2017 #10 Dark to Light: Layers and Light with ESA {by Nikki Acton}

2017 Topic 10: Dark to Light: Contrasts & Layers

I think Nikki is loving this theme, not only has she combined her love of 'all things Seth', but she also has mashed up Alison's gorgeous new quotes, and in the process given real-life dimension to Seth's stamps - exactly as they were intended to be used! The details are delicious!

Hi everyone, it's Nikki, from Addicted to Art, with you today, and I'd like to share my Dark to Light canvas featuring the amazing new stamps from Seth Apter with a few Alison Bomber words thrown in!

As I was featuring Seth's stamps I decided my Dark to Light technique should be based on Seth's own style. Since attending a couple of his workshops last year this is a method I now use frequently - the results are fabulous!

Starting with a 5 x 7 inch canvas board painted black (Little Black Dress Fresco Chalk Paint) I built up my layers using other Fresco Chalk paints (Caribbean Sea, Antarctic and Mud Splat ) firstly randomly with my paint brush and finally using Seth's watercolour card printing technique. I love how the remaining black on the surface contrasts with the lighter / more vibrant colours.

This building up of painted layers creates wonderful textures and is a very easy to achieve worn, grungy look.

I used Seth Apter's recently released stamp set ESA05 (stockist list here) - which has so many possibilities. I wanted to use the wonderful large image but decided to remove the central portion. To add to the grungy feel I also scratched over the stamped surface. These stamps are perfect for layering and building up a collage - don't be afraid to cut away the pieces you don't want!

This theme was a perfect fit for one of the wonderful quotes from Alison Bomber's new range of stamps. (EAB02 - stockists here)

I mounted the words on the circular stamp from ESA05 which sits wonderfully on Seth's Wood Chips. 

 

I chose to stamp the other elements from Seth's stamp set on card I painted in coordinating colours and cut out before mounting on a little greyboard for dimension. I can see these being used on lots of projects!

I wanted to create a frame for my canvas board so took some wooden dowels and painted with Caribbean Sea Fresco Chalk Paint before wrapping in black string. 

These new stamp sets from Seth are based on his own artwork and I love how they can be combined, altered and layered! Seth loves using found objects in his art and these stamp sets reflect some of those items. He also loves working Dark to Light, building up layers which I have done here, to create my grungy canvas - but I can see these being used with brighter colours too. The larger stamp on each set provides a natural focal point to be used as it is or added to, and the other stamps are perfect additions or background stamps for just about anything!

Happy crafting!

Nikki

Blog: Addicted to Art
Pinterest: NikActon

Bravo Nikki! I totally adore all those painterly layers, but then when you stamped and scratched at the grungy Seth stamps....this seems to magically make the layers look even more interesting and 'olde-worlde' ! Fantastic! ~ Leandra

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