You've heard the phrase, 'like a kid in a candy store', well, that's what I felt like when I happened across the new blog Art Playground. I was exploring this creative playground and feasting on artsy eye-candy when I noticed that they were having a challenge. It has been quite I while since I've participated in a challenge and I wished I had the time to play along with this one. Alas, I had already made a pact with myself that I would start and finish - no matter how many weekends it took - my 'Spring Cleaning'.
So of course, I began making my project for the challenge. (Spring comes every year, right? 2019 will be my Epic Spring Cleaning Extravaganza.)
I mean really, how could I resist? The colors, the focal point theme and the inspiration equalled a great challenge in my opinion.
Wanting to use a large diamond shape for my focal point, I cut one out of a rectangular piece of chipboard. I set aside the scraps for the corners of my canvas. The diamond piece would serve as a stage for an old rusty faucet handle that I had in my stash.
I covered an 11 x 14 canvas with corrugated cardboard and applied DecoArt Chalky Finish paint and paint spatters. To achieve a cohesiveness between my background and focal piece, I stenciled a diamond harlequin design with modeling paste.
Art Playground's May Play Color Scheme is a combination I love to use in my pieces. I set out colors from Lindy's, Tattered Angels, Ranger and Seth Apter and had them all playing on my playground. I love seeing how different combinations react!
Next up was building the composition. I placed my focal piece in the center and arranged the scrap chipboard in the corners. I added my largest embellishment, the old rusty faucet handle, to the center of my diamond. I continued building the composition with smaller embellishments, concentrating most of them to the center right of the diamond.
Last up was adding a few extra details including my 'chain reaction' chains that I attached through rivets that I had pre-punched in my chipboard.
As I stated above, the inspiration for this piece is the May Challenge, May Play, at Art Playground. If you haven't visited their blog yet, then stop that silly Spring Cleaning and head over there now :)
Product List
DecoArt: Gesso, Modeling Paste and Crackle Glaze mediums; Chalky finish acrylic paint in 'Rustic', 'Vintage' and 'Primitive'
Lindy's Stamp Gang: Flat Fabio Sprays in 'Greased Lightnin' Green', 'C'est la vie Cerise', 'Ocean Breeze Blue' and 'Sandra Dee Sepia'; Starburst Sprays in 'Time Travel Teal', 'Green with Envy Green', 'Ponderosa Pine Olive', 'Shabby Turbine Teal' and 'Steampunk Sepia'
Tattered Angels: 'Camel' Glam, 'Bronze' Glimmer Mist and 'Coconut Shell' Glaze
Seth Apter Emerald Creek Baked Texture Powders: 'Ancient Amber', 'Vintage Beeswax' and 'Patina Oxide'
Ranger: Tim Holtz Distress Ink in 'Vintage Photo', 'Stormy Sky', 'Pumice Stone' and 'Clear'; Tim Holtz Rust Effect Distress Powder
Prima: Heavy Body Gel, Art Stones and Elementals Harlequin stencil
11 x 14 canvas, chain, rivets, chipboard and miscellaneous findings
