Foxtrot in the Moonlight…
Hello there!
Thanks for stopping by.
Advent Day number 17 and Blue Blog Thursday all in one…
Well, yesterday’s blog with the car and snow could have worked well for today, so you can always pop back to the snowdrift if you missed it.
I think I would like to show you
a Gelli Plate step by step I prepped for the TV last time,
but then decided it would take too long to attempt on Live Telly!
I used a large Gelli Plate on a Mega Mount
and the beautiful new foxes illustrated by our friend Mel
and the beautiful new foxes illustrated by our friend Mel
for this 4-layer trick.
Now even if the foxes aren’t your bag, read on, because the background is very interesting.
Not particularly blue, but interesting nonetheless!
More pictures and less words here….
More pictures and less words here….
LAYER 1
Spread a little Phthalo Turquoise System 3 Acrylic paint
on your 8″ x10″ Gelli Plate,
and keep rolling the brayer until the paint’s quite patchy.
Then take the grass which comes in the fox kit and stamp onto the paint on the Gelli plate; it will lift the images.
Clean the stamp asap.
Let this layer dry completely for 5 minutes.
LAYER 2
Mix some Phthalo Blue and some green paint
and spread over the whole plate with the brayer.
I blend them directly on the Gelli Plate with the brayer.
Right. That’s it.
I’ve use the word Phthalo twice in quick succession. Time to investigate its meaning….
Characteristics: Phthalo blue is a bright, intense blue that’s very dark when used thickly. Used as a thin glaze it’s very transparent. Mixed with white it’s an opaque, beautiful sky blue. Phthalo blue is available in green and red shades.
Common Names: Thalo blue, monestial blue, Winsor blue, monastral blue, phthalocyanine blue, heliogen blue, intense blue, Old Holland blue, Rembrandt blue.
Mmm… So in other words, suck it and see, Barbara.
Lay the large Ocean Swirl Stencil onto the wet paint,
Place a sheet of bubble wrap over the paint and press gently.
Lift the Bubble wrap away, but leave the stencil.
Lightly blot in between the stencil with a sheet of copy paper.
Let this layer dry completely, but
LEAVE THE STENCIL WHERE IT IS!
In the meantime, stamp the two foxes in Archival Black
on a sheet of 8.5″x11″ Gelli Card,
and cover with the fox masks.
Now lift off the stencil and blot the wet paint underneath.
Wowee!!!!
Let this layer dry completely though.
LAYER NO. 3
Gold next. Spread a layer of gold paint over the Gelli Plate
with the brayer,
but keep rolling away in the centre,
to lift some of the Swirly pattern.
You control this with the brayer.
While the gold layer No. 3 is drying,
add the moon to the foxes, in readiness…
You can see why I decided not to do this one on TV can’t you?!
Blimey! Dean would have lost the will to live by now!
LAYER 4
Right. This is the crucial layer, the one which pulls the whole print.
Add a little Daler Rowney Buff Titanium and a tiny amount of Paynes Grey to the Gelli Plate, spreading it evenly over the whole Gelli.
Yuck!
But this is when we have to get a wriggle on!
Flip the whole Gelli Plate and
place it on the Foxy Picture with the masks.
See? You can see the print through the Mega Mount!
See? You can see the print through the Mega Mount!
Flip it back, rub the back of the white card,
and pull your print.
See all the different layers?
Magic.
This one is very moody and midnighty,
but you can apply different lighter colours of course.
This one is very moody and midnighty,
but you can apply different lighter colours of course.
Now there are just a few finishing touches.
Mask off the area around the foxes,
thoroughly.
Add some colour to the animals with Weathered Wood,
and Hazelnut.
Add a little Cloudy Blue to the moon,
and a little Squeezed Lemonade to the whole piece.
The Yellow will soak in where there’s any card still exposed.
Add the moon mask again.
Add a little shadow with a Black Archival.
Tear a piece of copy paper and add a hill with the black Archival and make-up sponge too.
Remove all the masks and store for another day.
Add a little Titanium white acrylic paint through the Dotty Wave Stencil, using the round blending tool. It’s fab with white paint! Doesn’t go crusty!
And that my friends, will do.
A great 4-layer Gelli Plate trick,
which I was never going to have time to do on the box,
but that’s the magic of this ‘ere blog.
which I was never going to have time to do on the box,
but that’s the magic of this ‘ere blog.
I can take all the time in the world….
So if you fancy getting the foxes, we will give you their masks as a gift. It is nearly Christmas after all.
much love,
41 thoughts on “Foxtrot in the Moonlight…”
Brilliant Barbara, I love my foxes at the best of times, so look forward to using these stamps. I think this a do when I have plenty of time. I wonder if it would work with one of your canvas', just a thought.
Hope you getting all your cards done, but do not overwork
Take care
I will give it a go and let you know xx
I love it Barbara, I love how you always manage to make the Gelli Prints into something really useable too. Great Atmosphere in this print. xx
Love it Barbara beautiful finish thank you. June xxxxxx
Absolutely fabulous. Great Instructions too xx
Wow that is amazing Barbara and great step by step. xx
Hi Barbara,
I just love the gelli print, it's something I'm going to practise more in the New Year…..it's going to be a New Years resolution for me 🙂
Take care,
Jackie, x
Very nice. Although this technique really intrigues me, I have yet to venture into the world of Gelli. All of the prints are very unique, might just dip my toe in the water next year.
That is stunningly beautiful Barbara, and thankyou for the in depth tutorial, I'm stil not confident with my Gelli so lessons like this are so useful as I wouldn't know where to start 🙂 xx
Amazing. xxxxx
I cannot think of any words to describe what beautiful artwork. Step by step invaluable
thank you – off to have a go or not!
Best wishes
Anne
Mmmmm I didn't get the foxes but will take up the offer. Definitely one for when you have a bit of time and I can see why you gave it a miss on tv! xx
Another beautiful work of art if you had done this on the telly dean would have passed out bless him xxx
Hopefully I can now comment and say how much I enjoy your blog every day you inspire me to try
for myself but need a lot more practice before anything is fit to be seen.Sheil Mur
Wow Barbara thus is stunning. I'm amazed at how you bring different backgrounds to your artwork. Thanks for the indepth instructions – I haven't used my Gelli plates for a while and this is one technique I'll try. Great offer too! xx
Love that background Barbara and the foxes look great too
Jackie x
Beautiful gelli plate tutorial. I'm another one that hasn't had much of a go with this, but on
my to make time for list. Love the foxes too.xx
I call that 'ART', fantastic Barb, You really do take Gelli printing to another level ! xx
Love the effect, and all the technique, but a bit complicated this time of year, I'll have a go after Christmas, when I have time to think.
Hi Barb,
What a fantastic project. Going to print this off so that I can read and digest the procedure a bit at a time. Good job you didn't try to do this at C&C, we'd all have had palpitations!!! xx
Oh this artwork really is fantastic. I love it.
I'm thinking this is a course at the Chicago art institute . But it's beautiful and one day I may graduate from newbie school. I'm definitely a newbie ( let's just say I have to think real hard to do a hill mask ) Thanks Barbara
Hi Barb,
This is a lovely project and the finished artwork is gorgeous. I wasn't going to get the fixes, but is think I've just changed my mind. I really must get my Gelli plates out and practise and this could be the project to kick start me.
Thanks Barb, love Alison xx
Ps thanks to your wonderful staff for sorting out my stencil brush problem so quickly.
This would look so good on one of your new canvases. I must get my gelli out and play. Time just gets so tight this time of year that crafting time seems non existent! XX
this is one awesome project. i love that gelli print. it is stunning, hugs xx
Wow this looks amazing, will look forward to trying this x
Hi Barbara, WOW!, love Brenda xx
hi Barbara,
great artwork but definitely to long for a TV-presentation…
Rolf xxx
You do some amazing pieces Barbara,but this is my absolute favourite for this year! Thank you so much for sharing the technique, Susan x
Hi Barbara wow oh wow this is amazing. Yes Dean would have had major palpitations if you had done this on air!!! I love the way you started stamping on the Geli plate, must try that. Hope your Christmas cards got written. Take care love Diane xxx
Really clever
I love the foxes and this four layer gelli, well will have to have a go sometime soon! Keep the ideas coming!
Much love
Kim xx
This is quite complicated Barbara but the finished result is well worth the trouble because all the layers work so well. I love the way the foxes are dancing on the hill. I'm sure this would look great on a canvas too. x
A lot of processes Barbara but a stunning result. Will need to lock myself away for a day to try this one out! Anne x
Simply stunning!
I will be trying this effect lived it one of my post christmas tasks xx
Hello Barb, love this technique, and it works wonderfully with the fox stamps. Love the finished artwork, especially the shading on the foxes. Bx
Hi Barbara. Can see why you didn't have time to do this one on C&C, but it is worth all of the stages, I love it : ) Take care
Lovely, lovely, lovely. Can you tell that I like it? Those foxes are so beautiful. Here's to lots more happy crafty moments in 2015. All the best to you and yours Barbara and keep on inspiring us.
X Chris
Lovely layers Barbara, love what you have created x x x
Wow, fabulousI xxx