Art Journal: London

The techniques featured in this art journal spread was inspired by this month’s tag feature by Tim Holtz – namely the tissue tape resist.  The background was created using homemade spray ink with Aqua Tints.  I put texture medium through some stencils and then later caught it with gilding wax (I’m still waiting for shine-o-vision and sparkle-o-vision to be invented!).  The phrase written onto the postcard reads “Of all the places I have ever been – I have never known a place like London”.  Scroll down for a list of ingredients and close up photos…

Ingredients

• Spectrum Noir Aqua Tints (I didn’t have any distress ink sprays waaaaaaaaahhhh)
• Tim Holtz Distress Inks
• Tim Holtz Tissue Tape
• Stamps: Cityscapes and London by Stampers Anonymous / Tim Holtz
• Post card stamp (unknown origin)
• Ruler and Stars stencils by Tim Holtz
• Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Heart Charms, Photobooth, Memo Pin, Mini Screw Brad
• Archival Black Ink by Ranger
• Antique Gold Gilding Wax by Pebeo
• Pitt brush pen by Faber-Castell

5 Background Techniques With… Aqua Pens / Spectrum Sparkle / Etc Volume 1

I’ve used a mixture of Spectrum Noir’s Aqua pens and Spectrum Sparkle pens but these techniques will work with your other water based pens including Distress Markers by Tim Holtz.  Also I have used a mixture of watercolour card and Sheena stamping card which both work well.

Techniques in this part include:

1. Scribble onto mat, spritz and pat
2. Scribble onto acrylic block, spritz and drag
3. Air brush – with and without stencils
4. Salt Technique
5. Cling Film Technique

Scroll past the video for photos…

1. Scribble your colours onto a non-porous surface (such as you craft mat, or a piece of acetate), spritz with water and then use your card to mop it up.  I dried the first layer of colour and went back for a second round.

2. Scribble onto an acrylic block.  Spritz water onto the block and onto the card and then drag the colour through.

3. Using an air brush spray your colours down (I just have the hand held one by Tim Holtz).  I then laid a stencil and air brushed a sparkle pen on top.  BONUS: The second image is then spritzing water onto the stencil and rubbing it off onto a another background.

4. Colours were scribbled on randomly and plenty of water applied to get the colours moving.  I helped them along with a paintbrush to get them blending.  Then I chucked on some sea salt and left to dry naturally.  Once dry rub off the salt and you’re left with this beautiful organic look.

5. Like the last background, scribble on your colours, get plenty wet and use a paintbrush the push the colours up to each other.  Crumple up a piece of cling film so there’s plenty of creases and squash it onto your card.  You should see darker lines forming in the seams.  Leave it to dry that way.