I’ve been having some fun with the new ‘Media’ product line from
DecoArt. In addition to the Fluid Acrylics artist paints, there’s Gesso,
Modeling Paste, Texture Sand Paste, Crackle Paste, Crackle Paint, Antiquing
Cream and several Varnish finishes. I love that the Modeling Paste and Gesso
are available in black and white! All of these products are great to work with— and
can be combined with Gelli ® prints to create finished art!
Mixed media collages are a great way to use your Gelli® prints!
Here’s how to make this one:
To create these small pieces, I began with nine 4″ square
Blick Canvas Panels. You can also use mat board, book board or chip board as
your substrate. The Gelli® prints were selected from my stack of previously
printed paper. The Gelli® prints used in this piece were all printed on Staples
Card Stock 110 lb.
This mixed media collage has a Fall theme and incorporates dried,
pressed leaves and skeleton leaves. Your collage can follow any theme… or
none! The gel prints you select
can determine the direction your piece takes.
To create the background texture effects on the small canvases:
- Cut or punch a
3″ circle shape out of sturdy plastic stencil material to create a mask. - Place a piece of
removable double-stick tape in the center of the circle mask to keep it in
place on the canvas square. The mask is centered on the 4″ square. - Use a palette
knife to apply molding paste, gesso, crackle paste or crackle paint around the
mask. Each of these can create a variety of effects. Press textures into the
wet molding paste or gesso, or swipe lines into it with a comb. - Carefully remove
the mask and allow to dry completely. (Repeat this process on each small canvas, using different pastes
and texture tools for variety) - Paint the dry
canvases with black paint—getting into all the crevasses. Let
dry. - Apply paint and
antiquing cremes. Add and wipe off in layers until you get the look you want. - Paint the masked
circle area of the canvas with gold metallic paint.
To create the small round collages:
- Select several
previously Gelli Arts® printed papers. (Note: These Gelli® print circles were
over-dyed with Ranger Distress Stains to eliminate any white areas of the
paper). - Cut or punch a
3″ circle from the Gelli® prints for each small canvas (9 circles). - To give your
circle print some dimension, cut a 3″ circle out of heavyweight fusible
interfacing and iron to fuse a circle print to it. This is optional. - If desired, use a
metallic paint marker to make a fine gold line around the cut edge of each circle
print. - Arrange collage
material (dried leaves) on each circle print. Glue into place using matte
medium. Let dry. - Use a soft brush
to apply a coat of Ultra-Matte Varnish on each complete collage.
To create the textured background canvas panel (15”x15”):
- Apply modeling
paste with a palette knife to a canvas board. Spread over the entire surface. - Press or stamp
various textures into the wet paste. Allow to dry completely. - Apply paint and
antiquing cream to the textured surface and work into all the crevasses. - Apply paints and
antiquing cremes in layers, wiping some off and adding more until you’ve
achieved the look you want. Let dry. - Coat with
Ultra-Matte Varnish to seal the surface.
Note: The canvas
panel used for this piece was cut down to 15”x15” from
a larger canvas.
To complete the piece:
Arrange and adhere the small square canvas collages to the large
canvas board with an appropriate adhesive, such as tacky glue. Let dry.
Done and ready for framing!
Have fun complimenting your Gelli® prints with modeling paste,
texture paste, crackle paste and gesso to make fabulous mixed media collages!
Lastly… we are launching our Gelli Arts® Fall Giveaway Promotion!
Enter our Fall Giveaway below. Check out all the options for entering the random drawing and choose one OR choose all the ways to enter!
Multiple entries allowed!
Our 8″ Round Gelli Arts® Printing Kit includes:
- (1) 8″ Round Gelli Arts® Printing Plate
- (1) Speedball 4″ Rubber Brayer
- (1) Gelli Arts Apron – Priceless!
Good luck and of course, Happy Printing!
I always look forward to a new post on your blog!
Have just ordered some Decoart products, so can't wait to play xxx
Love what you have created here. The grid of small works has such a large impact. Thanks for the tutorial!
love it
What a fun project. Can't wait to get started on an autumn one of my own.
Wonderful project!
This is great! thank you!
This was a great post. Thanks for the tutorial. I love how this piece looks. Great idea for a gift.
Love the tutorial – more ideas to use those hundreds of dried leaves I've been collecting!
What a beautiful piece. Thanks for the tutorial! Lots of ideas to try here.
Shoshi
OMG these circles are so beautiful, great tutorial!
These are so beautiful! Thanks for the ideas and inspiration!
A never ending stream of amazing inspiration!
Always appreciate the opportunity to win a giveaway in addition to all the great ideas you provide.
It is such a great product. Thanks for writing a book!
I love the center one that has the pink and little dots that look like stars. What a great grouping of prints.
Always fun to see new Gelli projects!
I love my Gelli plates. It is always so much fun to see then try the new Gelli projects.
Really amazing techniques.
Great project and what a way to bring in the fall! Thanks for the opportunity!
Thank you again Joan for your ideas
I love your creativity and originality!
thanks for sharing so freely. I love this blog! 🙂
circles, leaves, rich fall colors…. these are a few of my favorite things (yes, I'm humming)
MF
Can't wait to do this with my students
these are beautiful – love the format, especially
Love these! Now I can't wait to get playing with my gelli plate!
Love all the videos! Thank you.
these are gorgeous…I love fall the leaves are just one way that mother nature paints our world. 🙂
Stunning work,so original.xxx
I purchased a Gelli Plate in September. Cannot wait to put it at work! This project is awesome!!
I believe we should establish a gelli cult….the obsession is fantastic – AND I REALLY appreciate all of your information!
Love this project!
I use my gelli printed pieces all the time to create backgrounds, so I love this idea of mixed medial collage. I'd love to win the round gelli plate-thanks for the chance.
Have entered your fantastic competition twice as i don't do FB and use an app for Twitter not Twitter itself so didn't quite understand that one lol 🙂
Loving all the projects you share with us, am becoming more comfortable using my Gelli Plate especially the smaller one on fabric 🙂 xxx
You always have such fabulous ideas on the site. I love Gelli and have all but round and 5×7. I am addicted for sure. I have your book and one that I am in along with friends. So much fun. Thank you for this wonderful tool!
Love this mixed media project. Thanks for the chance to win the great prize package!
Love the look of this collage! We don't have as many fall colors here on the west coast but I'm going hunting for them now.
Beautiful! I have also used my gelli prints on a mixed media canvas and achieved beautiful results. I enjoy using my gelli plates very much!
Beautiful and thankyou for the tutorial to go with it!
This is as cool as watching the J. Leno Garage vintage model car videos. Wow maybe you could get Jay to try this on your webpage. Imagine how many new followers that might bring in. Very very nice!!!! Really love these gelli!!!!
I love your tutorials–I learn so much. i have the 8"x10" gelli, and love to play. A round one would mean twice the fun!
Thanks for the tutorial….would be so much fun to make…thank also for the chance to win these awesome prizes…
Gorgeous! I just got my Gelli arts book and can't wait to try all of the techniques in it.
I just became a fan on Facebook. Great tutorial!
Found this spot through Patti Parrish. Have learned so much about the gelli plate.
Love the Gelli Arts blog! Just when I think I have exhausted all possibilities with my Gelli plate you introduce me to something new!
gorgeous colors and prints! 'mixed media' at its best!
can't wait to get my hands on a round gelli plate–
thanks for the give away–
the round Gelli Plate is the one missing in my collection! I love your tutorials! Thanks a bunch!!
LOVE those textures. Great idea.
What great print colors and textures – fantastic stuff.