Friday 1 July 2016

A Vintage Journey - July Challenge - Monochromatic

Today sees the start of a new challenge over at A Vintage Journey. I am your host this month and our challenge is MONOCHROMATIC.

I love monochromatic themes in artwork; I love the balanced look it gives to a design. If you ever struggle with knowing what colours to use this should be right up your street, one colour alone or hues of one colour (plus black and/or white) - simple! 
Please just check that your entry is vintage; shabby; mixed-media; art journalling; industrial or steampunk to be in with a chance of being a winner or Pinworthy mention.

I decided to create a canvas which developed as I worked on it over several days.
 1 Paint the canvas with one coat of Gesso and dry with a heat tool. Apply Pumice Stone Distress Paint to the canvas and blend with a baby wipe.
2 Apply a darker layer of colour, in this case Hickory Smoke to the canvas, once again blending with a baby wipe. Use your fingers to blend the two colours together around the edges to avoid any lines.
3 Stamp the stem and flower onto the canvas.
4 Repeat this process twice to add two flowers to the canvas.
1 Ink the Tim Holtz Mini Layering Stencil with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink; pressing the inkpad directly onto the stencil.
2 Spritz the stencil lightly with water.
3 Place the stencil onto the canvas, ink side down, dab with a piece of kitchen towel and then remove to reveal the stenciling.
4 Do no re-ink the stencil simply place face side down and dab with a piece of kitchen towel once again and then remove. This will give a second generation of stencilling to the background.
1 Dry the stencilling with a heat tool.
2 Repeat the process with the number stencil until the background is randomly covered with numbers.
3 Ink the Ringer Mini Stencil with Black Soot Distress Ink and repeat the same process and then dry with a heat tool.
4 Paint a piece of scrap white card with Gesso and dry with a heat tool. Stamp the Echinacea flower onto the Gesso background using Black Archival Ink.
1 Cut out the Echinacea flowers and then scribble Hickory Smoke Distress Marker onto the flower.
2 Blend the Distress Crayon with a finger.
3 Blend the colour further applying Picket Fence Distress Crayon over the top.
4 Scribble Hickory Smoke Distress Crayon to the edges of the canvas and blend with a finger. I also added a further layer of interest by applying Texture Past through the same number stencil to add further texture to the design.
I added four layers to each of the flowers and then added threads behind each flower for added texture. I also added delicate splatters of paint.
 I love how all the layers are visible! I also added splatters of Black Soot Paint to the background.
I also added stencilling to the sides of the canvas.
I bent each of the flower petals to add movement and dimension to the design.
I also added random stripes to the background using the Stripes Layering Stencil, applying Hickory Smoke Distress Ink over the stencil using a piece of Cut 'n' Dry Foam.
To add a further layer, I also included Remnant Rubs added randomly to the background.
To complete the design I added an embroidery hoop which I painted lightly with Picket Fence Distress Paint, applying the paint with a baby wipe to give a whitewash look. I also included a 'beautiful' ChitChat Sticker.
Our generous sponsor this month is The Funkie Junkie Boutique and a randomly drawn winner has the chance to win a $25 gift voucher. 
Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed my take on the challenge this month. I look forward to seeing your monochromatic pieces. 
Tracy x x 
 



22 comments:

SewPaperPaint said...

This is amazing Tracy! All of my favorite tricks wrapped up into one breath taking design! Totally a favorite of mine!!! <3

Astrid Maclean said...

Brilliant canvas Tracy, love the multilayered background so cleverly built up, the flowers are the perfect finishing touch! A great theme for AVJ, so sorry I could not play this month...

Paula Whittaker said...

It looks so delicate - fab creation x

hazel said...

Your canvas is so beautiful - I love it.
xxx Hazel.

Redanne said...

If I could do monochromatic half as well as you, I would do it all the time!! This has such a gentle elegance to it Tracy, love the tones and the beautiful layering - truly a stunning piece of art! xx

Suzanne C said...

I adore monochromatic and this is stunning! I love the shades of gray and black and white all beautifully designed!

Words and Pictures said...

Heaving a deep sigh of pure pleasure! This is so subtle and so full of depth and beauty - an absolute triumph of monochromatic loveliness. Sorry I've been MIA again - I've a couple of weeks coming up soon in CZ when I'm planning to do some proper catching up!
Alison x

Marci said...

Exquisite! I really like this canvas.

Nikki Acton said...

Well that is just stunning - amazing depth and tone and the layered flowers are awesome. Nikki xxx

Beulah Bee said...

Good point about using mono's if you struggle with color choices. As you've perfectly demonstrated with this piece, the results can be outstanding.

chrissie said...

Thanks for all the steps how to Tracy - I needed them - sometimes my brain freezes when I look at a new white canvas lol xx

Julia Aston said...

What a wonderful canvas Tracy! love all the grey tones - your multiple layers of cone flowers framed with the embroidery hoop - the fun loopings of thread and beautiful background you created! Julia xx

Deb said...

Gorgeous Tracy, amazing depths of colour with all those wonderful layers and the fussy cut flowers look amazing! Love the embroidery hoop too, wonderful focal point! Deb xo

A Pink said...

HI Tracy as soon as I saw this I swooned . What a stunning piece of art ! I could wax lyrical about how much I love about this for hours. It really has stole my heart . I think I would say its my all time fave of all your creations. WoW!
Thank you for bringing beauty into my world today .
Have a lovely weekend
hugs x

A Pink said...

just me again - thanks for sharing a wonderful step by step too . xx

Alexandra said...

This is beautiful Tracy, I love the pretty soft silver tones, textured background and the clever framing of those lovely Echinacea flowers. Alexandra x

Pamellia said...

So beautiful Tracy! I love the colour you chose for your monochromatic theme. Such a serenity to your piece. Love all the layered petals on the flowers, awesome!! hugs :)

sarascloset said...

Tracy, you have really nailed the monochromatic theme with this lovely, serene piece of artwork. This is truly a piece I could sit and stare at all day! I love the depth you've achieved with your transparent layers and that coneflower layered up like that is the icing on the cake! Pinned! Hugs!

Annie said...

This is such a fabulous piece........love the combination of colours and layers of ink, stencils and stamping. The hoop really adds to the overall appearance as do the flower heads and threads

Sending you my best wishes
Annie x

Corrie Herriman said...

Such a stunning project ! love it Tracy !
Corrie xxx

Juliz Design Post said...

Wonderful canvas, the tone on tone suits your design so well. Love it.
Julie x

Jenny Marples said...

Everything you touch turns to magic and with this incredible canvas you've truly taken my breathe away!!! LOVE that delicate background and those gorgeous layered flowers with the embroidery hoop! Genius!! xx