Thursday, March 5, 2020

March A Vintage Journey Challenge - Let's Celebrate Our Art

There's a brand new challenge over at A Vintage Journey today.  We are celebrating 6 years at AVJ this month and Brenda is our hostess.  This is the challenge in her words:

"Yes! let's celebrate our 6th Birthday.
Do you remember the words from the Kool and the Gang song?
There's a party goin' on right here
A celebration to last through the years
So bring your good times, and  your laughter too
We gonna celebrate your party with you.

So show us what you are celebrating in your art and craft work at the moment. Don't forget to link us into your blog post and if it's not really obvious share with us how your project relates to the challenge theme. Just remember to create your project in one of our preferred styles: vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk."
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I decided to make a mixed media canvas.  I have seen these made on so many blogs on canvas, on journal covers, on wall hangings, and I always wanted to try it.  I've purchased all the supplies over the past few years that I thought I'd need for it but still never sat down to work on one.
I think it's because I'm basically a clean and simple crafter (!) and this is anything but clean and simple!

So, today I'm celebrating that my art journey has gone into areas unknown - and I am happy to share my first effort with you!
First, several views of the finished product.  My canvas is a small 4"x4".

Close ups to show the crackle and all the dimensional bits.
And a few photos of how I created it!
I had a 4"x4" canvas that I had made years ago that I wasn't happy with but kept it to redo some day.  I ripped off the decorations I had on it, leaving the bit of lace along the bottom.  I got out a few things I thought I might use for my collage.
I made the face pieces from some molds and Model Magic from Crayola. The other pieces were in my stash.
I placed various pieces on the canvas and when I was happy with the design, I adhered them to the canvas with 3D Transparent Matte Gel.  I added some Carnelian Gem Stones, Copper Micro Beads and Art Stones and left it all to dry overnight.
 (I found out you need to have patience in making something like this as each layer has to dry, usually overnight!)
Then I brushed Black Gesso over the whole canvas being sure it got into all the little crevices. Another overnight drying session!
I forgot to take a photo of my next step, which was to rub Bronze Age Metallic Wax and Patina Effect Brass Paste over most of the canvas.  That really gave all the pieces a definition on the black canvas.  Then I covered it liberally with Clear Crackle Texture Paste and left it once again - overnight to dry,  hopefully to crackle!
(mind you, I really have no idea what I'm doing - but I'm sort of following steps I've seen other people do!!)  
With every layer I thought  "Gosh, I hope I'm not ruining this now!"
And once again - the final result!
 I also took a photo of it out in my yard in front of the base of our Japanese Maple where it practically blended right into nature!  
(spring has not yet arrived here in New England!)
So we are looking forward to you joining us this month in celebrating our 6th birthday at AVJ and to celebrate where you are in your art journey!

You'll find lots of inspiration from the Creative Guides over at the challenge here

I'm also linking my canvas to:
The Eyes Have It (my moon has big eyes!)


Accessories:  Sculpey Art Doll Faces Molds, White Model Magic -Crayola, lace, 4"x4" canvas, metal star, metal flower, plastic flower from stash, Typography Letters - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, 3D Transparent Matte Gel, Texture Paste Clear Crackle, Art Stones, Copper Micro Beads - Finnebair/Prima, Metalique Wax Bronze Age, Patina Effect Paste Brass - Prima, Carnelian Quarry Gem Stones - Emerald Creek, Black Gesso - Dina Wakley/Ranger.

14 comments:

Christine Alexander said...

Wow what a transformation Julia, I love how it turned out and the colours are stunning. Thanks for the pics of the process :)

Words and Pictures said...

Wowzer, Julia - this is amazing. What a fabulous thing to celebrate - stepping outside your comfort zone on the crafting journey to discover such brilliant new creative landscapes. I love the bronzed textures - all that fabulous crackle around the dimensional collaged pieces. This must be as much fun for the fingertips as it is for the eyes. Happy birthday us!
Alison x

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, what an amazing canvas! It looks so beautiful and I loved seeing how you created it, the texture and elements look stunning 😁. I feel the same and have always wanted to try this technique but haven't been brave enough ...lol 😉 ... having seen your tutorial maybe I'll give it a go! Thanks for the inspiration and wishing you a wonderful weekend! Happy birthday wishes! Hugs, Jo x

Brenda Brown said...

Julia this is brilliant and well done you for celebrating our 6th birthday and a new challenge in creating this incredible canvas. I love the elements you chose to use and how you layered them up to finish with such a magnificent design, it's fantastic!
Thanks for celebrating another year of the AVJ blog and your beautiful art.
hugs Brenda xxx

Annie said...

Wonderful details and textures on your beautiful canvas Julia xx Well done on stepping outside your comfort zone and enjoying the process xx
Huge hugs
Annie xx

Papercraft Boutique said...

Wow, this is such a wonderful collage mixed media canvas, Julia! I can't believe this is your first one.
Love the metallic colors & shine, the dimension & textures including the crackles, and all the details (the lace from years ago!.
I really enjoyed your step-by-step photo tutorial, as always! Thanks for sharing!
Hideko xx
p.s. Looking at the amount of supplies in the photo, I thought I would need a bigger craft storage space if I did Mixed Media projects. ;-P

Nikki Acton said...

Oooh look at that texture! Love doing things like this - but I always make such a mess. Love your design Julia and metallic finish wonderful xxxx

Mac Mable said...

Glorious texture with an amazing result Julia. I so enjoyed reading your step by steps and had a little chuckle about how long you had to wait on each layer for it to dry (and also hoping that you had not ruined it!) x. It is fabulous how you started out with the canvas and how it ended up.....Absolutely stunning canvas, which I love x.

Jane said...

A great project Julia, I do love moons! A lovely entry for our March "the eyes have it" challenge over at Country View Challenges. Thanks so much for joining us xx

experiments in paper said...

I love your little canvas, Julia - would never know this is a first! The textures are fabulous, as is your palette, and I adore how you've highlighted with the metallic! Wonderful!! xx Lynn

Loll said...

WOW! Amazing art piece, Julia! You are so creative with your 3-D projects, so I knew that your canvas would be a masterpiece ... and it is! Love all the elements with the black and bronze wax. Very cool! xx

Corrie Herriman said...

Thank you for your lovely entry in our March 'the eyes have it' challenge over at Country View Challenges !
Corrie xx

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

We would never have guessed Julia that this was your first steps into creating this way, it's all within us we just need the time to bring it all out. Stunning piece full of character, isn't it a great way of using up those odds & ends? I'm sure this will be the first of many.. So glad you shared this with us all it's amazing!! Creative wishes Tracey x

A Pink said...

First of all apologies for being so late to visit!

Your mixed media canvas is absolutely fabulous, Julia . So gorgeously rich in texture, dimension and natural colour tones.
Seems you are naturally gifted with any creative style you try.

Hugs
Amanda
x