Colour Arte Design Team Hopeful

I've been working on a mixed media painting using stencils, it's layers of fun!

This post is also an application for the Colour Arte Design Team. You can learn more about Colour Arte, their products and helpful tutorials on their website: http://www.colourarte.com/.
Join a creative community on their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/ColourArte/231602303702224

 
SUPPLIES:
16 x 20 canvas
Acrylic Paint: (EcoGreen Crafts) Pistachio,  Zucchini, Forest, Blueberry, Eggplant, Leaf Green, Periwinkle, Lake, Pure Gold, Stone, Black, Sand
Decorative Stencils: (The Crafters Workshop) Botanicals TCW80, Flutterby TCW206, Harlequin TCW202
Flourish Stamp (Hero Arts)
Versamark Pad and Pen (Tsukineko)
Embossing powder: Gold (Ranger Ink)
Pigment Powder: Gold (Ranger Ink)
Gel Medium: Clear (DecoArt)

Tools and Other:
Paper towels, heat setting tool, paint brushes, mini spray bottles, 

Directions:
1. Paint the bottom 2/3 of the canvas with random areas of Pistachio and Zucchini paint.
2. After the area is covered, spritz with water and dab with a wadded paper towel to soften the brush strokes.
3. Let dry completely, a heating tool may be used to speed the process.
4. Paint the remaining background of the canvas using Lake and Blueberry paint. Spritz with water and dab with a wadded paper towel. Let dry.

5. Mix 1 oz of water and 2 tsp of Eggplant paint in a small spritzer bottle. Add 1/8 tsp of gold metallic pigment powder.  Shake until mixed.
6. Place the Butterfly stencil over the canvas, shake the spritzer before spraying over the top butterfly in the stencil.
7. Mix 1 oz of water and 2 tsp Forrest paint in a small spritzer bottle. Add 1/8 tsp of gold metallic pigment powder. Shake until mixed.
8. Spray over the remaining areas of the stencil.
9. Remove the stencil carefully and let dry or heat set.

10. Stencil Botanical leaves in the lower right corner with Leaf Green and Pistachio paint.
11. Stencil Botanical flowers in the lower left with Stone paint. Once dry, add details with Periwinkle.
12. Place the Harlequin stencil in the upper right corner and apply blends of Lake, Stone and Gold. Let dry.
13. Place the Harlequin stencil over the same area but shifted to the areas that were not stenciled previously. Apply blends of Blueberry, Lake and Sand paint.
14. Stamp Flourishes with Versamark Pad and emboss with gold embossing powder. If the canvas is stretched over a frame, the use of shims behind the canvas and large wood blocks to keep the canvas from moving is very helpful :o) If you still have "skips" use the Versamark Pen freehand to fill in the blanks and re-emboss.
15. Mix Gold pigment powder with black acrylic paint and paint the butterfly bodies.
16. Using any and all colors listed to add details and color to the butterfly wings. Use water to thin the paint to help blend easier and to give a more translucent effect.
17. Mix Gold Acrylic paint with Gel medium. Paint the edges of the butterfly wings and accent the bodies.
Randomly "dry" paint areas of the background.

I hope you enjoyed this project! It's fun and very easy to create colorful art with the help of stencils. If you have questions, please ask.  Then, PAINT ON!

Becky