Bliss of Solitude- a double canvas with Decoart

Hello Friends

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.......

these lines are from the poem 'I Wandered lonely as a cloud' popularly known as 'Daffodils' by William Wordsworth.

These lines kept on playing in my mind when I was creating this canvas and I kept on pondering on the word Solitude..........although the dictionary meaning is 'The state or quality of being alone or remote from others'....solitude is not loneliness, it is a vibrant space which is blissful and full of creative possibilities.........  enough with the philosophy........

Here is a mixed media double canvas Bliss of Solitude with DecoArt products

I have used the DecoArt Modelling Paste  with a palette knife to give background texture , various stencils are used to create additional texture and colors by DecoArt Media Misters. 

The focal image is the wonderful Andy Skinner Stencil - Strike the Pose (12"x3")

There are so many layers in this work....here you can see the book pages, embossing powders, DecoArt Crackle paste..............

some areas have been distressed using a pumice stone ...and some highlighted with DecoArt metallic-lustre in Iced Expresso.

Linking to

http://rubberdance.blogspot.in/2015/09/september-challenge.html.............I have used the March 2015 colour scheme and sideways drops rubber stamp by Designs by Ryn.

Please do leave your comments. I would love to read what you say and I would love to visit your blog too !!

Imagine- DecoArt Canvas

Dear Friends

I am so happy to share with all of you my first project for DecoArt since being accepted into the DecoArt Blogger Outreach Program. DecoArt was more than generous with the wonderful box full of supplies and it was a pleasure working on this canvas with all the lovely products. 

DecoArt Products :

DecoArt Media Mediums and Specialty Products - Gesso - Black

DecoArt Media Mediums and Specialty Products - Gesso - White

DecoArt Media Mediums and Specialty Products - Crackle Glaze - Clear

DecoArt Media Mediums and Specialty Products - Crackle Paste - White

DecoArt Media Mediums and Specialty Products - Liquid Glass

DecoArt Media Antiquing Creams - English Red Oxide

DecoArt Media Antiquing Creams - Patina Green

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics - Quinacridone Magenta

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics - Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics - Phthalo Green-Blue

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics - Titan Buff 

DecoArt Media Misters - Shimmer Violet

DecoArt Media Misters - Shimmer Yellow

DecoArt Media Misters - Shimmer White

DecoArt Media Varnishes - Satin Varnish

Glamour Dust  - Glamour Dust Crystal

Metallic Lustre - Copper Kettle

Andy Skinner Stencils 6x6 - Baroque

Andy Skinner Stencils 8x8 - Made to Measure

Andy Skinner Stencils 8x8 - Serendipity

Other Products used :

Canvas Board 8x10

Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol/Surgical spirit

Tim Holtz Cling Mounted Rubber Stamp set - Butterfly Melange \
Uni-ball Signo 0.7 White Pen
old credit card
Paintbrushes
ranger Archival Ink -Jet Black

I started with a coat of Gesso on my canvas. followed by a few colors using the DecoArt Quinacridone Magenta, Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide, Phthalo Green-Blue, Titan Buff and DecoArt Media Misters in Shimmer Violet, Shimmer Yellow and Shimmer White and Rubbing Alcohol and the wonderful technique by Andy Skinner in this Video .

A coat of DecoArt Crackle paste ..............

Here is the wonderful crackle effect after drying ............

I used the Antiquing creams in English red Oxide and Patina Green to define the crackle.....some spray with shimmer sprays to adjust and balance the colors.........

I used the Boroque stencil and black Gesso to stencil the corner design in both the corners and Made to measure stencil by Andy Skinner to stencil the focal image ............

For the Imagine sentiment I have used the Andy Skinner Serendipity Stencil. I used the masking tape to tape the area and used a thick coat of black gesso , while the gesso was wet and with the stencil still taped in place I sprinkled the absolutely gorgeous DecoArt Glamour Dust -Crystal...........

I used an old credit card, some bottle caps and black and white Gesso to create texture and marks on my canvas..........

Used DecoArt Liquid Glass on IMAGINE and the clock ...and Crackle Glaze on the man.........

The liquid glass gives amazing dimension and dries clear to a glass like finish which is Hard, durable and non-tacky........

Here you can see the DecoArt media Liquid Glass and Crackle Glaze on the stenciled design. Clear Crackle Glaze is a fast-drying, acid-free topcoat that crackles as it dries to create an eggshell pattern in one step. Its clear finish allows details and colors to show through and it is self-leveling. Once dry, the cracks can be antiqued with Media Antiquing Creams or with Metallic Lustres.

I have used the metallic Lustre -Copper Kettle to define the texture on the man and on the corner stenciled flourishes. More layers and textures are added by stamping with Tim Holtz Rubber stamps, mark making with a used credit card and bottle caps with back and white DecoArt Gesso........

some close-ups.........

And the final step......two coats of DecoArt Media - Satin Varnish..............

I do hope you like this attempt by me and the step-by -step tutorial is helpful.........

Linking to http://blog.paperartsy.co.uk/2015/08/2015-topic-15-gels-and-mediums-challenge.html ( I was inspired by this post by Alison Hall on the Paperartsy blog. 

Please do leave your comments. I would love to read what you say and I would love to visit your blog too !!