Tuesday 8 August 2017

Technique Tuesday #4 - Dirty Glaze - DecoArt Media

Quite often when making a grungy piece of art I will need to seal a background or an embellishment and often I will use matte medium or ultra matte varnish on their own, but there are other times when I have something that has white or a light colour in it whether that be stencilled or painted and I want to knock back the brightness. You can of course make yourself a 'dirty wash' as Andy calls it which works absolutely perfectly but if you want to seal it at the same time how about a 'dirty glaze'?

Here's a grungy background with some white gesso stencilled on it (left purposefully like this to help you see the changes).


Here I have made a blue/grey glaze by mixing matte varnish (you could use gloss if you wanted to), paynes greay and raw umber, you only need the most tiniest amounts to colour it up.


This is a more yellowy brown glaze that I mixed up a few months ago and is kept in an empty media pot. I can't remember the colours I used but it look like it could be burnt umber, yellow oxide and perhaps some paynes grey as well - it really doesn't matter because you can mix whatever shade you like with the media acrylics and varnishes.


Here I have painted over the little background I made with the glazes and I'm sure you can see which half belongs to which glaze. They have both knocked back the brightness and have sealed the substrate and paint layers at the same time.


I hope you find this useful in your art work. Here's a graphic if you are pinning the techniques.


Thanks for stopping by, I hope you are enjoying the series.

hugs Brenda xxx

15 comments:

Aquarius said...

Thanks for sharing - these techniques are always great to see and file away in the mind for future use

Redanne said...

I normally use Andy's Dirty Wash recipe but never thought to 'change it up' - such a great idea Brenda, thanks so much for sharing! Hugs, Anne xx

Patty O'Malley said...

Good tip!

Mrs.B said...

Thanks for sharing Brenda, a great idea.
Avril xx

beth b said...

Always fun to stop here! Great ideas! Thank you!

Jane said...

What a great tip Brenda xxx

Lisa said...

Absolutely fabulous tutorial, Brenda!! I learn so much from you!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Gina said...

Great technique yet again. I think that's what I've been lacking, as the glaze would totally unify all the layering :D XXX

sarascloset said...

Great tutorial, Brenda! Pinned again! Tuesday (or in my case Wednesday) has fast become my favorite day of the week! Thank you for sharing and taking the time to make these posts! Hugs!

pearshapedcrafting said...

What a great idea to use varnish in the dirty wash! They both look good! Hugs, Chrisx

Jackie PN said...

I absolutely love this technique Brenda and that you were able to mix it up and keep it is even better!
thanks so much for doing these Technique Tuesdays for us! you are the best!
Jackie xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Dirty glaze! Brilliant idea. Thanks for sharing this with us. Angela xXx

Words and Pictures said...

Yum - dirty glazes, dirty washes - they are all such fun to play with.
Alison x

Sue said...

Another fab tutorial Brenda, it's so good to be reminded of these techniques xx

A Pink said...

Great technique thanks for sharing Brenda x