Art Journal ~ Leafy Sea-Dragon Mermaid

 

Det er ganske lenge siden jeg lagde en 'art journal page' i boka mi, og da jeg så denne nydelige havfruen tenkte jeg at det måtte bare bli et mixed media prosjekt heller enn et kort.. Ville jo beholde henne selv! ♥

Havfrue-siden er mitt er DT bidrag hos Creative Fingers #162., og motivet er fra vår nye flotte sponsor MeadowHaven. Som alltid har vi et 'Lag-hva-du-vil' tema, og velkommen skal du være :)

a double Art Journal Page spread
my work process explained further down :)
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Closeup of the Leafy Sea-Dragon Mermaid,
Oh my, that was a whole lot of details to watercolor!

It's been a while since I last made a page in my Art Journal book, so soon as I saw this beautiful leafy mermaid I knew I had to make one something mixed media with her.. and because I wanted to keep her for myself ♥ 

It's my DT creation for this fortnights challenge #162. at Creative Fingers, and the mermaid is a motif from our new & awesome sponsor MeadowHaven.
As always it is an 'Anything goes theme', and you are more than welcome to join with your creations :)

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~ MeadowHaven.net ~

~ DeviantArt ~ Instagram ~

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I enter my art journal page in theese fab Challenges: [Ends on](checked 23/5)
● Bleeding Art ~ April: Add Stenciling! [May 15th.]
● Crafty Creations #388. ~ Anything goes [April 22nd.]
● We Love to Create #4. ~ AG Creative Mixed Media (entry#2.)[April 24th.]
● Crafting with an attitude #50. ~ Anything goes (entry#2.)[April 28th.] 
● Love to Craft LTCCB #33. ~ April: Anything Goes [April 30th.]
● The Creative Crafters #15. ~ Anything goes [May 8th.]
● Pile it on #153. ~ Lots of Layers! (entry#2.)[May 4th.]
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EDIT: I was one of the Top picks at LTCCB! Thank you ♥


Scandinavian Challenges: [innen]
● Scrap from your Heart #32. ~ Bruk dies! [April 28th.]
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Now for the artsy ingredients!

I'm using an old second-hand illustrated fairytale book,
and I have saved some of the pages that has cool 
images for projects such as this one.
🐟 🧜‍♂️ 🐟 🧜‍♂️ 🐟
The story told here is an Arabian Nights ~ 1001 nights tale about a fisherman who befriends a mer-man. He is given a magical cream so he can breathe underwater, and he visits King Neptuns home and sees many marvellous things...
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After I added gesso to the bookpages, I dry with a heat tool and start to color in the places I want to hide. When it's completely dry I add my papers. To avoid too much airbubbles I use super tacky tape on the backs and add matte medium glue to the edges. I add texture with Inka Gold through stencils, and then go nuts with ink sprays and dabbers ~ inside a huge cardboard box ofcourse.  
Mixed Media is superfun to do ~ but very messy ;)
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The steampunk cogs have gotten several coats of Finnabairs Trio of Rust Texture pastes, and also touches of Inka Golds. And I used some black gesso to add shading around the elements on the pages. Here is a link to Finnabairs Art Files on the Rust Paste++, she explains it much better than I would do, theres videos too! :)

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Stamps/Images: MeadowHaven digistamp 'Leafy Sea-Dragon Mermaid'. Stampers Anonymous ~ Tim Holtz rubberstampsets 'Mariner Blueprints' & 'Bitty Grunge'. Visible Image CS 'Stay Strong'.
Papers: I prefer Canson Montvale aquarelle paper (200 g/m coldpressed) for my motifs. DCWV 'Once Upon a time' Designerpapers. Vivi Gade Creotime Gold Glitter/Metallic speciality paper.
Embellishments: Panduro Hobby Washi tape.

Tools: My distress tools from Ranger Ink is always in use ~ Tim Holtz® Mini Ink Round Blending Tool & the Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool and Foams. Panduro Hobby scalpel and self healing mat.
Stencils/Embossingfolders: Maremis Small Art 'CELLS' mixed media art journaling stencil 6x6 ~ 13@rts.
Dies: Sizzix Tim Holtz Bigz Dies 'Gadget Gears' & 'Gadget Gears 2'. Marianne Design Craftables Punch Die 'Seashells & Starfish CR1363'.
Essentials/Adhesives: 3D foam/mosegummi. Sookwang High-Tack Double Sided tape from Sor-Pal. Aleenes clear tacky glue. Panduro Gold metallic marker. Permanent black marker. Liquitex Matte Gel Medium ~ glue. Finnabair Art Basics Mixed Media silicone brush.

Techniques/Mediums:  I used misc. Luminarte Twinkling H2o's Shimmering Watercolors, and Tim Holtz Distress Ink pads to watercolor and distress motifs. Amsterdam Royal Talens Black Gesso. White Gesso. Several brands of spray inks ~ Distress Spray Stains, Tattered Angels Sprays, Tsukineko Walnut Spray Stain inks, as well as some Distress Stain dabbers. Viva Decor Inka Gold wax ~ Copper & Gold. Finnabairs Prima ART EXTRAVAGANCE 'Rust Texture pastes'(Brown, Red & Gold) from Prima Marketing inc.