Acrylic Portrait

Morning Friends and Crafters. Well the day has finally arrived, my first show on Hochanda at 4 pm this afternoon. All of the drawing,designing and re drawing has taken me on this exciting journey and what a scary journey it has been at times, I hope you will be rooting for me and praying that I wont end up on the bloopers reel lol. Today I am sharing a tutorial for one of the demonstrations that I hope there will be time for. I have chosen this project as it gives a really strong and punchy look, but it is totally achievable for everyone to create. I have just used one stencil from the collection, any of the words or sentiments from the collection would work, but I chose to leave it, for now anyway.

You will need:

Craftascope 'Trent' Stencil

Distress Crayons Set 3

Indigo Blu Townhouse Teal Acrylic Paint

White Gesso

Cosmic Shimmer Acrylic Paint Orange Popsicle

Pencil

Purple Spritzer

Orange Spritzer

Black Card 12 x 12 9 (Smaller if Preferred)

Ste 1: Create your background with the acrylic paints and a Brayer. Build up your layers to create interest, texture and dimension. (*Top Tip* use rice paper or a piece of Calico to mop up any excess paint, this can be used for future projects. Another idea is to use an ATC size to create later.)

Step 2: Use the Spritzers to create another level of interest. Try letting the colours run either side of where your image will sit, like a sort of frame.

Step 3: Trace through your stencil with a pencil, these have been designed to give at least 3 different faces. By using either the inside line on it's own, the outside line on it's own or a mixture of the 2 lines. Remove the stencil and using the Black Distress Crayon strengthen the image.

Step 4: First using your White Distress Crayon, start by adding the shape and highlights to the face, add some white and rub in with your finger, decide where your light is coming from, here its from the right.

Step 5: Start by adding more shape with the black add the black and rub in with your finger, be sparing with this as it is a strong tone, less is more, continue until you are happy with the image. To finish your project you can add some of the brown and cream Distress Crayons to add texture to the hair.

Thank you so much for taking a look at what I have shared today, I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial and the finished piece. It would be great for you to have a go to see just what you can create. Hope you will join me on Hochanda today at 4 pm or if you have missed it you can see a repeat on Catch up. Another thing, here is a 30% off voucher to use on your first order (anything) from Hochanda, use code FEY5JBP7.

As you know I love writing my blog and helping as much as I can, well I would really love for you to add you support by adding me as a favourite blog. All you need to do in that section is choose other and add my blog address nickinbarnsley.blogspot It would be great to get a mention even if I dont come anywhere.

Here is the link to add your support for all of the categories. 

https://www.britishcraftawards.com/


Until Tomorrow, Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Flower Garden

Morning, Today I am sharing 'The Flower Garden', a mixed media project I have made using the new dies and stamps that Leonie recently launched on Hochanda. For this I used the 'Floral Bursts' and the coordinating stamp set.

To start with I joined two canvas boards together to give the size I wanted. I glued them together onto a piece of greyboard and cut that down when it was dry.

I screwed up some tissue paper and ripped it into pieces. Using Cosmic Shimmer Glue, Seal and Glaze, I stuck this all over the surface for texture.

Next I added some ripped sections of the mini type corrugated cardboard, some honeycomb die cuts and some roses, i secured these with Cosmic Shimmer glue.

To add even more texture to the piece I added some cotton threads across my project.

Next I decided that the rose swag at the top didn't match the look so I removed it. I then added some skeleton leaves where my main design was going to sit.

Next I painted with white gesso to even out all of the colour. When this was dry I built up the colour across the project with Dyna Paints. I kept it greener where the flowers were going. I used a mixture of 359,356 & 357. I also added some Sleeping Beauty acrylic pain from Indigo Blu. I then highlighted areas with Pebeo Silver Gilding wax.

Next I took some lengths of calico that I had previously dyed with blues, greens and teal. I twisted them until they coiled back on themselves and stuck them with Cosmic Shimmer glue, these were to be the stems.

I cut out the blooms I wanted in water colour card and coloured them with Distress Inks mixed with water. I used Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade and worn lipstick.

To finish the card, I stuck the flowers in place with 3D glue gel. I made one of the blooms into a bud which I had painted on both sides. I stamped the lovely modern 'ART' stamp on the project from the stamp collection.

Thank you ever so much for taking the time to visit today. I hope you enjoyed the step by step and the finished piece. I look forward to reading your comments so I thank you in advance.xx