Art Journal Page: Simply Marvellous

IMG_6264_wAnother journal page using my new wooden block stamps – they work so well with the Dylusions paint. It’s just the right consistency to cover the stamp, stick to the page, and not squidge everywhere. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite the same when I used rubber stamps, which squeezed the paint away giving me the tramline outline that I then had to fill in with a paintbrush.

A couple of technique tips for this page too… Shading on the block border was done with water-soluble graphite and a brush. I wanted a little more control on the lettering, so I used an Ice Grey 5 ProMarker, and in doing so, reminding myself that alcohol breaks acrylic down. What was an annoyance (as I had to keep unclogging the nib), then became a simply marvellous idea – why not use the blender pen to lift the acrylic paint for the highlights? And it worked. I also stopped using a piece of kitchen roll to wipe the nib on, instead running out the acrylic by scribbling on my non-stick craft sheet (thank you Tim Holtz for that pearl of wisdom when using a waterbrush – it doesn’t dry the nib out like the absorbent tissue does). The same effect could be achieved with a cut-n-dry nib with isopropyl alcohol on it, or even a Ranger Alcohol Ink pen with just the blending solution in it (though that does leave a sticky residue).

All but the word ‘marvellous’ were stamped – foam stamps really do behave much better with acrylic paint as the ink. I dared myself to use a flat brush on the oblique to paint the last word – on the one hand, I’d like to have chosen a narrower brush, but on the other, I like the bold Gothic effect squeezing the letters in has achieved.

3 thoughts on “Art Journal Page: Simply Marvellous

  1. Another beautiful page, Neil, and lots of useful hints too. Your lettering is superb as always. Love the shadows you have created – I think I shall have to get myself one of those soluble graphite pens (if pens they are). What you say about alcohol dissolving acrylic made me wonder – is this why so many pens clog when you write with them on acrylic? Have you any tips on this? I know the new Dylusions pens are supposed to be OK for this (I’ve just got them but haven’t yet tried writing on them). Any help in this area would be much appreciated. I have wasted too many good pens in the past.

    Shoshi

    • It all depends on the formulation of the ink and the paint. And nothing is consistent… I’m going to have to look into the new Dylusions pens! I find the most reliable performers are gel pens, preferably with a broad point.

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