Michelle G Brown | Mixed Media Art

Gesso Resistance Background

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This stunning background was created using the gesso resistance technique, as introduced to me by Michelle Ward, over with her Green Pepper Press Street Team.

Background using gesso resistance technique

Background using gesso resistance technique

Start by gesso’ing a layout. I use a criss-cross pattern, which gives the layout some texture to start with, as the brushstrokes will show up as the piece progresses. Allow to completely dry.

Gesso Layer

Next, splozzle some acrylic paints around. While it’s still a little damp, drag a dry credit card across the surface to remove some of the colour. The gesso allows the paint to be easily removed.

Paint SplozzlingPaint removal

Also spritz some water onto the page and let sit for a minute. Then use paper towl to blot off the water and remove some of the paint. A nice splattering effect is created.

Water Spritz

Now you’ve got a background, ready for your next mixed media art project.

Finished background

Happy creating!

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Filed Under: Mixed Media Painting Tagged With: , , ,

Painted Background on Canvas

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Here is a step by step guide to creating the background used on this Mixed Media Collage on a 4″ x 4″ mini canvas.

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The mini canvas was bought from an arts supply store for less than $1. The two paints chosen are a purple and a bright maroon (Chromacryl Students Acrylic – Violet and Jo Sonjas Artist Gouache – Red Violet).

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The purple paint was used first, starting from the top left hand corner and the bottom right corner, slowly working with a barely damp brush and moving the paint inwards.

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To further fade the paint, a slight amount of water was added to the brush and the paint was watered down along the middle. Then with some paper towel, a small amount of paint was blotted off. Repeating this process improved the fading of the paint. When you are happy with the effect, allow that layer of paint to dry (a heat gun helps to speed the process along).

The maroon paint was then added in a similar way – apply the paint along the middle, the add a wetter brush to thin it out and blend it back into the purple paint. Blot with paper towel. Allow to dry.

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Now we are ready to add some visual texture to the canvas. As this surface is tricky to stamp onto directly, the stamping is done onto tissue paper, then added to the canvas. Stamping needs to be done with an ink that won’t run when wet. Staz-On is a great ink to use in this application (Tsukineko StazOn Solvent Inkpad, Jet Black) Pigment inks are water based and will not work for this technique.

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Take the stamped tissue paper and tear out the piece you want to add. Tearing the edges gives a feathered edge that blends into the background better than straight, cut edges. A vanish was used to adhere the tissue paper to the canvas. Gel medium or a runny glue will also work. Carefully apply the glue or vanish onto the back of the tissue paper and give it a few moments to soak in. Also apply a layer of glue onto the canvas. Very carefully lay the wet tissue paper onto the canvas. Smooth out the tissue paper with your finger nail, to remove any bubbles or excessive glue. Be very careful here or the tissue paper will tear. This does add an interesting effect and won’t completely ruin your canvas,but it is very annoying. Set aside to fully dry. Allow to air dry and resist the temptation to use your heat gun.

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Now your canvas is ready to decorate.

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Happy creating!

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Filed Under: Mixed Media Painting Tagged With: , , , , ,

Creating your own background

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Start with a piece of cardboard – this one is from a cereal box, cut into quarters. Then a layer of gesso is added and allowed to dry.

Starting Materials
Gesso layer

Add the first colour. The intention here was to have the colour radiating out and fading around the circle. The gesso underneath allows the paint to be thinned out and removed, using a dabbing motion with a cloth.

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Then the second colour was added.

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As this colour combination was a little bright, gesso was then added to tone it down and tie the pattern together. Again this layer was blotted to remove some of the gesso to make it thinner in the centre.

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To complete the background, some stamping was added.

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Then your background is ready to add images, text and embellishments.

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All of these pieces were stuck on with double sided tape. Images from Go Make Something.

Happy Creating!

Filed Under: Collage Mixed Media, Mixed Media Art, Mixed Media Painting Tagged With: ,

 Mixed Media Backgrounds with the Credit Card Painting Technique

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Creating your own backgrounds is an exciting part of any mixed media art project. While there are many commercially available papers and products out there, creating your own background from scratch is a great way to ensure no one else will have a project looking like yours.Making your own backgrounds also allows you to tune the colours to match your theme.

Credit card painting backgrounds

Credit card painting backgrounds

Background papers can be made in a variety of ways. Today will concentrate on using the credit card painting technique. I’m not sure who created this technique, but the likes of Lisa Vollrath and others have all added to my knowledge and inspired me to give it a go.

The materials we need are items you will have around the house; base paper(mine has text on it from an old conference papers book), two different coloured paints, one metallic paint and an OLD credit card or store card or any other small, flexible plastic card. I read somewhere that using your real credit card with the paints will wreck the magnetic strip on the back, so please do not use your current card! We will also need some backing newsprint or plastic, to protect our working surface from the paint.

The credit card painting technique can create lots of backgrounds in a short space of time, so be prepared with extra text paper and somewhere to put them flat to dry, before you begin to get dirty. Lay out your work surface and place the text sheets on top.Give the paints a good shake and apply a line of the first of the two paints, directly onto the top of the page. Hold the top of the page with one hand and use the credit card in the other. Hold it angled towards you and carefully drag in down the length of the page. When you’ve reached the bottom of the text page, lift the credit card and move across the the next bit of paint. Again, angle it towards you and carefully drag in down the length of the page, going parallel to the first strip on paint. Continue until you’ve covered the text page or run out of paint. Sit aside this first paint layer to dry. Move onto the next sheet, with the same paint.

As you experiment with the mixed media technique, you will find different paints have different runniness (or viscosity) and this will vary how well it spreads down the page.Also the different in angles the credit card is held will change the effect that is created. These are the fun aspects of this technique as each attempt produces a slightly different result.

Once the first layer of paint is dry it is time to repeat the process with the second colour or shade. Depending on how different the two colours are will alter the results. If the second colour is a lot darker than the first, then I often apply it sparingly, so the colour comes out patchy,rather than having the second colour obscuring all of the first colour.  Once more, give the paint a good shake and apply a line of the paint directly across the top of the page. Hold the paper with one hand and use the credit card in the other. Hold it angled towards you and carefully drag in down the length of the page, then move across the the next bit of paint.  Drag the card down the length of the page, going parallel to the first strip on paint. Sit aside to dry.

The third, metallic layer of this technique is often what bring this background to life.Spot the gold or silver or bronze paint across the top of the page and lightly drag the credit card down the page. The metallic paint brings a sparkle to the painted paper that adds a wonderful finishing touch.

So that’s the basics for creating a mixed media background using the credit card painting technique. Feel free to experiment with different paint and paper combinations to see what wonderful creations you can make. You can even elaborate on these painted sheets by adding some stamping, or adhering them straight on to your next mixed media art project.

Happy creating!

Filed Under: Mixed Media Techniques Tagged With: , , ,
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