I think I may have found my new favorite surface for mixed media art! I've been absolutely loving the new Just Add Watercolor line from Cosmo Cricket. Last time I was in the CLASSroom I shared a couple projects using the Just Add Watercolor 8x8 paper pad. I admit to having such a crush on it that I've purchased pretty much the entire line!
Today I've been busy creating with a watercolor canvas block to make this bright and fun mixed media altered art piece. Stay with me while I share all my step outs and tips to recreate it yourself.
This simple and very humble look white canvas block is from Cosmo Cricket. It's covered with watercolor paper so you can use it to watercolor your own designs with. I decided to think outside the box a little and see how well it would work with other medium as well.
The first step was to stamp on it. This block is nice and firm and this makes it ideal for stamping on! I just can't get enough of the new Bold Blooms stamp set by Julie Ebersole and it makes a perfect set for a mixed media project.
After stamping my surface with Versamark ink, I clear embossed it to form a resist. The embossed areas resist pigment and prevent it from adhering to the canvas.
Now for the fun part! Adding in the color! Just scribble on the Gelatos to the surface. Don't worry about how it looks...just get it on there. For the first layer of color I used a wet paintbrush to move the color around and cover the entire background. The colors I used in creating this project are Snow Cone, Guava, Margarita Mix, Green Tea and Bubble Gum. If you've never tried Gelatos they are a beautiful medium of a solid gel mixed with pigment. They can be thinned with water to paint with or applied and blended while solid.
Keep adding layers of color and blending them together. You can use a sponge dabber but I just used a piece of paper towel to smear and blend the colors together. This step also helps remove any excess pigment from the embossed areas.
When altering a 3D block I always think it looks more finished to add color to the sides of the block as well. Once again I've scribbled on color and then blended it in to get a rich and subtle blend of color.
One of the latest releases from Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft is the Mixed Media Stencils, 101. To add an additional layer of color, I used the circle stencil to apply dots over the surface and edges of the canvas. The sponge dabber tool that is included in the Gelatos Tool Kit is perfect for this.
You can also add layers of stamping on top of the Gelatos pigment. The Art Journaling Stamp Set from Maya Road is full of great words to use on mixed media projects. I've stamped a couple on the surface using the Black Pitt Big Brush Pen which has a wonderful India ink formulation that is perfect for adding to mixed media designs. I've also brushed the edges of the canvas with this marker to emphasize them and visually frame the design.
Thanks so much for joining me today in the CLASSroom! I hope you'll be inspired to try out some new mixed media techniques in your creative projects!
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