Prima Bloom Girl Mixed Media Watercolor Canvas

Hi everyone! Today I'm up on Jamie Dougherty's blog with this project that I'm sharing today. I created a watercolor mixed media canvas using the stamp Summer from the Prima Bloom Collection. I was thinking about it and out of ALL the stamps released, I honestly think Summer is my favorite! I love her hair and how it cascades over part of her face like it's hiding part of her soul. Anyway, this canvas is really easy to make - seems clean and simple has made its way into my mixed media as well. Even though there are tons of layers here, it is all with different colors and paints. I would have loved to capture my process on video but I'm having technical difficulties with the tripod set up at the moment. So, I tried to capture in pictures for you as much as I could. 

First, I grabbed some products that I wanted to use on my canvas. I am using a Master's Touch 8x10 Watercolor Canvas Panel. I pulled out some gel medium and a stencil but ended up not using them. I went simple with this canvas focusing more on the painting than adding extra layers of paper and texture mediums like I originally anticipated.

I stamped my image using Archival Ink in Watering Can. I wanted to keep this canvas soft so I opted for this grey waterproof ink rather than black. I don't have a block large enough for this stamp so I just inked it up and pressed it evenly to the canvas with my hands. I got a few extra spots of ink but I think that just adds to the texture and the coloring will cover that up so I'm not worried about it.

I wanted to use my new gelatos on this canvas to watercolor with so I pulled out the Pastels and Metallics set to start with and mixing the peach and white directly to the canvas I started to paint in her skin. When I'm painting with Gelatos, I scribble the pigment directly to the canvas and then spritz with water. Using my fingers I spread the color around. I use this same technique to create the background (Aqua Dolce, Fig, Teal) with lots of water to create drips.

I wanted more depth and dimension to this image so I pulled out my Derwent Inktense pencils and used them to create more shading and depth on her skin. I also used them to color the foliage in her hair. At this point, I got into the zone and forgot to take more process photos! I colored her hair using two different colors of gelatos (Iced coffee and Caramel) I love how mixing the metallics with the pastels created such depth and dimension in her hair!

Here is a close up of the finished piece. I was inspired by the Simon Says Stamp Monday Alphabet Challenge (using letters X, Y, Z) so I pulled out an alphabet stencil and focused on adding texture to my canvas with the XYZ portions. To do this, I pulled some gelato color (Iced Chai) on to a baby wipe and wiped it through the stencil. I love the effect this technique has on a canvas and it's a great way to use Gelatos rather than a spray with your stencils.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! If you liked my card and video, please click on the button below to subscribe to my blog so you don't miss a post! 

Products used:
Prima Bloom Collection by Jamie Dougherty (Summer item# 980160)
Master's Touch 8x10 Watercolor Canvas Panel
Winsor & Newton Series 7 Finest Sable Watercolor Brushes (0,4)
Ranger Archival Ink (Watering Can)
Faber Castell Gelatos Collection (Metallics & Pastels)
Derwent Inktense Pencils
Baby Wipes
Stencil
Water
Helmar Glossy Krystal Kote Fixative