Welcome back to another post here on Andy's Site, Today I am sharing a piece I did for the April Challenge.
Saturday, 16 April 2022
Tuesday, 5 April 2022
Warrior Congo Mask with Heather and Olivia April Challenge
Welcome back, I have a treat today. Andy Skinner has a monthly challenge going on. The theme is the Congo. Interesting and somewhat not the easiest challenge to do for some of us. I was thinking that maybe my daughter Olivia and I would do a collaboration. After a bit of some brainstorming and a much needed call with Andy. Olivia and I decided that she would sculpt the Congo mask and I would do the framing.
Challenge Rules
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Design an exhibit that may have been found in the Congo.
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Item to be in a jar, bottle, picture frame, or box.
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Only one item per expedition member
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Must be a new work of art
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Artwork to be submitted by April 29th, 2022
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# for the posts is #congochallenge
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Product and tools - Whatever you have in your stash if you have any of my products that would be fantastic!
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No Glitter and gilding pastes are to be kept to a minimum. (sorry).
Prize
Any T-shirt from my clothing range https://jackallen.co/ and a set of my Artist pigment paints.
Congo Inspiration Gallery https://www.facebook.com/media/set?set=oa.285223373724374...
Who’s in?
#congochallenge
Olivia did a little research on the congo and found the masks, she sketched some ideas on to some paper and off she went.
This girls brain is so talented, It amazes me how a simple 5 minute sketching session and she is off doing something else. So we had a road trip in our future to pick up some polymer clay.
We got to have a call with Andy one Saturday afternoon and the two of them chatted about what they were up to and art and ideas for the challenge. Olivia was in her element with Andy. Soon hopefully one day we will be able to go back.
Here are a few pictures of her creative process.
Just a side note the sketches she drew, we couldn't find them and this was all from memory and just her creative brain.
Olivia in her element.
I had sent a few photos to Andy and they brainstormed a few details on the piece.
Yep she finished it all under an hour while on a call to Andy. It was about 58 minutes and her mask was in the oven setting.
So with the collaboration in the works, I start to work on the frame, I need Olivia to paint her portion but like any teenager, its on her terms and timeframe. So I started with some ideas I had in my head.
Here is the video progression of the photo. This is the first video of Olivia I has shared. It is mesmerising to watch her. No colour wheel for her, she just mixes and gets what she envisions.
We pretty much got the piece done, and it was missing some things. I felt it needed to have more elements from the Congo, Olivia and I talked about it and decided to add some leaves.
Olivia also didn't like the boldness of the Industrial Wings so using her mixed paint, I softened the look of them with some dry brushing.
I set the piece aside and slept on it. I wanted to add a few more details. Sisal and some spears on the sides would be perfect for this warrior mask.
We discussed that we needed to make the leaves bold to help break up the neutral colours of the frame and background. I bit of blending on my part. (Yes, I need a colour wheel.) I think we both are happy with the outcome of the collaboration.
Well I hope you enjoy! And we hope you join our challenge this month.
Heather and Olivia
Supplies
Mixed Media Pastes/Paints
Paint
Tando Creative Eldaro
Friday, 25 March 2022
Dark Secret - Altered Book Cover for March Challenge
Hi guys and welcome back to Andy's Blog
It's been a looong time, but I'm so happy to be here again, to share with you my take on the Altered Book Cover challenge for March.
You still have a couple of days to play along, since the challenge closes on Sunday. For more details, click on the link https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10161385546559008&set=gm.4992078744209215
💀💀💀Join us on Facebook Group The Darker Side💀💀💀
So, I decided to alter the cover of a book, that I had in my library forever. It's a story collection by Stephen King, called "The Bazaar of Bad Dreams". That was dark enough to inspire me :)))
I was so thrilled to start creating again, so I thought of making a process video, to show you some ideas on how to create dimension and texture on your projects. In the video, you'll see that I use very simple and easy-to-find materials, that we all have in our houses.
What is more, I wanted to share with you some tips on how to use stamps and stencils, in a not so common way.
I really hope you enjoy this. Below, you can enjoy some photos and find a full list of materials. 
Paints - Cosmic Shimmer by Andy Skinner
Artist Pigment Paint
Paynes Grey, Prussian Blue, Cobalt Teal Hue, Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide, Quinacridone Gold, Raw Umber
Chalk Paint
- Midnight, Warm White
Tools and Supplies
Old brushes for glue and varnish
Fan brushes
Flat brushes for painting
Spatula
Polymer clay (any clay is fine, you can also use airdry clay)
E6000 glue
Decoupage glue
Matte varnish - Cosmic Shimmer "Super Matt Varnish" by Andy Skinner
Structure Paste (Cosmic Shimmer by Andy Skinner)
Stencil - Creative Expressions "Mandala" by Andy Skinner
Stamp - Creative Expressions "Eye Spy" by Andy Skinner
Available in every home 😁
White tissue paper
Cardboard (pizza box)
Paper tube (from cling film)
Paper tape
Natural jute twine cord
Saturday, 19 March 2022
Altered Book Cover March Challenge with Heather Thompson
Welcome back, I am sharing a fun altered book Cover I made for Andy Skinner Altered Book Challenge Made with tons of Creative Embellishment products and I just sat and painted and blended trying to get some relaxation in.
I made a short video of the creative flow of this project, sometimes I don't ever know where it is going to go. But I first started out with a focal point, which was the face. I did try and find something a little creepy and dark. I love these eyes they are so mysterious.
I have a ton of old books. I love anything old, rugged and worn, I originally started with some white gesso. Once gesso was applied I stamped the background with the Distress Type stamp and the Andy's cracked up stamp.
I noticed the red of the old ink was bleeding through so I applied a Layer of clear gesso due to the bleeding of the ink from the old cover. Then repainted with white to hopefully stop the bleed.
Using the distress checkered stencil, I add more texture to the background. On the binding of the book I stencilled the Barbed Wire stencil. This helps pull in the frame I decided to use later.
After that was all dry, I started to blend with primary blue, primary yellow and some cobalt teal. Blending until I get a bold background I like.
I added a little crackle to the face, set aside to dry and then started blending some quinnacridone gold on the background to grunge it up some. Then when the face was dried, I added a "dirty wash" to the face to highlight the cracks.
I find the banners out of my stash to add a title and pull the grunge circle frame from CE to frame the face. Using the Quinn Gold, Transparent Yellow Oxide and Burnt Umber to paint the frame.
I dry brush the banners with the rendition stencil. I touch up the white, I know they aren't straight but I don't mind. I will just layer them with ribbon, tape, binding, metal chains and old Norwegian paper. Them being offset with be hardly noticeable.
Once the frame is glued on and the layers are glued on, I add some paint to pull the whole over all look together and then glue the frame on. I add twine to the title and adhere them.
I need to cover the inside of the book, I find some old morbid paper from the late 1800's. Using Matte Vanish I decoupage the inside covers of the front and back of theThank you for stopping by today, I hope to see some entires in the March challenge. Don't for get to hashtag #marchchallenge
Dont forget to join the Facebook Group the Darker Side
Heather
CE Andy Skinner Cosmic Shimmer Super Matt Varnish
CS Andy Skinner Structure Paste
CE 4.5X3 Stamp By Andy Skinner Cracked Up
Paint
Monday, 22 March 2021
Altered Journals By Heather Thompson
Here are more journals I promised. I made these for the girls at work. I always have a variety of things laying around. I have chipboard started, tags started, bits and bobs laying around. I had a number of projects started and set aside waiting for more time to finish. Waiting for things to dry and then getting sidetracked on to another project. So I gathered up a variety of products and paints and put together with some heart and soul.
This journal was made with a tag I was working on. I love the colours on the background. Very bold and bright. The large gear is from the Industrial Set. I wrapped some rusty wire around the gear and actually never finished wrapping it. The heart fit perfectly on the gear.
I added some antique paper from the late 1800's on the background and a discover title on the placard.
Here are a few close-ups of this cover.
I add some background crackle on the base of the journal to match the tag that I never ended up finishing.
This is another journal cover I made with lots of Andy's industrial elements. The featured element is the "So Call Me Already" and the Industrial shabby tag kit.
Lots of background texture and paste with the Structure Paste. And more rusty elements to make the focal point.
Using the other dial from the "So Call Me Already" set. 
And the third journal was made with the Industrial Shabby Tag Kit and Industrial Elements. Same type of background, a thick layer of pastes befrore adding colour. And rust elements with paint.
I added other scrapes and the Call Me Already.
Layers of paints, stamping and shading. Here are a few more close-ups. Enjoy!
Thank you for stopping by today, I hope you enjoy! Stay creative~!
Andy Skinner Industrial Elements
Stamps
Mixed Media Pastes/Paints
Paint
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