2017 #10 Dark to Light: The Glint of Light {by Alison Bomber}

2017 Topic 10: Dark to Light: Contrasts & Layers

Alison always seems to start her projects from an unusual perspective. On this occasion she starts with overlapping torn card stock, which she then builds layer upon layer so instinctively. Of course she ties it all together perfectly with one of her fabulous quotes! Enjoy!

Hello all, Alison from Words and Pictures here, and I'm delighted to be back on the PaperArtsy blog with a layered project full of contrasts.  As soon as I heard the theme, my mind went - unsurprisingly! - to my new EAB02 Darkness and Light stamp set.  The whole collection of quotes on this plate is built around the contrast between light and dark, so I could have used almost any of the quotes, but I decided to go with a moonlit canvas and this poetic thought from Russian playwright, Anton Chekhov.

I've used techniques picked up from a number of inspiring workshops I've been to over the years - the torn embossed card background from Andy Skinner, the ombré dry-brushing from Finnabair - and combined them on an 8x8 canvas full of texture and romance, including the glint of light on broken glass, of course.

Since this topic is all about the layers, I'm going to take you through some of them.  They start with the overlapping cardstock, embossed with blossoms, and some Grunge Paste to texturise the edges and soften some of the sharper card edges.

From moonlight glinting on glass, it's a short step for me to the Capulet orchard and Romeo describing the shimmer of moonlight - "that tips with silver all these fruit tree tops" - so the tree blossoms were a semi-conscious choice.

By the next layers - first Grunge Paste and then a topping of Watercolour Ground applied through Kay Carley's gorgeous new tree stencil, PS061 - I had caught up with the inner workings of my mind, and knew that we were in a moonlit orchard - of sorts.

The Watercolour Ground is very grainy, so it gives a lovely extra texture over the sturdy base of the Grunge Paste.

Next, the heart-in-mouth moment - a layer (or two) of black gesso covering the whole thing up.  And then I spent some time fiddling around with embellishments - some chipboards, some die-cuts and some metalwork.

Then all of that gets the black gesso treatment too.

Here's where the orchard becomes a little more metaphorical - though the the Romeo and Juliet idea is still feeding in with all the clocks (they're under time pressure)...

... and as the tendrils of their young love start to unfurl, the cogs and gears of fate are already turning in the background towards the inevitable ending.

Next it's on to the layers of dry-brushing.  From the top left corner comes the gleam of moonlight (otherwise known as Snowflake Fresco Chalk Paint).

And coming up from the bottom right, in the role of the moon-dark shadows, we have Blueberry Fresco Chalk Paint layers.  It's bluer in some lights than others.

I had to wait until I was happy with all those dry-brushed shadows and highlights before adding my broken glass.  There would be no glinting if it were all covered up with paint!  (The chipped glass comes from a certain Swedish furniture store - I think they mean you to use it in flower vases to hold dried stems still in a decorative way.)

If I were a video-type, I'd be able to show you how magically the glass really does glint as you move the canvas around.  I'm afraid you'll just have to manage with your imaginations.

Finally, but perhaps most importantly, the words which started the whole thing off - the quote from EAB02 Darkness and Light.

I applied Cobalt Blue Archival Ink to the stamp, and then used Jet Black to darken the edges in a shadowy way.

And, thanks to some clear embossing powder, even the words themselves have a glint in the light.

I hope you're inspired to play with some contrasts and some layers.  I had a wonderful time with my light and shadow.  I love that even in the darkest places, there's a glimmer of light (which is the theme of some of the other quotes on the stamp plate).

Between Chekhov and Shakespeare; the textures, paint and embellishments; and the glimmers of light in the darkness, I ended up feeling thoroughly uplifted.  Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I'll see you again soon.

Alison Bomber  

Blog: Words and Pictures
Pinterest: butterfly crafter

So tonight Alison, you've made me realise I never use the Blueberry paint! And wow does it look amazing over the black, it is a translucent, so you have a magical depth to the darkness! Ohhh and Ahhhh!  ~ Leandra

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