Sunday 6 December 2020

2020 Topic 22 Topic Introduction : An Icy Christmas

2020 Topic  22 - Icy Christmas


Hi everyone, Keren here bringing our last topic of 2020 before the much loved Round Up posts. We're looking at a cold, crisp and bright topic; Icy Christmas. Every Christmas, lots of us who live in moderate climes often wake up on Christmas morning hoping against hope that there's a gentle white blanket adorning the ground.
We have lots of examples of an icy colour scheme or artistic Christmassy projects. Here's a bright beautiful icy scene; perfect for a wintry stroll with a flask of hot chocolate.


Nature has incredible details, particularly when you get up close and zoom in. This is a close of up ice, with its leafy like fronds.


Ice balls are also incredible; see the perfect sphere. They do occur occasionally as a natural phenomenon but this one might be created. Either way, the patterning on the ice is beautiful.


Now we've got you thinking about icy elements, we'll roll in the inspiration from the PaperArtsy designers. I've chosen four, because can you ever have too much of a good thing (apart from Christmas pudding perhaps!)?
We have this terrific tryptich from Alison Bomber, full of icy colours and the frosty sparkle of translucent glitter. 


Anneke De Clerck uses contrasting texture and transparent elements on this card. It might not be strictly Christmas but it's definitely icy and her use of corrugated cardstock, paint and glitter is such a good idea.


Debs Wainwright provides some gift wrapped inspiration by the way of a box and matching tag. Aren't all those layers of cool colours gorgeous?


Completing our inspiration sandwich is Alison Bomber and is a lovely example of adding colour into an icy scheme.
This next example of a Christmas light display contains all the best ingredients of an icy Christmas; cool hues, sparkle, different blues and that extra special je ne sais quoi that accompanies seasonal sparkle. It is from the Canadian VanDusen Festival of Lights.


Speaking of sparkle, wouldn't these beauties look incredible in the glimmering glow of Christmas lights. Icily festooned acorns.


This fabulous journal isn't Christmassy but definitely is icy. Using a bunch of the new blue family of Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic paints you could create using a similar colour scheme.


There's an icy quality in this lovely vintage styled ornament. The fringed frame has a metallic glint to give it a magical chill.


You couldn't really class biscuits as mixed media, but they certainly are more delicious than eating a tub of gesso! This icy and wintry wonder looks too amazing to eat.
 

The translucent nature of watercolour echoes the crystal clear ice. Baubles are the iconic Christmas decoration and there are some great examples of a bauble shape or aperture with a scene behind them on the internet.


The next four examples all use different PaperArtsy products and have a decidedly wintry and feel. Infusions create a textured ice-like pattern.


This set of cool colours is enhanced by the embossing powder that looks a little like ice and the trim reminds me of snowballs!


The Jade JoFY baubles are highlighted with Stickles that give them a wonderful sparkle. The preponderance of snowflakes threatens to outshine the baubles!


This last of the quartet is beautiful with the Fresco Finish background and slightly distressed tree.


This snowflake has a wintery charm, and its slight imperfections are so much like the real thing. It is likely that every snowflake is unique, and creating a watercolour background means that your piece of art will be too.


The cardinal is synonymous with Christmas imagery. This page has the bird cleverly holding the snowflake in its beak.


The last example is a perfect Christmas scene. I love the splotchy snowfall and the arty background.

There is so much scope with this topic, and I'm sure we will have plenty of wondrously wintry makes.
If you want to create along with us while we explore this topic, please share your makes on our social feeds so we can follow along. Instagram @paperartsy or why not join us and post in the PaperArtsy People Group on Facebook. Make sure you tag us in your contributions, we love to see what you get up to in your creative world!

2 comments:

Miriam said...

Fabulous inspiration Keren. I love the Icy theme. Can't wait to see what everyone creates.

A Pink said...

A Fantastic gathering of Icy Christmas projects , Keren offering a wide range of inspiration.
Thanks for sourcing and sharing.

Great topic x