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

• Design an exhibit that may have been found in the Congo.
• Item to be in a jar, bottle, picture frame, or box.
• Only one item per expedition member
• Must be a new work of art
• Artwork to be submitted by April 29th, 2022
• # for the posts is #congochallenge
• Product and tools - Whatever you have in your stash if you have any of my products that would be fantastic!
• 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

CE Andy Skinner Cosmic Shimmer Strata Paste

CS Andy Skinner Mixed Media Lava Paste

CS Andy Skinner Structure Paste

Paint

CS Andy Skinner Artist Pigment Paints Quinacridone Gold

CS Andy Skinner Artist Pigment Paints Cobalt Teal Hue

CS Andy Skinner Artist Pigment Paints Raw Umber

CS Andy Skinner Artist Pigment Paints Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide

CS Andy Skinner Artist Pigment Paints Paynes Grey

CS Andy Skinner Artist Pigment Paints Primary Blue

CS Andy Skinner Artist Pigment Paints Primary Magenta

CS Andy Skinner Artist Pigment Paints Primary Yellow

Tando Creative  Eldaro

 

Industrial Altered Dolls Head

Hi all
Todays weird steampunky piece is made from a tatty, bald dolls head. I wanted to try out Andy's new Creative Expressions Paints so it seemed just the thing!

 To start with, a layer of black chalky finish paint, then Rust paint all over, topped with a Lava Paste face pack!

Stubby hair stumps covered up with a plaster wrap skull cap, which I then painted with layers of Quinacridone Gold, a hint of Rust and a smattering of the Cobalt Teal, The face is painted with layer upon layer of Quinacridone Gold, Cobalt Teal, Rust and Yellow, first using a brush, then a sponge to just highlight the texture.

I made a metal headband by threading metal nuts onto wire, added feathers and metal embellishments over the eyes. Then I took a very old battered cake time, turned the push up base part upside down and threaded wire through the air holes.

A bunch of feathers added to the top for a bit of fun, once the wire frame was finished and another metal embellishment on the top of the feathers to hide the feather stems and match the eyes.

Thanks for looking. For a bit more detail, visit my blog here.
Suz x

Products used:

Creative Expression Lava Paste, CE Paints: Rust, Quinacridone Gold, Cobalt Teal, Yellow
DecoArt Chalky finish paint and Heavy Body Gel

Other: Tatty dolls head, metal embellishments, wire, cake tin base and Feathers from my stash.

Eternal Black Tag- Fiona Randall

Because the Heart can sometimes be Eternally Black.

The base tag is from Andy's TAGTASTIC 2 kit and the smaller tag is from Tando Creative Tags Mega Bundle. Both were given a coat of DecoArt Media Tinting base and the sprayed with watered down paynes grey media fluid acrylic in a mini mister bottle. Archival ink in Watering Can was then applied to all edges of the tags to give definition. Stamping was then added to both tags using stamps from Andy's TEXTURES stamp set ( my favourite go to stamps ) using Black Archival Ink.. Then splatters were added with titanium white media fluid acrylic. The small tag was then layered on top of the large tag using an off cut of grey board to give height and definition. I then painted the base of the large heart from Andy's FLAMING HEART set with Carbon Black media fluid acrylic. The frame and the flames were then given a coat of silver media fluid acrylic and once dry the frame was attached to the base. A coat of Media Antiquing cream in black was added to the frame and flames and wiped back to give a tarnished look. The Eternal sentiment from Andy's WORD UP Stamp Set was then stamped onto a piece of card using black Archival ink and then glued into place within the heart. The Heart recess was then filled with DecoArt Triple Thick Glaze and when dry the Flaming Heart was then attached to the  layered tag to finish. I love the look of the triple thick glaze when set as it gives an enamel feel to the piece.

Here's a close up of the detail.

Thanks for stopping by.

PRODUCTS USED.

TAGTASTIC 2

FLAMING HEARTS.

WORD UP AND NUMBERS STAMP SET

ANDY SKINNER TEXTURES STAMP SET.

TAGS MEGA BUNDLE.

MEDIA FLUID ACRYLICS

PAYNES GREY, CARBON BLACK, TITANIUM WHITE.

OTHER PRODUCTS.

Ranger Archival Ink in Watering Can and Black.



Sacred Secrets with patina effect by Monika Maksym

Hi! 
It's Monika here with my latest project.  This time I've decided to show you the latest kit designed by Andy and made by Tando Creative. This set comes with many elements, you can use them all in one project or separate them like I did. 

I start with painting each element with tinting base which works great as a primer. Then industrial wings were covered with modelling paste to create rough texture and painted black along with cog and bolts. I've also used antiquing cream as it helps to accent the lovely texture. Then I've rubbed on a little bit of metallic lustre wax. The frame was painted with crackle paint and sliglthy aged with antiquing cream and a black paint. 

On the main piece that was painted in black first I've used weathered wood medium and grey paint on top. To add more character to it I've added a washes of media acrylic fluids, streaks and splatters of paint. Then a word was stamped on it. Little heart was painted with turquoise paint, liquid glass and some micro beads were added on then I've rubbed some metallic lustre wax on the little frame and top crown.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you like it
Monika

Products used:

 Word Up & Numbers Stamp Set by Illusionary Artists

http://www.andyskinnercrafts.com/store/c10/Illusionary_Artists_Stamps.html

Andy Skinner Sacred Secrets kit  by Tando Creative
ASSACRED

 

Mixed Media Acrylics -  yellow oxide, burnt sienna, english red oxide, carbon black, medium grey value 6

Decoart Metallic Lustre in Copper Kettle and Brilliant Turquoise 

Decoart weathered wood

Decoart Tinting Base

Decoart Antiquing Cream in Raw Umber and Patina Green Decoart

Decoart Media Modelling Paste 

Website: www.ilovecreations.co.uk

Facebook page:  Love Creations

Instagram: Love Creations

Mixed Media Canvas by Phoebe Tonosaki

Hello all, today I have a mixed media canvas for you showcasing the new Illusionary Artists stamp

You may wonder, what exactly this is ??????
Let me explain. The concept is to highlight how beautiful and detailed the new stamp sets fm Illusionary Artists are. What I did was to knead some air dry clay. Then using the A5 Gothic Grunge Stamp Set by Illusionary Artists to stamp HARD on the clay. After that I just waited it to be dried and used it as the focal point of this piece.

I used the vivid colors from Americana acrylic paints to paint on papers then added as the build up of the background.

I especially spent time using DecoArt Media Antiquing Creams Carbon Black to highlight the stamped clay , to show how beautiful detailed the stamp is. Can you see and imagine how deep and mysterious and full of hopes just across that door?

"one door leads to many paths"
I hope this inspires you!

Andy Skinner Mixed Media Stencil 

6"x 6" Snake'S Web 

A5 Gothic Grunge Stamp Set by Illusionary Artists

A5 Word Up & Numbers Stamp Set by Illusionary Artists

 DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint
Jack'O Lantern Orange
Desert Turquoise
Santa Red
Dioxaine Purple
Citron Green

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics
Transparent Yellow iron Oxide
Transparent Red iron Oxide

DecoArt Media Antiquing Creams
Carbon Black

Phoebe Tonosaki
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/phoebetonosaki/

Blog - http://tonosakiphoebe.blogspot.jp/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/tonosakiphoebe

Handle With Care by Heather Thompson

As the new Winter Releases are coming out, (I am waiting patiently) Ok I will stop lying, I'm not really.  I decided to just sit and relax and make a creative tag. I know some of us would cringe for taking a perfectly good tag and hacking it into pieces. But I had this brilliant idea to use Andy's Handle With Care Stamp, but how could I put meaning into the saying. Cut it apart and put it all back together.

I love the colour pallet.

Some times I even wonder how applying layer after layer of paint, how can these colour not turn into a muddy mess.

But as this evolved, always treat yourself as No 1 and Handle with Care.

Have a great creative Day

Supplies:

Illusionary Artist

 

Tech Trauma Stamp Set

DecoArt:

Andy103 Stencil

Titian Buff

Sap Green

Phthalo Turquoise

Paynes Grey

Carbon Black

Ultra Matte Varnish

Tinting Base

Tando Creative: 

Andy Skinner Industrial Wings

Long Grey Board Tags

Stampendous

Andy Skinners Handle with Care ASCRS7