2015 #14 Golden Hours Among The Flowers {by Lynne Moncrieff}

 2015 Topic 14: Flowers

Hi. Lynne (Adorn) here, joining you this evening to share a canvas featuring a stamped paperclay focal. I was keen to return to this technique, something which I explored for my Guest Artist tutorial last year however this time with a highly detailed collage stamp from HotPicks 1507. 

I was unsure if the beautiful detail would translate to the clay so it was a step into the unknown but I was happy to discover that none of the detail was lost. I wanted a fragmented appearance to the stamped clay so I rolled out two pieces of white Creative Paperclay which I conditioned prior to rolling with an old rolling pin, working on a craft mat. No need to ink the stamp, simply stamp into the clay but please remember, you must clean the stamp thoroughly after use. I then tore away some of the excess clay from around the image before transporting onto kitchen paper, laid onto a flat surface and leaving to dry. Drying time varies depending on temperature and humidity of where you live.

In the meantime, I returned my attention to the canvas. Working on a 9"x12" stretched canvas I adhered fragments of vintage French book text, muslin, painters' mesh and Tissue Wrap. There is no significance to what I laid down other than to create texture and to allow alluring elements peeking through on the completed canvas. Golden Regular Matt Gel Medium was my chosen adhesive.

Before the paint application, I drizzled GrungePaste to heighten the texture then it was time to have fun with Frescos. I gathered Space Cadet, Toffee, Lake Wanaka, Spanish Mulberry, Antarctic and Claret, all applied with an old credit card.

With all of the lovely texture laid down on the canvas I chose to stamp onto white tissue paper (White Tissuestock is a good alternative) knowing the results would be more defined than if I stamped directly onto the canvas. Armed with several stamps and Staz-on Jet Black, I proceeded to stamp multiple images, more than I knew I would require but I always prefer to have more to hand, it is just the way I like to work!

HP1507

ESN04

ESN05

With a sponge brush and Mod Podge, I adhered torn pieces to the canvas. At this stage it is better to show restraint as more stamped images can be added towards the end of the project. 

Before laying the canvas aside, I dipped the edge of an old credit card into Concrete and Nougat and simply swiped the paint randomly onto the canvas.

If you are anything like me, you will have brushes in all shapes and sizes however this pack of brushes is a wonderful addition and investment and they were perfect for painting the intricate details in the paperclay.

Claret, Spanish Mulberry,Antarctic and Chalk were applied and I continually laid the paperclay against the canvas to gauge whether it would be visible against the canvas yet at the same time be cohesive with the canvas. If you have not painted paperclay before I would advise that water is kept to a minimum. I either worked directly from the bottle with a slightly damp brush or worked from a palette, lightly misting the paint before application.

Once painted it was time to return to the canvas.

This photograph shows that matters have moved on. The painted paperclay was adhered with Golden Regular Matt Gel Medium, applied generously with the two pieces slightly overlapping, allowing the image to match up. I almost wanted the pieces to evoke broken pottery, when fragments are pieced together. Two Idea-ology time pieces create balance to the composition, painting them with a combination of the aforementioned Frescos. 

Stepping back from the canvas I realised that further stamped tissue paper elements were required to fill the gaps.

Not quite finished with the Frescos. Firstly, I swiped Claret onto the canvas with my fingertips, before generously misting with water. Tilting the canvas allowed for a beautiful river of Claret to dribble down the canvas, dabbing with a baby wipe to ensure the layers of stamping and fragments were not obliterated. Once dry I followed with Concrete in the same fashion.

A collection of detail photographs which highlight the texture and layers peeking through the canvas and the beautiful detail stamped into the paperclay.

With the variety of flower stamps available from PaperArtsy you could tailor a canvas to suit your personal style. With the flexibility of being able to cut the paperclay before or after it has dried imagine a more contemporary wall art canvas, with a bold flower(s), molding the petals to create even more dimension or would you prefer something a little bit more whimsical in style. Paperclay brings another dimension to your art and as it is so light, it is the perfect choice whether for cards, tags, canvas, jewellery, etc and as you can roll it to any desired thickness, what about including a thin piece of stamped paperclay into your art journal, so many possibilities and as they say, so little time! I hope my tutorial will encourage you to investigate stamping into paperclay.

Lynne

Blog - Adorn

Thanks Lynne, the detail captured in the clay is indeed stunning, none lost at all. This technique allows for so much dimension to be achieved, creating layers and adding the 3d element without being overwhelming. Beautiful! 

We would love you to join in with challenge #14: Flowers If you are inspired by any of our guests who blog with us over the fortnight, then please join in and link up your creativity HERE. 

All links go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Flowers link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, Aug 9th winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.