Tuesday, Tea and a Tutorial

Good Morning Tuesday !

 On Tuesdays several bloggers link up with Elizabeth to share what ever is going on in their lives. The rules are simple ... and bendable ... . 

There is a link to her blog at the end of this post,

 so you can get more info if you would like to join us.

I have a few loyal followers on instagram

 and one of them has asked that I share the steps I used to make this.  

It's a 5x7 collage on Strathmore, 140 lb mixed media paper

As many of you know, I like to make copies of my art. 

Recently I made these four cards for a swap.

I made several copies.  I enlarged them in two sizes.

 I started with an old 5x7 piece that just 

wasn't working out the way I wanted

so I tore out parts of a copy

 .

 and using my favorite medium,  Water Soluble Varnish, 

I layered it in the center .

 Then I scraped a thin layer of gesso over it

 to add depth and soften the color

 next I added a heart that was cut from the copy

 then I added the word "grateful"

 The edges were a bit bland

 so I used Inktense Pencils to add color

 the pencils are loaded with pigment 

so it a little bit goes a long way

 next I used a small brush to add water to 

the pencil and puled the color toward the center

 I used red, bright blue, and violet in several areas around the edge

 The white squares were bothering me

 so I used the colored pencils again to add color

 I used bright blue inktense around the word. 

and added drips and dribbles

 Then I added some detail with a black  Micron 01 pen

I added more color to the heart

 I used a micron pen to outline the heart

 and a Sharpie to define the edge of the card

 I used bright blue to add "drips" from the top edge. 

I thought I might be done .

But the bottom right was bothering me

 So I used gesso on the edge of a folded scrap of junk mail 

 I usually use an old credit card

 but I had no idea where they were....

 hmmmm... need to straighten up a bit around here.

 I just added the gesso by gently tapping.

 Now it's finished.  

I think I'll make 3 more for Sandie's Happy Art Swap

So

What's in my mug?

Land o Lakes Raspberry Hot Cocoa !

Love it on a cold day like today.

  

Thank you to Carolyn for asking for the tutorial.  

Thank you to Elizabeth for providing the link up for us every Tuesday. 

Thank you to Leah for hosting Art Every Day Month.

And if you read this post to the end. . .

Thank you

I am truly grateful.

Marianne