Hi there friends! Lisa back for another #TexturalTuesdays and boy-oh-boy do I have a treat for you today!! An art journal page jam-packed with texture and some of my favorite ways to achieve texture in some (perhaps) not so ordinary ways.
Believe it or not, as a person who dabbles mostly in mixed media-esque type projects I am deathly afraid of art journaling. This is only my 3rd page. I kid you not. Having said that, I am finding it immensely freeing and I really enjoy keeping my little works of art in a bound journal. I'm not sure how people can art journal in those teeny-tiny, itty-bitty journals? Mine is kinda big. And the paper needs to be substantial for all the goop, ummm...I mean PRODUCT (heh) I put on it. If you are already a mixed media art journaler, do what works for you. But if you're just getting started, like me? Make sure the paper is meant for mixed media and is large enough. Just my 2¢ on that!
One of the things I like to do as a mixed media "artist", is use tissue paper in my art. it creates texture and, if colored, is a beautiful way to add color WITHOUT painting. I also love to stamp on plain white tissue paper and then apply it to a canvas (or art journal page) with Gel Medium and then color it in. Super easy! So save all your tissue paper, folks! ;)
Once I figure out where I want the tissue paper to go (placement) I take a quick pic with my phone, slather down some Gel Medium, and then can look back at the photo I just took to remind me where the pieces of tissue go and lay down more Gel Medium on top (short term memory here, ladies & gents...just keepin' it real.)
Also, while that top layer of Gel Medium is still wet (and a little thick) I add in some of the Clear Droplets in both 4mm and 6mm from Pretty Pink Posh in one area.
I had added a little bit more Gel Medium to make sure those Droplets weren't going anywhere anytime soon. :) Make sure to let all the Gel Medium dry before going further.
Once that's all nice and dry, add a few dabs of Ranger's Dina Wakley Heavy Body Acrylic Paint in Magenta to a few places onto the journal page and, with a wet paintbrush, paint over the journal page. The paint will be either bright OR light, depending on how much water in your paintbrush or how much paint. So, keep that in mind.
Again, let the paint dry (heat set or air dry).
Using the Prima Marketing Bloom Stencils, Circles by Jamie Dougherty and the White Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste with a palette knife, carefully scrape the texture paste over the large circle stencil and allow the paste to dry. (Lots of create and dry, huh?)
Before the texture paste has completely set up, it's easier to clean-up if you wish. I use a flat paint brush that has been lightly dampened and clean off each time. (See all that goopy stuff at the top near the coils? I totally did that on this page.)
With the art journal on it's side, and tilted upward, I added a dropper full of IZINK Pigment Ink, in Topaz along the edge. Then using a mini-mister I misted the ink and allowed it to flow and drip.
Dripping!!
I did the same thing on the opposite side with IZINK Pigment Ink in Safran. (Going to sound like a broken record here, but...be sure to dry between ink colors otherwise it could turn mucky.)
Next, I used the 6 x 6 " Prima Marketing Bloom Stencils, Spark by Jamie Dougherty along with the Ranger Dylusions Ink Spray, White Linen and sprayed onto the right side of the page and on the upper left hand side of the page.
It's so subtle, but just enough.
Next, I stamped the sentiment "Be Your Own Hero" using Dylusions Cling Stamps, Dy's Alphabet using Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black. (Heat set the ink.) I thought the black was a bit too stark looking so I dabbed just a tiny bit of Gesso with water onto my work surface and when it was VERY watered down, I rubbed it lightly over the letters. Heat set again! Then I added highlights to the letters with a White Uni-Ball Impact Gel Pen. I also added contrast to the outer part of the letters using a PITT Big Brush Pen in Black.
More color was added using a Gelatos® Double Scoop® in Lemon and adding water to that as well.
My finishing touch was to die-cut a heart from the Essentials By Ellen Designer Dies, All Inside by Julie Ebersole. What I did first, was die-cut the heart from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® 3-D Foam Creative Sheets. Then I peeled back the top layer of adhesive and placed a small square of red foil from Wow! Fab Foil (shiny side up), rubbed it with my finger, and lifted the foil up. A perfectly beautiful, dimensional, foiled red heart! I peeled the backing off and stuck in smack dab in the center of my ray circle.
More close-ups:
Look at how cool the Dew Drops are close up and they reflect whatever is underneath them. ♥
I hope my art journal process inspired you to take your own out and find some easy things to play with. One paint, one or two stencils, maybe some sequins? And tissue paper!! So much fun!
