Tip of the month... February

The method of framing or displaying your piece of art is as important as the actual design itself.

 

When selecting a suitable frame keep in mind the colours you have used

 

in your picture, as well as what makes up the design

 

is it collage, flat, slightly 3D, thick, thin etc.

,

 does it require non reflective glass to protect it.

 

Don't select a frame that is so beautiful it could be a piece

 

of art work or on display by itself.

 

You want onlookers to admire your art work not be so engrossed in the beauty of the

 

frame that they don't see your picture.

 

      Elaborate, intricate , gorgeous frames, rather than enhancing the picture they are displaying,

 

 detract from it, as they pull the onlookers eyes away from the picture towards the frame.

 

Select something fairly plain, neutral colour, unless you decide to include

 

the more decorative frame as a part of your art work.  If that's

 

the case, select a frame that's darker or has detail that will draw the onlookers sight

 

to the frame then lead in to the art work.

 

First steps creating altered canvas New

I learnt so much from my blogging class today.
Anyway now I want to share with you the progress of my new picture I'm working on recycling  the canvas with the tree painted on it (picture) that I posted here yesterday.

I turned the canvas around and decided to use it sideways, Having the blue sky section on the left hand side, that meant the dark or ground section was now on the right, my original signature is upside down in the top right hand corner.

To start I painted a coat of white ghesso over the black tree trunk and branches, then over some of the green foliage.

Next I found some papers and actually cut straight pieces out, these I glued in place using matt mod podge. Allow to dry.

In the right hand corner I glued down a few different floral tissue papers, (serviettes).
A couple of pieces of the backing tissue I scrunched up and glued on to reassemble 3D flowers.

I left everything to dry.

Using 3 different green acrylic paints, plus a brown paint I added a few bushes in the bottom left hand corner.
 Then I placed it on an easel where I could see it frequently so that I could decide where to go next and what my picture was about, what was going on in my painting, what was I supposed to paint.
Totally different to what I had thought I was creating. So keep a lookout for the next instalment when I will complete it. The picture shows where I'm up to.

Recipe Jeans oaty date slice

Ingredients,
1cup each of plain flour, rolled oats and coconut,
1/2 cup sugar,
125grams margarine or butter
2. Large spoons of golden syrup
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda.
Approx 1cup dates.
Mix flour,sugar,oats and coconut together in large bowl.
Using saucepan, melt margarine and syrup over heat.
When that is melted, add approx 1/4 cup boiling water to bicarbonate mix into saucepan straight away, be ready for it to froth up, Pour immediately into dry ingredients and mix together,
Spread 1/2 the mixture into a non stick square cake pan, then cover with dates, press into mix, cover with rem mixture, cook in oven 180deg for approx 45min,
Cut into slices while still warm it's easier.

How I altered the canvas

This is a fairly large probably 16x20", The one I altered had this tree on it, plus the texture paste only difference was the colour. These were painted for a workshop I had, hence the colour changes.

Step 1. White ghesso over the tree area.
Step 2. I added tissue papers and paper towel. That was coloured with markers from when I made my alcohol inks. never throw anything away.
Step 3. I roughly drew a face using chalk pencil.
Step 4. Next I painted a pinky flesh colour over the face area.
Step 5. Completed the face.
Step 6. decided she needed a hat, so roughly cut one out of white paper.
step 7. painted the hair.
Step 8. Cut a larger hat from coloured paper, glued in place added a ribbon and a bow, voila lovely finished canvas.
Step 9. next day, added coat of mod podge. Result is the lovely choccy box picture below.

Altered canvas

Exciting year

How exciting is this I am now officially a member of the " mixed media art" article writers team, I have so many ideas running around my head don't really know what to create first, but I'm always making new things something is bound to be suitable. Its a wonderful challenge for 2014 isn't it.

Shopping

After browsing online I found a great website Craft online. As it was located less than an hours drive from here my daughter and I decided to go for a drive and have a look. What fun. Online they say come and have a look at the showroom etc. We found it even though the nav lady wasn't much help,fortunately I used to live in the area so had a basic idea where it was. After finding a park, Sharon (daughter) went to check out the entrance, we'll it was almost vertical very narrow even for a car and it looked like drive in back out. So unless you are an agile monkey or a mountain goat it's not a place to visit particularly if you have any sort of disability like me.  We drove home fairly disapponted that in its self was an adventure as the highway was blocked by an accident so we had to find a back way up a mountain, down a mountain but we got home safely  Where I got online ordered my inks paints etc, this was Monday it's now Wednesday and I have just unpacked my parcel. So many thanks Craftonline, check them out.www.craftonline.com.au

Taking a course in blogging

Today I attended a blogging course, lots of fun and I learnt new things to do on my blogs, how good is that. I've even briefly touched on uploading videos, which may mean I can upload tutorials, so keep a lookout, follow my blog

My new blog.

Well here I am a new blog, My Arty place to show and share my art work.