“Under Glass” Mixed Media Steampunk Canvas

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This aricle is written by Anjuli Johnson

I have become rather obsessed with cloche’s and bell jars.  I’ve started collecting them and using them to display books and things around my house.  I love the vintage, sophisticated feel they bring to any room.  Not to mention, they make me feel like part of a fairy tale (I’m thinking Disney’s Beauty and the Beast here, in case you were wondering).  So when I found that Tim Holtz had some mini bell jars in his Idea-ology collection, I couldn’t resist bringing home a package.

Under Glass- mixed media steampunk art

I grabbed a 6*6*1 ½ inch canvas, and turned it around so that I could use the center hole in the back as the display for the cloche.  I wasn’t sure exactly how this project was going to come together, so I covered everything with acrylic gesso to prepare the surface and help cover the staples and the transition from the wood to the canvas.  The rest of the process was a step by step decision of which elements to use and where.  To decorate the cloche, I knew I wanted a natural plant type of look, so I went to Michael’s to find some moss and maybe some small branches or twigs that would be made for models.  Well, I did find some moss and some small branches of grapevine- they were scattered on the ground, about to swept up and thrown away.  So I grabbed a small handful and asked if I could save them from the depths of the abyss- I didn’t even have to ask.  J  And now my mini cloche shimmers with a touch of green and a tiny swirling branch with a hint of moss hanging down.  Perfect!

I love the chipboard lamp and frame in the background that add a dollhouse type of look, especially as the background for the cloche.  Just seeing all these elements come together is giving me lots of ideas for how to use the rest of these mini cloche’s to create different types of assemblage pieces. I haven’t done much assemblage art, but I’m pretty excited to try some new techniques that could really stretch me as a mixed media artist.

Close up of mixed media steampunk art

I do plan on framing this with a floating frame to give it a more finished look.  Then it’s just a matter of deciding where to display it!

I made a video to showcase the whole process, and I’d love to hear your thoughts!  Feel free to leave comments and links to your own projects with Tim Holtz mini bell jars.

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Anjuli Johnson is a Mixed Media Artist from Raleigh, NC.  She began her art career as a scrapbooker, and it’s been an evolutionary process every since.  She loves all things mixed media- paper, glue, paint, canvas, pens, wire, gears… the list goes on and on.  She is constantly trying to push through her fears to discover and develop her talents, meet new people, and learn from those around her. For more of her projects and techniques check out her blog at www.thefarpavilion.com.

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Neocolor I v Neocolor II – A Funny Story

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This article is written by Terri Sproul

Funny story, I found a newer product for me called NeoColor II

Neocolor ii by Caran D’Ache

Off the the store to purchase, first off they do not have them at Michael’s.
Got mine at Dick Blicks, BUT I did not purchase the right ones; I pick up NeoColor I

Neocolor i by Caran D’Ache

NeoColor I are Water Resistant Wax pastels

Well I came home with the NeoColor I and play with them and figured out they were NOT the product I was looking for??? Hum…. back to the store. This time got the NeoColor II, which are water solvent wax pastels, basically water color crayons.

This is a canvas I made using NeonColor II

mixed media art canvas

Are Journal page using Neoncolor II

mixed media art journal

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You can see more of Terri Sprouls on her weekly show, live on Tuesday at 6 PM PST / 7 PM MST / 8PM CST / 9PM EST (New York Time)
Join her group on Facebook to get links weekly and details.

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Mixed Media Canvas: Harmony

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This article is written by Shari Welch

I have been wanting to try some of the new line of mixed media products from DecoArt® called media.

I decided it was time to bring out the canvas to try out a few of these products. I am using a  black regular mister, a shimmer mister in turquoise, and a crackle paste. I pulled out a bee hive stencil to use with the crackle paste.  I added additional color using distress inks by Tim Holtz. I finished by adding some butterfly and bee ephemera.

Tip: When using ink sprays make sure you clean them out after each use. I have an extra spray bottle filled with diluted DecoArt® brush and stencil cleaner that I attach the sprayer to. Spray onto a paper towel until no more ink is visible.

canvas with background

bee stencil crackle paint

close up of crackle paste bee

finished canvas

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Shari Welch Artist Profile: I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. I studied graphic design in Portland,Oregon before moving to Denton, Texas and putting all my focus on mixed media art. In addition to being an article writer for mixed media art, I am on the Creative Paperclay Design team, The Robin’s Nest Design team, and a blogger for DecoArt. I strongly believe in giving back. I volunteer at Scrap Denton Creative Reuse Center where I teach workshops, art camps, and perform art demos. I am very passionate about mixed media art and helping others discover their creativity.

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Mixed Media Canvas with DecoArt Media Line

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This article is written by Kathi F. Rerek

As part of the DecoArt Blogger team, I was delighted when I recently received a package containing products from DecoArts’ new Media range, which includes new Fluid Acrylic paints (including Interference and Metallic colors), crackle products, Texture products, Antiquing Creams, Misters, and Varnishes.

DecoArt products and The Crafters Workshop stencils

I decided to try them out on a flat canvas, which I knew would hold up to most anything. I started out by applying White Gesso to smooth out a bit of the canvas texture as well as cover up a rejected project. DecoArts’ White Gesso  is thicker than most others I’ve used and covered up the previous project very well.

The next step was to  mix Primary Cyan, Titanium White, and Paynes Grey Media Fluid Acrylics (MFA) on a palette and sponge them onto the canvas. Pthalo Green-Blue MFA were sponged horizontally over the blue to add additional color. This layer was knocked back with a baby wipe.

DecoArt product review

Primary Cyan and Primary Yellow were blended then applied over the Kelp Forest stencil by The Crafter’s Workshop.

Burnt Umber MFA, Primary Yellow MFA, and Diarylide Yellow MFA were combined on a palette, then sponged over the Sea Horse from the Sea Creatures stencil by the Crafters Workshop onto each side of the canvas.

DecoArt product review

White Modeling Paste is supposed to be tintable using Media Fluid Acrylics, so I decided to give that a go. I scooped out a palette-knife bladeful of the paste and blended a few drops of Primary Yellow MFA into it. This was applied over the Seahorse from the Sea Creatures stencil.

DecoArt product review

It was time to try out DecoArts’ new White Crackle Paint, which like the Modeling Paste, is supposed to be tintable. Using a palette knife, I scooped out some White Crackle Paint onto a palette and mixed in a few drops of Pthalo Green-Yellow MFA and Primary Yellow MFA. The mixture was sponged over a Leaf Flourish stencil by Dylusions/Ranger onto the right side of the canvas. The stencil was cleaned and when I came back, I was thrilled to discover that the leaves had already crackled! The same mixture was sponged over the stencil onto the left side of the canvas. Sadly, it seeped under the stencil, so I had to wipe it off, which left some spotty patches on the canvas. I went ahead and reapplied the Crackle Paint mixture through the stencil with better results.

DecoArt product review

By this time, the center Modeling Paste on the Sea Horse had dried sufficiently for me to add additional colors to it. First Quinacridone Gold MFA was painted and allowed to dry. Interference Gold MFA was then painted over the previous layers.

DecoArt product review

Like the other DecoArt Media Texture products, Textured Sand Paste is supposed to be tintable. It is a greyish color when in the jar and I wanted the sea floor to be a different color, so I scooped some of the paste onto a palette and added Burnt Ochre MFA and Transparent Yellow Oxide MFA to it, then used a palette knife to apply it to the base of the canvas.

While this was drying, I went back and touched up the leaves since I wasn’t pleased with the color I had mixed. Pthalo Green-Yellow MFA and Interference Green MFA were combined and spritzed with water to thin it to a wash-like consistency. This was brushed over the leaves on both sides of the canvas. I was delighted to note that the crackle texture remained even when painted over with a wash of paint.

The painted Textured Sand Paste was mostly dry, but I wasn’t thrilled with the color, so I mixed Transparent Yellow Oxide MFA, Burnt Sienna MFA, Titanium White MFA, and Burnt Umber MFA and lightly brushed the paint over the sand. Much better!

DecoArt product review

The last step was to combine Cobalt Turquoise MFA and Cobalt Blue MFA with some water to create a wash, which was brushed over the entire canvas. A purple jewel added to the seahorse’s eye finished the canvas.

DecoArt products and The Crafters Workshop stencils

Whereas I’m not totally happy with my canvas, I am very pleased with the performance of the products from DecoArt’s Media line and can’t wait to explore them further.

Reference Websites:

DecoArt

The Crafters Workshop

Susana’s Custom Art and Card Design — SCACD carries most of the products mentioned in this article. Additionally, she carries rubber stamps that coordinate with several of the latest stencils from The Crafters Workshop.

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Kathi F. Rerek is a mixed media artist who lives in New Jersey with her husband, daughter, and two cats. She’s been crafting for almost fourteen years and has been lucky to have served on several design teams.

Her blog, Kat’s Tales of Stamping and Scrapping can be found at kathstales.blogspot.com

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Disclosure: These products have been provided by DecoArts for the purpose of review. All opinions are that of the MixedMediaArt team.
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