It was such an honor to be asked to join in this new venture! Thomas Kinkade is an artist that is known by many here in the United States and around the world for his ability to evoke such a peaceful feeling in his artwork. His use of light is what compelled me to say yes to this adventure. Sometimes I look at my list of commitments and wonder at my sanity, but this experience has once again been a true privilege. It has allowed me to work with RIchard and Liz of Cornish Heritage farms - this duo is incredible. The challenges of creating a revolutionary process to create these stamps was daunting and they did it! They did it with class, finesse and grace. These stamps are truly collector's items that work! To be on a team of such talented individuals has been a joy. These ladies know how to blow my socks off - you can see their amazing creations at the new CHF Gallery and Forums. The Thomas Kinkade Rubber Stamp Design Team is made up of the following fabulous talent:
As an artist at heart the one challenge I gave myself was to color - I REALLY wanted to color these images and try and replicate the beauty of the original pieces in my own way. So, I'm NO Thomas Kinkade - LOL!, but I had fun and I hope that the pictures that I took as I went through my coloring process will be helpful to anyone who is like myself and just wants to try it!!!
The best ink coverage I achieved with these "photo-like" stamps was obtained by using my brayer. First I rolled the brayer on my ink pad (I love the Adirondack inks and used Pesto for all of my colored pieces) and then rolled that ink on to the stamp surface. This allowed me to get smooth, even coverage without glopping on too much ink.
For this piece I used Confetti White cardstock (this is the name that Stampin' Up! uses - I can't remember off hand what the original manufacturer's name is, but I'll add it here when it comes to me). I buy this stuff in bulk now being that I love this surface for watercoloring. It also worked great here with the Prismacolor pencils, allowing me to give an aged quality to the final piece.
Following are a series of pictures that shows the stages of color - just double click on them to show a larger version:
The most important tip I can give is to define your edges as you begin the coloring process. If you select a color tone that will blend with the finished project you can actually do a light outline of some of the areas that are harder to determine.
I prefer to work from light to dark. I will color my lighter tones first and begin defining entire areas with the lightest of colors.
Adding in the "streams" of light helped me to envision where the sun was coming from. It is as if the sky between the trees has the sun either rising (or setting - I'm guessing it is rising - do fishermen get up at the crack of dawn??? I don't know - LOL!), but the addition of the pinks to the yellows just gave this piece an amazing glow.
By adding layers of colors it allows me to "see" if I am in the right color families as well as it gives amazing depth to the finished piece.
I also use a "system" of working my layers from the top of the piece to the bottom of the piece. I do not finish it the first time through, nor the second - maybe it's the third, fourth, or fifth - LOL! I just keep adding color until it feels right to me.
Just keep adding those layers of color. I kid you not when I realized that I used close to 35 Prismacolor pencils for this project and believe it or not I used those grays, loads of the grays - LOL! I forgot to write down the colors I used for this project, but I did make a list for the Make a Wish Cottage that I hope to share with you soon.
This last picture shows what happens when you add subtle changes. I don't know if you realize that the most defining detail is the shadow extending from his feet. I had a feeling that something was missing and then it dawned on me - hello Ellen... you need his shadow - LOL!
Being that I just can't leave well enough alone I had to turn this into "something" and so I pulled out my sewing machine and made this little luggage tag from faux leather (pleather). I know, I know - a little over the top, but fun none-the-less. I just couldn't help myself. I thought this would make the neatest gift tag for some special male.
There is so much scoop that I'm guessing you will spend hours delving in to the goodies that await. Again a huge thanks to Richard and Liz, as well as my dear friend Lis for all their incredible work!!!