A GREAT BIG WELCOME
to new Creative Team Member
Gwen Lafleur!!!!
Hi everyone! I'm
Gwen Lafleur and I'm so excited to be sharing my first post here on the blog.
One of my favorite techniques is to use molding paste together with stencils. Usually I put the molding paste
through the stencil, but today's project uses the stencils to create a layered foundation and then the molding paste goes on top.
Here's the final project - it's an 18"x18" mixed media canvas.
I love it because it's full of color, texture, and pattern, and it's also pretty easy to make!
So getting started, I gesso'd the canvas and then laid down several patches of paint using three colors. I made sure to leave a bit of white space so that it wouldn't be solid color on the finished product.
Next, I started pulling out my stencils. I used a stiff, dry paint brush to kind of stipple or pounce the paint through the openings. Just keep the paint light so that you don't get a lot spreading underneath.
I used the
Tribal Leaves stencil by Kae Pea, the
Pods stencil by Jane LaFazio, the
Sea Urchin stencil by June Pfaff Daley, and the
Optical Large stencil by Michelle Ward.
Next I picked a few more designs to give just a bit more contrast and to fill in a bit more of the open space. I wanted plenty of stuff going on for the second part of the project!
For this layer, I added the 6x6 stencil from the
April 2013 Stencil Club set designed by Mary Beth Shaw, and then finished it with some black lettering using the
Vintage Script stencil by Cecilia Swatton.
So with that, the stenciling was done and I wanted to add just a bit more to the background. I used my fine line applicators to draw circles with paint and to do some teal splatters - I wanted to introduce a bit of contrasting color and tie in with the color I knew I wanted to use on the top layer. I also added some random green circles using a Molotow paint pen.
And now you can see what the foundation looked like... there's a lot going on, but it's exactly what I was looking for.
With part one done, you'll want to prep for part 2 - getting ready to add the molding paste.
I used regular molding paste because I knew I was going to use a very thin coat and because I was working on canvas. I did a similar project in my art journal and used light molding paste for that. I also used some fluid acrylics to tint the paste, palette knives, and a cup with a lid to mix and store. What I have mixed above was exactly enough for my entire canvas (a few tbsp worth of molding paste and 10 drops of paint.)
Next, decide what design you want to do. Because my stenciling was all circle and oval-ish, I went with leaves to tie in with the foundation design shapes. I used a Stabilo All Marks pencil to trace out the first section of the design, and then I used my palette knife to start adding the tinted molding paste to the canvas, working my way around the design.
I found it was easier to work around the design than to try and put down a coat and scrape off later. It works fine for adjustments as you go, though... and using your palette knife to scrape off the molding paste is how you add in the stems - just drag the knife through it.
You can kind of see from the photos that I worked in sections - that's why I kept the molding paste in a container with a lid - it kept it fresh in between sections. I also used a pretty thin coat as I was working on the canvas - I wanted hints of the design to show through, but you could also do it a lot thicker depending on the look you want.
At this point you could call it done. I kind of tend toward the "more is more" philosophy, and I may have a slight addiction to Liquid Pearls, so I pulled some out to finish off my canvas.
You can see that I just outlined the leaves and stems and added a few dots - I used Platinum Pearl so that it would be subtle, but still add a bit of definition and dimension, as well as just a hint of shine.
And that's it! I painted the edges of my canvas and hung it on the wall!
I hope you enjoyed today's project! I had a lot of fun making it :)
Gwen Lafleur
