Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Art Journal #1 Creating Backgrounds

Hello and welcome to the first in our series of posts all about creating in your Copic Art Journal!  I have received quite a few questions since posting my first Copic coloured Art Journal Page, lots of people saying they didn't have the time to doodle and colour, others saying an all Copic page would use too much ink!  Well I'm here to tell you that colouring the whole page with markers isn't the only way to use Copics in your journal.  To give you all a little head start, today I'll show you 5 simple techniques that you can use to create Copic backgrounds in your journal and then I will be creating a page using these techniques to show you how it could look.  I am working in my fabulous X-Press It Copic Blending Journal as it is created with Copic blending card and perfect for Copics and journaling!


Technique 1: Spritzing with Copic Ink 

You can do this in one of 2 ways, add Copic Various ink to a mini mister and spritz (the colours will be quite strong and you will use a fair bit of ink) or what I've done here, pick a strong colour (eg Black 100) and add 3 drops to a mini mister bottle followed by 3mL of Copic Colorless Blending ink (if you look on the side of the Various reinkers it is marked in mL to make it easy).  If you push the pump nozzle quickly you get a fine even mist, if you push slowly you get a splattered look, you can see both below.

Spritzing


Technique 2: Stencilling  with Copic Ink 

Use the same ink and blender mixture as from Technique 1 and use this to mist through stencils - don't spray too close to the stencil or liquid can seep underneath and make sure you are working in a well ventilated room.

Stencilling

Stencilling


Technique 3: Copic Various Ink drips

This is one we usually try not to do, but today you are going to tilt your card and add drips of Copic Various ink straight from the bottle, the resulting colours are quite strong, so use this sparingly.

Drips 1


Technique 4: Copic Various Ink drops

Something else we usually avoid, drip Copic Various ink onto a non-stick surface, add a drop of Colorless Blender  to each drop and plop your project right onto the spots face down, you will create uneven blobs of colour.

Trust the Mess Copic Journal Page 4 wm


Technique 5: Stamping with Found Objects

Grab any non-porous object (plastic, glass or china etc) use the chisel tip of your Copic marker to colour the surface, spritz your card with Colorless Blender and then firmly press the inked part of your object onto the wet card.  More blender = wetter card = more wicking of the ink, where as less blender = crisper image.  You can try this with jars, lids, leggo, toys etc.

Trust the Mess Copic Journal Page 10 wm

Found object stamping

and these are the techniques I just showed you, being used to create my Art Journal page ...

 Mask edges of page with low tack tape, spray page with your favourite sparkly spray, let dry then then spritz page with Copic ink (Black 100 + Colorless Blender) - see you can combine sparkles and Copics!

Trust the Mess Copic Journal Page 3 wm

Use same Copic ink in mister bottle to add some stenciled words or patterns.

Trust the Mess Copic Journal Page 3 wm

Add drips of Various ink (BG15) directly to the page and add drops of ink as described previously (I used BG49 and BG15).

Trust the Mess Copic Journal Page 6 wm

Use jar and plastic lid to add stamped impressions, I coated objects with E29.

Trust the Mess Copic Journal Page 6 wm

Use old Copic Multi Liner Brush marker size M to stencil on some words, the stencils are hard on the marker nibs so don't use your best brush marker for this.

Trust the Mess Copic Journal Page 6 wm

Trust the Mess Copic Journal Page 6 wm

Use 4B pencil to add shadows to lettering.

Trust the Mess Copic Journal Page 12 wm

Stamp Flourishes images from Magnolias and Hydrangea sets, using Mememto ink in Bamboo Leaves & Rich Cocoa and colour with pencils.

Trust the Mess Copic Journal Page 12 wm

Remove masking tape - there will be gorgeous little runs and specks of colour.

Trust the Mess Copic Journal Page 12 wm

and you have created something like this, if you look you can see all of those techniques used on this one page..

Trust the Mess Copic Journal Page 12 wm

I hope you have a great time trying these techniques for yourself, remember art is supposed to be fun so dive in and give Copic Art Journaling a go!

Kate
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9 comments:

  1. Wow. Cool journal page. Lots of ideas spinning in my head. :D

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    1. Thanks Kathi - that's just what I was hoping for!

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  2. Very pretty! I also have a few ideas that I want to try after seeing your project!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Suzi - would love to see what you get up to!

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  3. Looks fabulous Kate!!! You are so clever with mixed media and backgrounds!! Your finished project looks amazing!! :)

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    1. Thanks Kathy - I think I like finding new ways to spread ink everywhere :O)

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  4. Awesome job getting this drippy blended look, a fantastic mess!

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  5. For massive printing you need to keep upto date your Ink and Cartridge because when you print in bulk it will print different from start to last so always keep your printer ready for heavy printings.

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