Making Faces!

I love people and painting them. This is my first attempt at a dimensional character and it was enjoyable experimenting and adding the humor in creating this piece. And, what a great way to gift your friends with a crazy portrait of themselves.

SUPPLIES
Creative Paperclay®

Delight®

Acrylic paint

Chartpak colorless blender

Laser print

Scissors

Brayer

I started by laying Creative Paperclay® into my basic shape on a panel I had laying around the studio. I could have smoothed it out with a little water but I wanted it be remain clay-like. It was left to dry overnight.

Wet clay was added to the dry clay shape to give dimension to my character and texture was added to the bow tie and eye. When this was dry, I applied gesso to my character. This sealed the clay and prepared it for painting.

I always sit with a piece before I decide if it is finished or not. After painting it with acrylics, I felt it needed more elements to tell the story of this crazy guy.

I brought out Delight® and rolled out a thin sheet. Next, came a laser print and a Chartpak colorless marker so that I could make an image transfer. The laser print was placed face down and the blender was applied to the back of the print several times. This was then cut into a shape and added to the painting. I have shown this to you previously but it is my latest favorite technique.

Here is the finished piece, Flowery Words. You never know what you will discover when you experiments with your art tools.

Dream in Color!

DarleneOliviaMcElroy.com

I love image transfers so much that I wrote a book about them. The texture and whiteness of Delight® is the perfect substrate to use a colorless blender pen and toner image transfer on.

SUPPLIES
Colorless Blender Pen
Delight®
Substrate (masonite panel shown here)
Scissors & mark making tools
Polymer medium
Toner Image

After rolling the Delight® into a thin sheet, I placed the toner image face down. The image will be in reverse which was fine with me. I then applying the colorless blender pen on the back of the toner image. As I did this, the image starts to appear on the back of the paper. Lift the paper to see how well it is transferring. If it looks light, apply the blender pen some more. Save the toner image to put in a collage. Nothing goes to waste in my world.
 

After cutting my transfer into a loose shape, I added curtains to give the feel of a stage and used my tracing wheel to add texture to them. To make sure that the Delight® adhered tightly to the background, the surface was coated with polymer medium before laying down the pieces. I love the opera so I am naming this Sweetheart of the Opera.

After painting the piece, dimensional letters were added. What else can you do with this technique besides using it in art? Gift tags, holiday banners, etc.

For other transfer techniques, see www.amazon.com/Image-Transfer-Workshop-Mixed-Media-Techniques/dp/1600611605

Dream in Color!

Darlene Olivia McElroy

darleneoliviamcelroy.com

Delightful Hand Wall Art

 

I  am loving playing with Delight® and have made some very cool discoveries. Gather your supplies and join me on this art adventure.

SUPPLIES

Delight®
Hand shape (cut out of cardboard or a sheet of Delight®)
Acrylic paint
Texture tools (stamps, pattern tracer, etc.)

Vintage elements

I had these hand shapes die cut for another project but thought I would try it with Delight. You can use a shaped panel or you can cut your hand shape out of cardboard or a sheet of Delight®.

I started by applying Delight® to my hand shape then brayering it flat. Then I embossed the surface with different stamps to give it texture. 

Next I brayered (rolled flat) the clay and made sheets of Delight® which I was able to cut into shapes. 

I cast a heart in a silicone mold that I was actually just using for the border and shape. Next leaf shapes were cut out of the sheet and applied them to the surface. I took my tracing wheel to make the dotted center of the leaves. It indented the leaf shape and poofed out the edges. I will definitely be doing more projects using the Delight® paper. 

After adding more leaves, a new center for the heart shape, I painted the hand shape. Then I applied vintage millinery flowers and some pearls to add more depth. With a hanger on the back, it can be hung in small places like the kitchen, bathroom or by your entry.

I will be trying this again but with different colors.

Dream in Color!

Darlene Olivia McElroy

www.darleneoliviamcelroy.com

Stranger Things with Delight® and Creative Paperclay®

I have created a Stranger Things series (https://www.darleneoliviamcelroy.com/stranger-things) where I reach into my inner child and come up with strange creatures and happy little monsters. There is a simplicity to them but things don't have to be complex to have beauty to them. The art piece will use both Delight® and Creative Paperclay® but in a simple manner that is fun and creative. Plus I will also show you how to fix a ornate vintage frame.

SUPPLY LIST
Creative Paperclay® & Delight®
Mark Making Tools
Modern Masters 2 part Rusting Kit
Glue
Found Objects
Scissors
Brayer
Amazing Molding Putty
Acrylic Paint

I love the fact that you can roll out Delight® into a thick paper and then cut it with scissors or an exacto knife. I already have ideas for some future projects using the Delight® paper (as I call it). 

When working on my Stranger Things series, I start blocking in my design with objects I would like to use. I cut out my Delight® paper with both regular scissors and pinking shears prior to giving it texture with my tracing wheel. The left shape at the bottom is a paint skin that I made. 

The Delight® shape I made in the last step is now painted with a base color that will eventually be rusted. I made a circle of Creative Paperclay® that I added an eye to and which I will glue down when the clay dries. Texture was added with a rubber shaper. The found metal object will be rusted and embellished. This is the first in my Stranger Things series where I have added these two air drying clays and I am really enjoying it.

I finished my cute little monster with painting, rusting, adding found elements and hair made with Delight®. The rusting was done using the Modern Masters 2 part Rusting Kit. 

An ornate frame plays off the contemporary minimalist art but it is hard to find one that is in mint condition however they are fixable with Creative Paperclay®.

I used two part Amazing Molding Putty to make a mold of part of the frame that was in good condition. Once both parts of the putty are blended together, I laid it on the frame. It sets up in approximately 15 minutes.

Creative Paperclay® was applied to the frame in the areas that needed to be fixed then I laid the silicone mold matching it up to the good areas of the frame. When I am happy with how it looks and it is thoroughly dry, I coat it with polymer gloss medium to seal it and then decide whether to spray gold or black.

Dream in Color!

Darlene Olivia McElroy

NARRATIVE MIXED MEDIA ARTIST

www.darleneoliviamcelroy.com

Introducing C. Rona

Preparing for my post this month in a time of continued stay-at-home orders, I was drawn to a cartoon on the internet by Don Landgren titled "Little Shop of Misinformation".  Many artists have been creating their own renditions of the "virus", so it is not surprising that as soon as I saw the drawing, my mind flashed to a project in clay...and Qtips...and watercolor!

Materials:

Delight Air Dry Modeling Compound

1 round glass (or plastic) Christmas ornament

Qtips (I purchased mine at the Dollar Tree)

Watercolor paints and brushes

Water

Scissors

Cutting tool (knife or blade)

Bamboo skewer or stick of some sort

Small piece of foil

Acrylic roller, rolling pin, or glass

Optional: bud vase 

Texture (I used a clean sponge)

Step 1: Remove the metal cap from your Christmas ornament and set it aside.  Wrap the end of the bamboo skewer or stick with foil and compress the foil tightly enough that it will fit inside the Christmas ornament.  (Note: This will allow you to manipulate all of the materials without handling them directly).  

Set this aside (I placed mine in a bud vase for stability).

Step 2: Prepare the Qtips!  Let me say to be sure you paint enough Qtips ahead of time.  I thought that I had enough, but once I started layering them (look ahead to understand what I mean) I discovered I needed more.  No real issue, since you can always paint them afterward, but so much easier to have them painted before placing!

You will see in the pictures that I only applied paint on one side of each Qtip.  Obviously, painting both sides would have been a better choice!

Dip the Qtip end into the water, then roll (trust me) in the chosen paint color.

By rolling in the paint, the Qtip will stay intact rather than shredding! Use your finger or a paintbrush to draw the color down into any areas that are unpainted.  Repeat with the remaining Qtips (I end up using about 30 total).  Set aside to dry.  

Step 3:  Cut open the package of clay and cut the block of clay in half.  Rewrap the part not being used (I put mine in a Ziploc baggie and squeezed out all the air).  Begin flattening the clay.  

NOTE: I start by flattening it with my fingers before placing it on a work surface to roll with the acrylic roller. I kept the thickness between 1/8"-1/4".  Once flattened, wrap the ornament completely.  Seams can be sealed by dipping a finger into water and smoothing over (I suggest using a finger over a brush for this step since there is more control).  Continue all around the form, adding more clay if necessary, until it is covered.

Step 4:   Press over the entire surface with your texture.

 

Step 5:  Now the fun begins!  As I mentioned, I was inspired by a cartoon, so I kept my inspiration close by for reference.
Pull off a small amount of the remaining clay (in Ziploc baggie) and roll it into a snake.  Taper both ends of the snake into points.  Dip a finger into the water and smooth the snake before placing it where desired on the form (I apologize but I don't have a photo of this step. It would help if I had more hands!).

Once placed, use more water to help smooth the seams (one finger at a time or you will be sorry!).  Once the first snake has been placed and smoothly attached, create a second snake from a little more reserve clay and repeat the above directions. Retexture areas as needed.

Step 6:  In the original sketch the virus had a tongue sticking out.  I tried to add this feature, but it obviously needed some support (it kept breaking off), so I made the artistic decision to change the vision (haha).  Even though my "virus" has what looks to be a smiling mouth, I began to add teeth...sharp teeth.  To create the teeth, pull off tiny bits of clay and pinch them into triangles.  Cut a flat edge.  Dip a finger in the water and apply it to the back of each tooth before placing it in the mouth.  Press each into place before moving on.

Step 7:  Time for the Qtips!  Begin by cutting the tips off each side.  

(NOTE: The Dollar Tree Qtips are on a great hollow plastic stick.  If using this brand, reserve the sticks to use later. )  Gather 3 tips together and press into the clay to resemble the virus barbs.  Repeat around the whole ball. "Barbs" are not necessary down the length of the foil-covered stick (this will be cut away after the clay dries).  Continue adding tips until you are happy with the look.  

Remember the unused sticks mentioned above?  I cut those into tiny bits and pressed them into the clay as well. 

If you do not have usable hollow sticks, bits of clay rolled into balls and pressed into place will work.  Beads are also a good replacement, but will probably need to be glued into place once everything has dried.

 Notice the white Qtips??  As mentioned above, I ran out of the painted ones, so added unpainted.  Trust me, so much easier to have them painted beforehand!

Step 8:  Time to paint.  I began with a teeny tiny brush and black paint to carefully paint the inside of the mouth.  I followed that with the lips (a mixture of red and pink, layered), "barbs" (straight red), and finally the "head" (grey overlaid with periwinkle blue).  If the paint is too dark, adding more water will help to thin the color and spread it.  HOWEVER, try no to use too much water or the texture will disappear and the red from the Qtips may bleed.

You may have noticed I peeled away the extra clay from the foil-covered stick.  This is an optional design choice.

A single "barb"? Again, design choice.  Make this your own by adding your own touches! Maybe you want to continue the clay down the stick and keep it covered!  Add some leaves (think of what silk leaves could add to this...oooooooo!)

You may have noticed places where the grey base touched the red "barbs" (Oops!).  This area can be retouched if desired...or not, you choose.

Once the painting is complete, set the piece aside for 24 hrs to allow all the layers to dry completely.  Once dried, if the barbs fall out, a dab of glue will keep them in place (I suggest "The Ultimate" tacky glue).  I pulled out the sick and cut the bottom even with the opening of the ornament.  Then I replaced the metal cap (Again, optional decision).

 

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial.  I think it is a way to put a comedic spin on this challenging time.  I may have to add a little fabric or paper mask to him/her!  Prayers that things will soon return to "normal".  Until then...
Everyone stay safe!  

Color Mixing With PreK!

Color Mixing with PreK!

This is my first year to have PreK as a part of my Art program at school.  At the beginning of the year, I found it to be a bit of a challenge.  But now, I am loving all that they can do as we creep closer to the end of the school year and them graduating to Kindergarten.

One of the things they learn is Primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and how they can mix to create Secondary colors (purple, green, orange).  In the fall we used Delight Air Dry Medium plus red and yellow markers to create pumpkins.  With Spring arriving soon, I thought it was the perfect time to revisit color mixing.  In my mind, I saw leaves of green and flowers of purple and orange.  BUT this is a PreK group with ideas of their own, so may I present Spring color -mixing PreK style 😉

The materials are simple: 

1 package of Delight Air Dry Medium

watercolor markers: red, blue, yellow (I also put out pink & 2 shades of blue)

2 hands (I think everyone has those handy)

I work with 9 students at a time, so I cut the package into 9 pieces and handed each student one piece.  They were directed to break/pull apart the clay into 3 somewhat equal pieces.  I then showed them how to flatten the clay before adding color.  

Each student chose 2 colors to mix and dabbed the color on the clay (one color on each side). 

Once color is applied, the color is mixed in by folding and squishing, folding and squashing until the color is blended in.  The kids were amazed at watching the color changes.  Some were even more excited with the marbelized colors!

A few of the students created flowers.  Many more had other ideas: a one-eyed octopus who's eye was created by pressing the clay with the marker cap, a car (you may need a good imagination to see that one), balls (of course), and a pair of googles!

You have to love the imagination of a child ❤

_____________________________________________________________________

I have to share what was happening in the 4th-grade classroom while I was working with my PreK babies!  The 4th-grade teacher came to me early in the week and asked if I had any kind of clay that she could use with her students to create coiled pots.  I immediately handed her Creative Paperclay and gave her instructions for creating coils, joining them together (dip a finger in water and apply to the clay before joining), and possibly creating lids for the pots.

NOTE:  I also handed her a bottle of "slip" that came in my last box of clay.  I don't know what it is technically called, but here is a photo.  I gave it to her in case anyone had troubles with getting the clay to adhere with only water, knowing that certain "someone" would need a little help 😉

She shared a few photos of what they created.  Once dry, the students will paint them with acrylic paints.