Hello, hello, hello,
Welcome to Part 3 of this weeks Wishing Well
I think our DT have really excelled themselves this week.
Their projects have been absolutely fantastic!!
She has three brilliant creations for you today......
Lets get started!!
Michelle says..
"If you havn't used Gesso before then you really need to start now!
It can be used in so many ways to make your artwork have exactly the right
appearance and texture. I've been playing with a few different ways and want
to show you how I use Gesso both in card making and with altered art.
I like to keep my Gesso in an old handwash pump from where I can pump directly
onto a baby wipe to apply the Gesso to the surface of the media.
I'm applying Gesso here to reduce the impact of the printing by reducing
the depth of colour showing. Gesso acts as a primer and will prevent
any inks applied over it from bleeding.
Before Gesso,
After application of Gesso.
Here I have applied Distress Inks Mustard Seed and Vintage Photo
to the text paper and to a piece of white paper with no Gesso applied.
After screwing up both papers and stamping on them I splashed a few spots
of water onto them which I then dabbed off with a paper towel.
You can see on the left, that the water has bled on the paper which didn't have
Gesso on it, whilst on the right of the image the paler spots made by the splashes
of water have kept their shape and are more defined.
This time I have stamped with Stazon.
And applied Gesso to reduce the impact of the stamping.
Then I have smoothed on a thick layer of Gesso onto the opposite corner.
Having first sprayed the stamp with a fine misting of water I then stamped
into the layer of Gesso and left the piece until it was throughly dry.
The stamp will add texture to the Gesso which will retain an impression when dry.
Because the Gesso acts as a basecoat it will take the Distress Inks perfectly.
To lighten the 'mountains' in the Gesso I just brushed lightly with a clean baby wipe.
I wanted to stamp the horse with Distress Ink and then blur the image by painting
it with water so this was stamped onto card which did not have a Gesso primer".
Michelle used -
Katzelkraft Stamps - Vinci Joconde
Crafty Individuals Stamps -CI-207
Claudine Hellmuth Studio - Gesso
Distress Inks - Vintage Photo, Mustard Seed
StazOn - Timber Brown
A lovely project Michelle!!
And now for number two......
Gesso on Canvas
Gesso was actually designed for use on artist canvas to seal and smooth the
calico from which they were made. Many canvases or sheets of canvas are supplied,
already have a Gesso'd finish but I find it's always better to prime the surface
anyway. Any fabric can be primed with Gesso ready for stamping,
here I've used sticky canvas. If you were to stamp straight onto fabric
the ink would bleed into the material and the uneven surface would give a poor image.
Another easy way to store and apply gesso is with a sponge dauber.
To prevent the sponge drying up between use, spray a little water into the cap
before replacing it on the bottle. Give the canvas a good coat of gesso to seal
the fabric and smooth the surface.
Stamp your image with Versafine when canvas is totally dry.
The butterfly was a little too dominant so I just covered it with another thin
coat of Gesso. When this was dry I wanted to add a little shadow behind
the flower so I painted around it with water then blended in a watered down
application of Distress Ink Stormy Sky . If this left a line I just softened it with a baby wipe.
The edges of the canvas were coloured with Distress Ink and sponge applicator.
The canvas was then attached to a card blank which had been stamped
and slightly inked on the edges".
Michelle used -
Absolutely gorgeous!!!!
Ready for number three??
Gesso on Wood
To seal wood and give a good base for either painting or inking I usually
coat the piece with a good covering of Gesso.
Then gently smooth the surface with a moistened finger.
When dry I either paint with acrylic paint or in this case ink with Distress Ink.
To complete the piece I just stamped a few leaves using white Brilliance then
softened the edged with a little more Gesso. A ribbon, a bead and a sentiment just finish it off beautifully".
Michelle used -
Thank you so much Michelle,
you have given us a lot of information on how to use Gesso in different ways
and some beautiful projects.
Can't you see the birds on your Christmas Tree??
So what do you think???
Please let us know, your comments are important!!
Just when you thought we had finished.........
Two blogs you may like to pop over and look at,
first of all our very own
Isabelle out there in Canada,
has also been busy, check out what she has been up to
(They are definitely worth checking out)
And secondly,
Andy Skinner, from our Guest Designer would love to see you too,
he has also been playing with Gesso to create this.....
Pop over and see how he made it!!
How can you not have a go after seeing all these fanatastic
creations????
I'll be back later with details of the challenge!!
Jane
