Darcy Wilkinson Project #4 Miss Fleur ....

"Welcome to the final post of my semester, it is so sad typing this, but I have had an amazing 4 months. Thank you so much to Mark and Leandra for inviting me to take part, for their friendship and generosity, and to the PATwits and wider PaperArtsy community for all the support and wonderful comments. It is all very much appreciated. The very first project I did for PaperArtsy was back in February, I made some samples for the Birmingham show. Two of them were 'girls with big hair' So I felt it only fitting to finish my semester with another girl. This time she reflects my time spent with and genuine affection for the PaperArtsy family".

I began by coating a piece of mdf with watered down pva glue, both sides and also the edges. I then sanded it, and added a second coat. This is to seal and make it absolutely smooth. I then sketched on my design. Once I was happy with it, I added a coat of clear gesso.

Then I had to put her away, as I was still working on July projects. I also was lucky enough to visit PaperArsty HQ, where I explained what I had in mind for my final painting. I told Leandra I really wanted to use hearts and clocks in her hair. Now clocks are not a problem, PaperArtsy have a few plates with very nice clocks and watches, but not so many hearts. Then Leandra said..well you design heart stamps and we will make them for you !

OMG! Well here they are...

EDY 01          and           EDY02

So now I could work on Miss. Fleur.

1. I blocked in the hair using Snowflake, as I wanted the top colours to be bright and true.

2. I added the blue rings, graduating the colours, using Baltic Blue, Beach Hut and Bora Bora

3. I started adding shading to the face, and blocking in the features.

Next..

I stencilled the sections with contrasting colours, pretty dark shades, as I wanted them to show through top layers. You will see later that much is covered up. I am ok with that, in the beginning stages I rarely know what I am going to do next, so I don't worry about getting stencilling in the 'right' place. I put it where I think, and if some shows through later great, and if it doesn't then no worries.

I knocked back the stencilling with Snowflake, applied with a brayer. Then used the background stamps from my new sets. 

Eclectica by Darcy :EDY01 and EDY02

Here is a close up of this stage, the previous stencilling ghosting through. Love these cogs as a background stamp.

I added another thin layer of Snowflake then started to sketch the curls of her hair back in. This time instead of using a regular pencil I used a red water colour pencil. The graphite in a regular pencil will react with water and paint, if I had used that and then painted over, the graphite would have smudged and made my paint dirty. Using a watercolour pencil in a similar colour to the paint meant that as I painted over it the pencil lines would just blend away.

Now to work a little more on her face.. For her skin I used Vintage Lace, Rose, Irish Cream and Snowflake. With a little very watery French Roast. At this stage the eyes are Sky, Hey Pesto and Beach Hut, and Snowflake. I used a Uniball eye pen for the black on the eyes.

I wanted the skin mostly done as I knew I wanted some of the stamping to come over the face. I used my stampamajig to position my stamps. Masking off with tape the bits of the stamp that I didn't want.

1. I coloured the heart vine using London Bus, Blood Orange and Claret.

2. I then filled in her hair with my heart stamps and some of the clock stamps from Ink and Dog Clocks 3 and 6. I stamped some images whole, and others just partially, as I wanted them to look like they were popped into the sections of her hair.

 Clock Plate 3

 Clock Plate 6

I then decided I didn't like the eyes at all, and wanted them to be totally different. So I covered them with Snowflake, you can see just how effective it is at covering the layer below, even though I had used a black pen. I did worry that this extra layer would ad bulk and create a ridge around the eyes, but it didn't. It was easy to blend back into the surrounding skin. I added a little more to the lips using Very Berry, Rose and French Roast.

Now for some colour. I blocked in each clock and heart with a light colour, then added a slightly darker shade to each one. Translucent Fresco Paint is ideal for this job, blending and building up subtle layers.

Next I filled in all the hair between with London Bus, it does look patchy at this point, but

remember this is only one layer, and as it is a translucent you cannot expect it to cover what’s underneath in just one coat.The next layer added depth, and smoothed out the London Bus, I also added some Blood Orange and Claret to create the swirls.

Here you can see the depth created by the layers.

I decided I wanted a really deep layer, so I added this with a dark red Aquamarker. Then I carried on adding layers of Fresco. To add highlights in the hair I dry brushed on some Snowflake. I also added the eyes back in. this time I had her looking down.

Don't forget to add highlights to all the small images too, this was done with a white Posca Pen. Highlights don't need to be complicated, just adding dots..(my favourites) can be effective.

Next I worked on her eyes some more, finishing them off with a black pen, and a dab of posca pen . The eyebrows are French Roast, I love that paint. Watered down it can be used to shade all sorts of things. To get the shade I wanted on the lips I used Pitt brush pens, these are perfect over Fresco Paint.

This is how she looked at this stage.. Fleur is finished, just the background to do..

1. I added more of the blues back into the rings, mixing a little of one blue to the colour of the nextring, so that the colour changes aren't so harsh. To soften he lines between them I dry brushed on some Baltic Blue.

2. Next I brushed on some Guacamole to the rings,

3. Finally adding some stamping with watered down Claret. I wanted this stamping to be a

complimentary colour to the hair, but didn't want it too strong. Watering it down and only stamping lightly achieved this.

Here you can see the many layers. I also added some light stencilling using sequin waste. I added it to the rings, and then took it a little way up the neck to join the two areas. I really like this 'hessian fabric' style heart, it can be used subtly in the background or more boldly in the foreground.

1. Now for the title. I started out by hand cutting the letters, on waste paper, just to see how they looked, and to get the size right.

2. Once I had them as I wanted them, I cut them from smoothy card, then painted them with a couple of coats of Snowflake. I glued them on and added shading under them using grey markers.

3. Lastly I added dots to the edges using a uniball pen. Once this dried I felt they need a little something extra, so I brushed on some PaperArtsy Pearl Glaze.

Now for some 3d elements. I had seen a technique using glue and a candle flame, (to see this search youtube for 'burnt tacky glue butterfly'.  I wondered if grunge paste would work in the same way. So I cut 2 hearts from PaperArtsy Crunchy Wax Paper, then I added Grunge Paste. 

Mine was just a bit left in the bottom of the pot, and was drying up, so this was a perfect experiment. I squished it on with my fingers.

I then held it over a candle. BE VERY CAREFUL, obviously it gets hot!!!. You do not want to go into the flame, hold the shape just over the flame, so that it only just touches. You need the flame to be touching the grunge paste side. Keep moving it, so that it does not catch fire, you really just need the extreme heat in small bursts over each area.

It will start to go very black with soot, but you will see that the Grunge Paste shrinks and cracks.

Once it has cooled carefully wipe away the loose soot, then you can apply Treasure Gold.

These are not the most robust of embellishments, once glued onto something they are fine. But they would be no good for jewellery or something that gets daily handling.

Next I made a butterfly..

1. I started by colouring some copper sheet with alcohol inks, then I stamped my butterfly stamp using Stazon.

2. I cut it out, turned it over and rubbed into the back using a paper stump, to create the embossed look.

3. I then decided red didn't work, so I made a green one.

I added silicone glue to the back of the hearts and the butterfly. This ensures they are well stuck to the painting, while being raised slightly, creating more of a 3d look.

Here she is all finished..

So there you go.. 'That's all Folks' …

It has been a pleasure bringing these projects to you, I hope you have enjoyed them. Thank you to Mark and Leandra for allowing me to be a part of this great semester, it's been a wonderful summer.

Darcy xxx

P.S Hop on over to my blog to see how you can win some of my new heart stamps.

http://art-and-sole.blogspot.com/2013/08/guest-blogging-for-paperartsy-project-4.html

Leandra Says: Wow, where to start Darcy. its been an utter joy to watch you at work, and to have you contribute to the blog. Stamps is the icing on the cake! Can't thank you enough for your dedication, and enthusiasm. You are the bomb! I know this is just the beginning not the end! Thank you so much! xxx

Gillian Says: Oh La La Darcy ... Miss Fleur looks absolutely A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. The depth and detail of layers as always has just blown me away. Congrats on the new designs ... definitely a stamp set that is going to be well used in this household. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing all your amazing artwork over the last four months and your dedication. This I somehow think won't be the end lol:) xx

To win a set of Darcy's stamps, leave a comment, we have 2 sets to give away here, and so does Darcy on her blog! Don't forget, there is still the challenge for this week, you have till Sunday! Get some cracked burnt hearts going!