Handmade Foam Stamps & Printing Plates

This article was written by Martice Smith II

Handmade Foam Stamps & Printing Plates

 

Handmade Foam Stamps & Printing Plates, tutorial by artist Martice Smith II

Supplies to gather:

  • cardstock or cardboard
  • dried baby wipes or paper towel
  • craft foam (with adhesive backing)
  • glazing medium (DecoArt)
  • heavy-bodied acrylics
  • foam brush
  • brayer
  • scissors
  • IrRESISTible Pico Embellisher (optional)

Handmade printing plate by artist Martice Smith II. Tutorial: 'Handmade Foam Stamps & Printing Plates'

1. Create a printing plate with craft foam.

Cut shapes out of the foam, peel off the paper backing and adhere them to a piece of cardboard (or cardstock) to make a printing plate.

Handmade printing plate, with circles and paint by artist Martice Smith II. Tutorial: 'Handmade Foam Stamps & Printing Plates'

2. Add paint to the printing plate with foam brush.

Baby wipe printed with handmade foam printing plates'. Handmade printing plate on cardstock by artist Martice Smith II.

3. Stamp onto dry baby wipe.

Repeat the design by rotating your printing plate.

Use a brayer for a crisp impression onto the surface. Let dry for one minute.

4. Apply a glaze over the paint. 

Mix one part glazing medium to one part of the heavy-bodied acrylic color of your choice. (I applied DecoArt’s Banana Cream -Yellow, mixed with DecoArt’s Glazing Medium

Dip brush into water and then into the glazing mixture.

Apply a generous wash over a section of the baby wipe, using a clean foam brush.

There are many benefits of using acrylic glazes as you build up layers and texture on delicate surfaces. This method is great because it offers a very graphic way of featuring a stamp’s design. Layers of visual texture can be achieved without the bulk and concern of ruining a delicate surface.

Glazing medium allows you to work with the acrylic paint longer and creates layers that are slightly translucent. Although the glazing medium changes the paint color slightly, it’s very cool to see how the paints interact! Experiment with different colors to find your favorite color combos.

Adding paint to handmade stamp; painting dots with handle end of paintbrush; Tutorial: 'Handmade Foam Stamps & Printing Plates'

5. Add paint to another stamp. 

Using a foam brush, apply a mixture of one part glazing medium and another color of paint.

Stamp onto the paper, repeating the image a few times.

Try this! Use the handle end of a paintbrush to add dots, in varying sizes.

Adding paint onto handmade triangle stamp; stamping randomly onto baby wipe.

6. Add another stamp design.

Mix up a new color with more glaze, apply the mixture with a foam brush and press the stamp onto the painted baby wipe.

Continue layering the background with overstamping to get a look you like.

Try this! For dimensional texture, outline a few of the shapes with an IrRESISTible Pico Embellisher (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko).

Happy stamping! Be sure to share a link to your creation, down in the comment section!

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Photo of artist Martice Smith II

Martice Smith II is creative director of Martice Smith II – Illustration & Design Studio, based in Missouri and owner of Uneek Art Boutique. She established herself as a freelance Illustrator and graphic designer after receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree. Specializing in mixed-media illustrations, Martice’s love for fashion, typography and wildlife are infused with a combination of traditional and digital art techniques.

Be sure to join the Uneek Art Letter, -Martice’s monthly newsletter- that offers art biz tips, advice and more digital goodness that will keep you inspired to be the artist you envision yourself to be!

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Neon Pico Embellisher

This article was written by Melanie Statnick

textured artwork using the irresistibleNeon Pico Embellisher.

Imagine Craft has done it again with their irresistible Neon Pico Embellisher.

I like to paint on different types of surfaces and recently I have in position some wood feathers that have been cut for me. I painted them with black gesso with the intent on painting them with acrylic.

I knew that the Pico embellisher gave some great texture and I thought the 3D effect and the neon on black would look amazing. And it turned out perfect.

Neon Pico Embellisher Product review

I also found that the clear Pico embellisher was great for creating boarders so I drew an abstract rose with it, dried it and painted in the negative space with watercolor.  You can create thicker lines and thinner lines with the pressure you use while operating. The Pico tip is great for outlining and adding dots like I did in the canvas project. Happy creating.

Neon Pico Embellisher Product review

Neon Pico Embellisher Product review

Neon Pico Embellisher Product review

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Artist Melanie Statnick is a Published Artist/Writer out of North Carolina who writes and creates art daily from her private studio. Melanie is also the host of her own program via video and local PBS named The Brush & Pen  a Nash Community College production. . Statnick’s artwork can be found in art galleries extensively in NC with international private collections.Visit her website to see more art and inspiration www.melaniestatnickart.com

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Good Design and Composition for Mixed Media Art

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This article is written by Marilyn Harris Mills

What is considered good design and good composition?

A greatly debated subject for sure….some consider design to be innovative, cutting edge while others consider good design to evoke emotion with a concentrated colour palette. Who really knows what good design is? Perhaps a subjective matter.

Good Design and Composition for Mixed Media Art

However we judge a good art piece, there are some elements and principles which define a good painting. Whether we design from using our imagination or design from a photograph of our own, some key factors should be considered and applied. You have to teach yourself the basic rules, apply them and then once you’re very knowledgeable then you may go ahead and become creative developing your own style.

The elements of design are the visual elements or tools you use to compose and design. The principles tell you how to use and combine these elements. They help you to organize your composition.

Elements of Good Composition

Let’s first look at the elements of a good composition. These elements should be applied for each painting, whether we are using watercolours, pencils, charcoal or mixed media. Without these elements, our painting is rendered something other than a work of art.

1) Line

Using the correct line within a painting sets the tone of the art. Horizontal, vertical and diagonal, straight, curved, thick or thin can be used. Lines move the viewer into, around and out of your painting. They lead the viewer’s eye and direct it to the center of interest. Using curvy lines will create a more relaxed and casual tone….do we want to stand up and shout or sit and be quiet?! Lines will set the tone. ie think dog fur and the type of breed. A short wiry fur similar to a jack russell fur certainly would look funny on an English sheep dog. In this example the fur compliments the dog breed.

2) Shape

Think small, medium or large for variety. Same sized shapes would be boring. Shapes are organic or geometric. Usually both are included in a painting. Organic shapes are curved, irregular and have a natural feel to them. Geometric shapes are triangles, squares, rectangles and circles. You can paint the shapes either positively, by painting the actual shape or negatively, by painting the space around them. Usually both types of shapes are included into a painting with one being more dominant than the other.

3) Space

Shapes fill spaces. A canvas is a shape itself. You fill this space with shapes to create your painting. The shapes or objects are positive space and the space between and around these shapes or objects is negative space. Both are important. Using shape creates depth in a painting by overlapping them or weaving them together, or laying them side by side. Designing a painting is like putting together a puzzle to create an entire painting.

4) Form

When you draw a circle, once you add form and give it dimension the circle becomes a sphere, a square becomes a cube. So too must you give the objects in your painting, form to achieve dimension. In still life paintings, a direct source of light provides shadows and highlights giving it dimension.

5) Colour

Use a colour wheel if you’re first beginning. Learn about what colours go with each other ie red and green or using a yellow with a purple makes the painting pop. Once you’ve acquired a basic understanding, colour theory courses are a must for the serious artist. The thought by many is that colour is the first design element a viewer will notice and/or remember. Colour speaks first in a painting some say. On the other hand, some may disagree, you’ll need to judge for yourself. If your taste is for pastels, then a bright red incorporated into the canvas will set forth a jungle of nerves for you.

Using colour can make or break a design. If the colours used don’t work together, then forget your whole art piece….another one for the yuck bin. When colours are in competition with each other…they tend to scream at you. When the colours do work together, you’re at peace with the painting.

6) Texture

I love creating texture in a painting and often I find this is the easiest element to achieve. Texture can be actual or perceived. Texture refers to the surface appearance of the objects in the painting. Are we wanting to create a smooth velvety surface such as a piece of satin cloth or a rough aged piece of driftwood or even the skin of an elephant? Texture is fun because it creates excitement, interest in your painting…dynamics is the word I like to use to describe texture. However, don’t use too much texture in a painting, you can over do it!

Stay ARTistically Inspired.

Read Part Two: 6 Principles for Composition in Mixed Media Art

Read Part Three: Composition for Mixed Media Art

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Marilyn Harris Mills, aka Maer, is a Published Artist, Teacher and Designer, in Ottawa Canada.

You can read about Marilyn at Maer’s Muses. Her art has been published in “Creating Time: Using Creativity to Reinvent the Clock and Reclaim Your Life”

“I work in whatever medium likes me at the moment”-Mark Chagall

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Watercolor Painting on Old Paper Ephemera

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This article is written by Melanie Statnick

Supply list:

  • Gel medium
  • Clear Gesso
  • Paint Brush
  • Old papers from textbook
  • Foam board
  • Watercolors
  • Micron/Copic pen
  • White Uniball pen (signo)
  • Pencil
  • Eraser

Watercolor technique on old papers by Melanie Statnick

Cut foam board to 8×10. Using gel medium cover one side of old paper taking care to get each corner and the sides. Once covered, flip glued side down to foam board and use brayer to roll flat and to get out any bubbles or folds ion the paper. You will only need a thin layer. This is old paper and going over it too many times with the brayer may cause some tearing. After drying use the clear gesso to prep you surface to accept the watercolor. This will dry clear and leave a “tooth” texture to the paper that will feel somewhat like sand paper.

Watercolor technique on old papers

Watercolor technique on old papers

Watercolor technique on old papers

Watercolor technique on old papers

When the gesso is dry you can draw a boarder around your paper and begin to draw your pictures where and what you like. The pencil may show up a bit darker on the gesso surface. Go over your drawings with a micron pen and white gel pen before you add your watercolors.

Watercolor technique on old papers

Watercolor technique on old papers

Your drawings are ready for the watercolor. You can paint just your designs and leave the background plain or paint and splatter it all.

Watercolor technique on old papers

Watercolor technique on old papers

Watercolor technique on old papers

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Melanie Statnick is a published artist/writer out of North Carolina. Melanie creates art daily from her private studio. Her style artwork can be found in art galleries and shops extensively in NC with international private collections.

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