Friday 5 May 2017

Acrylic Stack and Use a Quote

I have been playing with my first acrylic stack from That's Crafty for my AVJ sample this month. Our challenge is all about adding a quote and the lovely Jenny is our host and says -
"Take a quote ! Any quote ! Whether it be on a stamp, a sticker, handwritten or sourced from the internet and make it the focal point of your vintage; shabby; mixed media; art journaling; industrial, timeworn or steampunk project."

Laura from That's Crafty very kindly sent us all a substrate to work with but I had already bought this stack and had started it for another challenge (and like you do - I changed my mind) and picked it up to finish it for this one.


So I began by stamping the girls and my quote on the top of the first layer of acrylic and on the second layer of acrylic I stamped the building - for both of them I used black stazon. You can still see the plastic protection on the underneath layers.


When these were dry I turned them over and painted the images only on the back. (Apologies for the photos - they were taken in a light tent but there was so much light that caused reflections that even manipulating them in PSE didn't work). This is the top side once painted - a note to remember - when painting on acrylic keep the colours more opaque, lighter in colour and thinner. I used media fluid acrylics some of which were opaque, some semi-translucent and some translucent so you can see through them.


Here's what it looked like on the underside - quite a mess but that's no problem as you can see by the photo above.


I laid this top piece over the second and decided to take the next step ........


 ..... which was to block the coloured paints with a layer of gesso so you can't see through the translucent ones.


For the second piece of acrylic I painted the buildings using a watery wash and that's how it continued for all the next steps, I painted on some watery translucent white paints to look a bit like clouds (you can't really see them here with a white background underneath) and gently heat dried it and then some dirty greeny brown colours at the bottom to ground the buildings.

 

For the third and last layer of the acrylics I just gently dabbled on some watery blue paints  in layers drying between each to give me a sky background.


I wanted to stamp the chipboard backing but I thought that might be a bit of overkill so I just dabbled on some watery brown paint.


This was a great lesson in perspective and layers .....


..... but I think I would approach it very differently next time in terms of the stamps I choose, it would benefit from images that are much more open - but then that's part of the making isn't it - learning what goes right and what you learn from what goes wrong?

Here's the stack put together straight as the layers were finished ......


.... and here after I had embellished it a bit using quinacridone gold to make all the added bits look a bit rusty and hanging in my hallway.  


I used DecoArt media acrylic paints, the paperboy set of stamps by Artistic Outpost and black stazon ink.

I hope we will see you over at the AVJ challenge during May (oh my gosh we are a third of the way through the year already) and thanks for stopping by here today.

Have a great weekend.

hugs Brenda xxx

33 comments:

sarascloset said...

What a unique and creative project! I love this, and you were quite clever to see the end before you started. I think I could have made quite a mess out of this stack! Genius idea to add the backing of gesso--a perfect solution. I always learn so much from you! What a fabulous quote to inspire you each time you pass this gorgeous artwork! Hugs!

Gina said...

I could never work out what to do with acrylic stacks. This style of project works wonderfully! XXX

Astrid Maclean said...

So incredibly clever Brenda and what fabulous results!! A super piece, so well explained and with brilliaant end results! A super quote too!

Dortesjs said...

awsome i love it ;O))

Jane said...

This is so clever Brenda, I loved seeing how your built up those layers...brilliant result. It makes such a gorgeous little wall hanging. Huge hugs xxx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Such a clever use of the stacks Brenda - the effect is stunning! Very brave when all the layers are "on show". A great selection of stamps which work so well together. I really love this and feel inspired to have a go! JEnnie x

Jane said...

This is so clever Brenda, I loved seeing how your built up those layers...brilliant result. It makes such a gorgeous little wall hanging. Huge hugs xxx

junemac2 said...

What an incredible creation. I love this Brenda. Totally fabulous arty piece. x

Nikki Acton said...

Love the layering Brenda - so effective! The stacks are brilliant for this and the depth you have created is just stunning. Love the hanging technique too! xxx

Whimsytouches said...

This is such an awesome project. Love dimensional work. Never heard of these acrylic panels, must get me some.

SewPaperPaint said...

Wow! I would NEVER have thought to stamp and color the acrylic like this - and just how cool is it! Love love this and glad you "changed your mind." What a fantastic way to show off these amazing substrates. Truly inspiring. Hugs, Autumn

S@ndy Diller said...

What a fabulous project Brenda. The final results are amazing. Love, love, love.
Hugs, Sandy

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

I'm loving the sound of this challenge and looking forward to joining in. Great project to inspire us Brenda. Happy crafty weekend, Angela xXx

Redanne said...

I love these acrylic stacks, they are such fun to work with and I love how you built up the layers on yours, it has a wonderful vintage feel to it and the quote you chose is just perfect! Love this! Hugs, Anne xx

Lisa said...

Wow, this is amazing, Brenda!! I love the look of the acrylic!! The layering is so fabulous!! Such beautiful depth!! This is creative and fabulous!! Love it!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

froebelsternchen said...

An amazing project and such interesting tipps for coloring and stamping on acrylic!Thank you!

Reminds me of my schooldays - I liked s we did painting behind glass and my art teacher was fascinated by my heaven and clouds...
maybe I should try this again , I remember that we took normal cheap school opaque paints mixed with opaque white at that time and got super results.

Happy weekend
Susi

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Absolutely gorgeous, I adore the layers on the acrylic. Fantastic design and I love love the quote and this stamp set. Have a lovely weekend Brenda. Tracy x

Annie said...

what a stunning alteration Brenda x I love all those painty layers...so many details. Great quote too !!! Looks great hanging in your hall.

TFS and sending huge hugs x Have a great weekend
Annie xx

rachel said...

ooo Brenda - this looks interesting - not seen these acrylic stacks before - great technique and brilliant tutorial - I think they work really well! Thanks for the inspiration! Hugs rachel x

Meggymay said...

Its a fabulous project Brenda, super layers and so many great details.
Yvonne xx

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Fantastic Brenda, you've achieved a masterpiece on a tricky surface and I love the hanging idea too. I find that the more open stamps are far better on the acrylic as there's less chance of them smearing then
Hugs
Donna xx

Julia Aston said...

This is so cool Brenda! Wonderful layering of images and great tutorial on just how you did it all! Julia xx

Pamellia said...

What a fantastic project idea Brenda! All of the layers of stamping and colours really creates a 3D scene behind the 'glass', a beautiful display piece! Very creative and such amazing techniques as always!! Hope you are enjoying your spring so far! hugs :)

Deb said...

That is fabulous Brenda and thank you for your detailed tutorial, to be honest I wouldn't have had a clue what to do with those acrylic stacks but you have opened up so many possibilities! Wonderful layering and depth, thanks so much for sharing it (and love the quote you used too!) Deb xo

Jenny Marples said...

Superb layering Brenda and I adore the way you've chosen to hang your project with added charms. You are clearly an acrylic master! xx

Suzanne C said...

Brilliant from beginning to end! I loved the effect and how the translucent layers came together and so clever to add the white behind the girls to make them shine. (I also love that you used some of my favorite stamps!)

Karen Petitt said...

I saw this over at A Vintage Journey Brenda and needed to come take a closer look. I love the layers of colour and inking. Thank you for sharing the steps because I have some acrylic pieces that I've been unsure how to use but now I understand a bit better Karen x

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow! Loved seeing this through the steps you took to create it! The layers are wonderful and this certainly earns it's place on your wall! Hugs, Chrisx

Mrs.B said...

This looks fabulous, thanks for sharing the step by step pictures on how to layer these acrylic stacks.
Avril xx

A Pink said...

Not the easiest of substrate to work with but with your talent and creativity Brenda you have mastered the art and created a fabulous piece with terrific layers, depth and perspective. Love your finishing touches too .
hugs x

Words and Pictures said...

Such cool layers and great reverse painting - still haven't really cracked how that works, so this was really useful. Love those Paper Girls - makes me realise it's far too long since I had a play with my Artistic Outpost stamps!
Alison x

Jackie PN said...

Very cool Brenda! Love the way you added the layers!
Jackie xx

Art By Wanda said...

Way Cool!!! Wonderful project!!!