"Finnabair" Inspired Canvas

Good morning everyone.

Today I would like to share with you, as promised, an 8 x 10 canvas that I created in the Finnabair style.  I've been wanting to do something like this for sometime but wasn't sure what to do exactly.  So I pulled out my canvas, black gesso, many, many wood embellishments from my stash and some metal pieces.  I decided to layer the embellishments and keep on layering them until I had the look I wanted.  Below is the finished canvas.

  

To start with, I applied modeling paste using a gear stencil from Crafter's Workshop.  When that was dry I applied a good coat of black gesso over the entire surface of the canvas.

I then cut pieces, in varying lengths, from pieces of chipboard borders that I had in my stash and adhered them to the canvas to give me a base.  I then painted the strips with black gesso.

From there I selected different wood pieces (gears, circles, etc.) and adhered them on top of the strips.  I tucked them under and on top of each other.  I had one very large gear that I cut into pieces and added them as well.

I added some other elements - buttons, metal gears, a large key.  Then I painted these items in black gesso.  The reason why I painted each layer was to ensure that everything was completely covered with the gesso.

The last layer was a 4" x 5 1/2" wood frame in the centre, with a small resin frame at the upper right corner.  A wood butterfly was next with a wood key and a small flower in the centre.  Again these were painted black.  I added a couple of glass stones in the centres of a couple of gears and at the top of the large key at the bottom and painted them black.

Now it is time for colour.  I layered a lot of colour directly onto the black gesso.  I dry-brushed most of the colours using Finnibair's opal magic paints, pink and turquoise shimmery paints, almost anything I had on hand that was shiny and glossy.  I just went for it and used my imagination.  I did also put white gesso here and there on a lot of the raised areas.  And at the very end I brushed on some gold metallic paint keeping it on the tips of some items as well as painting the glass stones in solid gold.  This really accented everything nicely.  Below is a close-up of the layers so you can see the colours that I used.

I was pleased with the result as this is my very first attempt at this type of canvas.  I hope you will try it.  After all, if you do not like the end result, you can paint the entire surface in black gesso and try again with your colours.  Start with 3 colours and add as you go.

Until next time, this is Donna wishing you a great week and

"HAPPY CRAFTING"

And to all you scrapbooking women, from the man in your life,

"My wife says I never listen to her - at least that's what I think she said."