Stuck .. in a good way!

Every Once in awhile a New product comes along that just grabs you... it gets you playing. You find yourself thinking Ohh I can this.. Or this.. Oooh OR THAT!  and one idea after another comes to mind. I found that with the textures from DecoArt.. and they STILL do that.. but recently I realized that I am STUCK on "Decoupage". I LOVE this medium.

I have used just about every Decoupage medium/modpodge/Glue I can think of and NONE have been as easy to use,or as versatile as the "De-cou-Page" from Deco Art. It has little to no odour, it washes up with soap and water, it's tintable, is available in TWO sheen levels ( Gloss and Matt) and it has a tremendous spread rate. I haven't figured out exactly HOW many feet to a bottle... mainly because I haven't hit the bottom of the bottle yet. 
I keep finding fun and interesting things to do with this medium and today I learned a new one! and I am THRILLED.. IMAGE TRANSFER!!

Most of us have worked with Transfer gels and mediums, Some have a bigger learning curve than others, some are smelly and messy, and some are just a nightmare to work with but in the end they all work. I discovered the other day that the De-cou-page will image transfer and soooo easily. I was giddy!


Step one:If your working on an art piece .. paint the area to the final step ( no shading you'll do that after) This will work on almost any base coated surface!)

Step two: Use a laser copy of the image you want to transfer( Reverse the image, particularly if it has Text or Numerals)

Step Three: Trim the image you want to transfer to fit the shape of the area you want to transfer to.( If you make it smaller, you may end up with edges that show) Or tear the paper to the smaller shape so that you don't have any straight edges.

 










Step four: Apply a Generous coat of the De-cou-Page to the surface. Lay the paper FACE DOWN into the wet medium. Roll it with a Brayer to smooth it out and remove bubbles and excess medium.( Wipe the excess away with a damp cloth.)Let it dry Thoroughly!

 
Step Five: With a very moist terry cloth face cloth, gently moisten the paper and then gently scrub it away until you can clearly see the image. Let it dry.

Step Six:Apply another coat  of the De-cou-page to the surface and let dry.

Step Seven: Go Ahead and add all your shadows and Highlights to your piece!! VOILA!!  Easy Image Transfer!

Get yourself a bottle in your choice of sheen and try this technique!! it can be done on all kinds of painted surfaces!! ( And TEXTURES too!!)

Creative Adrenaline

Alrighty then... we are three days into the New Year and I haven't painted a thing. In fact aside from a few cute little Christmassy things I haven't painted in over a month!!! I was creativly drained... I had nuthin', Nada, Zip, bupkiss. No Umph at all!

Then On New Years Day.. I was sitting at my computer, obsessively perusing Pinterest as I am wont to do, When I felt that familiar Niggle, that tickle, that little oh oh oh oh!!

And now I have a stack of drawings on my table, and no idea what to do first!! I have chosen my palettes, I have chosen surfaces, and decided on scale.... Now all I have to do is decide where to start!!! sigh.


I love that rush of Ideas, That burst of creative adrenaline that seems to be the norm for me. It always works that way. I could be thumbing through a book, or a magazine,even those that are not art or painting related and a light comes on... then another and another... and then I work until, one at a time, the lights go out. Then the process begins again.

I am determined this year to spend more time perusing and searching for Inspiration, it's out there... just waiting for us to find it!! I have always been a collector... I keep books, magazines, greeting cards, napkins, post cards, catalogs, photos, bit's of fabric, stone , glass, wood, paper. I tuck them into folders and binders and once in awhile I flip through them...then I feel the niggle.. that little tickle that tells me I am on to something.. and away I go again.
With the advent of Social Networking and sites like Pinterest Now I can collect digitally too!!!  

From time to time it is not something tangible like a shape or a theme that sets the ball rolling, it is a colour itself that does it... for me the Colour "Tuscan Red" was the jumping off point for the piece to the right.. it just evolved from there.
Of course I am particularly fond of the European theme so my work tends to reflect that.

So this year I am resolved....to take advantage of the creative opportunities that abound, to paint, create , design and share everyone of them! I intend to stretch... to push myself to the next level and I intend to have a great time doing it too!!  I invite you to Share your creative journey with the rest of us!! Send pics... send your thoughts, your comments!!  Participate!!  Share with your craft and painting friends!!

So my question for you, What is your creative process?  What stirs your juices?, What gives you that Burst of Creative Adrenaline? Let us Know... it's always nice to know your not alone, on any journey...especially a creative one!!  

Happy New Year!!