Monday 11 February 2019

Wings and heart, Faux Encaustic Mixed Media - Tando and DecoArt

I thoroughly enjoyed making a series of these long tags for Di at Tando Creative to take to one of her Hochanda shows. I think this ended up as my favourite as well. It's definitely a shabby mixed media piece and I love the look of the heart with it's extremely distressed edges and crackle front and of course the depth achieved with the faux encaustic technique using the DecoArt modeling paste. I am sharing this on the Tando blog today as part of our Love and Hearts week.


1. Seal substrate lightly with gesso using nearly a dry brush so that some areas of the greyboard are still exposed.
2. Dip, drip and dry using media fluid acrylic washes. I used raw sienna, cobalt blue, titan buff, titanium white dark grey value 3.
3. Rub distress ink (Iced Spruce) pad all over the surface and rub with a dry piece of kitchen towel until it's dry
4. Stamp with chalk paint.
5. Collect together embellishments and alter with paint and mediums. I soaked the greyboard items with spritzes of water and pulled at the edges to make them shabby and distressed.
6. Cover the board with clear modeling paste and add some to the back of the embellishments that are going to be included in the faux encaustic layer and settle them into place. The modeling paste acts as a fantastic glue.


Leave to dry for a whole day or night.


7. Paint the hearts, dry them and paint over a layer of clear crackle glaze and leave to dry.


8. Now alter any final embellishments that are going to be added on.


9. When the modelling paste is dry dribble some quinacridone gold around the cogs, splatter with some white fluid acrylic paint, add some writing and add some remnant rubs.


10. Stick the hearts to each other and rub in some white antiquing cream, buffing it off when it is almost dry so you can see the cracks. Add the tiny star brad and some rusty wire



11. Cover with another thin layer of clear modeling paste. Layer in the arrows and heart, again add some modeling paste to the back of them before sticking onto the tag. Put to one side to dry.


12. Assemble all the last pieces to finish your tag.


"The beauty is in the detail."

A word band along yhe bottom, in fact it is a bracelet word band but perfect for a mixed media thin tag. I covered it with titanium white paint, let it dry for a little wipe and wiped it clean leaving the paint in the recesses, then I used some metallic lustres and quinacridone gold paint n the edges.


The stars are some of Di's chipboard pieces, soaked, roughed up, painted and stamped.


I love thr dribbles of rust (watery quin gold) running down the tag and pooling in random spaces. I also added a remnant rub and yes this does indeed make me happy.


I thought when I took this photo that actually the 'skin' on the hearts looks like skeleton leaves - must remember that for another time.


The quote around the tag says -

' Our wings are small but the ripples of the heart are infinite.'

Amit Ray


Perfect. :o) 

xxx

19 comments:

Annie said...

Wow!! This is a fabulous project Brenda and I so love the amazing details you have incorporated x Those hearts are my favourite x TFS and huge hugs
Annie xx

Candy C said...

Very grungy and cool!

Patty O'Malley said...

Awesome tag, Brenda! Love the amazing details used.

Meggymay said...

I can see how you love this tag Brenda, it is a fabulous mixed media project, great texture and grungy effects.
Yvonne xx

Redanne said...

I always love your tutorials Brenda and this one is superb. The tag is gorgeous, so much room to decorate on too. I love the wire wrapped arrow and that phone dial, both wonderful additions! You are so right about the look of the skin on the hearts, reminds me of skeleton leaves too, that looks amazing! Hugs, Anne xx

Lisa said...

Oh my good gosh, this is amazing!! Wow!! I just absolutely love every single thing about it!! And your tutorial is so fabulous!! Stunning tag, Brenda!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Astrid Maclean said...

Stunning tag!!! That heart, or rather those hearts, have the complete wow factor!! And of course a great step out like usual, - you are the born teacher my friend :o) xxx

froebelsternchen said...

WOW , wow and once again wow! Here is everthing absolutely stunningn and put together in a perfect way Brenda! A little masterpiece!

Happy week!

Susi

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Brilliant tag Brenda. Loving the colours and the gorgeous texture and well....every bit of it! Thanks for the tutorial too, it's always nice to know how things develop. Happy creative week, Angela xXx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

This is so wonderful and all the techniques a wow!!! I want to touch it!!!

Susanne said...

Fabulous tag Brenda! The colours, details and textures! Great tutorial to. Hugs Susanne

maria's knutselplezier said...

Another gorgeous tag, I love the structure and the colours, the stars and haerts just make you dream!!
Have a nice day!!
Greetings
Maria

Gina said...

I think *apart from the obvious* that the main reason I enjoy seeing your work so much, is your fabulous skill when it comes to composition. I don't think I have ever looked at one of your projects and thought "I'd prefer the star to be there" etc. LOVE this tag XXX

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Those words just breathe speak so much to me, I love that extra embellishment. A beautiful way to display that rusted, altered heart upon that tag, it's shape is so desirable. You always give us so much more with each post Brenda. Thank YOU.
Creative Hugs Tracey xx

Words and Pictures said...

Yup, I can see why it's your favourite - it makes me happy too! The rusted heart is a glorious focal point, and you've used the long lean tag shape so beautifully. Delicious.
Alison x

pearshapedcrafting said...

Just reading how you achieved these amazing colours and textures has made me happy! It really is the most wonderful tag! Hugs, Chrisx

sarascloset said...

Oh, wow! This piece looks weathered to perfection, like it's been sitting out in the weather for ages! Love those colors and crackle! Hugs!

A Pink said...

Its easy to see why this was a fave , Brenda . Its a Stunner with all that distress, texture , crackle, rust and tones of blue all brought together in harmony thanks to your creative hand and eye .
Tfs
Hugs x

Jenny Marples said...

Utterly droolworthy Brenda! The rusting, the clever design, all that gorgeous layered texture! I love it all x