A little different, and I’ve found a way to use those ATC cards I made a couple of weeks ago!
I’m not all that happy with the leaves, especially the ones at the top left. However, I’ve learned to let a piece of art sit and for me to return to it at a later date and fix what needs fixing if it’s still there when I look at it with fresh eyes.
What I do need to think about doing is to get either canvas boards or some other thicker, stiffer surface to work on as this one bend so much. I’ve managed to flatten it somewhat.
What it does need is to be mounted on another background as it seems like it is like a big tile that needs something to sit on and to show it off. Again, I’ll let this idea rattle around the subconscious corners of my brainbox and tackle it at a later date.
What I do like is the iridescent ‘crackle’ texture on the background, a finish I also added to the flowers to tie them into the piece. I thought the gold circles, rays, spirals and wavy lines had messed utall up, but I actually quite like them now.
Maybe not quite as ‘flowing’ as some of the earlier mixed media pieces I’ve created, but I’ve certainly tried different things out and am learning all the time, as well as exploring new materials or ways of working.
I’m really enjoying this, perhaps a bit too much as I’m not focusing on what, perhaps, needs focusing on. However, it is true that a change is as good as a rest!
It’s a nightmare trying to photograph these pieces of artwork as they are so metallic and iridescent, but hopefully you’ll get a fairly good idea. I’ve tried to scan them, and for the ATCs it’s a no go, and the scan of the other image isn’t any better than the photo.
The ATCs have been so much fun to do, especially as I’ve been collaging and playing with texture, and gears…gotta try a little steampunk-ish type stuff every now and again!
I spent yesterday creating more inchies and betwinchies, as well as shopping for some supplies. This morning, I created the ACEO/ATC above.
The card itself is made by Strathmore and is some of their 400 Series Watercolour paper with a cold pressed surface. I added layers of Distress Oxides, spraying with water to get the textures. I also added patterns through stencils and stamps, followed by a final spray with gold Perfect Pearls. I edged the card with Ranger’s Archival jet black ink.
It took a little while to rifle through my growing collection of inchies and other art tiles to find one that suit the background. This tile has a faint crazing pattern and an aged/distressed look achieved by the use of Tim Holtz’s Collage medium – crazing followed by some distress ink rubbed on to bring out the crazing. A layer of 3D Crystal Lacquer added a gloss finish to the tile.
Once the tile was stuck in place, I used a Pitt artist pen to draw patterns around it, added the words, more patterns and highlights using a gold gel pen. Finally, I added some small gems using Glossy Accents as a glue.
I do have a couple of things left for me to do with the ACEO/ATC – to add a layer of Micro Glaze to seal the surface so any water/moisture won’t affect it, and to add information to the back of the card.
I am really chuffed with this ACEO, as well as the background created with the Distress Oxides; I’ve achieved something I never, ever thought I could! Before Distress Oxides I struggled to make backgrounds. I don’t really get along with acrylic paints, spray generally are too messy for me, the original Distress Inks would run into one another and the colours become really poopy.
However, the Distress Oxides are a completely different medium, one that really seems to suit me and work for me and with me. They are opening up doors for me to express and explore my creativity in ways I’d given up on with the failures (well, what I consider failures) with the arious paints and other media I’ve used in the past.
All it took was for me to find the right medium for me to use.
Yesterday , I also I made two beautiful backgrounds that I just can’t bear to cut up or cover over, yet. I’m sure I will. The photo doesn’t do them justice. There are many layers of colour, all made using Distress Oxides on some really heavy and smooth waterolour paper (300gsm I think it is). Patterns have been added using water, stencils and stamps. Finally, the backgrounds have been sprayed with copper Perfect Pearls, which shimmer and also really bring out the depth of colours in the layers.
Art is the Adventure 