Time Challenge Winners!

A big thank you to everyone who entered the Time Challenge - it's always a pleasure looking through the entries and seeing your creativity. My apologies for the delay in posting this - I've been away from my desk for a little while, teaching at Dare to Create (more about which to follow).

Several entries stood out once again but I finally decided that this piece should be our winner. Great composition and use of textural elements, and a very original take on the theme.

Congratulations #10 Kerstin

Kerstin wins a place on the Andy Skinner online workshop of her choice! Kerstin please pop over an email to claim your prize!

Don't forget to grab your badge too!

Our randomly drawn winner is:

Congratulations #9 Kim

Kim wins this bundle of Tando goodies! Kim please send over an email to claim your prize!

And last but not least... my Top 3!

In no particular order...

Pawsitively Creative

Monique

Sue

Congrats to you all - grab your badge!

Thanks again to everyone who took part - see you at the next one!

Time Challenge

I think it's time for another challenge, don't you? So here we go! Time is one of my favourite themes so I can't wait to see what you make - remember you don't have to make work in 'my style' - any work in any style is OK as long as the rules (below) are followed.

The theme for this challenge is: TIME

Your interpretation is up to you, but I must be able to see (or read in your post) how you used the prompt to inspire your piece.

Closing date: Midnight GMT, 19th June 2016

The person who creates my favourite piece will win a place on the Andy Skinner online workshop of their choice!

And one lucky person selected at random from all the entries will get this bundle of my Tando Creative goodies to play with.

AND my top three entries will receive a badge for their blog.

THE RULES

There are a few simple challenge rules to follow, so please take a quick read before entering:

-Please use at least one Andy Skinner product in your creation. This includes the whole of the DecoArt Media Line plus my designs for DecoArt stencils, Stampendous stamps, and Tando Creative Stencils and Chipboard. Remember to mention in your post which item(s) you have used.

-Please DO NOT use rival brands of either paint or mediums - DecoArt only; there is no problem with using other products of any brand.

-You can use any substrate you wish.

-Please link to the actual blog post which relates to the challenge, not simply to your blog and make sure you include a link back to this challenge in your post.

-Entry is via the Linky below and I regret that due to time constraints I can't accept entries any other way. This means that you do need to have a blog in order to take part.

-The challenge is open internationally and all entrants following the rules will be eligible to win.

-You can combine my challenge with as many others as you like but I want to see clear evidence that the theme has been the inspiration for your piece.

Entries that don't meet the above requirements will not be eligible to win.

Can't wait to see what you create and GOOD LUCK!

An InLinkz Link-up

We Dare YOU to Create!

Tracy Weinzapfel and I are at it again! But this time we are daring YOU to create.

If you've never had the pleasure of seeing our Dare to Create experiments, they are collaborative efforts where Tracy and I take turns to add layers to a piece of art. The end result is a Skinzapfel original - a piece with both our styles in one! There are a couple of videos on YouTube and below is the piece we made together at this year's CHA.

In honour of our Dare to Create experiments we want to see how you can incorporate both our styles into your own piece(s). Gather up your DecoArt supplies, get making, and let us know how you turned your piece into a Skinzapfel masterpiece!

Here is how to enter:
This challenge is running via our Facebook Groups only - links to which are below. My group is pretty new but growing fast. It's well worth signing up as I'll be running exclusive events, like this challenge, and doing tutorials and giveaways just for group members.

1 Join our Facebook Groups

Andy Skinner and Friends

Tracy Weinzapfel Studios Mixed Media Mondays

2 Create your piece using any DecoArt products and upload to the Photo Albums in our respective groups. For more chances to win why not submit a different piece of art to each group?

3  Please have your submissions uploaded by April 18th so you are counted.

Simple as that! We will each choose two winners from our own group! I'll be selecting one piece as my favourite entry and drawing the second at random from all the entries.

My prizes are a mix of DecoArt Media mediums and my brand new stencils!

Can't wait to see how you interpret this fun challenge!

Andy

Challenge Winners!!!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who entered my first challenge! It was a lot of fun looking through the entries and I had a really hard time choosing the winner (so much so I had to rope in some guest judges to help me!).

And the winner is..........

So after much mulling over and debate we chose - MARLENE! I loved the layering and detail on this beautiful canvas - congratulations Marlene! Please email or FB message me to claim your prize.

Here's your badge - display it with pride!

And now the TOP 3 (in no particular order)

- No.19 Fiona Randall

- No.23 Shaloo Webster

- No.33 Kim

Here's your Top 3 Blog Badge!

And finally (surprise!!!)

I decided to also pick an additional RANDOM winner from all the entries who'll receive an Andy Skinner & DecoArt Goody Bag!

And the winner is.................

No.17 - Kerstin F

Congratulations! Email or FB message me to claim your prize!

Thank you again for all the wonderful entries - our challenge won't be every month but I hope to host another in the summer.

Andy

(PS - Winners will be re-drawn if prizes are not claimed within two weeks).

Challenge Update!

I am more than delighted that my colleagues at DecoArt have decided to sponsor my first challenge by adding a DecoArt Media Starter Kit to the prize! So the winner will now receive my stamps, stencils AND a media kit. Not bad, heh?

                                          
The starter kit contains:
MEDIUMS: Crackle Paste; Modeling Paste - White; Liquid Glass; Gesso - White; Matte Medium
FLUID ACRYLICS: Interference Gold; Metallic Silver; Carbon Black; Titanium White; Primary Yellow; Cadmium Red Hue; Primary Magenta; Primary Cyan
MISTER: Carbon Black
SHIMMER MISTER: Turquoise
ANTIQUING CREAM: English Red Oxide

And the winner also gets all of this too!

The theme for the challenge is BOLD & BRIGHT and is open until 9th March 2016. Full details are on this post.

Can't wait to see your entries!

Andy

NEW Andy Skinner Challenge - Prizes to be Won!

A little something different - and hopefully exciting - for you today! I've decided to host the occasional blog challenge so that I can get more interaction with you and see what you're making with my products. So welcome to my very first challenge!

The theme for this challenge is: BOLD & BRIGHT

I've been embracing strong and vibrant colours in my recent work and I challenge you to do the same!

Closing date: Midnight GMT, 9th March 2016

One lucky person will win these awesome prizes!

PLUS A

                                




Once the challenge closes, I will choose a winner who will receive the above prize AND my top three entries who will receive a badge for their blog.

For my piece above, I've tinted DecoArt Modeling Paste with fluid acrylics. If you want to have a go at this technique for your challenge entry, here's a short video showing you how:

I know some of you might be wary of bright colours, but don't be! Have a play and see what happens - the worst case scenario is a wasted piece of paper. Here are a few tips to help you embrace your colourful side:

• When you are layering bold colours, especially contrasting colours, it's important to dry your layers between coats. If you over mix the paints you risk creating muddy colours and losing that vibrancy.
• Check whether your paint choice is translucent or opaque - layering with translucent paints will change the tone of the underlying paint.
• Use what I like to call a 'crash test dummy', a spare piece of scrap substrate that you can test on before moving onto your main artwork.
• Experiment by applying paint with tools other than a brush. Try using a credit card, palette knife or texture tools. Add paint by splattering it or using a stamp.
• Most importantly, allow yourself to create freely. Don't be frightened of making mistakes; sometimes a mistake leads to an amazing piece of art!

THE RULES

There are a few simple challenge rules to follow, so please take a quick read before entering:

-Please use at least one Andy Skinner product in your creation. This includes the whole of the DecoArt Media Line plus my designs for DecoArt stencils, Stampendous stamps, and Tando Creative Stencils and Chipboard. Remember to mention in your post which item(s) you have used.

-Please DO NOT use rival brands of either paint or mediums - DecoArt only; there is no problem with using other products of any brand.

-You can use any substrate you wish.

-Please link to the actual blog post which relates to the challenge, not simply to your blog and make sure you include a link back to this challenge in your post.

-Entry is via the Linky below and I regret that due to time constraints I can't accept entries any other way. This means that you do need to have a blog in order to take part.

-The challenge is open internationally and all entrants following the rules will be eligible to win.

-You can combine my challenge with as many others as you like but I want to see clear evidence that the theme has been the inspiration for your piece.

Entries that don't meet the above requirements will not be eligible to win.

Can't wait to see what you create and GOOD LUCK!

Andy

An InLinkz Link-up

Winter Wonderland Challenge

Today, I'm sharing the piece I created for the DecoArt Winter Wonderland challenge, which I am calling Frozen in Time. Those of you who follow me will know that I rarely create seasonal pieces but I love to work with cool colours so I decided to take up the challenge and create a wintry project, Andy style!

I've made an altered book using various supplies from DecoArt Media and my Industrial Elements kit from Tando. I have used lots of interference paint on this project and managed to capture its colour-shifting effect with the camera.

I hope you'll have a go at the challenge too! Enter your winter-themed projects to be in with a chance of winning DecoArt products worth $120. All the details are on the DecoArt Media blog and the challenge runs until 29th January 2016.

This image shows the effect of the Interference colours on the background really well.

I'm really pleased with this technique using Liquid Glass which I've stepped out for you below.

There's a whole host of techniques on this piece, so rather than step out the whole process, I'm going to take you through each technique separately. There's plenty to read so you might want to grab a cuppa!

The video below is the sneak peek I released last week. It gives you a good overview of the piece (and it's a bit of fun too).

1 BOOK COVER

• Apply one coat of Media White Gesso.
• Base coat with a mix of Cobalt Turquoise Hue, Cobalt Teal Hue and Cobalt Blue Fluid Acrylics.
• Using a palette knife, apply a coat of Media Crackle Paste. You want reasonably thick coverage to create the larger cracks you see on my piece. Allow to dry well (don't heat dry it as it won't crack properly).
• Make a wash by mixing water with Prussian Blue Hue; apply to the dried Crackle Paste.
• Apply a coat of Blue and Gold Interference paints, mixing as you go to give wonderful subtle green, blue, gold and violet tones.
• Sponge Titanium White paint around the outer edges of the book.

2 CLOCK FACE AND BOOK PLATE

• Base coat with Media Titan Buff.
• Apply three thin coats of Media Interference Gold.
• Apply one coat of Media Crackle Glaze (unlike the Crackle Paste, this is clear and can be used as a top coat).
• Once dry, apply a coat of Raw Umber Antiquing Cream.
• Allow to dry and wipe back with a damp cloth.
• Stick text to the back of the bookplate.
• Fill cavity with Liquid Glass.

3 DEEP TURQUOISE COGS

• Base coat with Prussian Blue followed by two thin coats of Turquoise Interference paint.
• Finally spatter with Translucent White.

4 LIGHT BLUE CRACKLE COG

• Base Coat with Titanium White.
• Apply a thin wash of Phthalo Turquoise.
• Apply one coat of Media Crackle Glaze.
• Once dry, apply a coat of Raw Umber Antiquing Cream. Allow to dry and wipe back with a damp cloth.
• Apply a little Texture Sand Paste to random areas.
• Once dry paint the Texture Sand Paste with Raw Umber followed by Quinacridone Gold.

5 CENTRE PIECE

• Glue three large washers from the Industrial Elements kit together. Stick eight small bolt heads to the front surface.
• Apply a coat of Media Texture Sand Paste.
• Once dry paint with Titanium White.
• Once dry apply a wash of Phthalo Turquoise.
• Print out text and stick it to one of the centre cut-outs.
• Seal the print with Media Matte Medium and glue to the bottom washer so the text can be seen when looking from the front.
• Fill the cavity with Media Liquid Glass and allow to dry naturally.
• Once dry apply Turquoise Interference paint over the Texture Sand and Liquid Glass.
• Finally paint a layer of Media Clear Crackle Glaze onto the Liquid Glass area and allow it to dry and crack naturally.

I know it's been a while and you've been asking for more tutorials, so I hope you have enjoyed this one and that there's a technique or two here you'll want to try.

I'm off to CHA this week, so keep an eye on the blog and my social media pages for reports from the show and don't forget that Tracy Weinzapfel and I will be doing a live Blab from CHA on 11th January at 6pm GMT / 10am PST.

Andy