Thursday 9 March 2017

The Golden Lady by Jennie


Thank you for joining me today for another napkin art experiment!

I say experiment as you will see later that I discovered that Calico Craft Parts Greyboard is immensely strong and can take all manners of products without buckling under the strain!


I have had this rather nice Klimt napkin featuring his  "Lady in Gold" painting for quite some time but wasn't quite sure what to do with it as it is so detailed.  On looking at the CCP greyboard I realised I could create two layers for a panel which would allow me to showcase the beautiful napkin.


I started by tearing some large pieces from the patterned parts of the napkin and adhering them to the smaller greyboard panel. I had painted this with gesso first so that the multi medium didn't get absorbed into the board.


Not a good photograph, but hopefully you can see that I used DecoArt Crackle Glaze on top of the panel and then rubbed in DecoArt Antiqueing Cream in White.  Unfortunately the phone rang and I got totally distracted so everything dried a little bit more than I wanted so it is quite white in places.


I then went back to the napkin for another square to "isolate" the lovely lady. I find the easiest way of doing this is to use a fine paintbrush and water. Draw as close as possible around the item (but leaving a little edge to blend into the background) and then carefully tear it while it is still wet.


When you gently ease the top layer from the bottom ones you get quite a fine edge which will blend well into the background.


I then adhered her over the crackled panel. It looks a bit wrinkly here but after everything had dried I applied two coats of DecoArt Gloss Varnish.


The varnish has smoothed everything out well.


And so to the background panel - and this is where I discovered that these boards are in fact AMAZING in terms of what you can actually put on them without them buckling.

I painted the board first with gesso and then added some texture through a stencil.  I won't bore you with photographs but this is how many "lives" it had.

- painted with cream chalk paint (too light)
- painted with yellow chalk paint (wrong contrast)
- painted with gold chalk paint (again wrong contrast)
- painted with cream chalk paint (two coats to bring it back again ..... !)
- painted with water soluble pigment particles (too dark)
- blasted with water .............



- finally painted again with water soluble pigment particles with a light touch - GOT IT !!!  And the board is still as straight as it was when I started - absolutely no buckling (mind you it is nearly twice as thick ........ !)


My final touch was to paint these gorgeous DecoArt flourishes with a light gold chalk paint which I also added around the edges of the ceramic flower.


Quite a long creative process for such a simple little panel !!!

As always thank you so much for joining me today and I hope you manage to find some crafting time in your busy day.

Jennie x




Calico Craft Parts used today:

 200mm x 100mm and 150mm x 75mm


7 comments:

  1. It was certainly worth all your efforts Jennie because it is gorgeous. I love that beautiful napkin you used, and the Art Deco ornament is just the perfect finishing touch! Hugs, Anne xx

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  2. Beautiful, Jennie - that napkin really is stunning, and you (in the end!) created a wonderful setting for her. I love a substrate which can take the punishment - same thing happened to the grasses tag I've just done, so I do sympathise!
    Alison x

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  3. This is stunning Jennie and it's great to know how sturdy the panels are x as mentioned I love this napkin which looks fabulous on your creative background

    TFS Annie x

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  4. What a great use for the beautiful Klimt napkin and how good to know how sturdy these greyboard plaques are. xx

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  5. Beautiful! Can you tell me the name of the floral stencil on the backing you've used? I have searched for it but have not found it yet. It's making me crazy!

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  6. Jennie, your "Adele' is absolutely beautiful!!
    Love your napkin,love how your created with it, love the final piece and Love Klimt!
    Jackie xx

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  7. Love how the greyboard really looks like wood, Jennie! Awesome use of that stencil and good to know that the boards can even be used for napkin technique. Haven't done that in ages...*sigh ;)
    Love your Klimt piece a lot! xxx

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