Technique: Week 1 – Easy Acrylic Backgrounds

May 16, 2006 at 3:29 pm (Altered Art, Art, Art & Crafts, Collage, Contests, Crafts, Hobbies, meme, prize, Tuesdays, Tutorials)

So Simple, So Easy, and So Quick…

Yet Oh SO Stunning!

What a FABULOUS starting point for any project!

	Karyn Gartel is a talented, self-taught, mixed media artist & Instructor residing in Williams Lake, BC,  Canada. Her inspiring creations are full of color, and whimsy. You can see her work & read more about her at http://www.altered-diva.com/.

Easy Acrylic Backgrounds
By: Karyn Gartel, The Altered Diva
© 2006  Karyn Gartel, The Altered Diva, all rights reserved
Edited By: Chrysti
Approx. Time Involved: 15-20 minutes

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Materials List:

• Canvas, or Watercolor Paper
• White Gesso
• 3 Acrylic Paint Colors
• Paint Tray or Wells
• Spray Bottle w/Water
• 2” Bristle Brush  
• Assorted Script and/or Design Rubber Stamps
• Heat Gun (Optional)

Prep:

• Water down the acrylic paints: approx. 1 part paint, to 3 parts water
• Set your darkest paint color aside, do not use it until step 4.

 *Tip!! I use inexpensive acrylic craft paints that have been watered down to about 1 part paint to 3 parts water. Once I have nearly empty bottles, I just add water to the bottle and shake it up. If you're starting with a fresh bottle and there is obviously no room for water, use a watercolor pan and put a pea sized blob of paint in a paint well and then add water. For those of you who are thrifty…this makes a bottle of paint last a LONG time!! 

 Let’s Play!:

1.      Give your canvas a generous coat of white gesso, allow to dry.

2.      Give the canvas (or paper) a wash with a single color of paint.*

* TIP! I start with a wash of color…usually yellow because it is my favorite….and I like to mix it with blues and pinks…which look best if yellow is on the bottom. I also speed-dry this with my heat gun….I HATE waiting for paint to dry!! Lol

3.      Brush a second color of paint around the edges of the canvas. Do not cover the entire canvas, leave some of the base color peeking through. Allow to dry.

* TIP!  I like cheap brushes too because they give a neat look to my technique. You can use your heat gun to speed up drying.

4.      Apply a thin layer of your darkest color over the entire canvas. DO NOT DRY THIS!!! Using the water bottle, spritz over portions of your canvas. Let the water sit for a few minutes, then wipe off the excess paint. It is kind of like magic!

5.      Brush your favorite rubber stamps with a layer of gesso and randomly stamp it on the canvas. Allow to dry.

* TIP!  I like it best when the stamp is not a perfect impression.

6.      Choose one of your 3 paint colors, and brush a light wash of it over your stamping. *

TIP!  If you’d like the stamping to stand out more, then skip this step and leave it white.

There you have it!! An easy, inexpensive background just waiting for you to embellish!

Examples of the backgrounds as finished works of art:

Be sure to visit Karyn’s wonderful website, blog  &  E-bay store, she has it stocked with stunning, one-of-a-kind, original artwork, supplies & more !! Her imaginative, whimsical artwork is drenched in stunning, bold colors, and is sure to brighten your day.

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Now start creating!! I can't wait to see what everyone makes! – Chrysti

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