All You Need is Love - A Mixed Media Recipe!

Hi everyone,

On Sunday I spent a very happy couple of hours getting messy in my workroom, creating my FIRST EVER mixed media canvas - not only did I have a lovely time, but I'm really pleased with the results, for my first time anyway!

Here's a picture of my finished project (had to take this out on the lawn as the light is not great today) ...


I used my new "Georgie" Mix It Up stamp set of course, plus lots of ideas and inspiration from some wonderful mixed media experts who generously share their techniques and inspiration on You Tube.

Here are a few of my favourites - these ladies often keep me company in my workroom, though not IRL of course :o) They all have very different artistic and presenting styles and they've all inspired me in different ways - I have lost many hours in YouTubia watching these people!

Christy Tomlinson - wonderful bright fun canvases, truly inspiring
France Papillon - gorgeous artsy Journal On Monday series
Vicky Papaioannou - beautifully whimsical art journal pages
Helen Allen - clever techniques, brilliant tags and art journaling

Oh, there are so many it's hard to choose, but those are just a few of the ones I watch all the time. It's so cool that all these clever people take the time to make videos to share their inspiration and experience and it's fascinating to watch them creating wonderful art journals and canvases - they really make you feel like you can do it too!

Here are a few close-ups of my canvas ...


It's all about building up layers and layers and more layers ... until you're happy with the result - and then adding some more - and finally deciding it's time to stop!


A couple more close-ups ...


Last one ...


I'll post a proper tutorial soon, but here's my basic recipe -

Ingredients

  • Blank canvas
  • Mod Podge
  • Scraps of patterned paper
  • Rescued napkins
  • Salvaged tissue wrap
  • Acrylic paint in light blue
  • Distress Paint in Picked Raspberry and Peeled Paint
  • Jenni Bowlin acrylic paint dabber in Lemon Drop
  • White Gesso
  • Texture paste
  • Archival Ink in Jet Black
  • Distress Ink in Black Soot
  • Inka Gold
  • Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs
  • Acrylic paint marker in white
  • Faber Castell Pitt Pens in brown, black, turquoise, pink
  • Leftover alphas

Utensils

  • Brushes
  • Baby wipes
  • Palette knife
  • Lolly stick
  • Crafters Workshop stencil
  • Stamps - gorgeous lace, text, and Georgie of course
  • Acrylic stamp blocks
  • Scissors
  • Sticky fingers!

Method

  • Build a base layer - slice, trim and shred a mixture of papers, add to blank canvas 
  • Arrange leftover alphas and cover with another layer of paper, heat gently until dry.
  • Decorate with paints to taste, then garnish with stamped butterflies and sprinkle with rub-ons.
  • Add a light coating of gesso and dry out with a heat gun.
  • Apply texture paste through a stencil, allow to dry then dot with paint
  • Stamp all the Georgie pieces onto patterned papers, cut them out and add them to the page.
  • Blend the character into the background by highlighting and shading with pens.
  • Doodle and stamp to add texture, brush the edges with ink and finish with a touch of Inka Gold.

Phew!! I think you can see how much fun I had with this - can't wait to do another one, so watch this space!

Thanks so much for popping in today, see you again soon :o)

Annie xxx

Comments

scrappyjacky said…
Can't believe it's your first ever....it's gorgeous.
Lizzy Hill said…
No stopping you now!!! Fabulous.... Adore the colours & the whimsical look you've achieved:):)
sheila 77 said…
What a truly lovely piece of art, lovely colours, lovely background and a happy picture, what could be better. Your stamp set is terrific.
Thanks for all the information, it's really interesting to get so much detail and it enhances the enjoyment of the final piece.
Val-Belle said…
Oh Annie she is just fabulous. I love it. The background is just amazing and it is such a cheerful piece. You are having such fun with her :D <3
Val-Belle said…
Oh Annie she is just fabulous. I love it. The background is just amazing and it is such a cheerful piece. You are having such fun with her :D <3
Annie Claxton said…
thanks so much ladies, this is all quite an adventure for me in more ways than one and I really appreciate and value your comments - I am having so much fun with this :o)
It's beautiful Annie! You wrote such a fun post around it too! Love it!