Into the Forest Canvas

     Hello and happy Monday! I just love trees, the moon, and the color green, reflected on this mixed media canvas!

     So of course I was instantly inspired by the May Mood Board at Art Daily Cafe.

     Right away I knew I was going to use this magazine image of a forest, and gave it a coat of clear gesso. To bring it to life, and make a tree, I added texture with cheesecloth and natural twine. Then I painted it with Art Alchemy Paints (Opal Magic Green-Gold, Sparks Fairy Wings, and Metalliques Green Olive and Dark Forest). To create branches, I covered the twine with Prima Black Gesso, also used through the Tim Holtz Mini Birch Stencil to create the big trunk, along with the skinnier ones hiding behind the shrubs.

     Wanting to create moonlight, I added a circle of (Picket Fence) Distress Crayon and Finnabair Matte Wax (Patina Green) onto the top right. The moon and butterflies were embossed onto white cardstock with the Finnabair Art Daily Dream Without Fear Stamps, using Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) Embossing Powder. Then the butterflies were colored with Distress Inks (Pine Needles and Forest Moss), and along with the moon, given two coats of EC (Lime) Baked Texture. 

     I also used Finnabair Antique Brilliance Wax (Lucky Emerald) to the edges of the canvas and over the black gesso, as shown on the tree trunk.

     No need for gesso on the greenery. I painted an ombre effect with Art Alchemy Paints starting on the bottom with Metallique Dark Forest, followed by Metallique Green Olive, and topped with Sparks (Fairy Wings). Then I added sparkle to the "berries" with (Eucalyptus) Stickles. 

     Torn strips of recycled cardboard were painted with the same paints before adding the quote. But first it was printed onto white cardstock, colored with Distress Inks (Pine Needles and Forest Moss), and embossed with two coats of Emerald Creek (Lime) Baked Texture.  

     The same techniques were done with the witchy woman embossed with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) EP onto white cardstock, using the Finnabair Trust the Magic Stamp, colored with the same two Distress Inks, and finished again with two coats of EC (Lime) Baked Texture. Then I added some thread to the top of her head before adding the small embellishments. The flowers, key, gears, and screws were made with the Finnabair Moulds (Art Noveau and Mechanica) from paper clay, and either painted or finished with wax over black gesso. In addition to the green waxes used throughout the canvas, I also added touches of Metallique (Old Silver) to some of the embellies. 

     Thanks for looking, and stay safe! 

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Challenges Entered:

Art Daily Cafe ~ May Mood Board

Bleeding Art ~ April Challenge

Creative Artiste ~ #60 Anything Mixed Media Goes