2016 #20 Geometric Abstract Panel {by Alison Hall}

 2016 Topic 120: Squares and Grids

Hi everyone, Alison (Craftytrog) here.

Tonight I'd like to share with you an abstract panel, featuring a crackled, stencilled background with squares and grids. I've added some circles, ie. the bottle cap, and stamped and flicked splatters, to soften the geometric design. I've always been drawn to abstract style art, and the way items are placed on a canvas to create what I hope here is a balanced effect.

Step One: On an 8x8" MDF wood panel, I painted a base coat of Smurf Fresco Finish acrylic. As Smurf is an opaque, there is no need to gesso first.

Step Two: Next, using a brayer, I applied an even coat of PaperArtsy Crackle Glaze, then dried it with a heat gun, taking care not to let it blister.

Step Three: I then sponged a layer of Honey Dew Fresco Finish paint over the Crackle Glaze. Using a sponge created some lovely, delicate crackles. You can see that they're already appearing in the top right corner where I started.

Step Four: I repeated the last three steps onto some 1" square MDF pieces, but used Granny Smith Fresco Finish paint instead on the top layer.

Step Five: Using Blue Oyster Fresco Finish Paint, I stencilled the small squares border and the grid from...

 PaperArtsy {Emma Godfrey} Stencil PS016

Step Six: I used Potting Soil Archival Ink to stamp the splatters image from Sara's stamp set 09 onto the panel and MDF pieces.

Eclectica³:Sara Naumann Set 09 ESN09 

Then I added some splatters to the base panel with watered down Granny Smith Fresco Paint. I also sponged the ink around the edges all of the pieces.

Step Seven:  Next, I painted the inside of a bottle cap embellishment, first with Honey Dew, then with some White Fire.

Step Eight: To create the final elements for my panel, I cut a 2 inch square of corrugated card, sponged the peaks with Honey Dew Fresco Finish Paint, then inked the edges with Potting Soil Archival ink. Next, on a blank piece of book page, I lightly stamped a background of the splatters from ESN09 with Forget-Me-Not Archival Ink, then stamped the phrase from ESN04 with Potting Soil. On another piece of blank book page, I lightly stamped the circle image from...

Eclectica³:Sara Naumann 04 ESN04

...with Forget-Me-Not ink, then stamped the word 'dream' over the top with Potting Soil. I cut out the words and 'dream' image, inked the edges with Potting Soil, then glued the 'dream' to the inside of the bottle cap. 

Step Nine: Using matte medium, I glued the bottle cap onto one of the 1" MDF squares, then glued this to the corrugated piece. I then glued all the elements in place on the main panel, as shown in the top photo. To finish, I used a Faber Castell Sepia Pitt pen to add some shadows around the words, smudging it with my finger.

My favourite elements are the corrugated card and the bottle cap. I love the extra dimension that they add to my panel. I think I probably went a bit overboard with my Granny Smith painty splatters, I never know when to stop as it's so much fun flicking paint! Lol!

I hope I've inspired you to create your own abstract panel with geometric elements.
Have a creative week,

Alison

Twitter: @craftytrog
Facebook: Alison Hall 
Blog: Craftytrog's Inky Adventures

Well I am really loving your Granny Smith painty flicks Alison! They look lovely and flicky splats always seems to tie layers into each other so well. There is so much detail in this panel, and yet it's looking so structured at the same time. Great composition and fabulous effects! Thankyou! ~Leandra

All of our bloggers love to see your twist on their ideas,  particularly if you were inspired directly by their post, so if you can spare a moment to comment or make your own creative item, they love to see your feedback and what do do more than you realise!

We would love to see how you interpret this Squares and Grids topic by linking what you make to our 2016 Challenge #20: Squares and Grids, on this page HERE. The 'Squares and Grids' link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, Oct 30th 2016. The winner will be announced 2  hours later at 19:00.

All links go in the draw to win a £50 voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store.