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This article is written by Kate Palmer

Today I’m going to show you how to create interesting Mixed Media hair with depth and texture.  You can use this technique on canvas or paper and it results in a project that you want to reach out and touch – to run your fingers over the pattern and surface (well I do any how!)

What I used:

• Lindy’s Stamp Gang Products:
• Magicals mixed with Gesso for pastel background – Cheshire Cat Cherry and Tea Pot Purple
• Magicals mixed with Gel Medium for hair base – Cheshire Cat Cherry and Tea Pot Purple
• Magicals mixed with water as ink – Cheshire Cat Cherry, Tweedle Dee Denim and Tea Pot Purple
• Starburst sprayed over background for subtle shimmer – Cheshire Cat Cherry and Down the Rabbit Hole
• Magicals mixed with acrylic paint for face – Cheshire Cat Cherry and Tea Pot Purple

Other Products:

• Martha Stewart Gesso – white
• Golden Mediums – Glass Bead Gel and Fiber Paste
• Stencil Magic Stencil – Floral Accent
• White pre-gessoed canvas

To Create the Mixed Media Hair:
Sketch image onto your canvas

Colour the hair using Magicals (Cheshire Cat Cherry and Tweedle Dee Denim) mixed with Gel Medium to create a base layer.

I applied the cherry all over the hair and then added the denim to darken.

Once the base layer is dry, cover hair with texture paste, making sure to create loads of peaks and valleys as these will catch the colour and shimmer of subsequent layers.

Once the texture paste is dry, mix Magicals (Cheshire Cat Cherry and Tea Pot Purple) with water to create a sparkly ink and apply over the hair, make sure to be heavy handed and allow the mica to settle into the valleys in the texture paste and allow to dry thoroughly.

Using your finger apply a light layer of Inka Gold to the high points created by the texture paste, this picks up the texture and breaks up the colours underneath a little.

For the final step, you will need some Glass Bead Gel and a bold stencil.  Protect the face and apply the bead gel through the stencil onto the hair.

You will need to allow each section of bead gel to dry before applying the next.

Once dry, the bead gel takes on a wonderful glossy appearance and the clear beads pick up the colours from underneath and enhance the sparkle.

I really adore how this turned out, the hair in real life is truly a show stopper!
Kate

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Kate Palmer though perhaps better known as Sparkle Tart loved playing with mixed media and techniques.  Most of her work incorporates sparkly media of some sort, which is used on journal pages, canvases, scrapbooks or hand made cards.

You can see more of Kate’s work at Sparkle Tart or via Facebook – Keep It Simply Sparkly

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