A Peek into the Deep - Mixed Media Style!

Hi all, it's Gwen here, starting off this new year with a new tutorial blending a few different types of paints as well as a fun texture technique.

As usual, I took photos along the way so that I could share my process with you.

I started by stenciling images from my Boho Fish stencil onto a piece of 140lb watercolor paper using black Archival Ink and a blender brush. This doesn't have to be perfect - I used this layer as a guide for painting in the next parts of the process.

While I love my acrylic paints, I'm also a big fan of poster paint - they're a bright and opaque paint that's very often used by illustrators. Since I was thinking of going in a more illustrative direction with this piece, I thought it would be a fun and a propos choice. (You can also use acrylics, markers, colored pencils... whatever you prefer as a medium for this type of work.)

I used my paintbrushes to block in color in the different areas designated by the stencil, but you can also take the opportunity to change up the design by painting over lines.

This third step is optional, but while I like the plain, bold color, I generally like it even more with some shading on top. Posca paint pens are a great shortcut for that... I frequently use them to blend on top of my dried acrylics and poster paints. (Fun art term: blending on top of dried paint is called "scumbling.")

Basically, once the base layers were dry, I just used the pens to add a darker version of the same color on top and smudged it out with my finger. Then I used a baby wipe to blend away any hard lines and make sure the color faded out nicely.

Once again this is an optional step as it's definitely personal preference, but since I wanted that illustrative style here, I used my black Posca pen to go back over the stencil lines and add a strong outline (you can also put the stencil back down and trace or use a brush to re-stencil.) I like how clean it makes it and how much the black brightens the colors and it also covers up the bridges and helps it look hand-drawn vs. stenciled. 

Then I took a few other pens in white, brown, and dark green to add some dots and small details.

Here's where we get to have fun playing with supplies and creating a subtle texture. I used this technique to give the sense of fish scales, but you can use a different shape to get different effects with the same tools.

Basically, I made my own pearlescent glitter gel. To do that, just put a dollop of gel medium onto your palette (I used a heavy gloss medium because I wanted the shine and I also wanted it thick enough to create texture.) Then I added about 3 drops of Interference Blue Green paint, 1 drop of Teal, then mixed. Without going any further, you've created your own pearlescent paint (you can also use an iridescent medium instead of an interference paint for a similar effect.) Then to make a glitter gel, I scooped in some teal eco-friendly glitter and mixed and added and mixed some more until I had the consistency I wanted.

Once the glitter gel was ready, I used a tube to stamp glittery circles (or to be precise, I angled it to stamp rough half circles.) For my tube, I used the inside of a roll of doggie doodie bags (I have a fabulous little rescue dog named Jake.) I keep those chipboard tubes - they're great for all kinds of things and they make fab stamps! 

Here's a closeup of how it looked - just a suggestion of scales.

I made enough of my glitter gel that I could also use it to add some texture to the background, so I used a palette knife to spread it through my Collage Textures and Patterns - Medieval Cyrillic stencil in a few random spots. (Make sure to clean your stencil afterwards... the glitter can gunk up the openings and it will NOT come off after it's dry.)

One of my favorite things about "mixed media" is that technically, it just means that you mix multiple media together! While that often gets interpreted as paint plus collage or other paper supplies (and collage is definitely a favorite medium of mine,) you can create mixed media artwork by simply mixing different wet media like I've done here... ink, poster paint, and now... watercolor.

I grabbed a few pans of iridescent watercolor in shades of blue and then used them to paint the background. (Fun tip - the dried acrylic glitter gel will act as a resist for your watercolor.) I used darker colors around the edges to create some natural framing and a suggestion of deeper water and then lighter around the fish to allow them to better stand out.

From here on out, each step could really be your final piece. The last step with just the watercolor background could be finished. Of course, more is more, so I went in with the 4x4 stencil from my February 2021 Feathered Tribe StencilClub set along with some of the patterns from my EGL15 stamp set from PaperArtsy to put more pattern into the background.

Again, this could be complete at this point. And although I had my final concept in mind when I started, I seriously considered stopping here because I love how it turned out. But I didn't. lol.

To take it one step further, I took a page from an antique photo album and adhered my painting on the back, positioning it so that I liked how the images showed through the frames. (You can also adhere with temporary adhesive in case you want to remove your painting later.) I love the contrast between the bright fish and the signs of age on the frame. You could also use a photo mat or a diecut frame... whatever you have that works for your style and subject.

Although I liked it plain, ultimately I couldn't stand leaving it without adding some more layers. I pulled out a few postage stamp stickers and some washi tape and then used my Art Deco Borders and Suzani Circle Flowers stencils to add more pattern and also arranged the images in a way that would draw the viewer's eye into the center. I also used a gold pen to do some outlining that would tie to the gold accents on the original frame. 

This is a great opportunity to just add whatever you like to your piece - words, collage, more painting... whatever floats your boat :) 

I finished it off with a few more marks with my paint pens and then I adhered some decorative metal corners as the final touch. And there you go! 

Here are a few closeups so that you can see some of the details as well as the dimension from the frame, which adds its own fun texture to the piece.

That's it for today's project... I hope you enjoyed it and that it brought a bit of brightness to your January day (it's been snowing where I am!) Have fun playing... especially making your own pearlescent and glitter gels, and Happy New Year to all!

Happy Stenciling!

Gwen

Kau Chim for Art Making

Having moved from one state to the next recently, I have been in the process of re-establishing my art workshop. Interestingly, what seemed to fit just fine at the old house now seems to be bursting from the seams in the new one despite having more room to put things. However, the joy of the re-establishment is that I am again seeing art that I made years ago and reveling in how far I have come. As I was moving things around yet again to get just the right placement, I came across some early journal pages that I had created from prompts I was given. It occurred to me that just like writers, artists sometimes need prompts to help them move forward in their art.

Late one night, having slipped into bed but not yet ready to turn the light out, I stared at my tube of fortune telling sticks, or what is known as Kau Chim, that I had bought years ago. These sticks tell what one's fortune will be for the day, and I pondered on how I could create something similar but focus it on art making. The result is a modified Kau Chim that can help an artist determine what the immediate future of their art will be.

The idea is that the sticks will provide color options that can be used singularly or together, as well as a word prompt that can be used in collaboration with or independent of the color options. In this project, I created 52 sticks, one for each week of the year. However, more sticks can be made. The exciting aspect of this project is that the sticks can be used over and over again or they can be easily replaced at a low cost. I found the process of making the 52 sticks relaxing and pensive. 

For my choice of stencils for this project, I thought it would be great to use some of the stencils that only Stencil Club members can get. Not a Stencil Club member? You should be! Join StencilClub here! 

Suzani by Gwen Lafluer (July 2020 Club Set)

Blocks Prints by Jill McDowell (December 2020 Club Set) 9 x 12 only

Here's what else you will need to make the project:

Paper maché round wine box
Wavy Jumbo Wood Craft Sticks

Dried Flowers

I-Zink Dye Spray in Coffee 
Accent Piece

Green Jade Table Poem Stamp by Rubbernecker Stamps

Gesso

Paint in colors of your choice (for the container and the sticks)

White Gel Pen

Metallic Silver Gel Pen

VersaFine Stamp Pad in Vintage Sepia

Sharpie or Similar Permanent Marker
Mod Podge or similar adhesive for decoupage
Spray fixative (optional)

Paint brushes

Box cutter
Sand block or sand paper

TO MAKE THE BOX

STEP 1: Measure the sticks against the wine box and mark so you know where to cut. 

STEP 2: Cut the box to size so that it is about 1/4 to 1/2 and inch taller than the sticks.

STEP 3: Use a sand block or sandpaper to smooth the edges of the wine box and to even it out.

STEP 4: Gesso the exterior of both the box and the top. Let dry completely.

STEP 5: Paint the box and top the color of your choice. Consider the stencils you plan to use and be sure to use complementary colors. For example, if you wanted to use Gothic stencils, you wouldn't want to use pink and orange as your color choice. Allow to dry.

STEP 6: Add stenciling to the body of the box and the top. I used Suzani by Gwen Lafluer.

STEP 7: Using the I-Zink Dye Spray, spray some on a small paper plate. With a pointed round brush, dip into the spray then flick onto the box and top. These splatters should infer age. Allow to dry.

STEP 8: Use the stamp to stamp around the top and the around the box. 

STEP 9: Glue dried flowers to the box using adhesive. Allow to dry.

STEP 10: Draw edge lines at the bottom of the box and the top. Paint the space between the line and the edge of the box and the top with your choice of color. Allow to slightly dry, then use a stencil and a baby wipe to remove some of the paint.

STEP 11: Add markings using the gel pens to create interest and depth.

STEP 12: Create the accent piece and glue it to the top of the box. You can see a video here showing how to create one. 

STEP 13: (Optional). You can use a fixative or the adhesive to cover the box and top if you wish so that you don't have what looks like shadows on the box from adhering the flowers. However, I like the shadows, so I leave it as is.

TO MAKE THE STICKS

STEP 1: Line about eleven sticks up together. Using the 9 x 12 stencil from Block Prints by Jill McDowell, stencil all at the same time. You can also opt to use many different stencils.

STEP 2: Paint each edge a different color. It doesn't matter if you want to use complementary colors or if you just paint colors in general. 

STEP 3: Add a word or phrase to the middle of each stick. These should be words that will prompt you toward creating. Try to avoid specific words like bee or animal. Instead, use words that can have multiple meanings or that might convey a specific form of art making that you haven't tried before. Your job is to interpret the word as best fits the day you use it.  

HOW TO USE THE KAU CHIM FOR ART MAKING

Each week, pull one of the sticks. Decide if you want to use one color, both colors, the word, or a combination of them. Be open to numerous interpretations so that even if you draw the stick again the next week, you still create something entirely new.

While I only created 52 sticks, you can certainly make more. This will allow you to "retire" some of them in favor of adding some of the new ones. You can also finish the back side of the sticks so that you have more options to choose from.

Anne Marie

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