relief Archives - Linda Nelson

WHAT A RELIEF……SORT OF.

March 8, 2015

This post concludes a series of three, for making simple, relief-like projects using basic craft supplies and materials. This one, more appropriately, falls under the category of mixed-media collage or assemblage…… let the fine art police come after me and roll me in tacky glue and glitter.

Fetch your Mod Podge (or any preferred decoupage medium), a panel to create your masterpiece on, some corrugated cardboard and some tracing paper. I first decoupaged my panel with vintage book pages. You may like to do the same, or you can just paint your background. Sketch out a simple design on the cardboard, cut it out, then glue it onto your panel. I cut out my rooster profile in individual sections, then glued it down, allowing a little bit of space in between each section. Decoupage over the entire piece with a sheet of tracing paper. Work the tracing paper into any grooves by using your fingernail, a butter knife or a scoring tool. When dry, give the entire surface a good sanding using a fine grit sanding block.

©Linda Nelson

I added a little twinkle to my rooster’s eye. I think he’s very handsome. And cocky. I may have to make him a pretty little mate.

©Linda Nelson 2015

I hope you found this, along with my two previous posts, very “reliefing”. Be sure to visit the other two if you haven’t done so already. Feel free to mix and match my techniques for an even more pleasurable, creative and experimental experience.

Now, go create like nobody’s watching.

Chances are that nobody is…….., except for your cat.

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FOR FAST RELIEF……..

March 7, 2015

…don’t go to your medicine cabinet.

Instead, run to your craft room, and grab these items!

a piece of cardboard
gesso
a wood, masonite or canvas panel
scissors/craft knife
glue
your favorite go-to painting supplies (acrylic paint, antiquing ink, tinted past wax, etc….)

Sketch a simple design onto a piece of cardboard, then cut it out. Use your scissors to remove the excess cardboard surrounding your design; use the craft knife for attacking awkward angles and perfecting the shape. Now, glue your design onto your panel. Slap on a few coats of white gesso, do your thing with your favorite painting and antiquing method, and……….

©Linda Nelson 2015

Voila!

It ain’t instant relief, but it’s pretty darn close.

I’ve got one more relief remedy to share, so do stay tuned. Didn’t get to view the first relief tutorial? Well then, click right here.

FOR FAST RELIEF…….. Read More »

RELIEF YOURSELF: A TUTORIAL

March 6, 2015

Need some relief from all of this snowy, winter weather? Well, here you go; here’s some relief.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Perhaps you’d like to relief, yourself. You’ll feel great, and to do so, this is what you’ll need –

gesso
molding paste
a cone shaped plastic goody bag
an empty cone-tipped plastic bottle
acrylic paints, antiquing stain, or any coloring supplies of your choice
a surface to relief upon

Sleeve a plastic goody cone bag inside a glass, then spoon in equal parts gesso and molding paste. Twist the bag shut and use a squishing technique to mix them together. Snip the tip end of the cone and squirt your mixture into the plastic bottle. Prime your surface area with a coat of plain, white gesso. I chose a blank hemp journal, but wood/canvas panels, clay pots, etc…. would serve as great options, too.

Pre-sketch with a pencil, or just free-hand draw a design onto your surface. Grab your little concocted bottle of relief and do your thing. Now, set your piece aside to dry.

Apply a few coats of gesso over the entire surface area of your piece, allowing it to dry after each coat. Finish it off with a dry brush coat of acrylic paint, antiquing ink or any preferred technique to achieve the look you want. I sponged on some mossy green acrylic paint. I let it dry, then did a sponge on/wipe off coat of brown and teal tinted gloss medium. The journal book came with a satin cord bookmark attached to it; I simply added the skeleton key.

If you’re a purist, you know that this isn’t an authentic relief process. But, who cares. There’s snow on the ground, and in lieu of shoveling, you might prefer a less back-breaking activity.

There you have it.

Now, go relief……, yourself.

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