Feeling rusty....

Hi lovelies

It's been a hectic week with family and despite starting this post a week ago I'm only just completing it! Best laid plans... by the time I've come to complete this piece let's say my creative energy wasn't at it's best. In fact, I was in two minds whether to post this but after lots of creative love from my team mates over at Indigo Blu here goes...

I chose to use Indigo Blu's 'Fly High' and 'Draughtsman' Stamps on this panel along with a multitude of the Indigo Blu acrylic paints. Should you wish to check out all the wonderful stamps, paints and luscious powders you can visit the website here.

I've recently purchased a number of the rusty products created by some fabulous mixed media artists. Anyone who has known me a while or attended my workshops will know I love anything vintage, grunge or rusty!The products were all brilliant but in hindsight I personally I miss mixing it up and using my imagination plus fine sand, heavy bodied acrylic paint and my good old - battered heat tool to create that rusty effect. The products are excellent especially if you are in a rush, not particularly confident or don't want to mess. However I enjoy messing - personally it is the best part! Here is what I've created...

I began with a piece of heavy weight greyboard - the sort of stuff you find at the back of kids drawing pads! I decided to start with a green first layer followed by a random application of Large Grain Texture Paste. I then added stencilled detail with phat foam and cream acrylic paint before applying glazing medium randomly with a palette knife. Glazing medium acts as an extender with acrylic paint, giving you more working time. In this instance I'm using it to resist additional paint layers. You can also use matt medium or Vaseline. To be truthful, Vaseline is more difficult to remove due to it's greasy consistence but it will do the trick. I've taught a workshop many moons ago using this same technique to create faux leather, why don't you give it a go and see what you come up with? Next I added lots of rusty colours using my palette knife and dry brush technique before removing the glazing medium to reveal the green base layer. A few more layers of paint - by this point I had lost track, with my favourite tunes on and I got totally lost in the creative moment.

Finally, I added Finnabair's Art Extravagance Rust Paste in a variety of colours for added dimension. As it was a play piece I then experimented with Emerald Green's Chunky Rust Embossing Powder and  Paper Artsy's Rusty Car Infusions Pigment Powder. Loved the infusions, the colour was instantaneous and very vivid. I tried the Chunky Rust and the Vintage Beeswax Embossing Powders and loved them but feel I need to play some more with them alone to see their full potential.

Once the background was complete - meaning I'd experimented until I felt enough was enough, I started planning the focal point. I knew I wanted to use the draughtsman as the main image and my growing stash of gears. I die cut a frame using Seth Apter's Shield Die and set to creating more texture using the previously mentioned products. I felt the whole piece was too dark so began lifting the colour of the frame with a little gold paint. The Draughtsman was stamped using Black Archival Ink followed by the Numbers - Collectors Edition No.4 Stamp by Indigo Blu in Watering Can Archival Ink. The edges were distressed before adding beeswax to the surface to give the image an older feel. 

I set out the design with an old cigarette card giving a hint towards aeroplanes and torn corrugated card for wings before layering all my ephemera and gears. The words 'Fly High' are from the Stamps of the same name by Indigo Blu. Stamped in archival and finished off with a little more beeswax.

I would like to submit this rusty experiment into the following challenge blogs:

- Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #48 - Rust

- Frilly & Funky Challenge Blog - 'Neutral Point of View'

- More Mixed Media Challenge - 'Anything Goes'

OK. We now have the next dates for Hochanda (link here) so it's back to TV samples. Kay will be live on Monday at 11am and again at 3pm with some fabulous new products. If, like me, you have Virgin where Hochanda isn't available or are unable to watch you can always catch up online by selecting the rewind option and selecting the show.

Have a fabulous Bank Holiday Weekend. I hope the sun shines and you have a great time with family and friends.

Creative hugs, Julie xx