A Creative Life: Mixed Media Canvas

August 16, 2012

Mixed Media Canvas

Guess what? I actaully created something totally for myself!! Yes, you heard right, not for a DT brief or a challenge, just for the sheer fun of creating! Oh it was sooooo much fun!! A real mixed media Canvas, layer upon delicious layer of paper, gesso, gel medium, impasto medium, paint, mists, paper napkins and a few flowers to finish it off. So here it is....

I started out being totally inspired by a video on the Color Room by czekoczyna of a small mixed media piece she did. Here is a link to her video Mixed Media by Czekoczyna.

I created a patchwork of layers of paper directly on top of the canvas using Helmar 450 glue and lots of Prima offcuts in my stash. This is the perfect opportunity to use those little pieces that you just can't throw away!!
Then out came the gesso, for a quick brush over. I just used a palette knife to roughly add it over all the paper pieces. You could still see the paper underneath in a lot of places when I was finished doing that.

Next I used impasto medium and one of the new Prima Donna Downey masks (I ADORE this mask so so much) and again used a palette knife to apply the impasto medium across my mask to get this glorious raised up floral pattern on my canvas.
After this was dry, it was time for a dash of acrylic paint, mixed with an acrylic irridescent medium and roughly brushed over in places. Then I allowed it to dry (with my heat gun since I am not patient at all!!)
Misting came after this, I used a couple of differnt colours, Tattered Angels Starfish and a Ranger Perfect Pearls Bronze. Since the gesso acts as a partial resist, but the impasto medium soaks up the mists beautifully, you have to apply a few coats to get a desired result.

The next layer involved applying a paper napkin with gel medium, that is how I achieved the bird and leaves in the bottom corner of the image above. Paper napkins need to be taken back to single ply before applying.

Due to the very textured surface I had to get creative as to how to add some text to the canvas. I ended up taking a sheet of tissue paper and rubbing a Kaisercraft rubon onto the surface. I then used the same technique as I did with the napkin to apply this to my canvas.
I traced these very cool fairy wings onto tracing paper as well before adhering in exactly the same way. I wanted to use this technique here as I knew there would be a slight opaque quality to the wings, as if they were delicate and slightly transparent.

Finally I finished off the page with my paper layered fairy and some pretty Prima flowers. I also added some gold paint around the edges of the canvas for extra dimension.

I would thoroughly recommend playing around with some mixed media techniques just for the fun of it. You feel very arty while you are playing and it is a great way to unleash your creative passion for all things arty! Thanks for stopping by!!

07:21 PM | Permalink

Comments

This is soo beautiful. I love the texture.

Posted by: Czekoczyna | August 16, 2012 at 07:39 PM

Its gorgeous Janine.... mixed media is fantastic isn't it !!!! Even better when its just or you, I bet you really loved just sitting there and playing, you fairy is just gorgeous - love all the lush texture. You have to do more !!!!

Posted by: steph devlin | August 16, 2012 at 07:51 PM

WOW!! This is stunning.. really wonderful..love all the textures in the back ground.. well done.. I hope you do some more of these.. this is so gorgeous!!

Posted by: lizzyc | August 16, 2012 at 08:56 PM