Finding My Soul

Hello Lovely Readers!

This week we're all be inspired by this gorgeous new art journal spread created by Sanda.

Sanda's ideas are just perfect for any season - incorporating organic forms and texture mediums, you're bound to end up with a gorgeous artwork. ;)

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“And into the forest, I go, to lose my mind and find my soul”

- John Muir

Hi guys,

I’m back today with a nature-inspired art journal page that I created around this beautiful John Muir’s quote. These words spoke to me and touched me on so many levels and made me think of what’s really important and meaningful in our life…

I started my art journal page by collaging recycled tea bags on watercolour paper using Finnabair's Soft Matte Gel. I absolutely love using this gel, not only for its matte finish but also because it has the perfect consistency for collaging delicate papers.

When this was dry, I added a layer of Heavy White Gesso with a brush and made some marks into the wet gesso with a colour shaper.

Patience not being one of my strengths LOL, I dried the page with a heating tool and then, I applied another coat of gesso, this time using a palette knife. Dried this layer just a bit and then added bits of gold leaf to the wet spots. 

After drying everything thoroughly again, I began adding colour with Art Alchemy Impasto paints. Can you tell I love these paints?:)

For my first layer, I mixed Raspberry Pink, Lemon Peel and a bit of Snow White for a lovely coral tint.

As I was painting, I diluted the paint with water in a spray bottle, leaving the paint run on the page and create drips. I soften the colour by dabbing it with a baby wipe and a paper towel.

When my page was dry, I sponged Jade Impasto paint through Finnabair’s 'Harlequin' stencil and then distressed the paint by spritzing water and lifting paint with kitchen paper.

When this was dry, I applied yet another coat of Heavy White Gesso using a palette knife – this will add a very nice, organic texture to your work.

Off camera, I made a few gelli prints on deli paper, using some gorgeous seed pods and leaves (collected from one of my trips into the parks and gardens around London) and Impasto paint (Cobalt and Pitch Black). I collaged all the gelli prints using Soft Matte Gel.

TIP: You can create fabulous gelli prints with Impasto paints as long as you dilute the paint with a bit of water.

Next, I did a bit of background stamping using a few Finnabair clear stamps, black Archival ink and Jade, Green Apple and Snow White Impasto paints.

I also doodled a bit using some diluted Pitch Black Impasto paint in a precision bottle.

At this point, I decided to add more of that coral tint, so I mixed it again, applied it with a brush in a few places and then, removed some of the paint through Finn’s 'Honeycomb' stencil using a baby wipe.

I continued painting, using Green Apple, Jade and Snow White Impasto paints.

When everything was dry, I doodled more leafy branches using gel pens in black and white and added some stitching with my sewing machine off camera.

For my focal point, I chose a pressed twig and a chipboard frame I painted using Finn’s Art Extravagance Graphite Texture Paste, and Rust and Patina Pastes.

Here is my video where you can watch my creative process and see the products I used.

Enjoy and have fun!

I hope you’ve got inspired by this project and you are ready to try some of these techniques in your artwork.

Have a lovely day, my friends, 

Sanda xoxo

Products used:

A Rusty Treasure

Hi there Dear Readers!

Our talented Marta has used her magic and some of my flag products to create another special piece of altered art!
You will love to see her tutorial and learn how easy it is to make something truly magical with your own hands. Enjoy!

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Hello friends!

Today I would like to show you something special - a ceramic bottle with many many Mechanicals metal elements and a lot of lovely rust effects!

To achieve this wonderfully aged rusty look, I mixed all three Rust Effect Paste sets - Military, Camouflage and Metal Rust.

I picked warm, rusty colors - Rusty, Yellow Rust, Dusty and Brown.

But before any rust action, I covered my bottle with a layer of Clear Gesso to properly prime it.

I wanted to make sure that my mixed media products would firmly stick to the surface and not fall or chip off later on. I went for the Clear variety as I like the original brown color of the ceramic bottle and wanted it to stay as is.

Then I added some Plaster Paste - it gave me a bit of interesting texture to my bottle.

Then I started adding the metal elements to make my altered bottle really unique. I used a hot glue gun and sometimes 3D Matte Gel which is just great to stick heavier add-ons.

I didn't want my bottle to look too heavy so I started off with just a few elements to start building my composition and I covered them with different colors of Rust Pastes, simply mixing them directly on the surface. I think they beautifully matched the original color of the bottle!

Now was the right time to add some additional texture. I covered a few places with 3D Matte Gel, I focused around metal elements and sometimes under them. I sprinkled these places with Art Stones and covered them with Rust Pastes too.

Later on I added more metal elements, flowers, wings and lovely vintage trinkets... and covered them with Rust Pastes again.

Yup, there are many many layers of mixed media products on this bottle! :)

In the end I added the lightest colors of Rust Pastes just to add some highlights.

When I was satisfied with the color and composition, I covered some places with Art Alchemy Waxes (see which ones in the product list below). They added a bit of beautiful delicate shine on the matte layers of Rust Pastes.

And now please enjoy my video tutorial and see how simple it is to decorate such a magical rusty altered bottle!

The story is I found this forgotten, ordinary looking bottle in my father's basement. Can you imagine? :)

Finding it was like finding a treasure 'cause  I knew  right away that could make it look really special with my new pastes!

You can use the Rust Pastes to add a vintage look to ordinary boring objects and turn them into unique magical home decor!

Maybe it's worth rummaging through your attics and basements - you might come across something inspiring!

Be creative and love what you make! :)
xx
Marta




Products used: