2015 #21: Textured Canvas {by Ruth Mescall}

 2015 Topic 21: Abstract Art

Hi everyone, Ruth here from a love to create joining you this evening to share a textured canvas panel inspired by the large glass wall art of Jenn Meador. I love the idea of soft blended strokes of creamy paint separated by gold foiling and with no main image. I’m using the yummy new Limited Edition Fresco Chalk Acrylic Paints to create my painty piece of abstract art.

Step One: I took a 40cm x 15cm box canvas and drew a rough panel across for placement. I then started to paint lines on the bottom section with Fresco Chalk Acrylic Paints in Snowflake, Chalk, Stone, Concrete, Teresa Green, Granny Smith, and Professor Plum.   

Step Two: I used the PaperArtsy set of 10 paint brushes and found the layers building beautifully as the creamy paint went on so smoothly and dried so quickly. I went back to this part several times, blending and layering more each time.

Step Three: At this stage I added some texture to the darker green areas with Golden Glass Bead Gel.

Step Four: Next I covered the top and sides with Grunge Paste then stamped into it with one of the stamps from Eclectica (Ellen Vargo) Collection (EEV07).

EEV07

Once dry I dry brushed with the neutrals and Teresa Green and brushed the edges with Squid Ink. I then lightly sanded back the grunge paste to reveal some of the original colour.

Step Five: Next to add the central gilded panel. I used the Eclectica (Ellen Vargo) Collection (EEV08) and stamped with a Versamark inkpad across the join. I then used bonding powder which is a sticky embossing powder and after heating applied the foil and burnished whilst hot. I found a cloth wrapped around my finger worked well for this. You can repeat on any areas missed. Having used the gold, I felt it needed something else to tie it in and went back and added touches of pink foil. The effect can be a bit random as the sticky powder can transfer to other areas, and you’re not stamping on a smooth surface, however that’s the beauty of it as well. The scratchy stamps are of course perfect for this technique.

EEV08

Step Six: At this stage to finish it, I added some more glass bead gel to the plum areas and very, very lightly gilded the bead gel with Treasure Gold in White Fire and Aquamarine on the green areas.

Now the eagle eyed among you may have noticed that the panel kept changing directions and it was only when it was finished and I hung my abstract on the wall and decided it looked better upside down! When I looked at it I felt the colours were running down into the gold and being filtered out leaving the neutrals to flow out. I think that’s why I like abstract art so much, you can put your own spin on it. I hope you might be inspired to test out the paints in a different way or explore alternative ways of adding texture. Finally I just have to say I’m in love with the 2 new greens, may have to stock up on them!

Ruth x

Blog a love to create

Twitter @argeum1

This is stunning Ruth, I love the mystery of abstract. I love that you kept changing your mind about the direction. It looks almost like a waterfall of colour, i want to peer through and see what is beyond! ~Darcy

We would love you to join in with Challenge #21: Abstract Art. 

If you would like to join us in some abstract experimentation, then link what you make HERE.

All links go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Abstract link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, Nov 22nd winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.