Getting Dirty

After saying I would do a mixed media workshop at McOyster Crafts in Cupar, I have had some fun playing!! And making lots of mess. Over the years I have collected paints, waxes, pastes, mica sprays etc, but never really used them properly. So I decided it was about time I actually started using them.

I have been inspired by several mixed media artists, especially Finnabair (Anna Dabrowska) and some of the artists on her design team. I am still learning how to use the different products and produce something I am happy with. I want to find my own style but think at the moment I am happy to try ideas I have seen. Here’s what I have made so far.

This was inspired very much by Finnabair and the techniques she showed us on a workshop my friend Linda and I went to last September. I didn't have a black and white head shot to hand so this was from a card my daughter Catriona had printed at Art College. I quite like the layers of lace for the background and the white gesso dry brushing to pull everything together.

For this mdf tag I was trying to get a rusty patina look with paints over the black gesso base.

This was created using Finnabair rust paste then gold wax on top. The background layer was a piece of thin metal paper embossed with a Tim Holtz 3-D Mechanicals embossing folder. 

The photo does not show this at it's best. I love this stag die and wanted to create a wintery background. Again I used a piece of metal sheet (that I got from McOyster crafts) and embossed it with a Tim Holtz Christmas words folder. I triple embossed the stag after colouring him, with clear powder. I then stamped into the hot melted powder with a crackle effect stamp and used a copper wax to pick up the raised areas. I might do something similar for another workshop if the first one is successful.

I think its time now to clean up my desk before I start anything new. I look forward to seeing some of you next Saturday 9th February at my workshop at McOyster Crafts in Cupar.

Keep stamping!!

Siobhan xx