2023 Topic 8 : Master Colour Wheel - Triadic Colours {by Autumn Clark} with Sara Naumann stamps

Hi everyone it's Autumn Clark from SewPaperPaint with you today and I'm totally delighted to share a really fun upcycling project with you.  When thinking of how to highlight the Tetrads topic and incorporate Transparent elements, my immediate thought was to create a painty junk journal with fun window elements.  I really enjoyed this creative time and exploration into the topics and hope you will follow along and get inspired to create a flip flop folio of your own, using the humble file folder as a substrate.

I truly adore Sara Naumann's gorgeous newest stamps and how they softly stepped out of the busy, yet mild backgrounds of this album.

When I sat down to create I realized I did not order PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylic in Aqua Duck Egg, which was the basis for the entire topic of this color theory post.  I had no choice but to swap in a new paint color and chose Lake Wanaka to compliment the other two colors, Butter and Candy Floss.  I kind of freaked my freak, so to say, but had to breathe and just let it go.  I'm so happy I pressed forward because I truly loved the palette created and was so pleased with the truer blue of Lake Wanaka versus the greener variation in Aqua Duck Egg...

I chose a beautiful pair of PaperArtsy stamps by Sara Naumann, {ESN66 and ESN64} and a few background stamps by Tracy Scott {TSM08 (formerly EM64), TSM05 (formerly EM61) and TSM02 (formerly EM58)}.

Because I went with a bluer primary color, using Lake Wanaka, I ended up with a more blue green version of of color 10 and a less pinky purple of color 8.  It's not a very dramatic change, but it just goes to show how easily you can make variations in color using whatever Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics you have on hand.  I painted out my color wheel using the free template you can find HERE in the PaperArtsy People Facebook Group.

Here you can see my actual mixed paints.  I was just so pleased and welcomed by the beautiful pastels.

I decided to go for a Triad scheme with three spaces apart, the most equidistance achievable.  Here were my four choices for that route and the one I chose is highlighted.  I picked the three colors because they are out of my normal "go to" scheme and I thought it would be a fun experiment.

Now it was time to get my file folder folio base cut and folded.  I cut away the portion nearest to the file label to square the folder, then folded it into 8 equal sections, using the center fold as a guide.  I cut away portions of the file folder, indicated by the slashed lines and used those to assemble the flaps and pockets, as demonstrated in the video tutorial at the bottom of the post.  Next, I printed the front and back of all the file folder pieces, starting with gesso and continuing with my mixed colors.

   

I lifted my chosen tetrads with a palette knife onto my 12x14" Gel Press printing plate and then brayered them loosely with a small brayer, taking care not to over mix the colors and let them touch but not blend.

Here you can see one of my layers of the printing process.  I repeated with printing until I was pleased.

As I show in the video, I incorporated PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic in Cloud 9 by brayering some paint onto the side of my gel plate and using it as an "ink pad" for stamping using a beautiful combination of dotty stamps from PaperArtsy Eclectica Mini Stamps by Tracy Scott {TSM08 (formerly EM64), TSM05 (formerly EM61) and TSM02 (formerly EM58)}.

I used more Cloud 9 to lift the layers of paint remaining on my gel plate onto Tracy Scott Lace Booklet 4 (TSLB04).  I tore pieces of my printed Lace Booklet and layered over my printed file folder for a subtle texture and contrast.

 

Once I had my folder painted completely, it was time to dive into the stamping!  I had a blast incorporating PaperArtsy stamp set by Sara Naumann (ESN66) as the focus of my folio.  Here is the left notebook flap.  I adhered the two-panel cut off section of my file folder to the left after stapling a bundle of tea-dyed notebook paper inside to make a little book.

The panel opens to stamping from PaperArtsy stamp set by Sara Naumann (ESN64).  I used a white Uniball pen to add highlighting and journaling.

Our theme this quarter on the PaperArtsy blog is Transparency, so I thought it would be a great accent to the overall book to had a flap/window and cut out a circle and glued in a larger vellum circle for my transparent contribution.  I was really drawn in by the subtle nature of these colors and thought the vellum gave an angelic halo to the stamped bird.  I adhered the focal circle from my Lace Booklet over this tag to further frame the bird image.

 

Here is the front of the notebook that folds out on the right side of the folio.  I just love the contrast and texture created from adding in small bits of music sheet and the printed Lace Booklet.

 

 

Last of all, I worked on a tag for the pocket for the front cover of my folio.  I decided to use Distress Oxide in Dusty Concord with Distress Ink in Tea Dye and Evergreen Bough to color the tag.  These colors are very close to my mixed palette, but were a little more vibrant and I thought it was nice for the pull out to have a punch.

I layered with my final remnant of the printed Lace Booklet for the two-sided tag.

 

Here is the back cover of my book.  You can see I used my paint cloth, which I wiped my palette knife upon repeatedly throughout the process and then stamped with more Dusty Concord Oxide using TSM02 (formerly EM58) to create a closure for the book.

 

And here is the whole folio folded out.  It's just so much fun to flip through!  And it will be a great journaling space for me.

I always love getting paints smooshed on my gel plate and had a blast working in these muted tones.  Creating books from file folders has become somewhat of a fetish for me in recent years and this one is one of my favorites yet!  There is just something about using non-precious things to create art that is both liberating and joyful.  And it always makes me super happy to dip my stamps into paint.  Is that something common in your art practice?  I'd love to know!  I truly hope this little flip flop folio has inspired you to get creative today!

xx, Autumn

To find out how to create the folio, please visit my video HERE.  I do go into detail on the printing process and finish with a flip through of the folio.  I hope you'll enjoy it!

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2023 Topic 4 : Mail Art {by Etsuko Noguchi} with Sara Naumann stamps

Hi everyone 

Etsuko (My favorite things) here with you today.

Our current topic Mail Art gives me a great opportunity to create something to use; Washi-paper. In the old days in Japan, letters were written with a brush using washi paper, but it's not easy today! However I thought I'd follow suit and make a tidings of flowers letter out of old fashioned scroll letter using wonderful Sara Naumann stamps and stencils.

For the Texture main theme I have used collage of thin washi-paper dyed with Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics, Momigami-paper applied to the surface case, underlying background showing through thin Tengucho-paper and picture postcard made of thin paper. 

I decided to use blue and peony as the main colours, chose PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic-Bougainvillea, Pea Coat and Blueberry by thinning these colours as much as possible and layering the paper, it was made to look purple, I also made another colour of Heavy Cream for the stamping. 

I used Sara Naumann stamp set 67 (ESN67) for the flowers illustration of the letter and same Sara Naumann stamp set 65 (ESN65) for the belly band decoration of the case. 

The following three types of washi papers were used for this project. A little thick Washi-paper for the letter scroll, Momigami-paper (wrinkled paper) on the surface of the case, finally I used ultra-thin Tengucho-paper (the paper often used for restoring old books or Japanese paintings.)

When I dyed the Tengucho-papers the paper was so thin that the colour it applied would pass right through, so I laid down a craft sheet and painted it.

The dyed Tengucho-paper is cut into strips and used to frame the flower paper below. In the three pieces of flower papers below are ESN67 was stamped with Tsukineko -VersaFine Clear (Nocturne) on two pieces of Tengucho-paper, and coloured later. 

The PaperArtsy Stencil by Sara Naumann (PS364) was reverse-stencilled with Ranger Industries - Distress Oxide (Faded Jeans) and it was made for the border of the letter scroll. I ended up not using the two sheets on the left.

As shown in the previous picture, I made a case mount with card stock and stamped the ESN65 Key and Voyage with Ranger Industries - Archival Ink (Cobalt)--(picture A). Next I prepared Momigami-paper (picture B) and glued it on top so that the stamp pattern underneath could be seen through a little, but it only helped a little. (picture C)

I added PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic-Southern Skies with water to the surface of the case by splattering it. Also I did PS364 and gel printed with Distress Oxide (Faded jeans) for the back of case. The original plan was to gel print the PS364 on the Tengucho-paper and glue it on the back of the case. However, I was worried that if thin paper was coated with a water based gel medium the pattern would smudge all over the paper. 

I made the belly band and the decoration, the decoration stamped ESN65 heart on two sheets of paper (the papers made two pieces of Tengucho-paper glued together) with Distress Oxide (wilted violet and faded jeans) and finished with clear embossing powder. The two heart sheets paper were placed in a diamond-shaped frame with the patterns slightly shifted.

 

The belly band was stencilled with the Distress Oxide (wilted violet and faded jeans) using PaperArtsy Stencil by Sara Naumann by (PS 362) on the Washi- paper, then attached a small magnet to the belly band to hold the case. Also I made postage stamp using Ink and Dog mini stamp MN126 and MN127 then I pasted to the band. 

The project using Sara's supplies from Topic Mail Art was so much fun that was a pity that it was over, so I made the picture postcards in the same way. I painted PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Bubble Gum, Lemon Meringue and A bit Fishy on a card stock, randomly stamped Ink the Dog mini stamp (MN131, MN132, MN125 and MN126) with VersaFine (Morning Mist) and cut with scalloped cutting Dies for the postcard frame and post stamps. 

I made picture postcards used Sara Naumann stamp set 66 (ESN66) with VersaFine Clear (Nocturne) and clear embossing powder on a vellum. These birds to painted from the back. I glued frames and postage stamps to the vellum cards and decorate with ribbons. And I played it a little sideways.

I wanted to make the background of the letter like watercolour paint, so I used transparent Southern Skies diluted with water. I used a soft flat brush with 1-inch bristles to apply paint in gradate shades and draw a curve in a horizontal line. Then stenciled Southern Skies diluted with water from dot stencil on the upper curve with a sponge. To splattered the bottom with water and sprinkled silver embossing powder to embossed. Also I used flower cutting die to the dyed blue Washi-paper. I pasted the border for edging that I made with PS364 from the back.This mounting is like a picture frame made of cloth or paper used for hanging scrolls, and it's not often used for the like letter, I used it here just as a decoration.

I put pieces of flower paper in the middle and made a collage with dyed Tengucho-paper to make the frame, and placed each on the letter scroll with gel medium. On the thin flower papers the background of the letter scroll bellow is slightly transparent at the same time, so that it becomes the background of the flowers. I made the letter to tell someone about a tidings of flowers, and Japanese sentiments next to each frame are short poem about these flowers.

To say that all the content in this project was good it is not true, but I think this continuous scrolling without breaks works will provide me with a lot of ideas to create interesting works in the future. Sara's stamps and stencils are a mixture of abstract and figurative elements, and our thoughts work flexibly, so we can create fun works, I love them very much. 

Thank you so much for joying me.

Etsuko xxx

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