Transparent Paint Dragging with EPA {by Keren Baker}

Hello everyone

Keren here with you today and I'm using an Eclectica³ PaperArtsy set that you might have missed, along with some experimentation using PaperArtsy Chalk Acrylic paints - typically the translucent ones!

I picked a combination of transluscent paints. For any of you that might be newer to PaperArtsy paints, they come in Opaque, Semi-Opaque and Translucent. I've shied away from using transparent colours but wanted to challenge myself with this project. I wouldn't normally use so many paints, and I didn't actually use them all in the end.

I wanted to layer a combination of the paints over each other. I thought I could drag and layer them, so grabbed some watercolour paper, a scraper and some paints.

I thought that the watercolour paper might give some nice texture, but the results were pretty rubbish...

So I went searching on the internet for tips on layering and came across an artist called Laura Fdez . She creates wonderful abstract pieces using a tool that ended up being the perfect solution: Princeton Catalyst tool no.6.

Using a combination of different colours and shapes, I started to try and move the paint. I learned quite quickly what not to do.

Make sure every layer dries completely. You can see what happens when you don't, in the next photo. I also masked off a shape so that I'd get a white frame.

 Here's a little footage showing the process.

As I practiced, the process became easier. Despite the flaws, the different papers that I used all behaved differently. This one was on Acrylic Paper (WHSmith).

One of the things that's helpful to think about is the lighter colours being on the top layers. I also tried using a semi-opaque paint and that worked really well too.

Each type of paper produces a different result. Here's the different end results. PaperArtsy Smoothy does just that- creating a very smooth painted effect!

Now we had a set of backgrounds, I just needed to use the EPA01 stamps and stencil PS448

Grunge Paste always works so well but you do need to go carefully and hold down the intricate parts of the stencil. I only wanted some partial stencilled areas so that I didn't lose the colour and texture from the backgrounds.

Adding more layers needed a little gentle touch. Just like the transparent paints, I wanted transparent layers so stamped on some acetate. As the main stamp set didn't have an obvious focal point, I used the LPC056 set for interest.

I coloured some of the images to act as partial layers. I wanted to cut up the rainbow-esque shape and weave one of the images through; I'll save that technique for another project as it didn't really fit here.

The multiple coloured layers work so perfectly with stamped acetate.

I love the sentiment- I'm not sure I could claim that every layer was magic, but the technique certainly felt that way at points.

Using one of the stamps, I trimmed it down to just one cross; such a versatile image! I added a little stitching and French knots too.

There's so much more to explore using this technique. I love how the combination of colours layered creates the new colours. Thinking about colour theory technique can really help with choosing which colours to layer on top of each other. It's really worth having a go and it's also very therapeutic!

Thanks for reading, see you again soon!

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Triple Layered Textures with TS {by Keren Baker}

Hello everyone, Keren here with you today for a textural piece using the gorgeous new sets from Tracy Scott. It turned out to be one of those projects where you plan the first step but see where the mood takes you afterwards!

My main idea was using the beautiful PS520 stencil, which I wanted to cut in half and have as a 'gate'way to the rest of the project. I also wanted to use lots of the new images, so needed my outer layer to be as bold as possible so it hid the subsequent layers. Instead of the background I began with my foreground!

As I wanted the 'gate' to be split into two and knew that once I'd used Grunge Paste, it would be hard to cut precisely, I trimmed the acetate in two, then attached the pieces back together with washi tape.

I separated the pieces shortly after stencilling and used my finger to soften the Grunge Paste edges, left to dry and then painted in Mustard Pickle. I also used PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic in White Fire over the top to give a metallic lustre.

I knew there'd be a lot of painting. As Tracy's stamp are so detailed and artistic, I used a stamp positioning tool so I could over-stamp and neaten any lines that I'd overpainted.

When it came to the main focus, I used this face image. I didn't want it to be exactly as the image so decided to change it. I meant no disrespect to the original image and inspired origins.

You can see some of the many layers that I put on. It felt like I was trying to do contouring on a face at one point! I won't show all of the layers, but you can see how I was building them.

I had more painting to do, but next decided to create the base layer that the face was going to go upon.

For the background, I wanted to use my brayer. Truth be told, I used to find brayering pretty scary and I have to admit I don't always feel like I know what I'm doing! I'd recommend just having a go, as it's so satisfying adding layers of paints. Start off with a couple of colours and just lightly brayer over your substrate.

Use different directions and add in an extra colour. If it feels too bright, just go back in with a lighter colour (I used Eggshell) which will knock the colour back. Being 'light-handed' with the paint will reap real rewards. You can see below how once I was happy with the background, I traced around the image which would help the face to 'pop' away from the brayering.

For extra texture, I used the circles stamp from TS109 which I brayered paint onto the stamp and then just stamped randomly onto the substrate. I sneaked in the text from the Ink and the Dog Xmas Plate 1.

The layers just needed bringing together and so I needed to get painting again. The large florals really are so stunning.

After trimming them all out, I just needed to arrange them and decide how I was going to attach the layers to the base. I still can't resist transparency, so used acetate.

I added the florals in the correct position onto a plain layer of acetate and lined up the front layer on top.

So I didn't have any elements moving, I secured the layers with washi tape and then punched holes through them. I added some eyelets and tied the layers together.

I loved the stencils, in fact PS518 would make a beautiful 'gate' too. You could make a long tall book using halves of the stencilled images. You can see the acetate wings that I stamped with Stazon, but these would look beautiful with transparent glitter added

I did want to add metallic flakes on top of the Grunge Paste, and will have a go at that next time. 

I hope you love playing with Tracy's stamps- they're so inspiring.

See you again,

Keren x

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