Friday 3 February 2017

Discovery - canvas board

Happy Friday

This board started life as 'let's use up this paste' panel. I had a mix of white modeling paste and sand texture paste left over from another project and just couldn't let it go to waste, so I grabbed Andy Skinner's fossil stencil and one from Seth Apter and just used up the remains and left the board to dry.


Once dry I decided to use this as my February challenge sample for A Vintage Journey where the lovely Jennie has chosen 'Special Words' as the theme for the month. With the stencilled ammonite shape and word suddenly a walk along the beach came to mind and memories of various places where I have picked up shells and discovered beautiful patterns and designs through sea creatures, footprints and the print of the waves left in the sand. So the start of my creation began to emerge in my head and I gathered a few bits together to get me more focussed in.


 The colour combination I have chosen was from a palette I found on Pinterest and I added grey to each one to tone them in with each other. As always by the time I had finished the background I had added more which included some cobalt blue hue and prussian blue.


To get some colour on the board I decided to use a brayer, I haven't used it much for a while and I used several colours layering over the top of each other to get this background.


Then I dribbled, dripped and finger painted in some washes of the same colours to fill in some of the gaps before brayering over with some titan buff and titanium white mixed together to lift it all again.
WHAT DID I LEARN? - That next time I will brayer the paints first and get the background colour on before adding the stencilled texture. Hmm I might be trying that over the weekend lol.


So now I wanted to highlight the textured areas, I decided to replace the fossil stencil and add embossing ink and gold embossing powder. Great but again WHAT DID I LEARN? - I should have brayered over the raised area first with a brayer and a gorgeous deep golden brown colour because the gold has touched most of the texture, not all of it.


So that's what I did with the number and word at the top with prussian blue. But no that didn't work either ....


.... so out came the fine brushes and the titanium white to add to the blue to fill in the gaps. Yay, more contrast this time. So I went over the fossil as well.


Onto to creating the feature and embellishments. First I decided to paint the shells gold.


Next came the little box and I got so carried away I forgot to take any more individual photos but here are some close ups. To make it work with the background I decided the outside needed to be blues and the inside the yellows, I used the fluid acrylics and they blended in beautifully over the wood and kept the rustic  effects.


At this point I changed my mind completely on the design that you saw at the beginning of the post and decided to carry the fossil shape further over on the board, I just laid the stencil down and rubbed over the embossing ink pad and gold embossing powder.


I rubbed a cornflower blue and the coffee archival ink pads around the edges and gave them a good blast with the heat gun before using an embossing pen to add some gold over the numbers nd around the edges.

I assembled the box using some muslin dipped in the prussian blue and adhered it to the canvas and glued the little crustacean piece on the top.


With an easel on the back this stands beautifully.


What do you think of when you read the word 'DISCOVERY" for me it makes me realise that I am still learning new things every day, it might be when I experimenting with my paints, inks and mediums, it maybe in a discussion or chat with a friend, it might be something from the tv or even better when I'm away on a trip or holiday - when I'm exploring and learning about the past history of the place.


Do you think I am now thinking ahead to warmer weather? I could do with some sun on my back right now but that's always the case when January is out of the way.



Looking forward to seeing the entries for this challenge and I highly recommend this post for some amazing inspiration from the Creative Guides.
Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your art.

hugs Brenda xxx

33 comments:

Glennis F said...

This is beautiful Brenda, I love it

Seth said...

Gorgeous Brenda. I love how dimensional this whole piece is.

Monika Gulyas said...

Beautiful canvas, Brenda! Great colours for the blue sky (or see?) and the for golden sun! I love it! xx

Helen said...

Great canvas, love the texture paste. Such good things come out of leftovers! I'm with you, I'd love a walk on a beach right now. Doesn't even have to be a hot one!

Valerija said...

Wow, this is great. Love the colours, the texture and everything about it!
Valerija xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Fabulous to see how this cool canvas came together Brenda, another brilliant piece! Like many I can't wait for summer to come, your canvas is the perfect reminder....

Jane said...

I loved seeing this come to life Brenda...and the changes as it progressed. Perfect summer colours...yes roll on the warmer weather. That gold you used is fab....such depth to it. Have a great weekend my friend.Hugs xxx

froebelsternchen said...

A brilliant Assemblage Brenda! Happy weekend!

A Pink said...

Fabulous! Brenda . Such meaningful depth and artistic use of a single word. Textural, dimensional and just love the rough of the sand paste and canvas grain with the smooth of the embossing powder and gold paint.
Fantastic
hugs x

Suzanne C said...

Beautiful. As you walked through the process i could feel the warmth of the sand beneath my feet and see the crashing blue waves lapping on the shore.

Jenny Marples said...

Totally superb Brenda!!! I love the work you've done to those shells and the frame to make them work perfectly with your wonderful background. Definitely discovery - I can smell the sea! xx

Jackie PN said...

So beautiful Brenda! i love how it all came together and even though you were not happy along the way, I think t every step, it looked just great! Well done!
And yes, warmer weather please!
hugs,Jackie

Redanne said...

Oh Brenda, I do love a sea themed project and this one is stunning! I love the colour tones, Andy's fabulous stencil - it looks amazing with the embossing and the little vignette box with the golden elements is gorgeous. Can you tell - I love this!! Hugs, Anne xx

Talking Horses Arts said...

absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for sharing how you made it.

Unknown said...

Lovely Brenda. Really evocative of a beach walk. Roll on summer!

Corrie Herriman said...

That is stunning, makes me think of summer !
Corrie xx

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Lovely Brenda , gorgeous colours and added texture. Love the dimension you achieved . Tracy x

Jennie Atkinson said...

I so love how this developed Brenda! It really is an amazing canvas and I love the colour combinations and how you managed to "put things right"! Those shells are just gorgeous too. Amazing detail and composition. Just love it! Have a great weekend x

Craftyfield said...

Fabulous post Brenda! I so enjoyed reading and seeing your process, as well as learning your techniques. The gold and blue colours are beautiful together and the box and shells look fantastic.

Susan said...

Love this piece, Brenda! I especially loved your"what did I learn?" questions and seeing the answers to them! The colors are gorgeous together!

Deb said...

Fabulous Brenda, I adore your summery gold and blue colour palette and all of that wonderful texure. And it is so helpful to us all when you share your discoveries, thank you for your generosity in sharing your techniques! Deb xo

Julia Aston said...

Thanks for sharing all the twists and turns in your creative process - how many times does something not come out and we put them aside or even throw out??! Your beautiful canvas is proof that we should march on changing what we don't like until it appeals - your background is beautiful and I just love your little box with all the sea pieces done in gold! Discovery is a lovely special word! Julia xx

hazel said...

This is amazing Brenda, the colours, textures and design are fabulous.
xxx Hazel.

Juliz Design Post said...

Wow Brenda what a clever design and techniques with stunning results.
Julie x

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Another gorgeous project Brenda, love it. Happy crafting, Angela xXx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh My Brenda! This is amazing! I love the colours and textures! The little box of beach treasures is fabulous! Trying to keep up with visits and failing miserably, hope to catch up soon! Chrisx

SewPaperPaint said...

First of all, I love how you make these free standing panels! So cool, secondly the texture and color blending on this panel is outstanding! Big wow! Love the cool little vignette, great idea! Hugs, Autumn

Annie said...

I love how this wonderful canvas was created Brenda and the way in which you brought it all together. The DA Metallic Gold has became a real favourite of mine and the coverage is fabulous x
TFS and huge hugs
Annie xx

Carol said...

Clever idea - love all the textures and colours YUMMY xx

Words and Pictures said...

Scrumptious colour and texture and the gilding is really gorgeous. I know I must have missed many treats - hoping to catch up properly soon.
Alison x

Barbara said...

Beautiful canvas , sea is one of my fav theme! love how you've add dimension on your work! Barbara

sarascloset said...

Brenda, what a fun post to read as I discovered how this all came about, and then pow! That finished 3D canvas! What a beautiful piece of art with amazing texture and colors! I really LOVE this piece, and I'm so thankful for your sharing what you have learned. It's all a process, this art, and always a discovery! Hugs!

Words and Pictures said...

I was sure I'd commented on this fabulous canvas board (blinkin' iPad). I'm loving your gilded and blue look - amazing weathering on the textures and a great use of the little display box. And yes please to some sunshine here too!
Alison x