Artist trading blocks are much like ATCs (artist trading cards) in theory but with a unique 3-D approach. These little cubes allow for artwork on all sides, including inside the box. Using the Sizzix die to cut the boxes allows you to work on a wonderful assortment of substrates, but you can also use any type of cube such as one made from papier mâché or wood. For this project we’ll pull apart our sketches and focus on the features of the face with an art journal style. It’s art journaling cubed!
Surface
artist trading block cut from mat board or another block form
Inktense Blocks
blue, brown, gold, orange, red, white
Brushes
1-inch (25mm) flat
water-reservoir brush or waterbrush
Other Supplies
circle punch tool or scissors, copies of sketches, journaling pens, Mixed Media Adhesive or gel medium
Punch out or trace and cut out circles of various parts of the face from copies of your sketches. Cut two eyes, two ears, one nose and one mouth.
Adhere the cutout face parts to the mat board with Mixed Media Adhesive or gel medium. Use a 1-inch (25mm) flat to apply the adhesive to the back of the cutout, to the board and then over the top of the applied cutout. Be sure to coat the entire surface of the mat board with adhesive and let dry.
Inktense are water-soluble ink blocks that can be used wet or dry and are available in blocks or pencils. When activated with water, they produce vibrant colors that become permanent once dry. They can be dipped in water and colored onto a substrate, applied to wet paper for intense color or used as pans of paint much like watercolors.
Touch a waterbrush directly to the Inktense blocks and lift color, using the tray as your palette. Paint around the outside edges of the feature cutouts. Paint gold around half of each circle, letting it puddle out like watercolor. Paint a mixture of orange and gold (mix the color right on top of the gold) on the other side of each circle edge. Note: On the upside-down circle, apply the colors to the opposite sides. Let dry.
Begin shading the face parts inside the adhered cutouts with Inktense blocks. Mix brown and white to create a skin tone, and begin filling in shaded areas of the face parts.
Once Inktense colors are dry, the color is permanent, so you can layer colors without lifting. You could use watercolors for this project, but they are not permanent and may lift.
Continue layering colors around and on the face details. Add blue to the eyes, and then take it around the outside edge of the blocks. Mix red and white to apply to the lips. Add some pops of bright yellow or bright blue around the circle cutout. Continue layering colors as desired. Let dry.
Use journaling pens to add details, words and journaling around the cutout shapes. You can even add notes to the cube’s inside surfaces. I made notes about the facial features and senses.