Mixed Media Canvas Tutorial: Why Birds Can Fly

Hi everyone!  Barbara here today with some more mixed media canvas art.  I cannot think of anything better for my focal images than the beautiful selection of laser cut chipboard from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.  There is so much to choose from and I  find it so easy to get a project started using the GSL Cuts as my starting point.

Here is what I mean.  Instead of starting with that scary, blank white canvas, just choose some chipboard you think you might use and start laying out the pieces.  Voila!  No more scary, blank white canvas.  Now I have my jumping off point.

Next, I adhered my chipboard to the canvas and then gave it a quick coat of white gesso.  The little bird on the cage has not been adhered yet, only gessoed.  I may need to change my mind about placement.  Let gesso dry.  

Place canvas inside a box to catch the extra spray from the misters.  Use ColourArte Shimmering Mists to add color to background, as follows:

Bashful Blue

Teal Zircon - Upper Half of Canvas

Fern - Lower Half of Canvas

Seafoam - lower half 

More Bashful Blue - upper half

More Fern - lower half

Even More Fern - Lower half

Mists dried naturally

Paint chipboard as follows:

Tree branch - Burnt Umber H20

Leaves - Rainforest H20

Birds - Beachouse Blue H20

Bird Cage - Ancient Coin H20

Leaves - Key Lime H20, let dry, add Crazing Collage Medium

Bird Cage - Bronze H20

Birds - Water H20

Spritz background with water, manipulate colors with brush

Bird Cage - Patina Gilding Wax

Add shading beneath branches, leaves, birds, and bird cage with charcoal pencil and smudge with finger or blending stump

Closeup of patina gilding wax

Glue standing bird to front of bird cage

Computer generate the quote using a font of your choice onto parchment card stock.  Here is the actual quote I got my wording from.

“The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.”
―  J.M. Barrie,  The Little White Bird    

Cut apart and test pieces to fit in open areas.

Adhere card stock to slightly larger black chipboard that has been painted with the Ancient Coin and Bronze Twinkling H20s ... 

... and adhere to canvas.

Use a stencil brush to add a light brick background with Moss gilding wax through brick stencil.   

Edge canvas with Black Gold gilding wax and the same stencil brush.  Blend wax out with your fingers, if necessary.

Finish off canvas with flowers and leaves around the bird cage, and a butterfly just above the cage.

And a few closeups from different angles.  I really love the dimension from the chipboard. 

Supplies Used:

GSL Birds Shape Set
GSL Doodled Cage with Solid Back
GSL Leafy Branches with Birds (contact store)
ColourArte Radiant Rains Shimmering Mists
  Bashful Blue
  Teal Zircon
  Fern
  Seafoam
ColourArte Twinkling H20s
  Key Lime
  Rainforest
  Raspberry Wine
  Ancient Coin
  Bronze
  Burnt Umber
  Beachouse Blue
Tim Holtz Brick Stencil
Miss Lillian's Gilding Paste (Moss, Black Gold, Patina)
White gesso

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you feel inspired to make your very own chipboard embellished mixed media canvas.  

Have a wonderful day, and remember to take time to play!

Barbara