Spread Your Wings Academy vol.2

Hi mixed media fans,

We are back! And we are so happy to be back!
Time for 'Spread Your Wings Academy vol.2'

As in the last month we hope to encourage you to try new techniques and take a step from your comfort zones. 
We have some fantastic portion of tips for you today!
This month it's all about stencils.
We start with Monika today, enjoy!

Today I would like to show you three different ways to use stencil and Modeling Paste together for creating a special effects. 

First -  Modeling Paste is a perfect base for creating custom-made pastes.
It works great with Art Ingredients Line and this time I decided to use a black Micro Beads and stencil. While the modeling paste was still wet i sprinkle some micro beads on top of my tag.

Second - I mixed 3 colours of Mica Powder (teal, pink and lipstic) with Modeling Paste. Then I gently went through the stencil with my coloured paste. What can I say… it looks stunning! Modeling Paste is perfect for mixing with colored mediums and it's giving a lovely shine to your make.

Third –  I started by covering my tag with a thick layer of Heavy White Gesso. After the gesso was dry I grabbed the Weaving stencil and Modeling Paste. After drying I added some colurs. It’s very easy but very impressive, you can get some artistic effects.

Monika

Next up is Gayle and her tips using stencils with water colour pencils and pen.

Hello Academy friends. I’ve chosen water colour pencils and pen to play with using stencils. I’ve used 3 different stencils on a tag to create a colourful background.

No.1 My 3 stencils…Elementals “Weaving”, Elementals “Mechanica”, and Elementals “Doily”. A white gessoed tag, water colour pencils, paint brush, Ranger waterproof ink, and a white Posca pen.

No.2 Weaving stencil on top of tag, quickly and roughly colour in the spaces.

No.3 Remove the stencil.

No.4 Mist over where you have coloured with water and let it run over the tag. Dry.

No.5 Give your tag a coat of Clear Gesso to stop these colours from running when you apply your next layers of colour.

No.6 Put Mechanica stencil on tag and use a lead pencil to lightly trace around shapes.

No.7 Shapes drawn on top of tag.

No.8 Use any two water colour pencils to colour in just around the edges of your shapes. Use colours that are similar or next to each other on the colour wheel to avoid colours going ‘muddy’ when they mix together after you have used a wet paint brush to activate the dry pencil so turning it into paint.

No.9 Here you can see the magic once a wet paint brush is applied to the colour pencil. It will be imperfect and the colours will run, but that is the beauty.

No.10 tag completely coloured with water colour shapes. Dry.

No.11 I used just the centre from the third stencil to add detail. Place the stencil over the ‘flower’ shapes and using a small ‘dabber’ apply ink just through the circular part of the stencil that you want. Dry

No.12 Final details. Go around the edge of the tag with some distress ink. Add some little white circles to centre of the flowers with a white Posca pen.

No.13 The finished tag.

No.14 Close up.

No.15 To finnish the tag off I’ve added a little bit of stamping and embossing with some Finnabair stamps, some rub on words, some collaged tissue birds and some flowers.

No.16 Close up details.

Play with your stencils and have some fun using them in different ways.

Gayle

Elena will show you how to use sprays and stencils!

Hello friends!

Today I would like to inspire you to experiment with the blank paper, stencils and sprays. 

I like trying out different techniques on the tags.Layer after layer using different products you can get a fantastic result! Don't be afraid to experiment, use the favorite tools and materials in a new way! This is always a very interesting process.

1. Spray the background through the stencil. Not much, one or two times.

2. Now put your stencil onto the art-journal and spray the stencil itself. Now overturn your stencil and press in to the tag. 

3. One more way to use sprays with the stencil is to spray it onto palette and then to use an applicator to color with it. 
4. To enrich the background I add some stamping.

5. Then I distress the edges. 

6. Adhering the embellishments. 

 

7. Then I sprinkle everything with gesso and watercolors. That's it! Our tag is ready!

Elena

Our last inspiration is coming from Olga!

Stencils are the best companions in relatively quick and easy decorating the background.
To start with this journal spread, I glued a starry paper and applied a generous coat of Texture Paste White Crackle through Stars Stencil.

Once it dried I put some Gelatos mixed with Mica Powders by rubbing them with my finger into porous patterns. I used handwritten and numeral stamps to create a horizontal line.

Finally, I put a bit of Matte Gel onto the stamped area to make it sticky for a pinch of Glitter and Art Sugar to come. It was easy-peasy, right?

If you think that you are not neat and careful enough and some paste has gone far beyond its proper place, you don’t have to worry about it as imperfections result in more unique and artistic effects.

Olga

That is all for today dear friends!

We hope that everyone had found something for themselves. 

Don't be afraid to experiment, give it a go and explore. Have fun and enjoy the process as this matter the most. Pick up some stencils and spread your wings!

For those who missed Academy vol.1 here is the link :) with many inspirations and tips on background work.
You can also join our mixed media group on Facebook - Finnabair & Friends Open Studio.
You will find pleny of inspirations from mixed media artists from all around the word. Join us and share your creations, we want to hear from you!
Click here to join the group ;)

Classroom Psychology part II - Positive Thinking :)

Hi there my lovely ones!
I'd like to talk to you a bit about teaching and learning interaction - again. You can find my first post with my random thoughts here, if you wish.

There are some projects which you are really happy with. At least there should be some!
Depending on the level of our self-criticism, confidence and ability to simply "let go" it may happen quite often or very rarely. And as I see, watching all the wonderful people coming to my classes - struggling to make a "pretty" project may be sometimes one element too much in the whole learning process. Trying too hard to perform instead of absorbing as much as possible, trying, playing and experimenting... is there a point it that?

With all my consciousness and responsibility I can say - it is really unusual for me to really "like" any project I've made during my teaching process. I don't get upset with that at all - I know these are my "samples", very helpful to explain the steps and techniques to my students and by all means - it is far more important for me to help my students and focus on their needs than making something that I will be happy with!
I always tell people in my classroom that "masterpieces are made at home in their own, safe studios". And that also applies to me. My best projects happen when I'm focused, emotionally conscious and working in my safe environment.
So why expect the most amazing project of your life will happen in the crowded room, where you are surrounded by other people, working with unfamiliar tools or mediums and very often you are pushed in the uncomfortable time slots? Doesn't it sound like too much pressure in one time?
I guess it does!

Let's look at the example:
Here is the sample I made last weekend - during the last class of the day and even if it is far from perfection and it can be called "old boring composition" I can still be happy about it.

First of all -  it was an important part of the teaching process, allowing me show all the textures, elements, techniques step-by-step. I always like to think that creating in front of the students gives them more will to try and play and confidence it is not that hard at all. (Because it is not, really).
What is more - I had great time creating it, working with great, fun group of wonderful women!
So, where are the other  positive aspects of this project?

Yes I've got tons of similar ones already. Some of them more nice, some of them - not that much.
I've made this class so many times before... but this time I was really pleased with the colour palette I've chosen. With the stamping I did during the demo. And what is the most important - pencil doodling and scribbling gave me ideas for a new project! Perfect!

Demo of the photo painting wasn't bad too. In general - successful class with a lot of beautiful collages created by enthusiastic, talented people!

Now please - think  - is it possible to try to be a bit more kind to yourself ? Not looking for all possible "mistakes" you've made? Not thinking about all the disappointing little bits... and be proud of you have done instead?
Just look at those beauties below:

(projects made by students in Newbridge, Ireland)

I don't know how many times I was trying to convince my students that class is not a "beauty contest" and comparing your work with projects of other students or teacher is like comparing beauty of roses and peonies (or any other kind of flowers). We all come from the different background, we have different skills, taste and preferences. Comparing with others in this perspective sounds totally crazy, right?

I think real value of taking a class is trying new things, pushing yourself a bit out of your comfort zone, being brave, open-minded and experimenting to see which new ideas or techniques you'd like to use in the future. Thinking about possibilities, getting inspired or simply - relaxing and playing in the friendly atmosphere. In the end - these are all pieces of paper, fabric, metal and ugly buttons...
These are the things I'd like my students to focus on - and as far as I can see it works really well!

I hope you all can have a look at your work now and find "positive aspect" in it - I'm sure there are tons of them in each of the pieces you've made.
Sometimes I think we all forget it is important to be kind to ourselves, and the reason we paint, glue, stamp or tear the paper is because it is our passion and way to relax. Taking a class should be helping you to spread your wings - so lease remember to let yourself play, breathe and have creative fun!

I wish I could make sure you all will feel comfortable with what you do... so maybe it is ok to think that enjoying the process is far more important than the final product of it? Hm?

Sending some love in your direction

P.S. If you are interested in this particular class - "Overemotional" you can try to book your seats here:
- Love is in the Details - Manitoba - Canada

- Artsy Stamps and Crafts - Colorado - USA
- The Paper Boutique - Illinois - USA
- Whim So Doodle - Florida - USA

Or check my full schedule here - maybe I'm somewhere nearby this year?

Texture of Time

Hi friends,
There is no better way to start your week than seeing some inspiration from our talented team. Today is Rebecca's turn on my blog. She is back with some sensational make. Do you remember my altered frame clock? Rebecca created a master piece by making steampunk art with it!
See it for yourself.

Hi Everyone,

Rebecca here with you today to share my altered steampunk clock. Now this altered metal frame clock has been in my design team pack for coming up 10 months tempting me to alter it. I had been waiting for the right moment and the right ideas. Finally I felt it time and I am very happy with the results. Let's take a tour around how it was created shall we?

To begin although the clock base already has a fabulous rusted look I wanted to add some extra glimmer and colour. To accomplish this I chose two colours of Art Ingredients Mica Powder, the colours I chose were Gold and Copper. I combined a small amount of the mica powders (separately) with some Art Basics Soft Gloss Gel, once combined I applied to my clock sides, legs and back with a paint brush.

At this stage I also painted my chipboard clock pieces with a combination of both the mica coloured gels combined. Blending them together, dabbing away.

I took a fairly large amount of Graphite Art Extravagance Texture Paste and mixed in a pretty generous amount of Licorice Glass Beads and Black Micro Beads. Now I LOVE myself some small watch parts but often the pieces are super super tiny and hard to use in projects but for a project like this they were absolutely perfect. I picked up small scoops with my fingers and while the texture paste was still damp I pushed the pieces into the paste.

As you can see although the texture paste is grey when wet, when dry it is a lovely rich black.

I wanted to create some unique dangly pieces to hang from the sides, I thought about this one for quite a while before inspiration struck. I had some mini hat pins in my stash which I threaded some miniature cogs onto along with Mechanical Typewriter Numbers. The ends were twisted off into a circle, cut and then threaded through a jump ring and secured it onto metal chain. My dangly pieces were complete!!.

To create the inside of my clock I traced and cut out the circle onto some Prima Newsprint Resist Canvas, this became my background. I then began layering up all my other elements, my clock, metals and photo. My steampunk gentleman of course required a crown and some goggles before he moved into the clock ;-). 

In the foreground of my clock you will see glass bottle containing glitter and glass beads, a rusty resin nut, hat pins, an egg and a broken pocket watch. I created the hanging light bulb out of a bulb which has two cogs glued to the side, a few jump rings and more chain (easy!).  My label of Journey comes from the Mechanicals Plate and Label collection.

To finish I added a bow made out of ribbon which was a gift from a friend, it was a perfect addition to to my clock and a nice way to symbolise our new friendship. In the centre of the bow you will see a Mechanicals gear, isn't it cute?

Many thanks for looking my friends, wishing you all a happy and creative day.

~ Rebecca ~

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