I’m still on a total spray paint high – kidding – wear your mask if spraying even low odor spray paint inside. For this art journal page I used different MTN and Liquitex acrylic spray paints over my Chicago stencil.
For a later art journal page I flipped the stencil over to print with the extra paint on it, and then printed with excess paint on the stencil from spraying onto another page, back onto this one.
I used black Versafine and one of the Floral Tile Small stamps to stamp into the squares. I liked the juxtaposition of the floral image with the very orderly structure of the stencil.
To finish my page I used a Posca marker on that label stuff (I have no clue where it comes from) for the journaling.
This one would have probably turned out a bit better if I had used different colors for the different stamps – maybe rainbow colors – but it was fun to explore and I really love some of the elements.
I used the Versailles stamps in the Floral Tile Small set with yellow and brown inks, the Solid Triangle Small stamp and the Amsterdam Triangle from the Triangle Love set, as well as the Valley Road stamp from the Large Circle Jumble set. I do think a different circle stamp would have worked better with the Versailles and Amsterdam stamps but I am glad I tried – I had lots of fun making this page. And even though you might not like it… it doesn’t hurt you! LOL
I stamped right onto the background with black archival ink and then used Daniel Smith watercolors on top. This works because the archival ink is waterproof.
Then like the Hypocrite page I did a sketch with muted violet ink on deli paper, added some white acrylic paint into the ink to add to the face and make the background less prominent, after I added the deli paper to the background with liquid matte medium.
For the journaling I used the tissue paper-like strips with adhesive backing that I found recently. I still don’t remember where they came from and what they are. I wish I did as I am growing found of them LOL
“People say ‘Keep your chin up’ while gently pushing down your head.”
Using a credit card, I put down some colors with different viscosities – heavy body Liquitex white acrylic paint, soft body gold and blue acrylic paint, as well as some yellow acrylic ink, picking it up with the card and scraping the colors partly into each other. The white heavy body paint stayed wet and pliable for a longer time making for some really nice grungy marks.
Then I sketched with a bamboo sketching pen and muted violet ink on deli paper.
As the background was very dark and prominent – unlike in the Things Change art journal page – I added some white acrylic paint mixed into the violet ink in a thin manner so that the background would still look through but not take over and “hide” the sketch. I adhered it with gel fluid medium.
Hello from my Creative Squad! Today we have a fascinating post from Maura Hibbitts using my Floral Tile Large and Fan-Fare rubber stamp sets and our new theme: My Kindred Spirit – Animals are often symbols of qualities that we humans identify with, so let’s take some inspiration from them this month. Do you have an animal whose characteristics you identify with? Maybe it changes depending on your mood or what life throws at you. Who is your Kindred Spirit in the animal kingdom today?
My kindred spirit animal is a bear. I’ve known this for many years. How do I know this? Well, the bears told me…in a sense. I’ve had a number of encounters with both black and grizzly bears in my life, up close and personal, and from a distance. One of the most memorable meetings took place about 3 in the morning as I headed to the outhouse (we were tent camping in the Beartooth Mountains in Wyoming). Well, there was a grizzly bear about 20 feet away from me at a picnic table – that stopped me in my tracks. I think we were both surprised, and thankfully, it turned and walked off. Luckily all worked out in my favor. I figure they keep meeting me to tell me they are my kindred spirit animal. They send me messages in the dreams I have of them. Somehow, they have worked their way into my psyche.
I love to work in an art journal to tell stories with my art, so that is where I headed to begin this project.
Begin by brushing on some luminous paints – lemon, yellow and orange (or neon) leaving open areas. Take some white gesso and add a bit of water to create a whitewash. Apply this in some areas. Once dry, brush on luminous opera in a random fashion.
Apply some luminous Violet paint to the gel plate and use a brayer to smooth out. Stamp into this with the Versailles Positive stamp from Nat’s Floral Tile Large set and “ink” on the pages in a grid fashion. Note – be sure to clean the stamp right away so the paint doesn’t dry on it. (I use a baby wipe to do this.) Then, mix white gesso with the luminous violet on the gel plate, brayer smooth, and stamp with the Versailles Negative in the open spaces on the page.
Stamp across the center of the pages with the Hamilton Negative stamp and Cadette ink color (blue).
Next, use the Fan-Fare rubber stamp set and Pearfection ink (green) to randomly add some images to the pages.
Sketch out an image of a mama bear and a baby bear, then transfer these to the art journal by tracing around the shapes with a graphite pencil.
Now, mix a “whitewash” with black gesso and water. Paint this everywhere on the pages, except inside your images. Let partially dry, then wipe back some areas of the background with a baby wipe.
Use the Fan Fare stamps and luminous yellow paint to add a few “stars” to the dark background.
Outline the bear images with a black Posca paint pen. Draw swirls inside their bodies. Write across the bottom of the pages with a teal Posca pen (I walk with the spirit of the bear each day), and sketch a bear paw print.
I chose to represent my animal with both the mother and cubs. I drew the cubs to represent my two sons, and like the mama bear, I will do anything to protect them when needed. Just like the bears, my family is happiest in the natural world. And yes, in winter I feel like hibernating too, lol.
Do you have a kindred spirit animal? What’s the story behind yours? Have you had real life encounters or found them in dreams? I am grateful the bear chose me. Maura
Thank you Maura – loved hearing about your connection with bears and the resulting spread is both powerful and tender… just like that mama bear :)
Give it a try: you can find all my Rubber Stamps in my Online Shop and in addition to gelli printed papers from her stash, here are some of the supplies Maura used:
Looking for more projects? Follow the Creative Squad on Instagram here.
Pattern Monday time and today I’m working in my big vintage ledger and playing with scale. I’m using the Van Vorst stamps from my Floral Tile Large and Floral Tile Small rubber stamp sets and in the end, the negative space becomes an important part of the pattern too.
Here is another look:
Now it’s your turn! Give it a try with these supplies:
It’s Monday – time for a pattern in my big vintage ledger :) Today I’m using my Floral Tile Large cling rubber stamp set and just one color of ink. With a set like this it’s easy to tile up a few different designs and get a ton of different looks. Check it out:
Here is another look at the finished pattern and those stamps and the ink pad I used:
Happy Monday! Time for another pattern in my big vintage ledger. Today I’m using my Solid Square Small and my Floral Tile Small cling rubber stamp set. I decided to carry the pattern over to the next page too so you can really get a feel for it.
Here is another look at the finished pattern and those stamps and ink pads I used:
Your turn to give it a try! Here are the supplies I used:
Happy Monday and welcome to another pattern in my big vintage ledger! This time I’m using stamps from my Floral Tile Large rubber stamp set – the Van Vorst positive and negative stamps. I can imagine this pattern on a much larger surface to really appreciate what is going on. Enjoy the video:
