projects. I will be part of this group as well- it’s such a fantastic idea- pushing yourself to the next level with fellow creative types I respect? Yes, please!
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Andrea Gomoll
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Great challenge – FINALLY used my gold Acrylic Paint which I had in my stash like forever *lol* … can’t wait for the next challenge you come up with :) Hugs …
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nathalie-kalbach
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Woohooo – so glad you joined!!! love you outcome!
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Bethany Kolbaba Kartchner
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Love this idea Nat! So playing along. I’ve got some Golden’s at home, but have been too afraid to try them. I’m gonna gather my courage.
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nathalie-kalbach
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Can’t wait to see what you come up with :) Weehee!!!
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Eliza
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while waiting for my paints to dry I can feel my head spinning.
I keep thinking about this project and making a mental list of all the things I’m afraid of in my art, of all the limitations I’ve been dreaming to deal with, of all the nasty things my inner critic’s been saying.
it’s scary. it’s exhilirating.
I keep repeating the words I saw on Julie’s blog today – “When you discover what you fear most, run towards it.” I think it’s time for me.
thanks for making me dizzy. ;)
and perhaps a tiny bit braver.
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Irene
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Nat, that came out wonderfully! I love the idea of these Second Floor challenges! This gold one was just the thing to get me to try something different!
Thanks to both of you!
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Hilary Frye
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Metallic Gold always make me think of Klimt. He’s one of my favorite artists. The metallic gold has me thinking of making a gilded frame…I recently bought a laser cut wood frame. Gold mixed with some other color or techniques…hmmm..have to see where this goes!
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Marie-Anne Raeman
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hmmm, i have to let this one sink in….
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LindaBrun
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I have some great looking gold acrylic paint tubes, after good advice from you girl ;-)
Looking forward to play. Does it have to be a layout ?
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nathalie-kalbach
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Not at all, linda, can be a book,altered item, cancas, whatever comes to your mind and you want to play with, Looking forward seeing what you play with Nat
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Terrie -Creative Explorer
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Thanks so much for sharing your experimenting and results – I never use metallics so that would be something new for me to try….
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Lisa
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Bummer about the warping. Maybe pressing it under a stack of books for a couple days would help? I would never have thought to paint the entire background gold! The resist frame looks super cool, and I think the twine twirls add such movement and flow to your layout. My mind is racing! I may trip on the stairs to the 2nd floor, but I am looking forward to the climb!
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Virginia Voigt
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I love using metallic paints in my art work. Everything from Golden brand to craft paint to paint I make myself from dry pearl powders and acrylic medium (sometimes with the addition of some pigmented paint for a boost of color). I very frequently apply the paint to my papers with a brayer. That gives me thin but extensive to complete coverage according to my application. When I do not choose complete coverage, the inconsistencies look very pleasing to me. Warping seems minimal to non-existent. The part of the process I like least is cleaning the brayer when I am done which I do with a baby hair brush. The easiest way to get the brayer clean is to make sure the paint does not dry on it. Sometimes I have to put the brayer in a bowl of water to keep it wet. Then, of course, I have to dry it off to continue. Perhaps some people aren’t as fussy as I am about that. We each have our own style.
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Joanne
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looks great — now I have to get some golden acrylic paint — hope to add something to flickr soon — have to email to get an invite :0)
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Sue Clarke
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Such a different color for a LO for you Nat and I really like the look once you added the twine.
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Martha Richardson
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I have this gold acrylic eco craft paint because of YOU….I love the way your LO came out…and now I know how to cook it…LOL!
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Birgit Koopsen
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Gold Acrylic Paint???? Are you kiddding?? I don’t even think I’ve got such a thing in the house. Wow, this is quite a challenge to start with! Have to go out and find some of that stuff now :) yikkes, I’m pretty confinced that I will have to share something I really don’t like…
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Anne Porretta
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Art can be messy and still look great! Brushstrokes are evidence that “an artist has been here” . . . so I wouldn’t always be looking for smooth in my creations. “Warping”, on the other hand, interferes with a journal page lying flat, so that would probably be something I would try to keep to a minimum if I were making a page. Your creation looks great no matter what . . . and I love the idea of challenge to get the juices flowing!
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Marjie Kemper
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I like the layout a lot…. gives me the feel of a treasure map, and it’s a great capture of the DV experience. Very brave, going All Gold!
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Catherine (scared of gold paint) Scanlon
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Marsha asked my question, cause I had visions of you cooking it over the stove while you cooked your dinner last night, LoL! I love the idea of this challenge and I think yours came out GREAT. I don’t have time to play around this week but next time I hope to have some.
I like the way the photos look on the gold paint, and the string.
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nathalie-kalbach
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LOL- scared of gold paint? I know you would rock it. BTW- we post the challenges about every three weeks…so there is lot’s of time for your ;) jUst teasing!
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marsha.
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I like it!!! I hardly ever use golden paint… Only in my art journal… The kind I have isn’t opaque, so I see every brush stroke I make with it. Maybe it’s supposed to be more like a golden glaze… Hmmm, have to look into that.
BTW, stupid question: what do you mean by ‘cooking’ the paint? Making it bubble with the heattool?
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nathalie-kalbach
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Oh – mine is so pigmented- it totally covers. And yes – making bubbles with the heat tool- love doing that – especially with metallic colors :) nat
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marsha.
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‘like’
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Marsha.
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OK… I’ve bought new paint… and it wasn’t one of those cheap ones… And it says ‘opaque’ on the tube… And… it still doesn’t cover things like yours seems to do. And now I’m so very curious about the brand you used! Is is Eco Green Crafts? (Cause I remember I loved painting with the bronze colour at MMC!)
It’s all OK though: I’m having fun with gold (!) paint and it not turning out like I imagined in my mind was kind of the point of the whole exercise anyway :-D.
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nathalie-kalbach
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Mmhhh – that is not fun – is it fluid? The one I used is Eco Green Crafts and I am biased but i have to say – they metallic paint is the best I have found out there! Thanks for joining us Marsha- you rock!!!
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Marsha.
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It’s not fluid, it’s Liquitex something (let me see…): Liquitex Heavy Body Iridescent Rich Gold. It’s beautiful, but I’m a bit disappointed that I had to use half of the tube on this one canvas… Maybe it had to do with the canvas I used. Or maybe I should have gessoed first. Doesn’t matter… Canvas is finished and (please do not disqualify me…) I’m happy with it :-).
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