Monday, November 14, 2016

Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial

Hello everyone! We had a quite a week with an early winter snowstorm, which turned everything into a winter wonderland in just a day. The snow is quite deep and it is really pretty outdoors.


At the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge we have a Thanks/Thanksgiving theme. I hope you will have time to join us. Our guest designer during November is the very creative Anita Houston

Layers of ink - Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial by Anna-Karin
I interpreted the theme a little differently and thought about thankfulness and people I am thankful for, which turned into a mixed media panel for my dad. It was Father's Day here in Sweden yesterday. I just love this photo of my dad as a kid, skiing with very long sticks. Birch trees are some of my favourite trees and I enjoyed creating a forest of them as my background. Last week for my Deer Winter Shadow Box, I wrote about how I like to depict snow in different ways on my projects, and here you'll find a couple of additional manners to do that. I took a few step photos. 

Layers of ink - Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial by Anna-Karin
I worked on a canvas panel (7.5 x 9.5 in) and started out coating it in gesso. When that was dry, I painted it with Dina Wakley's white paint, because I wanted a really white surface to work on. Using Tim Holtz gorgeous Birch stencil, I sponged acrylic paint through the stencil, dabbing some of it off on scrap paper first. I mixed white into the Elephant and Sky paint to make lighter versions. Repeat to cover the whole panel. 

Layers of ink - Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial by Anna-Karin
I built hills with torn text paper from Tim Holtz Tidings Mini Stash and adhered with Distress Medium Matte, applying it on top of the papers too. They were painted with a thin layer of gesso. When the paint was dry, I started adding the characteristic marks of birch trees, using Elephant and Night paint and a thin brush.

Layers of ink - Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial by Anna-Karin
After that, I added shadows and shading to the trees, using the same two paints, but slightly watered down. The light is coming from the right, so most of the shadows are on the left-hand side of the trees. I also painted the hills with the same colours used for the sky, but not covering up all of the text.

Layers of ink - Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial by Anna-Karin
 I wanted more snow, and splattered Picket Fence paint on the background with a splatter brush.

Layers of ink - Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial by Anna-Karin
Next, I used Distress Grit-Paste, which gives a great snowy look and applied it here and there on the trees, using a tooth pick. It was applied more generously on the hills.

Layers of ink - Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial by Anna-Karin
Here and there on the trees, I added a few pen marks. For more birch tree inspiration, check out my Winter Birch Trees tutorial and my Winter Journal tutorial, from last year.

Layers of ink - Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial by Anna-Karin
As some final touches, I dry-brushed a little paint over the grit-paste, and also added a touch of silver with a Krylon marker. Since I love natural elements such as mica, I couldn't help myself but to add some mica flakes too, again using the Matte Medium.

Layers of ink - Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial by Anna-Karin
The sentiment comes from Tim Holtz Scribble Woodland set and I also used one of his idea-ology Christmas Word Keys, with a little Picket Fence rubbed into it.

Layers of ink - Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial by Anna-Karin
I like that you see some of the text through, while the direction of the brush strokes adds movement to the hills.

Layers of ink - Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial by Anna-Karin
 The white paint splatters create lovely random looking snow.

Layers of ink - Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial by Anna-Karin
I don't know if you see the areas of grit-paste on the trees better here, they were hard to capture on photo. It is the type of texture that you want to reach out and touch.

Layers of ink - Birch Tree Mixed Media Tutorial by Anna-Karin
Here you might see the touches of silver a better, they are mainly on the ridges created by the paste.

I hope you will join us in our Thanks/Thanksgiving challenge. As every week, you have a chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in.


If you want to, follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram, they post great stuff daily. 


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Do you use Instagram? If so please add #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too.







Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Happy stamping!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:






20 comments:

  1. This is such a beautiful page! I love the colors you used and the birch trees and the sky behind are stunning. The hills with the texture and shine ate lovely, too.

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  2. Gorgeous layout Anna-Karin and I love that its a photo of your Dad! I am sure he loves this too, the trees and whole background design is fabulous :-)

    luv
    Lols x x x

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  3. Your layout is gorgeous, Anna-Karin. The background is amazing and those trees are fabulous!

    Cathie ♥

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  4. Amazing canvas! Your birch trees are perfect!!! I love them!!!

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  5. A stunning piece of work Anna-Karin, the trees look amazing! x

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  6. PINNED! What you've done to these birch trees is fabulous! The detail amazing, the scene gorgeous, and love the use of the mica flakes. WOW!

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  7. So beautiful, love the whole thing! Very serene...

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  8. This is a gorgeous winter art layout!! Love all the texture and paint layers. Thank so much for the tutorial!

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  9. this is so beautiful and a loving way to pay tribute to your father. I love birch trees.

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  10. amazing Anna-Karin...your winter forest is so realistic...love all the details you added to the silver birch trees and the snow and great pic of your Dad...Hugs Jath xxx

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  11. Wow, this picture deserves a layout dedicated to it! What a cutie your Dad was! Love the wintery blues and all the texture!! :)

    *mwah*
    Steph
    Simon Says Stamp!

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  12. Your projects are always an inspiration for me! love your use of this stencil and I adore the way you gave life to these birch trees! Barbara

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  13. Beautiful project... your trees are stunning, and the bits of mica are the perfect touch! Great panel!

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  14. This is so absolutely lovely! You have such a talent for creating scenes that evoke emotion and your photography is always top notch, too! I love the tones you created and the wintery elegant feel!

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  15. This is so pretty! The birch trees look like oil painted. I love the mix of soft colors and the bottom made with old paper. Hugs, Marzena!

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  16. Such a beautiful piece of art and I'm sure your Dad really loved and appreciated what went into creating this...it's a touching tribute which shows your love shining through! :)

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  17. Fantastic! Who would ever know you did not paint the birch trees! I love, love the wonderful texture you've created at the base, and especially the bits of mica, Anna-Karin! The blues are amazing, and the photo makes it extra special for your Dad. Beautiful!! hugs, Maura

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  18. Love this fabulous creation, Anna-Karin. The background image are so beautiful! Love the super adorable photo, too. :)

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  19. This is amazing, Anna-Karin! Love the trees in the back! How fabulous they are and so cool how you gave them so much details!! Hugs, Sandra

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment! Happy Crafting!