Owling and swanning around

Hi Everybody!

Today I am sharing another mixed media piece, 9" x 10" made using a skin as I
showed in yesterday's post. As several people asked how the skin was
made, I have made a short tutorial after the finished photos. I used a
magazine image to make my skin, which was then stitched onto canvas
 and peeled and picked corrugated cardboard. The embellishments
were kept simple with some burlap, feathers and a scrap of
canvas.

And a hybrid version for Jo's poetry in motion at AJJ:

I got the ideas for this skin from a book called 'Image

Transfer Workshop' from McElroy & Wilson. It is

available from Amazon and others, and I would warmly

recommend this treasury of ideas and tips to all who like

experimenting and playing. 

You start by choosing a well inked image, either ink-jet or from

a magazine. You cut it to size, and cover it with a piece of  Saran

wrap/cling film which should be just slightly larger than the

image. 

Smooth the film with your fingers, and place

parchment/baking paper under and over it. Place it all on a towel, 

and set the iron to medium/hot. Don't use steam! 

Make sure the parchment covers all the film. 

Iron it till the film melds to the background image, but don't 

let it burn. Lift up a corner to check if it is ready:

When it is done, cut off the overlapping film from the

edges:

Turn the image over. Lightly sand the paper backing, spray with

water and then rub the paper away with your fingers till

the image becomes translucent.

This gives wonderfully, grungy effects!

Some photos from out and about this week:

I have made a collage sheet with the images of the swans. Please feel free to download and use it if you want to.

The first is 'normal', to print and cut out:

Swans collage sheet Jpg

 The second one is with a transparent background for digital work:

Swans PNG 

 Have a great day, take care,
and thanks a lot for coming by!