Their Love Blossomed

 

Time to celebrate with a gift for friends in love. For some reason I kept changing my mind about color, theme, etc. But I want you to know that it is just fine to do that and the art may come out better. Working on this art project has given me ideas for future projects. So, I have a lot to look forward to.

SUPPLIES
Creative Paperclay® 
Stamps
Acrylic Paints
Hand cut gold paper
Ring
Wood panel

I started by rolling the clay out flat on a wood panel. I then used a ruler to make tile shapes. I am not a perfection kind of girl so my tiles aren't perfect but I like it. I always look for that happy accident.

Next, I stamped and made marks in the clay. Originally, I was going to put a star burst in the middle but that changed as my "story" changed. It was originally for a family member that just had a baby but then I found out about an upcoming wedding.

The background was painted multiple times as the colors never seemed righ. My color changes ranged from warm to cool and then I added a touch of gold leaf and a dark wash. I was open to color changes until the very end.

The next step was to roll out a sheet of clay, stamp it with my heart stamps then trim the heart shapes from the clay. After it was dry, the edges were sanded.
 

The hearts were painted with red acrylic paint then a deep red acrylic wash was applied after the first color dried. This color sank into the low points of the clay and showed off the detail of the stamps. One of the hearts is raised from the surface with a small block of wood, giving it depth.

It was missing some "pop" so I added some metallic gold paper that was hand cut and glued down a faux diamond ring I found in my box of old jewelry parts. These really completed the story and made it special.

Remember, changes are always OK to make.

Dream in Color!

Darlene Olivia McElroy

darleneoliviamcelroy.com

I love image transfers so much that I wrote a book about them. The texture and whiteness of Delight® is the perfect substrate to use a colorless blender pen and toner image transfer on.

SUPPLIES
Colorless Blender Pen
Delight®
Substrate (masonite panel shown here)
Scissors & mark making tools
Polymer medium
Toner Image

After rolling the Delight® into a thin sheet, I placed the toner image face down. The image will be in reverse which was fine with me. I then applying the colorless blender pen on the back of the toner image. As I did this, the image starts to appear on the back of the paper. Lift the paper to see how well it is transferring. If it looks light, apply the blender pen some more. Save the toner image to put in a collage. Nothing goes to waste in my world.
 

After cutting my transfer into a loose shape, I added curtains to give the feel of a stage and used my tracing wheel to add texture to them. To make sure that the Delight® adhered tightly to the background, the surface was coated with polymer medium before laying down the pieces. I love the opera so I am naming this Sweetheart of the Opera.

After painting the piece, dimensional letters were added. What else can you do with this technique besides using it in art? Gift tags, holiday banners, etc.

For other transfer techniques, see www.amazon.com/Image-Transfer-Workshop-Mixed-Media-Techniques/dp/1600611605

Dream in Color!

Darlene Olivia McElroy

darleneoliviamcelroy.com

Stranger Things with Delight® and Creative Paperclay®

I have created a Stranger Things series (https://www.darleneoliviamcelroy.com/stranger-things) where I reach into my inner child and come up with strange creatures and happy little monsters. There is a simplicity to them but things don't have to be complex to have beauty to them. The art piece will use both Delight® and Creative Paperclay® but in a simple manner that is fun and creative. Plus I will also show you how to fix a ornate vintage frame.

SUPPLY LIST
Creative Paperclay® & Delight®
Mark Making Tools
Modern Masters 2 part Rusting Kit
Glue
Found Objects
Scissors
Brayer
Amazing Molding Putty
Acrylic Paint

I love the fact that you can roll out Delight® into a thick paper and then cut it with scissors or an exacto knife. I already have ideas for some future projects using the Delight® paper (as I call it). 

When working on my Stranger Things series, I start blocking in my design with objects I would like to use. I cut out my Delight® paper with both regular scissors and pinking shears prior to giving it texture with my tracing wheel. The left shape at the bottom is a paint skin that I made. 

The Delight® shape I made in the last step is now painted with a base color that will eventually be rusted. I made a circle of Creative Paperclay® that I added an eye to and which I will glue down when the clay dries. Texture was added with a rubber shaper. The found metal object will be rusted and embellished. This is the first in my Stranger Things series where I have added these two air drying clays and I am really enjoying it.

I finished my cute little monster with painting, rusting, adding found elements and hair made with Delight®. The rusting was done using the Modern Masters 2 part Rusting Kit. 

An ornate frame plays off the contemporary minimalist art but it is hard to find one that is in mint condition however they are fixable with Creative Paperclay®.

I used two part Amazing Molding Putty to make a mold of part of the frame that was in good condition. Once both parts of the putty are blended together, I laid it on the frame. It sets up in approximately 15 minutes.

Creative Paperclay® was applied to the frame in the areas that needed to be fixed then I laid the silicone mold matching it up to the good areas of the frame. When I am happy with how it looks and it is thoroughly dry, I coat it with polymer gloss medium to seal it and then decide whether to spray gold or black.

Dream in Color!

Darlene Olivia McElroy

NARRATIVE MIXED MEDIA ARTIST

www.darleneoliviamcelroy.com

Creative Paperclay® Tips with Fondant Molds

I have a collection of well used fondant molds (find in the cake decorating department of a craft store) that I use in my art. I find that if I let the Creative Paperclay® completely dry while still in the mold I have no warping to deal with. This is great for adding dimensional elements to your art.

SUPPLIES

Creative Paperclay®
Fondant Mold 

 I pack the Creative Paperclay® in the mold, removing the excess and brayering flat. I try and clean up the edges in order to save me work later.
I leave the clay in the mold until completely dry.

When dry, you can just pop them out and start painting or gold leafing. There is a wide selection of these molds available.

Have a fun dressing up your art.

—Darlene Olivia McElroy

Add a Creative Paperclay® Textured Border

Since I paint very flat I like to add dimension to my art with Creative Paperclay® elements. Sometimes it is a cast object, a raised circle or a border. I love the texture and depth that I get plus it pushes my art to a new level. This one was finished with paint and gold rub (my favorite thing on earth).

SUPPLIES
Creative Paperclay®
Vintage wallpaper
Brayer
Wax paper

I started by marking my art and laying down some tape so I would get a clean edge. I laid a thick rope of Creative Paperclay® on a slightly dampened surface and kneaded it down to spread it out a bit.

Next I laid wax paper over the paper clay and brayered it flat. The wax paper keeps the Creative Paperclay® from sticking to the brayer and lifting up while I am flattening it out. When flat, I removed the wax paper.

I have a collection of vintage wallpaper that I use as texture plates. I picked one and laid it over the clay
and brayered the texture into it.

With an exacto knife I scored the edge of the tape then lifted the tape off. It leaves a nice straight edge.

The last thing I do before letting the clay dry is to smooth out the edges. I dip my fingers in water and rub the edges to give it a nice edge. When the clay is dry, it is time to paint.


Take time off today to play.

—Darlene Olivia McElroy