Flight

I have a great fondness for birds. I have always referred to my baby sister as “Birdie.” In many ways this piece is an ode to our childhood, as we were both encouraged to always take flight in our dreams. Perhaps this piece will inspire you to create a piece to give to another as I have gifted this to my sister.

Materials List

acrylic paint, assorted colors

adhesive

brown StazOn ink

cloth rag

dark brown colored pencil

double-sided tape

French book text

French script stamp

gel medium

gesso

ledger paper scrap

lighter

metal stamp

paintbrushes

printed bird image

Prussian Blue watercolor crayon

ribbons

scissors

stapler

stencil

vintage sheet music

white sealing wax

wood board, 7¹⁄₂" × 7¹⁄₂" (19cm × 19cm)

STEP 1: Paint the Block

After the block has been painted with gesso and it is dry, paint the entire surface with Lake Fog acrylic paint. Allow to dry.

STEP 2: Add White Paint to the Board

With a dry brush and white paint, create a square in the center of the board.

STEP 3: Use a Stencil

While the paint is still very wet, place a stencil into the white paint in the bottom left corner to create texture. Remove the stencil and let the paint dry.

STEP 4: Place the Book Text

Once the white paint is dry, adhere a scrap from a French book page with gel medium.

STEP 5: Layer the Bird

Add a thin layer of gel medium to the back of a printed bird and layer it over the French book scrap.

STEP 6: Create Artist Tape

Place a bit of sheet music onto double-sided tape and trim any excess. Remove the back from the tape and place the tape over the book page and paint.

STEP 7: Stamp Text

With brown StazOn ink and a French text stamp, stamp an image onto the left side of the white block.

STEP 8: Add Blue Patina

With a dry brush add blue patina paint to the top right corner and the bottom right corner, extending the line just past the center of the piece.

STEP 9: Heat the Sealing Wax

With a lighter, light the white sealing wax and allow a pool of wax to form at the bottom left corner of the piece.

STEP 10: Stamp the Wax

While the wax is still hot, place a metal stamp into the wax. Allow the wax to cool and then remove the metal stamp.

STEP 11: Add Color to the Stamp

With a dry cloth and Burnt Umber paint, add a bit of paint to the seal; the color will sink into the stamping.

STEP 12: Create an Embellishment

Layer the ribbons together and place the scrap of ledger paper on top. Staple the embellishment together.

STEP 13: Shade With a Watercolor Crayon

With a Prussian Blue watercolor crayon, add shading to the book text as well as the perimeter of the white square.

STEP 14: Add Crop Marks

With a dark brown colored pencil, create crop marks in three corners of the white block. Shade the perimeter of the wood board with the colored pencil as well.

Heat Things up a Bit

If wax cools prior to stamping, heat the wax with a heat gun until melted.