Sunday, January 31, 2016

OCC Day 4: Stamped Scenes

Woo Hoo!! I'm happy with how this turned out! I tried to put everything I've learned about watercolouring into this, and "Phew!" It's ok. I'm a detail person, so after the washes in the background were done, I ended up detailing the flowers and grapes, and tried to do grass "Sandy Allnock style". The roses were done the way Dawn showed us, with a series of "C" strokes, and I tried "scrumbling" on the wood arbor, which was the only thing stamped, although I did have a picture to go by, that came with this Art Impressions stamp set. It's a bit unbalanced because I haven't put the sentiment on, yet, which will go in the bottom, left corner. I wanted to get his posted right away :)

OCC Day 5: Expressive Florals #3

This one started out OK when I was painting this yesterday, but in the cold light of morning today, I think it's looking a little amateurish. However, it's something I would have been afraid to even attempt prior to this class, so for a first effort, I'll take it. I'm having trouble making my washes light enough--is anyone else having this problem...?

OCC Day 5: Expressive Florals #2

Here is my attempt at doing a repetitive rose background. I will draw some lines next time, so the roses are more evenly spaced. I used an indigo paint for the flower centers, and so matted with a dark navy paper. The sentiment was die cut and adhered to a strip of vellum to soften the flowers, in order for the sentiment to stand out a little more.

OCC Day 5: Expressive Florals #1

This has been my favourite day of class! I had fun making these types of cards, and look forward to practicing some more. I was glad I could cover up a big blob on this card with my sentiment, though.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

OCC Day 3: Negative painting #2

Maybe this is cheating, but I kept this very simple! But I like it the best so far ;) I stamped the woman, painted her dress first, then loosely put a bit of blue paint around her. I grounded the image with the sentiment. This card is going to my mother, as she is turning 90 in a couple of weeks. The inside says, "Celebrate with style!" I also put some Wink of Stella on her dress to put a bit of sparkle on it. The flowers are done with a gold gel pen for a bit more sparkle. It's a big occasion, after all!

OCC Day 3: Lifting

I struggled with this one, mostly because I'm still learning how to paint "loosely". I'd love to be able to do it, but I am a detail person, and everything seems to bend towards "photorealistic"...at least, that's what I aim for. Anyway, the lifting technique is new to me and a great help in trying to lighten up areas, instead of trying to always paint around a lighter area. I lifted the paint from the centers, as well as the white streaks in the flowers. The ink I used to stamp this was too dark, though, as it shows through the paint much more than I'd like. Note to self: buy some light, waterproof ink!!

OCC- Day 3: Negative Painting

Did you catch Dawn saying, "This looks a lot harder than it is?" Well, I beg to differ!! Lol.
 Also, I don't have many outline stamps, and--can't hardly believe it--but NO outline leaf stamps! This took me two tries, and I'm still not satisfied. How is that possible, when I have a gazillion stamps??  I want to try this again, but with some outlined flower stamps (which I DO have), and make a panel for a card.
Anyway, here is my second effort. The feathers are not a great stamp for this technique.


 And here is the first one. You know how some of us say, "It looks better in real life?" Well, trust me--this is one time where it looks MUCH better in the photo than in real life. Lol.  The colours in the background were very overworked and muddy as a result.


Wednesday, January 27, 2016

OCC-Day2: Rose

My second effort, as my first one was horrible.. But I'm encouraged that maybe I can do this, after all... I think??? Again, this will be turned into a card, eventually!  (Sorry for the off-center photo...)

OCC Day2- Flowers

LOVED doing this, and will definitely try this again! And now...on to more Day 2 exercises!

OCC Day 2-Pears

This was fun. It will be made into a card for my husband for our upcoming anniversary, and will say, "We make quite a pear!"

Day 1-Brush Techniques and Washes (Wash)

Here is my first project for Day 1 of the OCC Watercolour class. I will be using this on a card...eventually! I'm behind on my "homework" already, and it's only day 1! But I'm loving all the terrific videos and hope I can improve on what I'm painting.

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Make it Monday #235:Adding Colour to Stamped Images

Hi all. Happy New Year!
 Laurie has us adding coloured pencils to our stamped images this week, to add a little more detail and depth to the images. So I dug out my OMS (aka Odorless Turpenoid), but couldn't find my paper stumps. I haven't used either for a couple of years! So I used a Ranger Cut-N-Dry Pen Nib, which worked beautifully! The stamps sets are PTI's "Twig Wreath", "Birthday Basics", and "Choose Joy".
Adding in a little shading with pencils added that little extra "somethin', somethin'". (Although, looking at my close-up photo, I realize there are many imperfections!) I added a little Wink of Stella, Clear, to the centers of the flowers, and a little Glossy Accents to the "berries'".

I must say, I've really had more fun with Twig Wreath than expected! I've made about 10 cards with this set, and haven't even used the dies, yet.

 Here's the close-up of the added pencil shading.
 And here's another card.
Thanks for looking!