2016 #17 Mosaic Marks {by Roxanne Coble}

2016 Topic 17: Making Marks

Oh hi there! Roxanne Coble here, or you may also know me online as ‘Bun’ (from my blog and website ‘By Bun’). I’m coming to you with a post about making mosaic-inspired marks on vintage photographs. 

We mixed media folks always have our stash of found or vintage photographs, and it’s easy to just throw them into our art journal or project as is. These photos however, can really be their own unique art supply… 

Now that doesn’t mean it needs to be complicated! It’s all about makin’ marks and properly layering your paint. I’m going to share with you a paint layering technique to give your photos more color, visual interest, and even help to inspire your completed project or art journal page! 

Step One: To kick things off, I first want to create a bit of a base coat, while also outlining the imagery in my photo. Using the Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics (in the shade ‘Chalk’), I’m going to paint around my image creating a large oval or circle shape. 

Step Two: Once my main oval is created, I can then come in with a wet brush (in the same shade) and gently feather the paint out. This will help to create a bit of a transition, while still giving you a light base coat of color for our upcoming layers. 

Step Three: With my base coat complete, I can start to fuse in some color into my background. Begin by selecting a translucent paint shade. For this one, I’m using a Fresco Finish Metallic Acrylic in ‘White Fire’ – which adds a cool look to my background. Simply add in that additional translucent layer of paint on top of your oval. 

Step Four: When my background is dry, I now want to select three opaque shades of Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics that are analogous (meaning, they are similar in color family and sit next to each other on a color wheel). For this sample, I’m using three of my favourite opaque shades: ‘Baltic Blue’, ‘Guacamole’, and ‘Turquoise’. 

With my analogous colors selected, I can now make simple marks around my imagery and on top of my backdrop.

Don’t overthink this! It can be simple blobs, geometric shapes, or small brush strokes to achieve this mosaic look. Start with your darkest shade and begin to fill in your background.

Continue to fill in empty spaces while working your way to your third and lightest color.

Step Five: Once you have laid in all three colors, you’re left with a detailed background that you can leave as is, outline in pen, or detail with an additional paint line (as I did on the left photo using the Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics in ‘Pansy’). 

What’s great about these altered photos now, is that they are unique pieces of ephemera that you can pass onto someone else, or put right into your mixed media project. The mosaic look you’ve added can also be extended into your journal page or project, as seen in the below art journal spread. 

I was drawn to this photograph of a little girl and her dog almost immediately (probably because I myself am a crazy dog lady, haha!). In adding the ‘mosaic’ around her, I am creating more options for myself when I go to put her into my journal. Using the same paint colors and layering technique, I was able to extend the pattern right into my journal spread. Rather than a floating photo in my composition, she’s now really visually embedded into my page

So now’s is the time to dig through that stash of photos lying around or piled high in a box…and get to painting! It’s easy to want to leave vintage photos ‘as is’ when doing mixed media work, but this mosaic technique is a great way to kick things up a notch. I live by a ‘more is more’ philosophy when creating, so the more you can jam pack into your artwork - the better! 

xo Roxanne Coble (a.k.a. BUN) 

Blog/Website: bybun

Instagram: bybun

YouTube: by bun

Facebook: bybun

Thanks for joining us this evening Roxanne, your work is inspirational and full of fun techniques. I find myself staring at your page, exploring and peeking through the layers, there are so many little meandering paths to follow. ~Darcy

We would love to see how you interpret this Making Marks topic by linking what you make to our 2016 Challenge #17: Making Marks, on this page HERE.

All of our bloggers love to see your twist on their ideas,  particularly if you were inspired directly by their post. 

All links go in the draw to win a £50 voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Making Marks link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, Sept 18th 2016. The winner will be announced 2  hours later at 19:00.