Monday, March 30, 2009

That background I mentioned...






Hello again! If you read the last post, you know that I was having fun making gesso backgrounds and I promised to share some more.
I really love the way this came out! Much like I said in the last post, I stamped the diamond background with white gesso on white paper. When it was dry I went to town with all kinds of lovely sprays. :) Which ones? Well, I can guess that I used Amaretto (Memories Mists) and a dark blue (Midnight something-or-other) Glimmer Mist - and quite possibly the Blue Martini MM also, but I can't swear to that. Once they were dry I stamped my new Tim Holtz wings in white gesso, then overstamped with Charcoal chalk ink. The swirls were stamped along the edges with the same chalk ink but no gesso. See what a huge difference that made?! The Michelangelo quote was stamped in black (twice with Brilliance in order for it to show up - gesso doesn't take ink well AT ALL).
Once the main panel was dry I mounted it on a piece of black vellum. The vellum *needed* something (ha!) so I went around the edges with my distress stickles (lovin' those!) and smooshed them around with my finger. Of course I had to dab some in the corners of the panel too. Finally it was mounted on a bronze card base. What you can't see is the strip of background that I put on the inside - a nice finishing touch.
Here's a slightly different view that shows the 'glimmer' part of the glimmer mist. Like I said, I *love* the way this came together. :D

So, here's another little something I've been working on. Most of the time I feel like I have crafty ADD - anyone else?? I get started with something, head off on a tangent and never get back to what I started in the first place! This time it was the sprays... oh, those lovely colors just called out to me. So I got down a piece of rice paper and spritzedbrushedsprayedblotted until my fingers were waaaay inky! I'm not sure what this will eventually become, but I liked it enough that I wanted to share it. How 'bout you? Like it? Have crafty ADD too? Ever take time to just play with your colors? Do tell!
Thanks for visiting me today, I appreciate it every single time!

6 comments:

Art By Wanda said...

Fabulous gesso backgrounds!!! I also love how gesso resists inks and the fabulous things you can do. I am also a spray addict :-)) and love it when I can take time to just play around.

mel m. m. mccarthy said...

Mari! This is absolutely amazing! I wish I could come over to your house so you could teach me how you get that amazing texture. These are SO beautiful! And THAT RAINBOW! I am freakin out over it (between drooling over it) That shimmer you got & the way your finger painting made trails, man oh man!!! (I sound like a hippie, haha) ;O)

You have craft ADD too? I should have known my fellow Stampire would share that affliction (makes it hard to decide what to post, but it's such a blast, no?) Heeheehee.

Von said...

I'm really enjoying your blog your work is awesome :)I've never used the gesso so must give that a try
Thanks :)
Von

Rose-Anne said...

Thank you for the lovely comment on my blog and encouragement.I have just had a look at yours and you have some inspirational pieces here.

Etha said...

these backgrounds are beautiful! lots of glimmer :) I love working with gesso, just something about it that is fun (the price is right too...).
I don't think I have crafty add, usually I'm pretty focused. But I do often have trouble "getting started"...

Kristin Moore said...

Thanks for visiting my blog and taking a break from "lurking" to comment- LOL! I'm glad I followed your link to your blog- I can tell you are a true artist- not just a stamper. You actually do something with your images. This one is just lovely- I love the layers and dimension and uniqueness!