GD: Ellen Vargo #3 Abstract Framed Art

Hello!  Ellen here again!

It's been so much fun sharing my projects this week, and today we'll wrap things up with some more abstract work, but today our finished product will be framed art!  I've spent a lot of time making cards or tags with greetings in my years of stamping, but these days I'm really enjoying the design component and letting that shine with no words or quotes or greetings.  Here's what we'll be working on today...

Building on the tag and cards from earlier this week, we'll be using the brayer for most of our painting today as well. 

We'll work from the lightest shades to the darkest, building depth and layers as we go. First up, Antarctic... (and my VERY well used brayer... really must clean it... soon! For now, we'll consider it additional texture... LOL!)

Lightly roll on the first layer in random areas...

Next add Mermaid and Bora Bora. Try to overlap some areas, and cover up new areas with each layer you add.

Now South Pacific...

And Inky Pool...

And finally, Pea Coat...

Next we need to add some collage layers. I chose several texture images and stamped them on tissue paper using Ranger Archival Inks. It's important to use a waterproof ink for collage because we'll be using a wet medium (glue 'n' seal) to adhere each piece to our project.  If you use a water-based ink then the collage images will smear and run. Tsukineko's Versafine is a similar composition to Ranger's Archival Inks. Both are waterproof once dried thoroughly with a heat tool.

First I chose the fingerprint flower image from the HPXT02 set, and stamped it several times with manganese blue Archival Ink.

Then I used the small leaves from HP1004 set, 

stamping several times with watering can and Wendy Vecchi's  Cornflower Blue Archival Ink.

And lastly, Mini 18 using Aquamarine Archival Ink.

I didn't want the actual shapes of the stamps I chose - just the texture. So, I cut or tore the tissue paper into random shapes and arranged them on the page....

...and adhered them to the page using Ranger Glue and Seal (matte). I love this product for collage for several reasons... it's easy to work with, it *never* buckles the paper, it dries quickly, and the matte finish is so gorgeous you don't even know it's there. To use this for collage, spread a thin layer on to the page in the area you want your collage image.  Then place the collage image over the Glue and Seal, and then brush another layer of Glue and Seal over the top of the collage image. Give good pressure with the brush on the top layer so all the excess is pressed out. I usually go over the whole area with my finger as well, to make sure all the air is pressed out. Once you do this a few times you'll get the hang of it.

Once you're finished with collage, give the page a quick blast with the heat tool, just to make sure all the areas are dry. You will be able to tell when it's really dry because the collage'd pieces will have virtually NO shine - they will blend in with the rest of the page.

Heres' the finished page, with collage images. Use scissors to cut off the excess collage around the edges.

So - we've got a painty layer (several of them, actually), and now we've added a collage layer. Now it's time to add a stampy layer! I chose the Inka nd the Dog Collection: Words (Plate 2) stamp (I use this as a background stamp rather than the  individual letters). 

Using Antarctic paint, I stamped the image over the entire page. I chose this color because we used it as our first paint color, so I knew it wouldn't "fight" with the layers we already painted. Be sure to wipe off your stamp with a baby wipe or damp towel right away!  One of the great qualities of the fresco paints is that they dry quickly, but that means they'll dry quickly onto your stamp as well.

{TIP: Using a brayer to 'ink up' your stamp with acrylic paint means you get nice even application of paint, and (big bonus) no paint down in the dippy bits of the rubber stamp - that's an easy clean up too!}

 Now we'll add one more layer of stamping. I wanted something completely different, but subtle. I had a look around my studio and saw this great mason jar, it even has a cool textured base! I used Little Black Dress paint to stamp it several times.

I *love* circles, and textured circles are even better... it's a subtle addition, but I like it...  You'll be amazed how many things you can find around the house to use as a stamp.  Just keep those baby wipes handy for a quick wipe down!

Now we'll work on our focal image. I've been working a lot with shapes lately, and you know by now that I like that "pop of red", so we're going to use London Bus to paint some overlapping square shapes onto our piece.

London Bus is a translucent color, so I added a few layers to really make that red *pop*.  I like rotating the squares - it gives some movement to the piece.

{TIP: If you prefer the layers we generated below London Bus are not visible, then use snowflake first as a 'blocker', dry it, then apply your layers of London Bus}

Now use a paint pen (or just use black paint and a thin paint brush) to outline each square.

Then add another outline using a fine tip white paint pen (a white gel pen would work too).

And now... the hard part... cut it up!  I love cutting a large piece down to smaller pieces. I knew that I was going to use a square frame, so I cut the piece into two large squares, with some smaller pieces on the side. Two of the side pieces are ATC size (2.5" x 3.5"), so from this one page, we've got two framed pieces, two ATC's, plus two small "leftover" pieces that could be used as collage on another project, or as teeny-tiny framed art!

I added some dotted texture in a line down the side of one of the large square pieces.  I used a medium tip black paint pen, and then outlined each black dot with a fine tip white paint pen.  Simple marks can make a big impact when you repeat them over and over.  Then I matted the piece using white card stock first, and then black.

Now you can add this to your frame (IKEA RIBBA) and voila! Your masterpiece is ready to hang on the wall or sit on a shelf!

And here is the second large square, all framed up.  On this piece I added more dotty texture in a different pattern.

And there you have it!  I hope you enjoyed following along on my abstract journey this week. We started with a simple tag, then did a card set, and finished with some framed art.  I'm so excited to be part of this amazing group of artists, and can't wait to come back next month to share more projects!  I hope you will take a chance and try playing in this abstract world.  I can't wait to see what you come up with! 

Take care 'til next time... 

~ Ellen.

  

Leandra Says: What a stunning idea, like you say, hard to cut up, but a truly brilliant way to create a piece for any room in your house to the colours you prefer to suit your decor. Thanks for a great start to your semester!

Gillian Says: Thank you for an amazing week of arty projects Ellen, I've really enjoyed following your "freestyle" approach to your projects. Fab use of paint/layers/techniques. Love love love your framed art. x

If you would like to join in this week's challenge and play along with Ellen's techniques, then do link up your creativity here, and go in the draw to win some PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by 17:00, Sunday January 26th 2014.