Thursday 10 July 2014

Reverse Canvas {with Hot Picks Stamps by Alison Bomber}

Hello everyone, Alison here from Words and Pictures, and delighted to be back at PaperArtsy to share a little something with you that didn't really go as expected!


I set myself the challenge of using only two Fresco paints to create my little reversed canvas, and had a wonderful time playing with one of the new Hot Pick Plates, number 1301.


I turned the canvas round to use the recessed space as a shadow box, and started by layering my two paints onto it.  I used Pea Coat (but mine is still the old translucent version) and Limelight - also a translucent - double the challenge!


I stamped the gorgeous butterfly and text from HP1301 onto some tissue paper.  I'm lucky enough (or hoarder enough) to still have a few sheets of the original Crackly stock.  I stamped in a combination of Potting Soil and Coffee Archival inks for a dark but not too dark look. I then used the same paints to layer washes of colour over my butterfly and the little flowers in the corner.


Once that was done, I glued the tissue paper into the canvas using lots of Satin Glaze under and over it, as well as all over the edges of the canvas for a nice sheen.  Rather than spend time tinting Grunge Paste, I decided to use up some leftover Ferro paste that I had to add stencilled vines and butterflies around the edges of the canvas.


At this point I was planning to leave the metallic look to go with the brown stamping and my metallic embellishments.  It was going to be all nice and golden brown in look, with just some blue and greens in the background... that was the early thinking as you can see below, but that all changed in the end!


The reason it changed is that I decided to alter all the metal using my two paint colours.  I allowed myself some Gesso in the mix so that I could pre-coat the metal before adding colour.  I did lots of layers and washes and dry-brushings of my two paint colours over the various Finnabair Mechanicals Flowers and Numerals.


Once the embellishments were all painty, the textured leaves looked wrong in gold, so I started to build up layers of washes and dry-brushing over those too - still only using the same two colours, mixed in various proportions for different colour shades and finishing with some pure Limelight dry-brushing, and Treasure Gold in the end too.


I sanded back the flowers with one of the fabulous Sanding Blocks to create some metallic accents.  I liked the look so much that I decided to accentuate it with some Treasure Gold.  I used both White Fire and Florentine to gild the metal and the vines...


... even adding some shimmer to the main butterfly with brush...


...as well as the little textured ones on the frame, which I also decorated and outlined with a PITT pen to add definition.


So, there you go... just two paint colours (plus some Gesso for the occasional touch of opacity), lots of altered metal, and some tissue paper stamping in my reverse canvas.  I hope there's something in all that to get your creative juices flowing!  Thanks so much for stopping by, and I'll see you again soon.

Alison.

A huge thanks to Alison from PaperArtsy, another beautiful project. It is always so amazing to see what can be done with a limited palette, and these two colours are stunning together. Building subtle layers like this is such a brilliant way to achieve depth and gorgeous blending. 

If you would like to join in our weekly challenge with any of this week's guests who have blogged since Sunday night, then join in to link up your creativity HERE you will go in the draw to win PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by17:00 (London time) Sunday 13th July 2014

40 comments:

Julie Lee said...

Wow! This is fab, Alison! I have been pondering reversing a canvas like this so now you've spurred me on to give it a go! I love what you achieved with the two colour palette and those metal embellies look so effective - love the sanding back and the Gesso opacity! Gorgeous use of the Hot Pick plate too! Julie Ann xxx

Deborah Wainwright said...

Alison, what a fab idea to use the canvass that way. I'm amazed at so many colours achieved with only two and the gesso. I really like what you achieved on the metal flowers, they look lovely.

The texture from the vine adds a nice balance to the frame and the stamping on tissue looks amazing. I love it x

Helen said...

Fantastic Alison! Love the colours and of course the stamps

Nikki Acton said...

Don't you love it when a project changes direction and ends up this wonderful! Nikki xx

Juliz Design Post said...

Love the strong use of colour, it really suits the metal flowers. Such a lovely project and I do like these new stamps.
Julie x

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Loving the blues and greens. You did a fab job for only using blues and greens. This project is so pretty that you don't notice that it is a mere two colors. Very lovely!

Ruth said...

Fabulous as always Alison, fantastic shading with only 2 colours, looks more. Love the whole design x

Hazel Agnew said...

Talk about thinking inside the box! What a challenge! Creative juices....go go go.....xx

Unknown said...

Loving all the metal, great idea x

rachel said...

this is awesome Alison - my fave of your makes today - the colours are beautiful and all the details fabulous - must try one of these - brilliant xx

Redanne said...

I loved reading how you created this fantastic canvas Alison, it is so beautiful in just those two colours and the colouring on your embellishments is fabulous! Anne xx

Deborah said...

Your change of direction was inspired, Alison. The paint layers on the metal embellishments look awesome.

pearshapedcrafting said...

Love those colours - seeing so many blues, greens and yellows around just got an order so I can now join in!! (any excuse! ) Fascinating to see the processes in making this - glad you went into colour! The stamps - on my never ending list of needs of course!! Chrisx

Almo said...

A beautiful reversed canvas, I just love all those painted metal embellies, the two colours you have chosen are just stunning - love it. Mo x

Lucy Edmondson said...

I love everything about this, Alison! I really want that stamp set now! I don't know where to start as I'm inspired by everybody this week!

Lucy x

craftimamma said...

Love this Alison and you picked two gorgeous colours to work with. That stamp set is really working hard on the blog recently .... so glad I bought that one first out of the last new releases, lol!

Really miffed I can't play along with the fabulous inspiration this week as I'm off to our Son's tomorrow till Sunday. Never mind, maybe next week.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Marci said...

These two colors are gorgeous together! I like how you left kind of an empty spot for the eye to rest in that one corner. Love when you use blues and greens, beautiful.

Nan G said...

Gorgeous! Love the chalky finish of these fresco paints.

Unknown said...

Je suis éblouis par le cheminement de cette réalisation, l'aspect change étape par étape, et ces coloris sont divin... je vite admiré de nouveau ce tableau

craftytrog said...

Wonderful colours, I love those painted embellishments Alison! xxx

Shilpa Nagaonkar said...

Loved this so much.... Alison,..I shared on my FB page..as I said I adore you and your work!!
I am going to try this..today

Dagmar said...

Oh wow - I LOVE IT!!!!

Regina said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Regina said...

Wow! I'm speachless. This is one amazingly beautiful project, Alison! Thanks for sharing!!!
Regina*

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Stunning!!! What a great colours and again I love how you've put everything together Alison...A real treasure...
greetings, Alie

Cardgenie said...

Alison, this is gorgeous!! It shows what you can achieve using limited resources. The colours you used are fantastic and the composition is great. Love it!!! Jean.x

massofhair said...

Stunning and so beautiful canvas :-) xxx

Dianne said...

A MASTERPIECE Miss Alison....

Jenny Marples said...

A fantastic shadow box with wonderful blending of those colours. Jenny x

PaperArtsy said...

I just adore how blues and greens morph into a zillion shades of blue-green so easily!! Great result Alison.

Paper Profusion said...

I could dive into those blues!! So gorgeous. A fab canvas Alison, beautiful design. Love how you transformed the metal elements. Nicola x

cathylynn said...

Holy Smokes this canvas is wonderful! Love every square inch. Another amazing piece of art!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Kezzy said...

WOW wow wow Alison such a stunning frame as always, I really really love the colours, especially the blue and green metal, awesome :-) Kezzy xxx

Brenda Brown said...

A beautiful canvas Alison with such fabulous details. xx

rkramadh said...

GORGEOUS colors and even more gorgeous embellishments! I love this color combo a lot and use it when I make tags. Just last night, I forced myself to try something diff by using orange/yellow instead of my all time fav blues/greens :)

sara j said...

I continue to be just a huge fan Alison....the depth you achieved is amazing, plus it's really pretty!!! Thanks as always for sharing...

sara j said...

I continue to be just a huge fan Alison....the depth you achieved is amazing, plus it's really pretty!!! Thanks as always for sharing...

Anonymous said...

Stunning project, every detail is perfect & I love the colours.

itsazoo said...

Just Stunning......Thanks for the tutorial......

scrappymo! said...

Brilliant idea to flip the canvas over. Funny that i was just looking at the burlap canvas shapes at Michael's the other day...they were 60% off and I had a coupon for an additional 20 or 25 off...and I could not think of what I would do with them and walked past!!! Wish i had picked up a set of two...silly me!

Your canvas is beautiful...I love the coloured metal pieces...they are the perfect finishing touch!