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Decoupage Techniques
Remember:
You are limited only by your imagination.
DECORATIVE
PAINT FINISHES
By Veera Nolan All paints are made up of pigment which
provides colour, a binder or medium in which the pigment is suspended and
which binds the paint to the surface, and a solvent which dilutes the mixture
to make it flow smoothly and evenly. the solvent
evaporates in the drying process and leaves an even, dry coating on the
surface. The durability and hardness and absorbency of
the painted surface, depends on the type of pigment, binder and solvent used.
In the past, limestone was soaked in water and
animal fat was added to it as a binder. The mixture was allowed to ferment
until it was ready to use.. Natural pigments, like
ochre and red oxide, were added to give it colour. Today, natural ingredients have been replaced
by synthetic substitutes, making the paint more durable and easier to use.
All water based paints may be diluted with water and used as a colour wash.
Once the water based paint has dried, it is no longer water soluble. Water
based glaze
Sometimes called Scumble
(or Spreader) it is a transparent gel-like substance that appears milky when
wet, but dries to a clear finish. It can be diluted with water. This type of
glaze retards the drying process of water based paints giving more time to
create decorative finishes. Tips
on mixing paints
When mixing pale colours or tints, start with
a white base and add small amounts of colour. Black is not always the best colour to use to
darken a colour. It can often change the colour completely, or make it dull,
e.g. yellow + black will turn olive green. Raw Umber can be a successful
substitute. If a colour is too bright, e.g. bright green,
a small amount of a complimentary colour can be added. In this case, red can
be added, which will cause a slight dulling. If pastel colours are too sweet, a drop of Raw
Umber will reduce the glare without changing the overall effect of the
colour. Frottage
Method
Aged wall plaster is used to describe old
plaster, painted with lime wash, tinted with earth colours. The technique of
simulating old walls is very popular with the reversion to natural colours. Aged
Wall Plaster
Water based paint of any of the following
earth colours
A second, darker paint mix may be applied
using the above method. When completely dry, sand lightly to expose the base
coat. Creating
a layered lime look
Thanks Vera There will be more hints in later Snippets EXTENDING
YOUR DESIGN
By
Sandra Dennis Extensions can be made easier by the following
exercises. 1. STUDY the needs of the design work before beginning to paint.
Sometimes very little detail is needed on "less important" areas
e.g. near edges of work. Do not detract from the main focal area by using too
much detail in the extensions. Detractions can be can be caused by using too
much detail, too much unsuitable colour, colour that obviously does not match
or heavy line work. 2. DRAW extensions on clear plastic to
determine the "match" of shape required. Do not be afraid to
experiment by - fading lines into oblivion, softening edges or creating
another element to cover the edge, e.g. in a landscape many things can be
hidden by grass. Hatching can also be added & faded around some designs
to avoid having to colour match small areas. 3. PAINT a trial extension on a piece of paper
to ensure that colours match & that the drawing is suitable in colour.
Let this dry then check that the colours are still matching in the dry state.
Some paint will dry a lighter colour than when in the wet state. 4. IF you find that you cannot entirely match
the colour, & some are very difficult, intersperse your "almost
matching" colour onto the picture to tie in the slightly different
colour. Design
Help Suggestions
Find a subject to suit the article, or vice
versa. Learn to recognise colours e.g. cool or warm
& just the fact that they are there. A tree is not just green leaves
& a brown trunk as we used to depict them in kindergarten. There are many
colours in foliage, including red, yellow, green & blue in various
degrees of tone. Some leaves shine & give reflected colour. This is just
one of many examples of reflected colour that we do not stop, in our busy lives,
to study. Take note of line work or edges used in
designs e.g. clean cut, ragged, soft or fuzzy. These can set the mood of a
piece. View your piece from a suitable distance, to
ensure that what you have done"works".
Things often look OK close up, but appear insignificant at a distance. Keep
any lines, leading out of the picture, soft or "unimportant" so
your eye doesn't follow them out of the picture, but remains on, or is led
back into, or around, the focal area. Keep backgrounds interesting, but not
overpowering. Other Suggestions
May some of the above help someone somewhere,
sometime, to do something somewhat easier. Thanks Sandra DESIGN
by
Sandra Dennis Designing is when we create to stimulate, or
affect our emotions in the following manner; by exciting, by shocking, by
pleasing, by relaxing, by amusing or by appealing in some way. We do this
with many mediums. People can do it with mannerisms or speech or deeds.
Artists do it with a manipulation of colour, shapes and textures. Balancing
these components is not always easy, but with practice it becomes a natural
ability akin to cooking the dinner for the family! (for
some people). Mind you, I have mastered neither skill to date. However, I
have found that over years it has become easier to recognise when things are
not quite right, do not balance properly, or have some error which creates a
flaw in my work. This is sometimes corrected easily,
sometimes it takes quite a lot of experimenting and trials to satisfy the
eye. That is the important word - the "eye". Of course, you know
that the eye is in collusion with the brain, so getting these to agree that
the work you are about to view & do is acceptable, may take some time, if
you block their progress by thinking too laterally. So I ask you to have an open mind, forget
tradition for once, and most of all; have fun creating something very
different. You will be surprised, not only by your creativity -- of which I
know you all have plenty -- but by the different direction in which you can
either guide, or let it escape, into! One of my favourite sayings (to myself)
is "relax and let it happen". This tends to work well for art,
fishing, bingo and many other pleasant things, and helps get through the
tough situations also. Many 'accidents' in art turn out to be very acceptable
items, e.g. dropping coloured shapes of paper onto collage can be the easiest
way to get a 'free & easy' effect successfully without much effort.
Accidental splats of paint can also create the diversion your artwork needs,
and you can do some line work from these to make them 'tie in' or belong.
Don't be worried that the person sitting next to you seems to be doing
marvels - just do your own thing & it will be unique. I hope this will help you relax into creating
a piece of work that you will get pleasure and satisfaction from, and which
leads you in an exciting direction which can be applied to your Decoupage
work.
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