Get Inspired for Spring!:-)

Textured and Stamped Mini Easter Tote

           

 

Hello!

Teresa Cox Kolar here from Sweet Mare Studio and RubberMoon Art Stamps!  The following is an Easter project. Get inspired now, collect your materials, do the project (once or a few times) and you're ready for Easter!

 No better way to alleviate the winter blahs than to get creative with symbols of new beginnings like Easter eggs, baby chicks, bunnies, bright colors and treats!

If you should feel moved to create what you see, you have plenty of time to get your supplies.

So, let's get started!

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Supplies

To start you will need a paint brush or two, a mini wooden tote (I got this one from Michael's Art Store), favorite paints, and a gel medium. Shown here is a Golden brand gel. Any brand will do just fine.

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Do an under painting of a nice dark color. I chose crimson.

 A purple would work very nicely too.

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Apply a layer of gel medium. 

Gel is meant to create fabulous texture.

It will go on white. Then, will dry completely transparent. 

We want the wonderful under painting to "peek through" the top layers. 

So apply your gel in a textured way. 

We don't want a smooth application. 

The best brush for this is a cheap, stiff, coarse bristled one.

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Next, after the first layer is completely dry apply another contrasting dark color.

 I chose teal. As you can see, it creates a dramatic look.

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Now we will put on a layer of "Eastery" color. I chose an ocean green/light turquoise.

In this photo you can see the under paintings peeking through-nice!

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Now, a layer of cream.

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And finally, a layer of white.

The idea is to work from dark to light. Start your project with dark colors and gradually add each layer with a lighter color. The very first color is the darkest. The very last color is the lightest. Between applications make sure each layer is completely dry.

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Stamping!! :-D

This part of my project is particularly special because the

 stamps we will be using were designed by "your's truly!" 

The stamp pictured is called "Henri Motif"-#TK4aa. 

You can find it on the RubberMoon Art Stamps

Etsy site. Using a paint brush apply the color

 turquoise to the stamp. Decorate your tote keeping in mind that

the turquoise will show up the best when applied over white.

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Another stamp that I designed. 

This one is called "Organic Circle"-#TK6f. 

This stamp can also be found on the 

RubberMoon Art Stamps Etsy page.

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Voila!!

Add some colorful grass and Easter treats. 

Hide from an excited Wee One.

So much fun.

**Special Note-eggs pictured here were happily 

donated by my hens-Madonna and Beyonce.

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Many thanks for visiting my blog. It was so much fun creating this tutorial for you to try. I hope you have enjoyed it. If you should have any questions, just leave them in the comment box.

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 Visit  this wonderful company, RubberMoon Art Stamp Company http://www.rubbermoon.com/

RubberMoon offers the stamps used in this tutorial as single pieces.

You will find oodles and oodles of amazing artsy stamps. Their site is new, improved and brimming with inspiration.

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Find more of my art on my blog: http://teresacoxkolar.blogspot.com/

Also, check out my Etsy shop: TCKolarArt

The stamps used here are part of a set offered at my Etsy shop-TCKolarArt

I am on Facebook too: Teresa Kolar and/or Sweet Mare Studio

All the very best!-Teresa :-D

Experiment and enjoy!

"Henny Penny Goes To Town"

Mixed media mini painting

"Henny Penny Goes To Town" 

stamp #GE2535

RubberMoon Art Stamps

Hello! It's me-Teresa Kolar! This time here to show you how to paint a little 3x3 inch canvas with some darling stamps from RubberMoon Art Stamp Company. This little piece shows a lot of the joy I find in chickens and their whimsical nature. Anyone who knows me knows I love hens. I have four of my own..... 

.............Picture?! Why, of coarse, I just happen to have one right here...........

These are my girls (from left to right)-Beyonce Knolls Kolar, Gwen Stefani Kolar, Madonna Kolar

and (in the front) Goldie Hawn Kolar. I just love 'em!

So, it is only fitting that I do a blog entry about a sassy and glamourous little hen.

I don't have a Henny Penny but, if I had one more chicken maybe that would be her name. I'll keep you posted.

Oh! One more thing.......look at these pix- one of Beyonce Knolls Kolar. The other of Beyonce Knolls. See the resemblance?! 

Really---

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 it's uncanny!

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Initial/first phase of materials

Ok, now it's time for serious fun.

My favorite kind.

A dark brown for your very first layer.

Hints of Burnt Sienna while first layer is wet.

Very small hints of earthy red

An earthy yellow. Naples Yellow shown here will be

 used later with the stencil.

A 3x3 inch canvas that can be purchased at Michael's art store or just about any store that carries art supplies..

Second Phase of Materials

Matisse inspired handmade stencil

scratchy, rough brush

pointy small brush

RubberMoon Art Stamp

 Chicken #GE2535

Apply the first layer of dark paint. Use strokes that

change direction often. This creates 

more interest.

Apply a second layer of dark paint and then, touches of earthy red.

The red is added while dark is still wet.

Blow dry your under painting until it is 

completely dry to the touch.

Stenciling

Here I used a handmade stencil created

 from a manila folder.

This shape was inspired by the artist Henry Matisse.

Layering of Color

Apply a wispy layer of cream then,

dry with blow dryer.

Next apply a wispy layer of white. 

(less than the cream-very little here. It is just an accent).

Stamping!! :-DDD

Now it is time for stamping!

 I will be using RubberMoon Art Stamp

Chicken #GE2535 to create my "Henny Penny."

 Burnt sienna is a great color to go on top of the cream and white. 

Your burnt sienna should be of liquid consistency.

If it is too thick the paint will not transfer to the canvas. 

It MUST be liquidy. (Made up word-liquidy). I like it.

When you apply the stamp to the canvas it will be a little tricky. I would

encourage you to do a practice printing. When you press the stamp onto the canvas

the fabric will give way under the pressure of the stamp. To avoid this from happening (the stamp not transferring to the canvas) support the back of the canvas with your fingers. Press the stamp firmly against the canvas with your fingers pushing against the stamp from the other side simultaneously. (Hope all this serious talk isn't hampering your sense of whimsy). I think you'll see what I mean immediately, especially if you do a practice run.

Montana brand Acrylic Paint Marker-White

Use this for filling in the chicken body, head, etc. 

I also used Montana Acrylic marker in black to

change Henny Penny's legs a bit.

Both the white and the black markers

are extra fine points. A must for working this small.

(Black marker not shown).

Next I will use another RubberMoon Art Stamp.

I will apply Burnt Sienna (liquidy) paint to the very

bottom portion of the canvas.

This is the lovely result.

Next I use this stamp (one of my favorites)

 from

RubberMoon Art Stamp Company in the upper right

corner to imply a sun or moon or just

wonderful circular energy.

Now it's time to add fun details to the background. 

Use your white acrylic marker for linear accents, outline the chicken shape. 

Fill in where you like.

Voila!!

"Henny Penny Goes To Town"

Fini!!

Many thanks for visiting my blog. It was so much fun creating this tutorial for you to try. I hope you have enjoyed it. If you should have any questions, just leave them in the comment box.

 A little P.S.-

I didn't mention the names of the colors I used (except for burnt sienna and Naples yellow) because I wanted to leave that open for your own interpretation. Choosing colors is part of the fun. Just choose a cream you like, a red you like. There are many versions of each. You don't have to use exactly what I did. Go to the art store and find the one that speaks to you. Really, I'm not kidding. That's why we love art!

 Visit  this wonderful company, RubberMoon Art Stamp Company http://www.rubbermoon.com/

You will find oodles and oodles of amazing artsy stamps in addition to the darling chicken stamp used here.

Find more of my art on my blog: http://teresacoxkolar.blogspot.com/

Also, check out my Etsy shop: http://www.teresaketsyshop.etsy.com

I am on Facebook too: Teresa Kolar and/or Purple Sun Studio

All the very best!-Teresa :-D

Experiment and enjoy!