Friday 6 March 2020

CELEBRATE at A Vintage Journey - shabby vintage frame

Over at AVJ we are asking everyone to share what they are celebrating in their art and craft at the moment. I always think there is so much to celebrate and enjoy in the artistic and creative world we live in.
For me the celebration comes at many different times - often when I have created something I feel very proud of;  when I've devised a new technique that gives a great result;  when I see some of my artwork in print;  when I have finished a workshop and the attendees love what they have done or when I've simply had a fabulous session of creating on my own or with a group of friends.


This piece today was inspired by family. My daughter married about 15 months ago and I'd made quite a few of these shabby hearts for the invitations and for decorations at the reception.


As I am working with only one hand fully functioning (I've dislocated my left shoulder so that arm is in a sling) I thought I would use one to celebrate both family and all things shabby vintage.


Process steps - dry between painty layers
1. Seal a piece of greyboard with white gesso, dabble, dip and dribble some burnt umber paint,  add some raw umber around the edges and also add some splatters,
To break it up drag some random thin layers of gesso using the flat of the palette knife.


2. Tear and adhere some tissue collage papers. Sand the edges and blend in some brown distress ink. Add a little colour to the images. I used cadmium red hue, titanium white and titan buff.


3. Take the small media board and seal with a coat of white gesso. Scrape a layer of white crackle paste using a small piece of credit card type plastic, keeping it flat so it is an uneven layer. When dry dribble, spritz and dry a couple of different pink mixes , dry and repeat with titan buff. Sand and blend brown distress inks round the edges.


4. Take a deep shadowbox frame and adhere metal corners onto it., then stipple some gesso over the insides and outsides. When dry add a little watery pink to the corners then sand and distress the edges like before. Seal with a coat of varnish.


5. Assemble. To finish I painted a little TH star painted with the deeper pinkier colours to bring the heart into the feel of the whole piece. I chose a star because that is the symbol my daughter loves and for me has come to represent my children, their spouses and our grandchildren.


I also lifted the panel to give it quite a bit of height within the frame.


So let's see what you're celebrating in your artwork this month.
Pop over to A Vintage Journey and join the fun.


xxx

DecArt products
Media white gesso, white crackle paste, 
Media fluid acrylics - raw umber, burnt umber, used cadmium red hue, titanium white, titan buff.

9 comments:

Julia Aston said...

Oh, this is lovely Brenda! so light and airy in the off white - the heart is so pretty front and center with the beautiful background paper with touches of color all framed in the lovely shabby white! xx

Words and Pictures said...

Lovely to see you building up the layers in this beautiful shadow box... even one-handed you've got the magic touch! The dripped background is so subtle, and I love the soft rosy colours hovering in the crackle and on the shabby chic frame. Great use of the tissue paper too, and a wonderful celebration of your crafting journey as well as commemorating your daughter's wedding.
Alison x

Judy said...

Brenda, your creation is stunning! I love the lilting lightness you've given this with your brilliant layering technique. My sweet niece, Kelsey, is getting married next October. We've always been extremely close. (I call her my other daughter) She called me the day she and her fiance set their wedding date and asked me if I would make a special keepsake for her special day. This is it!! I'm far from your level of expertise but I have until September to practice, hopefully I can create something she'll love. Thank you for sharing your time and treasure, its beauty will extend beyond your readers for years to come.

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, what a stunning make! It's a wonderful way to showcase the beautiful heart you made for your daughter's wedding and capture such happy family memories 😁. It absolutely gorgeous, I love softness of the colours and the pink crackle panel that you created is amazing! Thanks for the inspiration and wishing you a wonderful weekend! I hope you shoulder is better soon ❤. Happy birthday wishes! Hugs, Jo x

Nikki Acton said...

A lovely design celebrating your wonderful family! Beautiful effect and dimension. Created wiht one hand too - brilliant!! xxx

Annie said...

Love this fab home decor piece Brenda xx Wonderful background details and textures and that beautiful heart filled with memories of your daughters wedding xx it’s the perfect celebration make for the 6th anniversary at AVJ too xx
I hope your shoulder is continuing to improve and you are soon creating with both hands xx


Huge Annie xx

experiments in paper said...

Oh my - six years already? I've learned so much from you, and you were the one to really get me going with your Visual Journey... this piece is exquisite - I love that delicate pink which offsets that beautiful star! And those crackles - fabulous. AND all this one-armed as it were. Hope your shoulder mends soon..... xxx Lynn

Jennie Atkinson said...

Gorgeous shabby layers Brenda and a fabulous home decor piece. Hope your shoulder is improving! Love xxxx

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Morning Brenda & Happy Mothers Day. So sorry to hear about your shoulder but WOW what an incredible job you have done using your functioning hand. Lovely to know you used the heart which will hold many wonderful memories of your Daughters wedding, all framed so beautifully.. that crackle is divine!! Sending light & creative wishes your way Tracey xx