Ambassadors' Meeting - Simplicity

Hi there Friends!

I hope you didn't miss the big news about my products hitting the shelves in Michaels stores in USA and Canada! It's such an amazing feeling and I'm really thrilled to be finally sharing this news with you - I hope more of you will have the possibility to reach for my products - all made with so much love! ;)

Getting ready for the Michaels launch, we talked a lot about simplicity - creating artworks that are not intimidating, with ideas and instructions that are easy to follow and encouraging for beginners and inspiring for people who already know mixed media well.

It really got me thinking and I asked my super talented Brand Ambassadors to join in the fun. :)

This month we are discussing Simplicity.

Each of the Artists will confess if it's their style or maybe they express themselves more freely when things go 'complicated'. ;)

My Ambassadors are sharing their thoughts AND each of them presents a beautiful piece they created that best illustrates the theme WITH some really cool tips and tricks. You'll love this post to bits! :)

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Whenever I want to keep it simple on my spread (which is more often than not), I like to start with some Modeling Paste. Either over a stencil or spread on the paper to then stamp in.

Depending on the stencil, the stamp, the colors, the embellishments you add, you can go from something very soft to something very dramatic in no time. Yet the spread still looks simple!

For this first spread, I added Modeling Paste over Finn's Checker stencil.

I added some shades of grey and ochre and my background was ready!

It has a softness to it that allows the embellies to speak for themselves.

The second spread was a bit more intricate. You can watch the whole process here.

Let's just say it all started with some Modeling Paste and one of my stamps :)

 

Texture is, to me, the most intimate way to express myself in my art journal, because of, among others, the diversity in effect it offers. So I guess modeling paste is one of my best friends!

How about you? Who's your mixed media best friend? :)

I do not create "simple" projects well, but I really admire those people who make them look so stunning.

I always seem to go just a bit too far... but since I continue to add and remove pieces from my projects BEFORE I glue, I can pull back a bit before the final stage.

 

For this simple wall hanging I used 2 plain pieces I found at Michael's, a metal plaque and a resin medallion.

Rust Paste is used directly onto the metal plaque.

The Patina Pastes are added to the resin piece.

A bit of Patina is also added to the tin piece.

Sprinkle in a few Metallic Micro Beads and Mica Flakes and glue into place with Soft Gloss Gel.

The wonderful Heavy Body Gel sets the medallion in place with a thin wooden circle underneath to raise it from the plaque. Done!

Tip: I use a fine tip applicator to put down the Soft Gloss Gel before added my bead and flakes.

For those who know me and my creativity, you will know that:

Simplicity! It makes my heart sing!

Simplicity! It's my thing!

Simplicity! It's my Creative Vibe!

Even with the full wonderful range of Finnabair mixed media products at my disposal I still have a simple/minimalist approach to the design and creation of my projects.

So with that in mind I would love to share with you some recent creativity that I have been sharing on my Instagram account for #the100dayproject.

Black + White + Doodling = Simply Divine.

I have used two of my favourite Finnabair products from the Art Basics range: Black and White Heavy Gesso.

To create these projects I have used either a canvas board or a canvas, however they can also be created in your journal.

I painted the canvas board/canvas first with Black Gesso. Then using a medium sized palette knife, I applied the Heavy White Gesso to the background to create a background head and shoulders profile shape.

Then to complete these funky portraits I used my paint markers to draw and doodle a 'Funky Peep', over the white gesso area.

So what is not to love about Finnabair's Heavy Gesso? I love it and I so loved using it to create my Funky Peeps! Simply Divine!

Me and simplicity are good friends when we meet occasionally. That is to say if I just happen to make a project that's simple.

When it turns simple naturally, then it's good. When I TRY to do something simple... well, that doesn't end well. The project gets annoyed with me and me with the project.

I feel most at home with projects that are not simple. Or they are to me, but I guess they look complicated to others.

I love when creating is simple, just going with the flow, but the end result rarely then is looking simple.

For this Cafe I created a couple of cards that were supposed to be simple. I think I managed quite well! They look fun and are super easy to make.

I mixed some Glitter to 3D Gloss Gel and used this self-made glitter paste through a Star stencil to a piece of transparency.

After drying time I then cut the transparency to smaller pieces and used those in my cards. I also used the same gel to adhere the blooms in place on top of the lace. 

What's great about Finnabair's mediums that they all can be mixed! You can create your own pastes and gels for each project and customize your creations.

Soft Gloss Gel makes a prefect paint base, whereas 3D Gloss Gel is just the thing for a clear texture paste. My tip is to mix and experiment!

I like simplicity.

I value integrity and I like things to be clear and honest.

I like to say and show things as they are.

It laso applies to my art. I think my works are not very complicated - they are easy to make and usually I don't use too many supplies to make art.

It's rather HOW I use them and how creative I am with the products that makes my pieces special.

Today I'd like to show a very simple trick with just 3 products to create some interesting effects! I hope you'll like it.

First, I covered a tag with Black Gesso and after it dried, I took a Weaving stencil and added one more layer of Gesso.

I used 3D Matte Gel to glue my embellishments, this gel is simply the best supply for that.

Then I covered everything with Black Gesso and then added some highlights and accents with Art Alchemy White Gold Wax. I applied it with the tip of my finger and with a little brush to add it in places I couldn't reach. Done! Nothing more simple!

I hope you liked today's meeting with my wonderful Ambassadors and found it inspiring.
I'm so curious whose ideas are the closest to yours and you own artistic process - leave a comment - we'd love to hear from you!
And now - whether you're into clean & simple or more complex forms and styles - we hope you have a great creative art filled weekend!
Finn & Team