2015 Ranger Challenge

Back in December, I was asked to participate in the CHA Ranger Designer Challenge.  This year the task was to use Dina Wakley's Media line to create whatever we wanted on a canvas base. I had to think a while about this one.  I'm not a painter but I love the thick heavy body paint, so I just decided to get over myself and try.

After a Gesso base was painted on (and dried), I added ripped pieces of vintage wallpaper and pages from a vintage school book with Gel Medium.

Once the papers were secure, I started adding layers of Dina's heavy body paint (sky, turquoise, lime, and magenta) to the canvas.   Like I stated previously, the paint is thick and smooth.  It is super easy to manipulate with a brush or wet wipe.  I think my biggest challenge was knowing how much to squeeze out of the tube...sometimes I got it right and other times I had way too much.  I think it is just a matter of practice really.

Funny story before I go on...I decided I really wanted a small touch of yellow (lemon).  I did not get that color in my box, so I went to my local craft store and purchased a tube of Lemon.  I get it to the check out counter and the cashier does not know the price - so with a nice long line behind me, she says into the microphone, "PRICE CHECK ON BODY PAINT".   I quickly stated that it is found in the art section and it's acrylic paint...and not edible the last time I checked.  

Once I had a basic painted background, I used a pencil to sketch some flowers, stems and leaves over the surface, then colored in what I had sketched.  You might notice I added painted Sticky Back Canvas in a few places just to give the canvas more texture and interest.
The last step was to add some stamped images (circles) and the written words, love you.  I used Archival ink in Aquamarine for the stamping, so that it was waterproof.

Once the background was complete, I added another page from the primer book as the focal point.  The old ripped paper seen below the blue chip stamps was sitting on my desk from another project - it came from a vintage cigar box. 
The blue chip stamps are a favorite of mine to find on junking trips (they were a big deal in my house growing up- it was my job to paste the stamps into the book!)  The baby fork is just something I had in my stash and the photo of the woman is from the new idea-ology Photobooth pack.  

There was a wonderful moment of serendipity while I was putting this together.  I needed to get the entire page, Read and Write from the school book so I opened it as far as I could, which revealed the fabric tape that had been used to bind the book.  Low and behold the owner of the book had written their name on the fabric tape.  I was so excited to see that.  It was really too good to pass up so I carefully removed it from the binding and added it to the canvas.  It is laying on the canvas just as it was in the book, with one end rolled back.  Now it was complete.

If you have not seen the other designer challenge pieces, you can view them here on Rangers blog.  Mine kinda sticks out like a sore thumb in the group but I'm okay with that.  I did what speaks to me and that is good enough. 
now carry on,
paula

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