Thoughts and Theories

Très Jolie’s Mixed Media kit for May comes with a canvas, mediums, several packages of metal trinkets and – best of all – 4 empty video tape reels. After a bit of pondering and such, I came up with this:

Here’s how it all came together:

I began by coating the canvas and tape reels with black gesso, making sure that all the surfaces were covered.

I selected a Crafter’s Workshop stencil that I’ve had for years and used texture paste to cover the entire canvas with the bold pattern.

Once the texture paste was completely set, I applied more of the black gesso.

I watered down some of the Caribbean Teal paint to create a wash and used it to cover the canvas. A lot of black still shows, but that’s okay. I allowed it to air dry thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.

I created another wash with the Golden Glaze paint and applied it over the canvas, using a baby wipe to blot it here and there to allow the teal to show through. Again, I allowed it to air dry.

I used gel medium to attach the tape reels to the canvas.

After the reels were completely set, I started to add some of the metal trinkets that came in the kit.

I begin to add a few flowers from my stash.

(Yes, that’s a lot of gel on that spiral. I’ve made sure that it will stay there permanently. Once it’s dried, it won’t show.)

More flowers and more metals: I’m starting to pile them on.

I added resin cameos and buttons that came in the main kit…

…and a few small flowers to fill in some gaps.

I covered all of the pieces with black gesso, taking care to fill in the crevices and crannies.

This little guy decided to become unglued. I waited until the gesso was dry before reattaching it.

I created a thinner wash with the Caribbean Teal paint and applied it to the reels and embellishments.

Again, a thinner wash, this time with the Golden Glaze. I made sure that it pooled in some of the crevices and once again, allowed my canvas to air dry.

As a final step, I applied the Aqua Sheen metallic wax to some of the edges and raised elements.

I had planned on my canvas being in “portrait” mode, but by the time it was finished, I realized that it was meant to be turned on its side. For the title, I selected a Quote Chip from my stash, colored it with Vintage Gold wax, then edged it with the Aqua Sheen wax from the kit.

I glued it down to the tape reel and my canvas was finished.

***************************************************

*****Supplies*****

***Très Jolie May Mixed Media Kit***

Royal & Langnickel – Essentials – 4 x 12 Artist Canvas Painting Board #CNVST-412

Prima – Finnabair – Vintage Trinkets – Washers No 2 #960353

Prima – Finnabair – Mechanicals – Machine Parts #967107

Très Jolie – Tape Reels (4)

Little Birdie Crafts – Black Gesso #CR75626

Little Birdie Crafts – Tinted Metallic Paint – Caribbean Teal #CR82313

Little Birdie Crafts – Tinted Metallic Paint – Golden Glaze #CR82315

Little Birdie Crafts – Metallic Wax – Beeswax Formulation – Aqua Sheen #CR79826

***Très Jolie May Kit***

Melissa Frances – Vintage Resin Applique – Button Assortment #CX876

Melissa Frances – Vintage Resin Applique – Cameo Assortment #CX891

***Other***

Wild Orchid Crafts – Mulberry Roses

Advantus – Tim Holtz – Idea-ology Collection – Quote Chips #TH93563

***Mediums***

Prima – Finnabair – Art Extravagance – Paper Texture Paste #965259

Prima – Finnabair – Art Alchemy – Metallique Wax – Vintage Gold #963958

13 @rts – Ayeeda Medium – Acrylic Gel Medium

***Tools***

The Crafter’s Workshop – 6 x 6 Doodling Templates – Mini Gears #TCW262s

***************************************************

As always, I want to thank you for peeking into my blog; your visits mean a lot to me.