Sunday, July 5, 2015

Anything But Cute Mixed Media challenge-#3-Summer Romance

Hello Friends!

It's time for our third challenge at  Anything But Cute. We had so many wonderful masculine entries last month; it's going to be very difficult to choose a winner! This month, the super talented Samra is our hostess, and she chose the theme "Summer Romance".   I'll give you the details on that, but first here is my take on "Summer Romance".   

                                                  

For this challenge, Samra would love to see projects with a romantic theme a beach/sea theme or both, BUT they must be strongly inspired by the colors of the mood board. For this challenge you MUST display our graphics badge in your post along with our blog name and challenge link.


 I don't think there could be anything more romantic than taking a walk on the beach with your sweetie!  So  I've made a canvas depicting a walk on a warm sunny beach.  I've used several objects found on our beautiful local beaches, including driftwood, a sand dollar (a little out of scale, but the smallest I could find!), shells, beach sand, and some bits of beach glass.  No, the crab is not real, but he looks like the tiny sand fiddlers that pop out of their holes on our beach! I've also used many mixed media products to make my scene. Please click on any photo to zoom in.



To my gessoed canvas, I added some die cut leftovers from the recycle bin to resemble seaweed (I believe these are ends from Tim Holtz Bird Branch and the foliage from Tattered Pinecone dies) using gel medium, and let that dry. Next up, I applied texture paste with my palette knife in a swirl fashion to mimic waves, and pressed in a few pieces of beach glass and sprinkled with micro beads.  I dried this with a heat tool until it puffed.  I also used texture paste at the bottom, sprinkled in some beach sand, and heat dried until puffed. The die cuts were given a coat of gesso.



I watered down some Distress paints and acrylic paints, brushed them on here and there along with some undiluted paints, and gave them a spritz with water to get them to run into the crevices and down the canvas. I sprinkled on some micro beads while the paint was wet, and wiped them off when dried to give the bubble effect.  I think you can also use salt for this, but I haven't tried that yet. You can see from my in-progress photos that I was trying to place my paints where they would be effective with my elements in the end. You can also see I ended up editing out some elements.



I gave all my shells and found objects a nice bleach bath, and dried them out in the sun to be sure there were no critters left. Yuck!  I ended up not using the fishing net, even though I bleached and painted it, because it still had that eau de garage aroma to it. It was also a little too stiff after being painted to form into a wave as planned. (This is why I don't usually plan my work!) I did use it in it's original form for my photography, though! Thanks, hun!

I chose cheese cloth colored with Distress stain and Perfect Pearls mist to make my "waves", which turned out looking like huge tidal waves!  My apologies to anyone who has had survived one of those! I have regular nightmares about tidal waves, so maybe there's a hidden message here somewhere!  I also added some gold netting colored with Distress and acrylic paints to give a little extra sparkle and depth to the  wave curl.  Then some texture paste to the crests with clear micro beads sprinkled for foam. Hopefully, you can see some of those beads in the photo below. After all this was done I added some Distress ink and sprays to deepen the colors under the waves.


I added swirly shells to the ends of my wave curls, one of which I painted with Picket Fence Distress paint to make it more cohesive. The playful dolphin image (My Sentiments Exactly)  is stamped in Watering Can Archival ink on tissue paper, and applied with Multi Matte Medium which just arrived in my Funkie Junkie package-just in the nick of time to finish my canvas! You can see a shadow under the dolphin, as well on other areas; this was done with Frayed Burlap ink and my water pen. The little deep blue gems are part of the  goodie bag from Linda at the Funkie Junkie Boutique. She always includes a sweet gift in your order. There were lots of other sea/beach type things in my bag as well, but I used them on my previous project. Thank you, Linda, you're a sweetie, and I love these little gifts!


I just included this shot because I loved the way it reminded me of early morning walks on the beach with the dawn's light.


The sentiment "By the Sea" is a My Sentiments Exactly stamp, directly stamped on the canvas with Archival ink, and patted with a little Picket Fence Distress paint to take it down a notch.  "Summer" is a rub on I've had in my stash FOREVER!  I'm surprised it still worked! I added more subtle shadows around the sentiment, also.


The "water" is mesh fiber direct from the package--no altering necessary.  I painted the driftwood with Dylusions White Linen spray and dry brushed on some Distress paints.  The little sand fiddler crab is off one of my wine charms, and I just broke off the loop and painted him with Picket Fence. The sand dollar and scallop shell were given the Picket Fence treatment, too.


I broke off some pieces of picket fence, painted them with, uh, Picket Fence, roughed them up a bit, and viola'! -  erosion prevention! A few more bits of beach glass and some beads and micro beads finish off the beach sand. I gave the entire canvas a splatter of Picket Fence Distress paint for sea spray, and random spritzes of Dylusions White Linen. I was able to add all these bulky elements with Ranger's Multi Matte Medium, which in my opinion, is the BEST glue ever! No worries about any of this stuff popping off, and no glossy residue left peeking out.




I have to say this has been my fastest make ever; once I gathered my thoughts as to the design and gathered my beachy elements, it took me just a few hours to finish from a blank canvas.

Taken in true daylight.


Taken indoors in my photo studio light.


I would like to enter this into the following inspiring challenges:




Country View Challenges "On Your Travels" I'll be travelling to the beach this summer; will you?

Rubber Dance Art Stamps July Challenge Optional Theme "Travel/Vacation" Many people travel long distances to visit our beaches; I only have to travel a few minutes!

                                           

Eclectic Ellapu Purple Team "Favorite Holidays" I interpreted the theme to mean a holiday destination--the beach!

That's it for today!  I hope you enjoyed your walk on the beach with me and that you will be inspired to join in our Summer Romance challenge at Anything But Cute this time.  I appreciate your visit and your lovely comments if  you choose to leave one!  I do try to reply, and return the visit to your blogs! Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily




38 comments:

  1. Wow Sara, I have to say, I have been scrolling up and down for the better part of forever this morning! I have just completely hypnotized by your speedy canvas! I can't believe you whipped this up in a few hours, whaaaaat!!! There are so many wonderful elements here that you used to create texture! Those waves are so beautiful and the mixture of all the beads and stones, WOW, just WOW!!! I love the little peeks of the shimmer that the gold mesh leaves, really catches the sun in that one photo. Driftwood, beautiful. Fence, love it. That little sand bug, pure brilliance!! You have really blown this theme out of the water, haha, see what I did there?? lol. Incredible to watch your steps, I love getting a peek at your process. You really rock girlfriend! hugs :)

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    1. Pamellia, you are way too generous with your praise for this humble canvas! Praise goes to God for His magnificent seashells and power of the real sea to make the seaglass! But it is incredible that we have so many similar elements in our pieces! And I love your pun! Big hugs, my friend!

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  2. This is absolutely amazing work of art!!! The beach scene you created is simply mindblowing!!! Holly molly!!! Let me get my jaw off the ground....there OK. Anyways, The elements you used are so creative and the way you arranged everything is just genius!!! Love that fence!!!! And that little crab on the rock!!! OMG!!! Thank you for creating such a gorgeous work of art for this challenge!!!

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    1. Wow, Samra! thank you kindly! Your compliment is very generous, but I am happy you are pleased! What a fun challenge you picked out for us, really! It was a blast to make! Hugs to you!

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  3. Wow, really fantastic!! love all the beautiful nature details, the images live :-) super!

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  4. I can picture walking along a beach when I look at this gorgeous canvas. Love all the texture and shimmer you created. The piece of driftwood and the shells are perfect caught up in your incredible fence and I love the dolphin jumping out of the water. FAB-U-LOUS.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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    1. Cec, you are really kind! I'm happy you are able to conjure up a walk on the beach; that was exactly what I was hoping the viewer would envision. Big hugs!

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  5. Dude, this is holy schmolly wonderful! Everything on here is wonderful and so beach oriented. That little crab has to be my favorite little element though and the fact that it is a wine charm is awesome sauce. Sara doll, you sure do know your mixed media items and techniques so well. The bleaching of the driftwood piece and the microbeads are yummy! This really is fantabulous! Hugz to you muffin! ~Niki

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    1. Thank you, Niki! You are a sweet heart to say these nice things! I will say the bleached driftwood has nothing to do with it's color...didn't change it a bit, but I hope it got rid of any critters that might have been left behind! The color of the driftwood comes from acrylic paint and sprays. I'm so happy you like my little scene! hugs, Punkin!

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  6. Oh wow. How beautiful. Fabulous canvas, really depicts summer and the beach! Thanks for joining us over at Eclectic Ellapu this month :)
    Eithne DT

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    1. Thank you for stopping in and leaving these lovely words, Eithne!

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  7. Your canvas is gorgeous! Love the beautiful colors and embellishments. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. :)

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    1. Thank you, Meihsia! I'm happy you like my canvas!

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  8. WOW, dear Sara, I am totally blown away by this masterpiece! You created this stunner in a few hours??? I am pretty much speechless, my friend! So many genius ideas and fantastic techniques! That bleached driftwood, oh, brilliant idea, it looks like a real rock! Your wonderful dolphin jumping out of the water, oh, such incredibly realistic scene...and your waves, oh my, what a creative brain you have! I am by the sea right now, we have two dolphins here and Infront of my eyes is exactly the same scene as you brilliantly created! Isn't that phenomenal?
    Huge hugs!
    Branka xxx

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    1. Branka, great for you to be at the beach, seeing dolphins frolicking for you! Isn't that wonderful? Thank you for taking time to stop in, and for this lovely compliment! It really makes me feel special! Hugs to you!

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  9. Lovely, lovely, lovely!! It's a fabuous canvas and I love all the natural elements you have included. Lucky you to live so close to the bach. Thank you so much for entering your artwork in our July challenge! :)

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    1. Thank you for such a nice compliment! Yes, we are blessed to have some of the most beautiful beaches so close to home! It does tend to inflate the insurance rates, though! Ha! Ha!

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  10. This is just incredible Sara! I love that piece of drift and that ickle tiny crab just lazing in awe of the sea on it! The fence is just genius and such a wonderful touch! xx

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  11. FLYING FAST & FREE FABULOUS FROLICK - that's what I think when I look at this and it makes me smile big. Your dolphin is on a FROLICK and he has completely FLYING over the giant wave in his excitement of being FAST and FREE. Really FABULOUS Sara. Xj.

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  12. Oh my! Sara, have I told you lately how inspiring you are?! Not to mention talented beyond belief. :o) Your take on the challenge is spectacular. This canvas embodies everything lovely about a summertime adventure to the sea. The textures are incredible and I adore the bits of sea glass! The dolphin makes me swoon. Wonderful design and perfectly executed. :o) Stunning creation!

    Hugs and blessings,
    Karen

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  13. This is fabulous Sara, I love all of your textures! Thank you so much for joining in with our challenge at Country View Crafts. Sue xx

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  14. wonderful elements , so creative ! I love all of your textures
    corinne de france

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  15. Sara, I love love love this canvas!! I just adore the tiny crab on the driftwood and the way you created the surf is totally cool!! I feel it! This is right up to the top of my list of favorites- and to think you created it so quickly blows me away!! Beautifulness all day long girlfriend!! xoxo

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  16. Oh Wow!! Amazing textures! I can smell the sea I'm sure - Thank goodness you took off that net!!! Chris
    ps You won't have seen the cog in my card because in my haste to update when we got back home I must have deleted it!!! He! He! It's back now if you would like to see it properly!!!

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  17. Gorgeous project! Love all the texture and layers! So much movement going on! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  18. Wonderful use of natural drift wood and shells!

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  19. Sara Emily! This takes my breath away! You captured the wild wonder of the ocean, the feeling of freedom one has when walking along the shore and the majesty of the sun, sky and waves. Ohhhh...this is a favorite for me for sure! That wave!!!! I can almost feel the salt spray of it. And the leaping dolphin....makes my heart leap for joy. You chose the perfect piece of driftwood for this piece because it looks like a rocky cliff jutting into the ocean. I love the colors, the movement all the amazing texture. It's magnificent! I was pining for the ocean, and you let me dip my toes in this morning with this glorious creation! xo

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  20. Love the foreground. All those beachy elements go so well together. Then the sense of motion in the background is fabulous. Hugz

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  21. Gorgeous Sara, I feel like I've just taken a walk on the beach looking at your beautiful canvas! Amazing textures and details, thanks for sharing your lovely beach canvas.

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  22. Love all the rich textures - thanks for joining us at Rubber Dance

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  23. Gorgeous summery canvas. I love the soft colors and all the textures! Thanks so much for playing at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge.

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  24. What a glorious mixed media canvas - fabulous driftwood and fishing nets and such a wonderful sunbleached look to the whole piece. Amazing work!
    Alison xx

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  25. Awesome summer canvas! The texture and details are soooo yummy. Thanks for sharing your process a well! Thanks for joining us in this month's Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!
    www.lynnkopas.blogspot.com

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  26. Love Love!! I'm going to the beach next week. LOVE THIS! Thanks for playing along at the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog!

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  27. Fantastic! Thank you for entering the Rubber Dance Challenge. Hugs, Susanne.

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Thank you for leaving your comments...they mean so much to me.