Now and then I just want to get out some paints and play around. Explore some creativity in a style and medium I don't often play with. It's fun to step outside the box and try new things. You never know what you may discover. You almost always learn something, even if it is what not to do. I'd like to encourage you this new year to step out of your box and try something new. Here's what I did the other day.
The little 4x4" Canvas Frames are the perfect size for experimentation. They are similar in size to cards, take little time to create and make lovely little gifts or accent pieces. I love using them with the Studio Paint line. To get started on the project, I first brushed the surface and sides of the canvas with the white Blank Canvas paint. The surface of the canvas comes primed but the reason I did this was to blend on color right into the white pigment. If you're looking for a graduated color and brush stroke look, feel free to blend right on the canvas like I did. I used Landscape Green and Sky Blue. At the same time, paint the sides of the canvas so that you don't have to remix colors. You'll want enough paint on the canvas to have it nice and wet but still be able to see some of the canvas texture through it.
The reason you want the paint wet is that it is how you are going to adhere the clear Prima Paintable to your project. Trim the portion of the Paintable you wish you use to just under 4x4" square. Press it into the wet paint and allow to dry. For this project I've used one of the images from the Cherub Frames Clear Paintables Sheet.
To get this canvas to have a little extra color and make it a little more interesting you now want to add pigment on top of the canvas. By mixing the colors you choose with the Studio Line Multi Medium Gloss you can add a hint of color but still keep most of the transparency so that the design will show through. For this project, I used Painterly Pink mixed with the Multi-Medium for the flesh color, Sable Brown and some more Sky Blue. I also added streaks of the tan around the edges to give an aged appearance.
After all your painting is dry, cover the surface of your piece with a coat of Glossy Multi-Medium and allow to dry. Apply a coat of Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint to the entire surface and allow to dry. This will give you an antique cracked glaze finish. Because of the slick finish underneath, some of the crackle will flake off but I like the look. After the glazed has dried and cracked, take a sponge and apply some Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink to highlight the edges and emphasize the cracking finish. Another great alternative would be to use the Ranger Crackle Accents product.
I like to add layers of elements to my projects and added the love sentiment to the bottom of my canvas. The Tim Holtz Grungeboard Minis are a great size for cards and small projects. To continue with the antique finish, I painted my Grungeboard letters with White Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint.
After drying, I sponged them with some ink and adhered to the project with Glue Dots. As a final touch, I tied some twine around a Maya Road Word Charm and adhered it to the O.
Thanks so much for stopping by the CLASSroom! Take some time to explore your creativity!
