Monday 27 June 2016

Creating substrates and an experiment

Hello all and thanks for dropping in. I am still hugely enjoying doing an online class with Kate Thomson called Children of the Wild. In one of the many videos Kate shows how to make amazing mixed media backgrounds and I had great fun experimenting. Here is a little portrait I did on one of them.

The backgrounds are very textured, so doing the portrait straight on top, was not easy, I think a next time I would do that differently. But, - you live and learn. Below some further substrate examples:
Kate suggests to do these on old ledger paper, but I don't have any of that, so instead I used some 12 by 12 scrapbook papers with a ledger like background. As the techniques are part of the class, I can't really share them, but here are some more samples:
I used chalk paints mostly Decoart and Paper Artsy and played around with a muted colour palette which I think suite these techniques so well. Obviously stamps and stencils play a part as well.
Kate's site is called Fractured Angelics. I so love the "fractured" elements she uses in her work and shows examples of in her class.
Here is a smaller piece, started as a 12 by 12 and then cut into smaller parts. I incorporated more blue and quin. gold in these ones.
Here is another cut part of the same piece and my portrait was done on one of the other smaller pieces.
Here you can see just how much texture there was on the substrate, - kind of obvious it was going to be hard to draw straight onto that, but I just had to give it a go. I used pencil, stabilo All and tinted charcoal for the drawing.

This is probably my favourite bit of the piece, I love how the colours work against the stencilled bits.

Anyway, that's it for now, I'll experiment some more, so stay tuned :o).

Thanks for your visit like always and have fun with being creative!
xxx

33 comments:

Cocofolies said...

Hi Astrid,
I don't visit you very often sadly, and I really regret it because your artworks are absolutely stunning... Seeing this piece on my bloglovin opened for once, I couldn't resist to read and tell you here how wonderful this piece, your child drawing and your background are!!!! WOW!
Thank you for the links, I didn't know this artist yet, I will have a look on her blog and art soon.
Wisihing you a lovely day and happy continuation in your experimentations and joy of creating every day.
Hugs, Coco xx

Maryann Laursen said...

Such an awesome piece of art here again Astrid. I love your drawings and this is really great too, but I must confess, I´m totally sold on the first face you made, it really hit me in the heart andf dgot me sold. But this one is really great too profesionally and very well made, just me who loved the first face better. You are a really awesome artist.

suziqu's thread works said...

These are looking so fabulous Astrid! I love here techniques. I have her fabric and plaster book class. Is that beautiful white stencil flower one that you have or is it one Kate recommends? I think you drawing over the substrate is amazing - beautiful in every way to my eye even though it may have been a bit difficult for you. So much to learn isn't there???
Hugs from freezing Australia,
Suzy

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Absolutely stunning. I los how the texture from the background is visible on the face. The background is perfect for the focal image which is absolutely fantastic. Tracy x

Suzanne C said...

Beautiful! The background is gorgeous and the texture adds so much lovely detail and your drawing is fabulous.

Valerie-Jael said...

Fantastic portrait and backgrounds, wow! Hugs, Valerie

maria's knutselplezier said...

Wow fantastic Astrid what an amazing piece of ART!!!Great drawing, great background , great colours , just wondefull!!

Have fun!!
Maria

Pamellia said...

So many wonderful backgrounds Astrid, love them. Your portrait turned out so beautiful! Must have been hard to draw on a rough surface, but it sure worked in the end. hugs :)

Patty O'Malley said...

Beautiful page, Astrid. The portrait is wonderful. Fantastic textures on the examples as well.

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Gorgeous mixed media and face (again), love it ! Have a great day xxx

brenda said...

Amazing work as always Astrid, that lovely face draws you right into the artwork.

B x

Paper Profusion said...

It always amazes me how artists can achieve facial expressions and eyes that look 'alive'. Terrific result! Nicola x

Margaret Mifsud said...

Oh my .. these are just wonderful Astrid! All of your 'experiments' are simply stunning! It may not have been easy to draw on that substrate but, my goodness, that little face is so beautiful to the eye. You are simply amazing!! Hugs xx

Dorthe said...

Amazing Astrid, so much to look at, and admire. The background I can see created a difficult canvas for you, but oh how beautiful she looks drawn on top of it,-giving her such special features, I have to say I love it, and that she is not, just plain on a flat background.
Your substrate examples are gorgeous, too, surely a class with so much beauty !!
Hugs,Dorthe

sarascloset said...

What a fabulous work of art! Astrid, you are missing your calling, my friend! It takes amazing talent to draw portraits, and you have captured the innocence of childhood in your lovely artwork. I'm so impressed you were able to get so many fine details over the rogch surface (which is another love, by the way!) Well done! Hugs!

Miranda said...

Hi Astrid, I am not a regular visitor but always admire your work seeing the emails.......but this one....I had to give a comment and a compliment....such a lovely piece, that face....it must have been very hard to draw on that surface and I love the textures and colors in between.....great work, Miranda

chrissie said...

Such wonderful artwork and a very beautiful portrait with a wonderful expressive face. I am enjoying seeing the new things you are learning Astrid

Love Chrissie xx

Meggymay said...

Gorgeous textured backgrounds and a very beautiful drawing, she has a lovely facial expression.
Yvonne xx

rachel said...

wonderful work Astrid - lovely piece and your drawing is just beautiful - hugs rachel x

Redanne said...

Astrid, the face is exquisite and so detailed, given the textured background! Your backgrounds are just incredible, I love each and every one - you are so incredibly talented! Hugs, Anne xx

Carolyn said...

Astrid, what amazing progress you have made with your drawing and painting. I remember a couple of years back when you were starting to paint and shared some of your work here on your blog. I am so impressed with your Faces of the Wild and now the textured backgrounds!!!
Keep going; you inspire me so much.
Hugs,
Carolyn

Kathy Bradley said...

I am very much enjoying the beautiful sketches you have created for your classes - your have so many wonderful talents.

pearshapedcrafting said...

This is so beautiful Astrid! I can imagine how difficult it must be to paint over that texture! Hugs, Chrisx

froebelsternchen said...

WOW! I love the new portrait - amazing! You did for sure an excellent job to draw such a impressive portrait on this textured background! Super! The backgrounds themselves are wonderful as well!
I am happy that you join this class since now I can take a little insight view ....
amazing - curious about your next posts concerning to this special class!
Have fun and enjoy and let us see with what you come up! Great!
oxo Susi

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

I can see why it's a favorite...glorious! You blow me away!

Ellie Knol said...

O, these are so AWESOME Astrid, I think I need to take those classes too!

2amscrapper said...

I really like what you did with your subtrates! Sounds like a fascinating class.

Mrs.B said...

Stunning face and I love how the background textures show through.
Looks like a very creative course.
Avril xx

Brenda Brown said...

Utterly gorgeous Astrid, love the background and face and can see the enjoyment you are getting from doing the course xxx

Shoshi said...

Gogeous work, Astrid - I love your delicate colours and all that texture. Thank you so much for following the link on Diana Taylor's blog to mine, and for your visit and your kind words. I'm glad you liked my card. A very happy anniversary to you, too!

Shoshi

Diana Taylor said...

What amazing work - the portrait is just exquisite and although I have no idea how you drew on such a textured background it really is stunning. The different backgrounds are beautiful and just make me want to reach for my texture paste! Beautiful and inspiring work, as always!

Words and Pictures said...

A stunning portrait on one of those amazing altered page backgrounds - what a beautiful post full of inspiration. It sounds as though it's an amazing class - I will bookmark it for "the future"!
Alison x

miranda said...

Amazing drawing and a great background
Wow!!!!
Gr miranda

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