Friday 2 December 2016

Winter Magic

Our lovely Deb has chosen this very apt theme for our December challenge over at AVJ.
For us in the northern hemisphere December brings the start of winter and for many that means freezing cold weather and Christmas. But winter is so much more than that and so we ask, how would you interpret the magic of winter? Snow, icicles, colours of blue, silver and white, the festivities of Christmas, misty winter landscapes; show us what your magical focus is for the season and in a vintage; shabby; mixed-media; art journaling; industrial, timeworn or steampunk style.


I have used one of the frame boards I designed for Tando Creative and used for my Ministry of Mixology project a couple of weeks ago. I had already made the cute house back in the summer when we were making beach huts for a Country View Crafts workshop and the initial idea was to utilise it as a shepherds hut out in the wilderness on a cold and frosty night which reminded me of Christmas carols and songs (Good King Wenceslas, past three o'clock and a cold and frosty morning, here we go round the mulberry bush and more), but as the project progressed you can see it changed and became Santa's Store shed.

I collected together chipboards and painted the trees and deer all white with gesso. The star I painted gold and the gate raw umber to start with.


For the background I used a technique I have used before which you can find here ....  and scraped titan buff, light grey, sap green and transparent yellow iron oxide, then brayered quinacridone magenta and titanium white and cadmium red with titanium white, splattered prussian blue, sap green, raw umber before brayering white gesso randomly which created a white misty/snowy landscape feel to it.


I stamped some trees using sap green and paynes grey to improve the effect of the landscape and provide more depth and perspective.


The fence was painted with raw umber and then white gesso and snowtex added to it.


The trees were give watery washes of different greens using sap green, paynes grey, yellow iron oxide and viridian with snowtex added to the edges and patted over with a palette knife.


I found a photo on Google of a deer and painted him using raw umber, transparent yellow iron oxide, burnt umber and titan buff and added some snowtex to him too.


The cones were given some snowtex texture .....


.... and I found a 'beach hut' from the summer workshop left over and decided to use it as a hut in the forest.



I used grey board to create the roof with layers of santex, media acrylic paints and gesso and I used a mini saw to cut off the stand at the bottom.


Now time to assemble and I had shared this tip the workshop groups at Ministry of Mixology as how to get an even spread with the four frame panels. Clip them on dry and when you are happy with the placement take each piece off individually, use decou-page to glue it and repeat with all four sides. Leave the clips on until the glue has adhered and dried.


So here are a few photos of the finished frame.
The deer waiting at the fence .......


.... star shining in the sky (this shape made me think about the shepherds out on the hilltops) .....


.... and Santa's Store hidden in the forest amongst all the trees.


I love winter when it's dry, cold and frosty  and coupled with Christmas, it's my favourite time of the year.


Have a great weekend and if you missed my mosaic Christmas easel card yesterday scroll down or you can find it here.

Thanks for stopping by and thank you to everyone who has been leaving me comments for the past couple of weeks. I haven't got to blogland much lately, Ministry of Mixology and Centre Parcs last weekend with the family have kept me busy but I promise to be better this coming week.

Have a great weekend.

hugs Brenda xxx

37 comments:

experiments in paper said...

Gorgeous, Brenda, and such a lovely start to this month! Your stamped background is fabulous, and I love the scene - just what I needed today, as I get into the holiday spirit!! Hope to be back more regularly soon, but meanwhile love seeing your makes on Facebook! xxx Lynn

S@ndy Diller said...

Such a great project Brenda. I love how festive it feels with the repurposing of the beach hut. So clever. It says "Winter Magic" through and through. Hugs, S@ndy xx

sally said...

This reminds me so much of one of the wintery scenes that our local garden centre set up a few years back! Makes me feel glad I was snug as a bug in a rug (in bed!) whilst reading al the lovely winter scene posts! Stay warm.....


Sally x

Pamellia said...

Wow Brenda, incredible!! I love the country cottage feel to this with the rustic building and fence, and the lovely wildlife out front. This is exactly the type of wintery cottage that I would totally stay in!! So amazing!

Suzanne C said...

I'm in love with this! I just feel like I am walking into a forest and have caught a buck standing there in the snowy woods. Beautiful!

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Wow I just want to go and visit that winter wonderland right now, a stunning creation yet again Brenda
Hugs
Donna xx

sarascloset said...

Brenda, this winter scene is my favorite Christmas make this year! I love the depth to your snowy background, and all of your elements are delicious! that buck is my favorite bit, and you have painted him to look so realistic! I love, love, LOVE your wintry make! Hugs!

SewPaperPaint said...

It's brilliant, Brenda! Just brilliant! I love that you've given us (and your students) an adaptation for the frame, so generous! And I so love that you turned the beach hut into a store shed. How wonderful! Every layer of color and texture is perfect and perfectly combined! Brilliant design and inspiration. Hugs, Autumn

Words and Pictures said...

Just adore those layered trees disappearing into the distance, and the depth created by having those lovely chipboard ones in the foreground. Stunning weathered wood effects - altogether an absolute delight and definitely magical! I know I must have missed lots of treats here, but I'm looking forward to some proper catching-up time over the festive season.
Alison x

Gina said...

Oh Brenda!!! This is just so beautiful...definitely full to the rafters with wintery Magic :D XXX

Redanne said...

Wow Brenda, I want to go and live in there! You really have created THE most wonderful, frosty, Christmasy scene, your colouring of the deer is superb and I love the dimension you created with the stamped trees. LOVE this!!! Hugs, Anne xx

Chrissy said...

Just brilliant Brenda..a fabulous snowy scene and wonderful colouring, textures and design..love it.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Julia Aston said...

what a wonderfully creative winter woods scene with Santa's store in the middle of it all! LOVE your sky - the wonderful trees, your super coloring on the deer - what a great face! - and all the crackle on the aged shop - a beautiful winter magic creation Brenda! Julia xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Another absolutely brilliant canvas Brenda, the depth created with those stamped tress is fantastic and the effects with the chippies and that beech house turned into Santa's store is genius! The whole thing just oozes winter magic for sure! So glad you managed to join us still!!

Jenny Marples said...

Oh Brenda you know how to make a scene!!! I LOVE that wooden hut, the trees in the background are wonderful but it's that incredible deer that steals my heart. He is wonderful!!! xx

Paper Profusion said...

Absolutely beautiful scene Brenda, I love each and every element. Wonderful artistry and imagination. Do u think I could take a peek inside that shed?? Nicola x

Meggymay said...

A fabulous winter piece, love the Santa store and deer.
Yvonne xx

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Gorgeous Brenda, a real homespun feel to this. I love how worn door, just so authentic and the scene you have set is wonderful. Love how,you have used the paints and snow. Hugs. Tracy x

Patty O'Malley said...

Love this winter scene you created, Brenda! Winter and Christmas are my favorite times of the year, too.

Jackie PN said...

Absolutely Gorgeous!!! Such a magical scene Brenda! You truly did these pieces Fabulous! Love love the cottage!! xx

Nikki Acton said...

Fabulous Brenda - that background is perfect! Love how you have used the 'beach hut' to create this wonderful scene xxx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh Brenda - the most wonderful magical scene! Sorry not to have been around much - being poorly and of course being away - it hasn't been easy to comment! Trying for a catch up today! Hugs, Chrisx

Jennie Atkinson said...

I just LoVE this Brenda! Your choice of elements is just "magic" and really made me smile when I first saw it! The canvas background is just amazing and the crackle on the shed quite stunning. I could look at this piece forever. Fabulous winter magic! xxxx

Wendy Bellino said...

I hated that you covered up the snowy forest scene, but GOSH this is a beautiful finished piece! The layers add so much depth. I just love this wintry scene!

A Pink said...

Absolutely fabulous! Brenda . A project thats just full of 'Winter Magic'. Just love the depth and perspective this piece has and the idea of a store for Santa looking so weathered by the wintry elements - genius
Wonderful concept , design and masterfully executed.
Hugs x

Mrs.B said...

This is fabulous, such a wonderful wintry scene. The background adds a great depth and there's so many gorgeous textures and details.
Avril xx

Rupa Swaminathan said...

Fabulous fabulous make Brenda. Live the way you built up the forest scene ! Everything fits in so well and it's an amazing treat to the eyes. The reindeer looks real...The colors and techniques used.Hugs from Bangalore.

Unknown said...

This just makes me feel happy Brenda - love every inch of it. The trees in the background are so perfect - they just seem to bring the entire piece together. And your house is DARLING with all it's color and texture. What a treat to see this - so Christmasy and Happy! Xj.

Deb said...

Oh Brenda, this is so wonderful! I adore your amazing background, such depth and interest in the myriad layers of colours and the adornments are perfection from the shining star to the perfectly weathered shed and how I love that deer! A truly magical winter scene, love it! Deb xo

froebelsternchen said...

This is utterly beautiful Brenda! Gorgeous!!!

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

This is so gorgeous Brenda, love it to bits. Happy crafting, Angela x

Juliz Design Post said...

I simply lost for words on this outstanding project Brenda. It definitely has to be my new all time favourite project of yours. Love it.
Hugs, Julie x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Pinned!!! Fabulous scene. Love every bit!

Candy C said...

Brenda...my jaw is wide open! This piece is brilliant! Every little detail from the snowy treed background to the sweet little deer's face are breathtaking. I LOVE this piece!!!

Pooja Sharma said...

Omg what a awesome piece love all the details it's really a master piece for me

WendyK said...

I have just found this, it's fabulous, just love the textures and the background. The was going to be a beach hut is stunning, and the stag looks very much at home in the scene. The trees are just perfect. Your workshop on the Min of Mix weekend was my favourite. Have a super 2017
Wendy xx

crafty creations said...

Stunning piece of art Brenda love all the textures, the colour and the many details that you always get so perfectly

Happy and Healthy New Year

Hilda xx