Mark Making On A Spring Day

Today in the studio I played around with the idea of mark making and ways of easily transferring them to my work surfaces instead of simply drawing them. Using ink on tissue paper, I cleared my mind and began painting different marks such as dashes, crosses, dots, hearts, flowers and whatever else came into my head. This way I have a ready stash of images and symbols to go to in the future. I also created some stamps using craft foam. I cut out different shapes and hot glued them to cardboard. Again, this is an easy way for me to be able to repeat a pattern in my work that is completely unique to me. Keep an eye out for use of these images in my future artwork!

What about you? How do you get marks and symbols into your artwork? Are there any symbols that are special to you?
Leave a comment and let me know, you know I love to hear from you all.
Have a great day everyone!

Ciara x

The Twelve Makes of Christmas Day 7 - Hand Stamped Wrapping Paper

A little late with today's tutorial, apologises for that. We made a trip to the shopping centre this morning (big mistake) we ended up being there all day stuck in queues. Anyway enough about that, I want to forget the Christmas shopping madness for now and chill out in front of the box for the rest of the evening. Before I do though I have a simple yet very effective little tutorial to share with you.

Have I ever told you how amazing Polystyrene is? Well if I haven't before I about to. It is AMAZING!! It is so lightweight, cheap and easy to get your hands on but it makes a fantastic material for hand carving stamps out of! Who knew?! While indulging in some Chinese takeaway last weekend I knew exactly what I would use this magically material for around the Christmas period. Whipping up some hand stamped wrapping paper.

Supplies

Polystyrene (such as an old takeaway container, washed)

Pen or pencil

Acrylic paint

Roll of brown Kraft paper

Yarn or ribbon (optional)

 After ensuring that my recycled Polystyrene container was thoroughly washed and dried, I cut a small rectangular piece from it. I then engraved a simple Christmas tree shape into using a pencil. It doesn't really make any different whether you use a pencil or a pen to engrave the image, it all depends on how thick you would like the outline to be.

I then used some red and green acrylic paint to stamp the image in rows on the Kraft paper. After I allowed the wrapping paper to dry completely, it was ready to use! 

I added a little garnish of red yarn to complete the festive look. No peeking until Christmas Day now!

You can see the rest of the Twelve Makes of Christmas here:
TTMC Day 1 - Felt Star Garland
TTMC Day 2 - Festive Twig Votive
TTMC Day 3 - Beaded Wire Ornament
TTMC Day 4 - Magazine Wreath
TTMC Day 5 - Cranberry Orange Scones
TTMC Day 6 - 80's Inspired Festive Earrings

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and might give it ago. Better late than never!

Take care
Ciara
xoxo