Hi everyone Jenny Marples here with you today. I've always been in awe of the way artists such as Claude Monet and Koichi Okumura used white in their paintings to add light, contrast, movement and a special touch of magic.
That made me reflect on how much the use of white is important in my own work, so throughout this post we'll be looking at a number of methods for doing this.
The finished book features images inspired by French architecture and nature as well as lots of tactile surfaces and textures. I've also looked at the use of 'white space' when constructing pages.
The stamps used throughout include the PaperArtsy Minis MN67, MN68, MN69, MN70, MN71 and MN112. The stencils are also from the PaperArtsy Mini Mask series and include PM015, PM016 and PM018. The colour palette is very limited and will be explained further as we go.
You'll have seen me create collage masterboards for backgrounds in the past, using up paper scraps and blending the edges with matching paints. Then lightly brayer with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Snowflake Paint over the top to further soften the background.
If you are planning on drawing on this background you don't want it to compete so add a highly dilute mix of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Snowflake Paint with Just Walnut Infusions. I store a mix of this in an air tight jar because I use it so much these days! Add a thin wash to 'knock back' the colours and script - you can always add further layers if the effect isn't strong enough.
When dry you can cut up this background and attach it to the pages that will go inside your book. White/neutral fabrics make flexible signatures that will be strengthened by the backgrounds on top. A heat-embossed white flower on vellum provides a great focal point if you want to keep it simple.
Now let's get into some more techniques using white mediums.
Simple pen sketches are enhanced by the use of dilute Just Walnut Infusions whilst a permanent white paint pen adds highlights to give the images a sense of perspective.
If drawing isn't your thing use the Mini Masks PM015, PM016 and PM018 in a variety of ways to add architectural interest to your pages. Apply PaperArtsy Grunge Paste onto kraft card and vellum, use white paint through them and even stitch the designs with white embroidery thread.
I mentioned at the beginning of this post looking at the importance of 'white space': by this I mean the area of the page that your eye doesn't notice immediately when you look at a page. For example, below the large white triangle is off-white but as a large shape it competes with the window as a focal point.
Blend it into the 'white space' of the rest of the background by adding complimentary layers - in this case a scrap from the PaperArtsy Frames Printed Tissue PT02, a layer of that dilute Snowflake/Just Walnut solution and some hand-drawn white bricks.
Now your eye is initially drawn by the window and flower before moving around the rest of the 'white space' on the opened page.
Here is the page when closed.
How many ways can you think of for using your stamps to create focal points?
You'll notice I've added white hand-stitching, lace and other white trims throughout the book.
To mix it up a little create a textured background using PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Crackle Glaze and PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Chalk Paint over a layer of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Little Black Dress Paint. Apply a piece of PaperArtsy Frames Printed Tissue PT02 over the top with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Matte Glaze.
You can apply the Tissue to fabric in the same way.
And staying with the PaperArtsy Frames Tissue Paper PT02 cut out and paint some of the images on the reverse side to create elements for pocket pages and focal images like the larger butterflies.
Finally try repeat stamping with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Snowflake Paint on fabric and paper to echo the designs on other pages. Make sure to wash your stamp thoroughly when finished.
Gosh, white really can be used in a multitude of ways!
To finish here's the cover and one more idea - stamping into hot embossing powder, something you can only do with confidence using high quality stamps.
Let's wrap this all up by showing you the remaining pages from this book.
I hope you've enjoyed looking at a range of techniques you can use to incorporate white into your own projects.
Jenny
4 comments:
Stunning ! So many techniques to try , thank you x
Gorgeous! Absolutely love this fabric book! I've never made one, but I am so inspired to follow along your post with all those lovely stamps... all so elegant and everything complementing each other, flowers near windows, hand drawn bricks and windows, and those sweet butterflies, the white and the simple but elegant, soft, color palette; just adore this! And, I already have one of the arch window stencils, tissue paper, and the mediums, some vintage fabrics and laces thus far! Vying for those stamps... on my shopping list! Enjoyed this so much, so happy to have your tips and techniques. Thank you.
^Oops, I wasn't signed in... that's me above. Lisa
Jenny that is an awesome post - thank you! Love the layers and the beautiful colors. Your journal is gorgeous!
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