Art Recipe Wednesday: "Practice" - New Family Journal (2024)

Hi again, looks like it is my turn to take over this blog!
It's high time for the next Art Recipe Wednesday - and this time I have to admit the decision of what to make for you was pretty easy - I needed new Art Journal so badly!

After the last post and "Autumn Disintegration"project my old "Family Odyssey" Journal reached the point of breaking, so it was a moment to send him on his well earned retirement on the shelf. It was the right moment to choose my next victim - and luckily I had a suitable, nice book which I could turn into my next project - all I needed now was a proper, nicely altered cover...

I wanted my new book to be similar in style to the original one - so I decided to use similar techniques to decorate it although the final color palette and look had to be different - my new journal had nice, green cover and it would be a shame not to use it!

I strongly believe there is a kind of magic in old photos, books, letters - and in household objects too. It's probably changing into small obsession - it is not only my love for collection them but also changing them into something new, inspiring, interesting. Collages, journal pages, altered objects - they are all my way of showing my love to these forgotten, unwanted, underestimated objects which surround us and were important part of lives of people in the past.

The cover itself didn't need much to shine: I used a combination of Art Basics 3D Matte Gel, Mechanicals - metal embellishments I designed for Prima, a bit of color: Pigments and Inka Gold and some Art Ingredients Glass Beads to add extra texture (it is possible I'm starting to be addicted to these!).

Is there a better base for the Art Journal inspired by family photos than an old, beautiful book? The title "Workshop Practice" seems to be just perfect too ;)
I can't really wait to start to work in it - everything is set and longing for the paint, gesso, inks and a bit more of love...

Anyway - here is Art Recipe and step-by-step for this Art Journal Cover:

1. I've started preparing my background - the book cover - applying a coat of Art Basics Clear Gesso. It is a great way of creating matte, transparent base which will help your colored mediums to stay on your project with your original colors and patterns visible... so many possibilities! I dried it for a moment with heating tool and it was ready for the next step: semi-transparent texture. I used my Bubble stencil and 3D Matte Gel from Art Basics applied with a palette knife. You can also use 3D Gloss Gel with great effects - but different finishing of course!

2. When the texture was dry enough to work on the next steps safely I started gluing the embellishments on: I decided to use one of Mechanicals Pendants I made not so long ago as a main element of the composition (you can learn how to create similar project here). I added big flourish cut in smaller pieces, a trinket, crystals and pieces from old clocks and watches - all that was mounted using 3D Matte Gel. When the big elements were in their places I finished the composition with Art Ingrediens Glass Beads (Zinc) and Soft Matte Gel in a bottle as my glue.

3. I let the elements dry and when they were ready I applied Art Basics Clear Gesso again this time only on my embellishments - to help the sprays stay better on metal elements. I used Primary Elements Pigmets with water for spraying: Black Emerald, Mystique and Pretty Peridot.

4. Finally, when the sprays were dry I rubbed Inka Gold in 4 colors (Gold, Hematite, Green Yellow and Orange) on my embellishments and background to add extra metallic shine and finishing. In the last step I added a bit of Silks Acrylic Glaze - Spicy Tomato to boost the orange color in the composition. I sprayed the covers with fixative for extra protection. Voila!