Stenciled Faces with Distress Crayons

I promised to share more stenciled faces colored with Ranger's Distress Crayons and here they are.  The technique and supplies are identical to the previous blog post so if you have questions you can refer back to that post.  Whenever you change the color palette the face has a different feel to it.

It seems that changing the position of the catch light in the eyes make the eyes appear to be looking in a different direction.  All three were done the same way with just different colors.  I hope you'll give this a try since so many have mentioned that they purchased the Distress Crayons and haven't used them much, myself included.  They really are lovely to work with!  Hugs ~ Renee

Using Pam Carriker stencils to draw faces

I'm the first to admit that I have an addiction to stencils.  For so many years I wanted to draw faces but just couldn't do it.  Then I discovered face stencils.  When people look at my drawings they think it is difficult to do but it really isn't hard at all.  I thought I'd give a short tutorial on drawing a face with a stencil, one of Pam Carriker's, and then coloring it in using Ranger's Distress Crayons by Tim Holtz.  Here is the finished result:

I started by making myself a small book measuring 11" by 7" (when it is folded shut), it is just several sheets of Bristol paper folded in half and sewn up the middle.  I applied a light coat of gesso and allowed it to dry.

This is the stencil I used and traced it using a pencil.  I used Pam's color wheel stencil on the opposite page and this will be where I lay down my Distress Crayon colors.  Usually I label the colors with a Fude pen so I remember which ones I used.  Then I start adding color to the face trying to stay within a limited palette for the face and complimentary colors for the background.

I pencil in the eyes and brows, then I using a heavy outline in Distress Crayon Rusty Hinge.  It's going to get uglier before it gets pretty.

Now I'm adding Fossilized Amber, Vintage Photo and Dried Marigold.

I start blending with a baby wipe, trying to leave some areas white.

I brought in some white highlights with a White Sharpie pen.  I apply the ink and then use my fingers to move it around the canvas.  I can keep dipping my fingers in the color wheel on the right, I just keep adding water to my finger tips and blending it on the face.  If I want some hard line dark areas I use my Stabilo All pencil which can be blended with water also.

I fine tune her face and add complimentary colors to the background, this is a combination of Seedless Preserves, Wilted Violet, Chipped Sapphire and I added some Spun Sugar to her face and lips.  I used that White Sharpie to add the catch lights in her eyes and other highlighted areas on the face.  Then I took Seth Apter's stencil and used a baby wipe to lift off more color around her face.  Dyan Reaveley's number stamp with some StazOn Black ink completed the project.

Here is a list of all my supplies:
Distress Crayons by Ranger:

• Squeezed Lemonade
• Mustard Seed
• Antique Linen
• Dried Marigold
• Fossilized Amber
• Rusty Hinge
• Vintage Photo
• Spun Sugar
• Picked Raspberry
• Seedless Preserves
• Wilted Violet
• Chipped Sapphire

Stabilo All pencil
Micron Pen 05
Pam Carriker Stencils
Seth Apter Stencil
Dyan Reaveley number stamp
Gesso, Bristol paper, Sharpie white pen, paint brushes, water brushes, baby wipes

If drawing faces has been one of your dreams I encourage you to give stencils a try.  Every face looks different depending on your color palette, no two are the same.  Next week I'll share some of my other faces in this small journal.

Thanks so much for stopping by, I'm sending hugs your way ~ Renee

"Dreamweaver" tangled drawing

I used a Jane Davenport stencil and a Micron pen to make this drawing.  It'd be a fun coloring page.

I hope this finds you all well!  Big hugs and thanks for stopping by ~ Renee

Art Sisters Journal Page

I'm always so amazed by the art sisterhood that exists online.  So many mixed media artists are willing to share their style secrets and their art journals not only online but also in publications just to help and inspire others.  It truly is a tribe of art sisters (and brothers) that encourage each other and cheer on the newcomers equally.  I'm in awe of the work of artists around the world that is produced, edited and shared on a daily basis.  This morning I created this art journal page with them in mind.

Supply list:  Dyan Reaveley background stamp, Stampotique image and phrase.  Tsukineko's Memento Markers in Peanut Brittle & Morocco, Micron 01 pen.

I provided a supply list since I will enter this at the Take It Make It Craft Stamper magazine November Challenge.  You can find the link here.  The Challenge is Anything Goes, it just must include some stamping. Pop over if you get an opportunity, lots of eye candy inspiration to be found there.  Hugs ~ Renee

Take It Make It Challenge: November

Here's a pretty mixed media card made with one of Finnabair's stamps:  Don't Forget to Fly, manufactured by Prima.  I've included instructions in the event that you'd like to give it a try.  I made this for the Take It Make It Challenge for November over at the Craft Stamper blog,  The theme is "anything goes", I've included the link for you.

Supplies:

• Ink:  StazOn Jet Black; Brilliance Mediterranean Blue, Victorian Violet, Delicata Golden Glitz
• Stamps:  Finnabair, Stampers Anonymous script
• Other accents:  Ranger Distress Crayons:  Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge, Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed, Seedless Preserves, Chipped Sapphire
• Gelatos:  Grape, Metallic Melon, Mint, Blueberry,
• Stencils:  Unfinished by Seth Apter, Alphabet stencil by Andy Skinner
• White gesso, water color paper, irRESISTible clear glaze, baby wipes, Stabilo All pencil

Instructions:

Apply gesso to watercolor paper panel, allow to dry.  Stamp image in the center, color in with Crayons.  Mask off the image and apply Distress Crayons to the background, use a baby wipe or apply water on your finger if you need to blend the colors.  Place "Unfinished" stencil on top of panel and remove some of the color in background with a baby wipe.  Stamp script, the stamp from Stampers Anonymous.  Outline the wings with the Stabilo pencil and use a water brush to soften the look of the pencil.  Remove mask, apply clear glaze to circles and on the wings.  Use Alpha stencil with white gesso randomly on panel.  Distress the edges of the card with Victorian Violet and the Mediterranean Blue inks.  Adhere to a black mat, glue matted panel to the blank card.  Ink the edge of the white card with the Violet and Mediterranean Blue inks; then apply highlights with Gold ink.  Allow to dry thoroughly.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll check out the TIMI link and enter something.  Hugs ~ Renee

Color Challenge: Lilac

There is a color challenge to be met at the Stampers' Sampler magazine, if you're interested.  My studio is awash in Lilac projects at the moment.  The challenge is open until Feb. 2, 2017 so we all have plenty of time to get submissions together and into the mail.

While I was working I thought of my mom, I know she would enjoy a bookmark since she is a great reader even at 90 years of age.  I stuck with my Lilac colors and came up with this tag.

The stamps are by Crafter's Companion in a set called "Two of a Kind".  I hope this provides a little inspiration for you.  Thanks for stopping by, hugs to all of you!  ~ Renee

Zentangle Tiles

Sorry I've been MIA lately but the hurricane passing through the area seems to have tampered with every body's schedule.  Fortunately there is always time for a little Zentangle.  The official Zentangle tiles measure 3 1/2" by 3 1/2' and take about 15 minutes to complete.  I have been teaching a couple more ladies here in the area to tangle and it has made me work on this skill a little harder just to keep up with them.  A lot of people have no idea how talented they are until someone puts a pen in their hand and shows them what they can do in 15 minutes.  Then, off they go making all sorts of wonderful art!  Here are a couple of tiles I've been playing with incorporating face stamps into the design.

Most of us have at least 15 minutes in a day when we can carve out time for ourselves to do just a little bit of art and that is the best thing about Zentangle.  Why not give it a try?  Thanks for stopping by! ~ hugs ~ Renee