AALL and Create ITAC 17 ~ Challenge 4 ~ Africa

Hi everybody! I'm a bit late to the table but I've been wanting  to join in with the AALL and Create ITAC challenge. ITAC stands for 'the International Tournament of Art and Craft'. This has been running since August and features the work a highly prestigious group of artists. You can see all of the details, by following this link. Challenge 4 is 'Africa' My father was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria before coming to the UK,  where he met and married my mum. I never got to meet my dad's mother, but I share her name and some of her features. My canvas is an expression of these connections.

I started  off by covering a shop bought canvas with a piece of hessian wallpaper. I just wrapped it around and stapled it to the wooded frame. I then gave it a quick coat of gesso. I used Deco Art paints to colour  a piece of rice paper, using warm colours. Once dry I stamped over the surface, using black Archival ink and a set of 'Adinkra' symbol stamps, which I bought, when I was lucky enough to visit New York.....

The Adinkra symbols are specific to the Asante  people of  Ghana. They were initially used to pattern ceremonial cloth, but are now used in many other decorative ways. My son even has a small tattoo on his wrist, of one of the symbols! I tore the rice paper into strips and collaged it over the surface of the canvas, adhering with Matte Medium......

I then scraped some white gesso onto the canvas concentrating more on the area I was going to use to transfer an image of my grandmother. To make the photo transfer, I used my inkjet printer to copy a photograph of my grandmother. Here is the original picture.......

I love this. She has such a serene expression. I copied the picture a couple of times, enlarging it until I got to the size I needed for my canvas. I then trimmed the copy, and painted over the surface with Deco Art, Deco-Page Medium, I also painted the medium onto the canvas. I then placed the picture face down and gently smoothed out any air bubbles, Once I was sure that the picture was adhered to the canvas, but was not completely dry, I placed the canvas on a flat surface and burnished the back with a spoon. I left it to dry completely and then started to remove the paper, by wetting it and gently rubbing it away with my fingers. I did this quite cautiously, as I didn't want to rub away, any of her lovely features.......

I then used one of my hand carved stamps to add  more detail into the background. I also did some scribbley journalling with a black pen......

To finish off, I added a little tinting to to my grandmother's image, before giving the whole canvas a wash with quinacridone gold mixed with a touch of yellow ochre and paynes grey. I also blended  Archival black ink around the edges. I had originally thought that I would add some beads and cowrie shells, but when I had a second look, I decided that it was finished. I'm very happy that the AALL and Create, ITAC 17, has prompted me to make this piece of art, that has enabled me to honour my grandmother and celebrate my Nigerian heritage. x 

  

Metallics ~ Stamps and Stencils ~ New Challenge

Hi everybody! It's time for a new challenge over at Stamps and Stencils. This month, Rachel is our fabulous host and for her challenge, she has chosen 'Metallics'.  This is what Rachel has to say...
 ......" I would like you to make a piece involving metallics in some way- It could be metallic paints, rusted metal techniques, actual bits of metal, metal foil.....the possibilities are endless-also please use stamps and/or stencils, Have fun!
Now, excuse me but  is there anyone out there that does not  love a bit of 'metal' faux or otherwise, in their crafting ? So thank you Rachel this challenge certainly hits the spot!
The project I have for you today, is a little canvas. It was inspired by a couple of feathers I found in my garden, I wanted to see whether they would stand up to being painted and guess what?  they did !
I prepared the canvas by firstly collaging, torn book pages to the surface...

I used Deco Art Matte Medium and gave the surface a quick coat of gesso. In order to add some surface texture, I applied pieces of muslin fabric and lace, again using Matte Medium.....

Once this layer was dry, I added some dimensional stenciling to the edges, using Modelling Paste and and one of my favourite harlequin patterned stencils. More drying time, followed by a little Antique Linen Distress spray to the surface allowing it to pool and dribble.....

This really helped to define all the lovely textures. By this point, I had already painted the feathers with Imagination Crafts, Starlight Paint and they were wonderfully metallised.  I really, really love these paints, Here's a close up....

Before assembling the different metallic elements to the canvas, I typed out the little verse onto a piece of deli paper, using a wonderful junk shop find, portable typewriter. Oh my ! Typing is not quite as easy as using a keyboard, I kept making silly mistakes and had to start again about three times! When I had my final, error free verse, I tore it out and adhered it to the canvas with Matte Medium. I then Stamped the word 'Hope' onto a small brass off cut. I used a hammer and a set of metal stamps I've had for ages. I also used an awl to poke a couple of holes in the metal so that I could attach it to the canvas with a couple of brads.....

I added a swirl of tarnished copper wire around the brass tag. I secured it, by poking the ends through the canvas and twisting them on the back. I then attached the feathers with super strong double sided tape. Once all of the elements were secured, I added a little Treasure Gold to the edges of the canvas, applying it with my finger. I also added a few spatters of gold ink here and there.....

I'm so glad I salvaged the feathers as I think they fit really well with the beautiful poem, which I love "Hope" is the thing with feathers- by Emily Dickinson. I feel inspired to read more of her poems, maybe they'll trigger some more art work! Speaking of which....... We would love to see what you make of our September challenge, hop over to the Stamps and Stencils blog, where You'll find Rachel's fabulous project, as well as  some wonderfully inspiring projects by the rest of this fab DT. You'll also find our few simple rules, make it mixed media and use stamps, or stencils or both in your project...... come on..... you know you want to ! x