For the unfamiliar, PASC stands for Pick-A-Stick Challenge. It has been a long while since I last participated in the challenge, and the format has changed slightly. The team now randomly draw words which it is left to us to interpret artistically. The only stipulation is that the order of the steps is followed. Everything else is artistic licence, and anything can happen before, during and after the steps to complete the page. There’s also a shorter ATC (Artist Trading Card) option. Here’s my January 2019 layout:
The steps
This is where I started from – I’m fairly sure that this background is Distress Stains/Ink, but it’s a long long while since I did it.
My next step was to take inspiration from one of the colour suggestions – forest. I used Forest Moss Distress Oxides and black archival ink to add the trees and hill shading. I love the way the background became a starlit aurora sky.
Step 1: Reduction
I decided to use recently rediscovered shrink plastic for my reduction step – pic shows after and before heating the plastic.
Step 2: Tissue
I used Tim Holtz Tissue Wrap (Terminology) to add foreground elements. Stuck down with Ranger matte multi medium.
Step 3: Zigzag
I used zig zag pen strokes to add colour/shading to the foreground elements, smearing the lines. Posca pigment pens.
Step 4: Pour
Copious spritzes with water causing runnels and ‘oxidising’ the oxide inks constituted my ‘pour’.
Step 5: Napkin
I found a snippet of cherry blossom on a napkin – peel apart and keep the one ply with the printing on. Stick down and seal with Ranger matte multi-medium and it goes translucent. Not quite consistent with the fir forest, but hey ho.
Step 6: Grimy
I blended Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the page, spritzing with water and dabbing it off to give the grimy finish. It also draws all the elements together on the page.
Finishing touches – stick down the mini-leaves into the stream having coloured them with alcohol markers. Finally, I added the quote, somewhat wonkily!