Wednesday 27 February 2019

Abstract Floral painting by Sue Plumb


Hi everyone!
It's Sue Plumb here to share my latest design team project with you. Today I have something a bit different - an abstract painting I created using Colour Artist Inks

This painting came about one day when I was having a bad day. I felt like losing myself in something creative, but just wasn't sure what I wanted to do. As I was sitting and looking out the window, I was staring at some flowering bushes over the fence in my neighbours yard. That was enough inspiration to get me started, so I pulled out a sheet of watercolour paper to see what would come out.

The result was an abstract floral painting, inspired by the colours and shapes of my neighbours plants...


I took photos along the way to document my process so I could share it. These are the supplies I started with - a sheet of watercolour paper and a range of Colour Artist Inks in warm tones (Slipper, Cranberry, Sunburnt, Citrus, Cider, Barley, and Spice.)


I started by misting my paper lightly with a water spray bottle to make it a little wet, to help the inks to wick out as they hit the paper. 
I began with the lightest tone - Citrus as my base, and then built on it from there; adding some smaller areas of Cider over the top; then smaller again with Cranberry. I used a small round brush and a gentle dabbing motion to apply the ink to the page, allowing the paper to naturally draw the colour from the brush.


You can see in the close up below how the inks wick out with the use of the water (bleed / spread across the page) and then in the second shot below how they look once they had dried.


Once the base colours had dried, I again used my small round brush, but this time used a sweeping stroke to apply some of the pink Slipper ink to the page. As these are dye based inks, they will reactivate and blend when wet, so I added the strokes into the spaces around and between the other colours.


I then allowed the Slipper ink to dry completely before adding more detail. The next colour I used was Sunburnt - used to apply the narrower sweeping strokes over the Slipper ink and the clusters of small dots. I used Spice to apply the small, short strokes. 


Now it was time to add my "fence" to the bottom section of the page. I used Slipper for the base colour, then Sunburnt and Cider for the detail and highlights over the top.


With all the inks in place, I left the page to completely dry before colouring in the background. I wanted a soft tone so as not to draw away from the focus of the picture, so I used Stormy Weather Colour Shimmer Spray (a nice soft, shimmery grey) and simply dipped my small brush into the bottle and painted in the remaining blank area of the page. I took care not to overlap any of the inked areas so as not to muddy the colours.


Once the background was dry, it was time to add the final details. I used my Stabilo All pencils (black and white) to draw in the detail over the top.


I started with the black pencil, using it to trace the lines around and between the colours; following the naturally occurring lines formed by the inks. I also used the black pencil to colour in any remaining spots of white around the edges, between the flowers and also on the background.


To finish off, I added a few highlights with the white pencil.


(I was so happy with the result of this painting that I even framed it!)


And there you have it - a fun, simple project that you can try yourself with very few supplies. You don't need any particular artistic talent to be able to create a project like this, just play with your supplies and see what comes out.
Until next time, happy creating!  



Monday 25 February 2019

Dream Big by Suzanne Franin

Hey Everyone Suzanne here

This week for the Colour Blast Blog 
Don't forget to check out the rest of the blog for some Design Team inspiration and ideas
I decided to use a photo of my son posing when he was trying on his suit for his sisters wedding and just as I was taking the photo he turned his head to pose LOL



I started off with some crackle paste with a diamond stencil
Once it was dry I wanted to used a few different blues one the canvas


I dripped the Colour Artist Ink Calypso in a few spots then sprayed a little water to help it spread a bit further


I then added a bit of Colour Artist Ink Soot to darken it up a bit but then it was too dark so I watered it down a lot and it made it go a darker blue


Then I added some Colour Shimmer Dust Duke and sprayed the water and everything around it - made me remember to cover and move a few bits that I didn't want blue lol



You can see I added water to the Colour Shimmer Dust Cobalt so it would spread over the canvas


Putting the Colour Shimmer Dust Navy on then I sprayed it a little and turned the canvas in a few directions


Here are two different close ups of the colours you can see the colours






I added some metal embellishments and a few inspirational words to finish it off and that's it




Colour Blast Products I used

Colour Shimmer Dust Navy

Thank you for visiting and I hope you come back soon x



Thursday 21 February 2019

Family by Suzy Loudon

Hi everyone. I hope everyone is doing well. 
Today I have a layout to share from my birthday family dinner last year. Some very fond memories, especially as our son left for Europe for nearly a year shortly after.


To begin with I spread Heavy White Gesso around with my palette knife.


I then used Love Colour Spray. 
First dropping it around on the Gesso. 
Then giving it a slight spray with water.
I then grabbed some scrap paper & scrunched it up (I was too lazy to get up & find some plastic), Using this I dabbed the colour around.
I then dried it with my heat gun & added a few more drops of the Love Colour Spray to add pockets of deeper colour.


I added my photos, layering with different heights of cardboard underneath. I then spread Heavy White Gesso through a stencil.


Using the All The Way Stamp Set I embossed around the page with Singin the Blues  Colour Embossing Powder.


Using the White Gesso I painted all my chipboards


I then embossed them with Steel, Singin the Blues, Lovely Lilac, Blush & Envy  Colour Embossing Powders.


I sprayed some cheese cloth with Sapphire Colour Spray & dried it gently with my heat gun.


Again using my Sapphire Colour Spray I sprayed some on my craft mat. I added some water & painted my flower. Adding more water with each flower making the flowers lighter as I went.


I put all my elements together adding some lace, micro beads & art stones.
Here are some close ups.





Thanks for looking.
xxx Suzy



Wednesday 20 February 2019

Product Education Video by Cindy Porter - Colour Embossing Powders

Hi Colour Blast Fans

 Today I would like to share with you a 'Product Education Video.'
This video is about the Colour Blast Colour Embossing Powders.





I hope you find this video both informative and useful.  If you would like to follow our range of 'Product Education Videos' - subscribe to the Colour Blast You Tube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/colourblastaust


Happy Creating!


Tuesday 19 February 2019

Sunkissed Summer Days by Kristy Abela

Hi everybody. 
I had so much fun with the pink grunge that I tried to do something similar, with a twist. I love this one as it has a real comic book feel to it, check it out! Lots of watery effects and Black & White + One.

 Here is the full layout!

To start with I used a large stamp and stamped half the page filling in gaps and using the part of the stamp that appealed to me the most. Those eyes!! I'm in love...  Make sure you use Archival ink for this step. If you don't you will have colour runs later. 

I had a stamping fail the first time I tried to create the background! As it goes in Mixed Media though... There are no mistakes, only Opportunities! Ephemera, I hear you say.. stay tuned!


Time for some colouring in!! I grabbed a handful of blues and greens. In the end I felt that the Green wasn't the look for this page and in settled on Colour Artist Inks - Calypso and  Colour Shimmer Dust in Peacock, Cobalt, Duke and Midnight. 
TIP: I made some misters - so much easier for me when working on my Glass craft mat.

 
Using Colour Blast Heavy Gesso in Black I coloured in some of my favorite Dusty Attic Chipboard!! 

TIP: Use a makeup sponge.. Perfect application!
 For the final product I used a little bit of Wax to highlight them. I wanted to keep the background neutral so it would give the Colour Blast Colour Shimmer Paste the focus... You will see that coming up.



I used three different shades of Colour Paste. I put Stormy Weather and Steel side by side on my palette to create some colour variation in the bricks. I used Colour Paste Dusty Charcoal for the numbers. 
I used a graduated hand when applying through my stencil for variation.
I love the way that the stamping came through in some areas.


Look at how cool this turned out!!
I added some extra stamping in an script and some checkers to bring the brickwork closer to the action. 
You can see that in the final image.


And what project is complete without Splatters!! I added some in an earthy tone. We were saturated with Blues and Blacks. I used my Colour Blast Colour Spray in Coffee.

 

 Here is a close up of the final layout with all the elements blended together. I used a pigment pen to highlight some of the features in the ephemera I created and DONE!!
 

Make sure that you check out the new release collection from Michelle Grant if you are a Grunge Fan!! 
Her February release is AMAZING!! Graffiti Grunge. 
If i have inspired you pop your project onto Facebook!  
Abela Artistry