Well there comes a day when you try something completely new and find out some helpful tricks among the way. I've never worked with NEON colors before but today's their lucky day! I wanted to join in a couple of challenges and a new one that Andy Skinner is hosting. Here we go! Sit back and enjoy.
I used an old ruler to create the lines and texture in the DecoArt modeling paste. It was a fun and new experience. My canvas is a chunky one with thick edges. Then I left it overnight to dry completely.
I knew I wanted to use sprays because I just have more fun with em than a brush. I figured I could make some sprays with the Americana Neon paints (Electric Blue, Thermal Green, Scorching Yellow, Torrid Orange, and the non neon-Lipstick)
and grabbed some small 2oz bottles from a grocery store. I put 6 small beads and one large bead in the bottle before adding the paint because I figured it needed a mixing ball. :)
You can see in the photo above how much paint I added to each bottle. I then filled up the bottle with warm water and put the spray lid back on and shook everything up. It sounded like a mixer ball was in the bottle! Yippee! Then I sprayed a scrap piece of paper with each color to see how it worked.
The purple color was a mix of the Neon Electric Blue and Satin Lipstick with a pinch of Purple Pearl metallic thrown is as well.
I grabbed my spraying box (fancy name for a paper towel lined cardboard box I use to apply sprays on a canvas) and started spraying. I applied heavy coats of each color and dried between each application except where I wanted the colors to run together.
Using a Spouncer tool, I applied DecoArt Carbon Black around the edge of the canvas and on some of the textures areas. Using the Carbon Black again and the Spouncer, I added an Andy Skinner Day of the Dead stencil. Go easy on the paint and brush some on before applying to the stencil or some of the paint with seep under the stencil.
Now I wanted to stamp onto my canvas but that's never worked out for me so I decided to stamp onto some tissue paper and adhere it to my canvas. I didn't have any of DecoArts Media matte medium so I used Duraclear matte varnish. Of course I practiced on a scrap piece of paper first.
It worked out okay so I went for it! And here's the end result! Very eclectic canvas and an interesting art journey. :)
It really is more vibrant in real life (can you imagine!) and I am glad I tried my hand at these very Bold and Bright and Loud colors. The funny part about this design is I went into it thinking I would do a more abstract design but that wasn't my journey. Lol! Hugz and Carpe Diem!
I would love to share the neon with these challenges:
LOVE those bright colors. I also how you turned the paint in spray paint. How fun it all turned out!
ReplyDeleteLOVE those bright colors. I also how you turned the paint in spray paint. How fun it all turned out!
ReplyDeleteVery bright, bold and beautiful, love how you made your sprays. Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteWooooow, Niki, you know how much I love vibrant colours! This is fantastic and so artistic! I am completely in love with this super cool canvas! Genius idea to turn those wonderful paints into spray paints! Brilliant piece of art, my friend! Big hugs and lots of love to you! Branka xxx
ReplyDeleteBright and (excuse me while I put on sunglasses :) bold and wow! You make it sound so easy to make sprays from the paint. Mine never spray....maybe I need more mixing beads. ;) All n all a fabulous 'out of your comfort zone' piece!
ReplyDeleteSupercalefragafantabulistic! Niki, you really need to do neons more, because you rocked this brilliant experiment! Great idea to make the paints and to add your stamping on tissue. Both of those turned out perfectly! I had a bit of a chuckle at the try it out on scrap first...some of my finest work is done on the scrap, and then it goes to pot on the actual artwork! I can see that didn't happen here! Well done, Punkin'! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteMe love it! Gorgeous bright colours, makes me cheerful on a cold winters day.
ReplyDeleteI have been making my own spray paints this week too, lol, a dollop of acrylic filled with water and shake, thanks for the beads tip Niki I will try that the next time I make more sprays. I now need some of those neon colours too lol!
For me it's cheaper to make my sprays than purchasing them and it means my paint supplies get used in different ways so I don't have to spend twice: first on paint; second on spray. Much better for our budget too!
You used a ruler to draw the lines?! Get yourself a multi pack of plastic combs, my OH let me add them to our shopping order: £2 for a pack of four different combs. They each have different widths of prongs and gaps between the prongs: cheaper than those texture combs too lol! Gorgeous end result hun Karen x
VIVIDLY VIVACIOUS - Niki's VAVAVAVOOOOOOOOOOOOM creation!!! LOVE. Xj.
ReplyDeleteWow Doc, this is just brilliant...and I do mean BRILLIANT!! Brilliant technique for your texture, brilliant colours and brilliant stamp for your focal image! LOVE IT!! I used to use the DecoArt paints in misters a lot and here's a trick for you, make sure you keep the bottles stored on an angle so that when the paint settles, it doesn't clog the end of the tubes. Sorry, imparting the little wisdom that I have. tee hee. hugs :)
ReplyDeleteFabulous bright colors, soooo love them! Love your sprays, I am so with you I like sprays, tons. Beautiful texture and awesome design.Thanks for sharing, hugs.
ReplyDelete~kim
That's so funny, I have a 'spray station' aka an old pizza box....
ReplyDeleteGorgeous bright, beautiful, bold colours and the skull is just fabulous!!! Loving the wonderful textural background too! Hugs, Anne xx
Lovely project. Thanks for joining us at Our Crafty Corner.
ReplyDeleteDeni Xx
Bright and fun! And you are so smart to add beads to mix your paint!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'd say this is more than ok, girl!! Such fun colors and love your texture, and clever you making your own neon sprays!! xxx Lynn
ReplyDeleteGorgeous . Brilliant . Vibrant abstract Niki! If those three words ain't enough, let me add another: ARTISTIC ~ you definitely are! Thank you for playing along at STAMPlorations March Mixed Media Challenge. Come and join us again next month. Enjoy designing Niki and have fun!
ReplyDeleteHugs&Smiles,
Asmah
STAMPlorations Mixed Media DT
Qinaahana Arts and Crafts {My Blog}
Love the bold colours here. Thanks for sharing with us at STAMPlorations Stencil Sunday challenge. Carol DT x
ReplyDelete