Sunday, January 24, 2016

Dark and Radiant

You know how you have those days where your head is full of new creative ideas and you just keep going? This weekend has been like that for me. I love it when my muse is working overtime! I have been on a canvas kick for a little bit and today is another 5x7 canvas.


How I wish you could see the shimmer and radiant awesomeness of the gel thats in the background (it's like texture paste)! Gorgeous and more gorgeous! I set up my design first to see where everything would go. 

 I used white gesso to cover my canvas, then added some white texture paste and when that was dry I painted the entire canvas with black gesso. After the black gesso was dry, I used a palette knife to add the Colour Arte Radiant Gel-Guatemalan Green. 
 When the green paste was dry, I added back all of my black gessoed elements and glued everything down. 

Using Colour Arte Silks- Wisteria and Vintage Mint I painted the flowers and the dragonfly. I added the gems last.

The crown was painted with Inka Gold-Violet, as were the clock hands. The clock face was painted with Colour Arte Silks-Warm Gray. Black Finnabair micro beads completed the canvas.

I also tried a new idea. I used a script stamp from Rubber Dance Art stamps and inked it with the Radiant Gel then randomly stamped along the side of my canvas. I've done it with paint but never paste. :) It didn't turn out as well as I expected but I am going to try it again!
This was a fun play in the art studio this weekend. I tried so many ideas, some went in the reject pile and some are still a WIP but it was a joy to just spend some time enjoying the way my brain thinks, some good me time. Hugz and Carpe Diem! ~Niki


I would enjoy sharing this design with these fantastic challenges: 



(all of the Colour Arte paints and the gel are new)

(all of the Colour Arte paints and the gel are new) 



(my heart sings for a darker color palette)







21 comments:

  1. This is more than gorgeous! Love the spectacular colour contrasts, just great! Hugs, Valerie

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  2. WOWZERS Doc!! OK, I was in love with it when it was black and turquoise, but then you threw in the violet and stole my heart! What an amazing combination! The texture and shimmer is beyond awesome and I love your element layering! Stunning! LOVE LOVE LOVE!! hugs :)

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  3. Nice take on your new palette, Niki!! Beautiful with all the texture, color and the background - go girl!! xxx Lynn

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  4. You HAVE been playing in your art room, and wow what a play this is! Niki, I love this color combination and the way you layered up those fantastic elements! Great highlights to give tremendous dimension! A NEW favorite! Big hugs, Punkin'!

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  5. The Mint and Wisteria colours look fabulous against the black background and I love the composition of the embellishments you added to your beautiful canvas... Hugs, Anne xx

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  6. Just checking in on you... yes, you've been a busy gorilla! Keep up the good work... when you are "feelin' it," you gotta keep going!

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  7. amazing canvas Thanks for playing with ColourArte Challenge

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  8. What deep, perfectly coordinating colours, Niki! It's outstandingly awesome canvas with so many amazing elements, my friend! Fabulous piece of art! Big hugs! Branka xxx

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  9. Ooh, look at the drama of that - the shimmer and gleam against the black is like dragonflies at midnight!
    Alison x

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  10. Niki, this is such a striking and gorgeous project. The green against the black is gorgeous!!! Love the little bundle you created. Great elements! Hugs, Autumn

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  11. Fabulous dark colors and so moody! Fabulous the midnight haunting setting. Love the process pictures, looks amazing! Really love the dragonfly. Thanks so much for playing with us at Dream in Darkness Niki!
    ~kim

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  12. Fabulous piece, so loving the dragonfly and the touch of lilac. Thank you for joining Dream in Darkness January challenge, hope to see you back in February.

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  13. Lovely project. Enjoyed all your photos. Thanks for playing along with us at Open Minded Crafting Fun. Hope to see you again next month. Good luck.
    Lynn, Open Minded DT

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  14. Oh my goodness, this is stunningly amazing. Great work.
    Thank you for entering the Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenge and best of luck with your entry.
    Annette DT Member

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  15. Who would have thought those few embellishments could turn out like this! Gorgeous altered art. Thanks for sharing with us at Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenge. Hope to see you again soon.
    Hugs, Sandy

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  16. Stunning mixed media piece. Beautiful embellishment, especially the dragonfly is amazing! Thanks for linking up to LLC's New challenge.

    Hugz, Sandy
    Owner & Operator @Live & Love Crafts

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  17. Well.. I have to say.. I love when your muse is working over time too!! HAHA!! This is just gorgeous!! And its fun to read how you think through it all. Love it!! I think it turned out absolutely gorgeous! Love the colors you chose too! Thanks so much for playing along with us at Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenges!!! Good Luck! I hope we see you again!!

    - Susan, Owner @ Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenges
    {Scrap A Thousand Words}
    {Sentimental Susan - Etsy}
    {Sentimental Susan - Zibbet}

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  18. Great work, your canvas is fantastic!! Thank you for joining the Mixed Media Place challenge!

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  19. What a stunning piece of art! Amazing details!
    Thanks for joining our challenge at Mixed Media Place!

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  20. Really great piece! Thank you for joining the Mixed Media Place challenge!

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  21. YEAH Niki - Congrats on your win at Open Minded Crafting. So fun to start out a winner on the first challenge - right out the gate!!! Wonderful creating!!! Hugs. j.

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