Use your excess paints on an Art Journal page

I usually keep a large art journal book like Dyan Reaveley's close at hand when I'm using paints on a canvas.  I wipe off my brushes before really cleaning them that way I don't waste my paint and I get some interesting random pages to boot.  It's also a nice way to audition stamps and stencils.  On these pages I added some Stampotique stamps with those cute little dogs!

I hope you're staying busy and I hope you're stealing a little time here and there for art adventures.  Hugs ~  Renee

Art Journal Play Time

In my studio I have multiple art journals, some are for Zentangle, others for Dylusion sprays and of course there are the AJs that are just random elements, remnants from other projects.  Today as a warm up I decided to play in one of the random books.  I have stamped off images and extra paint slopped onto the mixed media paper, just waiting patiently for a moment to be remembered and allowed to shine.  This page had eyes stamped onto it and out came this face with a little help from Ranger's new Distress Crayons.

Have a lovely weekend!  Our weather here has been outstanding in spite of the heavy pollen that has coated everything outside.  Hugs ~ Renee

Creating a Master Board with DecoArt products

I had fun creating a different masterboard similar to last week's using DecoArt products.  There is no end to the color schemes that can be attained by using the Americana line of paints, they blend together very nicely.  I used a Gelli Plate and a piece of water color paper to make the background for this and just a few different colors of paint.  Here is a brief tutorial.

This is a combination of green and blue paints brayered onto my Gelli Plate, then when dry I used a stencil and some Titanium white paint.  To give a punch of color I added yellow paint with more stencils.  At this point the paper can be anything you want it to be.  You can cut it up and use it for cards, ATCs, whatever or in this case I'm using it as a background for a stenciled image.

When all the paint was dry I taped a Prima stencil to the background paper and applied Black Modeling paste with a palette knife.

Lifting the stencil carefully exposes the lovely stenciled image.  Now I can add some additional pops of color.

Some shading was added, catch lights to the eyes and red lips.  Now I have a "portrait" without really knowing how to draw.    I'll be submitting this to the "Bold and Bright"challenge Andy Skinner has going on right now.  Click on Andy's name for the link, you still have time to submit.


Here is the list of supplies used:

DecoArt Products:
Black Modeling Paste
White Gesso
Fluid Acrylics:  Quinacridone Red, Titanium White, Phithalo Turquoise, Antiquing Cream
Americana Paints:  Irish Moss, Yellow Green, Sea Glass, Saffron Yellow, Whispering Turquoise

Stencils:
Andy Skinner's "Have your say"
Prima "Sharon" by Jamie Dougherty
Dyan Reaveley
ArtistCellar

Miscellaneous:  140# watercolor paper, 03 black Micron pen, washi tape, Gelli Plate


Thanks so much for stopping by!  Your comments mean a lot to me, makes me feel like I'm not alone.  Take care ~ Hugs, Renee