CRUSADE No. 29 ~ Brush Effects

 

In recent crusades you may have noticed I've been breaking down elements of my own process.  I've tried to isolate techniques and provide visual and verbal tutorials.  I certainly don't think I'm a pioneer in any of these processes - my hope was to either encourage you to try something new, to remind you about something you haven't done in a while, or to motivate you to just get plugged back in to making stuff.  I also think that if we all are trying out a specific process at the same time we will not only appreciate what other crusaders share, but we will learn from each other.   

At my studio table I work intuitively, usually without giving much thought to the evolution, layers, complexity or simplicity.  I have given it some consideration, and have tried to observe and define the simple steps I use when making journal pages or painted canvases.  One of my favorite discoveries was made when I just took some time to learn from acrylic paint.  I wanted to achieve a painterly surface - one where there was evidence of an artist's hand.  I'm impatient, and often my attempts of brush-stroked textures would result in muddy yucky messiness.  I wanted brushy messiness, with defined color, not mucky nothingness. 

As I said, I took some time, and taught myself that monoprinting gives a handsome brush effect while maintaining color definition.  I also learned that if a surface is dry you can dry brush in some color - particularly useful when you need to tone down something in a compostion that isn't quite working, or to fill in a blank space.  I'll begin by showing you a piece I did some years ago that incorporates several brush effects.  I hope you'll agree that it is much more interesting because of the brushed effects than if I had just stamped the image on a plain background.

 

 

When you look at the detail you can see some cool brush strokes.  These were not made directly with a brush - instead, I brushed paint onto a sheet of acetate, then monoprinted it onto the surface.  Somehow this trick helps retain the integrity of the color and the brush effect. 

In the next sample you can see the difference between dry brush and monoprinting.  Dry brushing is exactly what it sounds like - dip a brush in paint, scudge some of it off on scratch paper until it is mostly dry, then rub across your surface.  It's better to be too dry than too wet.  You can aways add more paint to the brush - but too wet of a surface is what leads to muddy issues.

 

Once I started using monoprinting as a means of getting paint to my page I started getting excited about monoprinting with shapes, even the back sides of stencils.  I think the monoprinted stencil looks cooler than the actual stencil.  How to do it?  Place your stencil over scratch paper and heavily paint across surface.  Quickly flip over onto your page and place another scratch paper over it and rub.  If you don't use the scratch paper you will probably rub paint INTO the stencil, something you want to avoid.  Brushing paint onto a stamp then monoprinting to a page is often more interesting than just plain ink on a stamp.  The painted impression works better over paint anyway - but the image you use has to be a bold one - like those you have carved.

 

So what is dirty brushing?  I don't believe it's a technical term - I just made it up.  It's something that happens to you after you've been working a while and all your brushes seem to be filled with more than one color.  I use dirty brushes on purpose.  I will dip one edge in one color and the other edge in another color.  What comes out on your page is serendipity - much more interesting than a solid color. 

 

There are many paint effects that can be achieved with your brush - or with other tools to get paint on your page.  I like to use credit cards to scrape paint onto a page, and I like to drip paint from a watery brush - and in a pinch I will just scudge right in with my fingers.

 

A few more samples - and a tip:  keep your monoprinting material, whether you use acetate or just scratch paper - it becomes an interesting element to keep as matching collage fodder.

 

 

 

  

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to just mess around with paint and brushes.  Work on several pages at once, giving the paint time to dry.  Try dry brushing and monoprinting and see what works for you in order to make painterly brush-stroke-y backgrounds.  I'm sure many of you have already done this - great!  Show us what you've learned, or what your favorite thing is in a new post explaining the process.  Maybe you have a page that you are not quite satisfied with - try adding a few dry brushed strokes in the blank areas and see if that makes you happy.  However you decide to interpret this crusade just make a blog post or a flickr entry and leave a comment here with a link to your site.  I will create a link list with all participants, newest at top.  Keep up the Team Spirit by leaving your cheerleading comments when you visit other crusaders.

EDIT:  Archived links have been moved from sidebar to here.

CRUSADE No. 29

• Cecile
  
• Chris Miser
  
• Chris Miser (more)
  
• Christy Sobolewski
  
• Dani Dietrich
  
• Debi Mattingly
  
• Elizabeth Woodford
  
• Gabrielle Fabien
  
• Gabrielle Fabien (more)
  
• Gilvania Jussara
  
• Hanna Andersson
  
• Hanna Andersson (more)
  
• Iris
  
• Iris (more)
  
• Jane Bumar
  
• Jane Royal
  
• Jane Royal (more)
  
• Jane Royal (more)
  
• JeriAnn
  
• JeriAnn (more)
  
• JeriAnn (more)
  
• Judy S
  
• Judy S (more)
  
• Julie Prichard
  
• Julie Thornton
  
• Kim H
  
• Kim Mailhot
  
• Lay Hoon
  
• Lay Hoon (more)
  
• Lay Hoon (more)
  
• Marlynn Likens
  
• Megan Warren
  
• Michelle Ward
  
• Regina D
  
• Regina D (more)
  
• Regina Rooks
  
• Regina Rooks
  
• Regina Rooks (more)
  
• Regina Rooks (more)
  
• Renata
  
• Renata (more)
  
• Renata (more)
  
• Robin Mayberry
  
• Rosie Rowe
  
• Stephanie Hilvitz
  
• Stephanie Hilvitz (more)

Comments

[J to the P]

Crimany....you're a MACHINE!!

:)

[Kathryn - Collage Diva]

I'm in! I love those dry brush and mono print techniques. Thank you always for sharing your bliss.

[Kathleen Green]

Your samples are beautiful! count me in (If I commit to it here its gonna happen! heh)

Going to check out the last crusades entries...

[kim mailhot]

Woohoo ! Painting fun! A great crusade and a wonderful presentation and tutorial, Michelle. You rock again, my friend !

[Judy]

Definitely something I need practice with - paint brushes actually scare me. But I'll give it a try.

Interesting about the mono printing. Just this weekend I tried mono printing using a gelatin base for the first time - great fun and as soon as I get some more Knox I'm going to play with it some more. Also just read a post this morning about mono printing with a glass plate. Must be the time for this technique - neat to see the various takes on it.

I'm back to work so less time to play now but will definitely mess with this. Thanks Michelle for your commitment to this!

[Ann Somerset Miles]

I have just been told about your blog and IT IS AWESOME! I will be following it from now on and will also back-read what I have been missing. Thanks for sharing such wonderful techniques. (Ann from UK).

[Ann Somerset Miles]

Having read through your instruction again, please can you tell me what 'scratch' paper is? Thankyou. (Ann from UK)

[regina rooks]

This is a GREAT crusade. I'm in. I am so GRATEFUL to all the Crusaders who gave me so much encouragement since I've joined in.

[Kim H]

This was so much fun!

http://runningonink.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/double-digits/

[Elizabeth]

This will be such fun!! I have tried so very ahrd to achieve taht single bristle dry brush look and now you ahve turned on the LIGHTS!!! AGAIN!! TOO COOL!!
Can't wait to play!
Elizabeth

[JeriAnn]

Michelle, I'm checking in early, for once, since I use these techniques extensively and have tons of examples. A gold star to anyone who visits and realizes the post underneath this one uses the same techniques. ;-)

http://commutersjournal.blogspot.com

Hope you're doing well and your roses are tucked in under a nice, protective cover of snow. It won't be long before they're bursting with blooms.

[debi (junkin yaya)]

Hey sweetie!

count me in...always love to play with my brushes! and acetate...xo...deb

[Regina Dwarkasing, St. Maarten (DWI)]

Hi Michelle,

Please count me in too, I really love this subject and these techniques!

http://mostlyturquoise.blogspot.com/2009/03/brush-effects-cruisade-no-29.html

Have a wonderful weekend!
Regina Dwarkasing,
Sint Maarten, DWI

[Regina Dwarkasing, St. Maarten (DWI)]

and made a new one already:
http://mostlyturquoise.blogspot.com/2009/03/are-you-in-for-some-colour.html

Grtz,
Regina Dwarkasing,
St. Maarten, DWI

[stephanie]

I'm joining this month Michelle, it's making me sooooo anxious to find my supplies and get back to things...I'll be back when I can play with brushes again.

http://rodrigvitzstyle.typepad.com/rodrigvitz_style/2009/03/brush-tips.html

Thanks!!

[Chris]

I don't understand.
But isn't that how I always start out?

I will study this again and then play and then ask for clarification if I still need.

Sounds v. interesting

[Megan Warren]

I thought I'd posted this already - oh well here it is - part 1 - more to follow.
Great crusade as always, Michelle
http://4ravens.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/gpp-street-team-crusade-29/

[Judy]

Okay I had a go at it. Only have two brushes & one is really a paste brush so took a bit of experimenting to get anything but globs. Have to give this another try.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25838238@N07/3334928617/

Definitely a good challenge for me. Thanks Michelle.

[Chris]

scudge.
hehee!

[Christy]

I have a new obsession. It is a piece of acetate cut from a discarded package (you know the ones you need the firemen with the jaws of life to open). I'm now using anything and everything to create texture, fabric, bags, wrinkled cardboard. Nothing is safe :)
http://averageamericangirl.com/blog/?p=1789

[Regina Rooks]

I decided to use this crusade to add interest to an experimental piece. I posted the first steps tonight. http://rgrdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/03/gpp-crusade-no-29-brush-effects-take-1.html

[Regina Dwarkasing, St. Maarten (DWI)]

Michelle,

Can't stop playing it seems... And forgot to mention it in my post: I also used a scouring pad of my kitchensink in my attempt to get the brush effects...
http://mostlyturquoise.blogspot.com/2009/03/gpp-crusade-no-29-more-playing.html
Enjoy your Sunday,
Regina Dwarkasing, St. Maarten DWI

[Iris]

Michelle,

I must say that I am really enjoying this challenge and see that I will probably be posting more then one results from these play days......
iris.

[Gabrielle Fabian]

Really fun crusade and another terrific tutorial. Here's some monoprinting I played with today!!
http://tinyurl.com/ag99nf
Thanks!!
Gaye

[Alberta]

Wonderful effects! I can't wait to try the monoprinting on an abstract I'm currently working on. Thank you.

[JeriAnn]

Michelle, I've added another post that's a bit more process oriented although not as rich as my initial post. I realized I had some experiments using one of your elements -- the heart doily -- and thought it might be interesting to share. I also included the use of fun foam as a way to monoprint. See if you think that it adds anything to the conversation. If not, no problem. http://commutersjournal.blogspot.com.

[Judy]

Well I don't seem to be making as much progress with this technique as I'd hoped. I think maybe some different brushes are in order. But here's some practice on a journal background I didn't like to start with.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25838238@N07/3342357473/

[JeriAnn]

I've had so many questions from our Crusaders on other continents asking about chip brushes, I posted an explanation. Hope this helps. http://commutersjournal.blogspot.com

[Gabrielle Fabian]

I couldn't stop at monoprinting, so here's an update on what happened next ;)
http://tinyurl.com/dywwem

Thanks for all the nice comment too!

Cheers,
Gaye

[Jane]

Michelle, your work is UNbelievable! Thank you for such inspiration!
Yes, I'm in baybee! The first 'installment' of my new mono-printing obsession is up!

http://paintedheartstudio.blogspot.com/

-Jane

[Dani D]

michelle, great inspiration. I try in this evening - here are the results. Thank you

http://danisart.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/brush-hintergrunde/

TFL
Dani from Germany

[debi]

Well, now that the computer is finally back up and running....I finally was able to post my Crusade #29 on the blog! It was a lot of fun...reminded me of taking time to "play" and not be so worried about the outcome. Thanks again darlin' for your inspiring blog! xo...deb

http://thejunkinyaya.blogspot.com/

[J to the P]

Hi Michelle! Here are my brush effects:

http://lostluggage.typepad.com/the_land_of_lost_luggage/2009/03/gpp-street-team-crusade-29-brush-effects.html

[Chris]

Where the heck have I BEEN? I was just here yesterday, wasn't I ? And I go to Julie's and I see she's participated, and I say, 'Julie, where the hell have I BEEN?! Wasn't I here yesterday?' And she hasn't responded because she's blocked my emails. But anyway, I think I'm in a Friday the 13th vortex or something, because I come over here after seeing Julie's Julification, and I see that, like, a million people have played since my last visit!

Michelle, please keep me better informed. You KNOW I'm an information junkie. I'm missing important stuff, here.

[Lay Hoon]

Thank you for sharing with us your brush techniques in this Crusade.
I love most of it, especially the monoprint effect.

My entry for this Crusade

http://mescrap.blogspot.com/2009/03/gpp-street-team-crusade-29-brush-effect.html

[Rosie]

Thanks for sharing your talent and creative processes again Michelle. I always learn so much from the Crusades and am so glad to have played this month!!

Here's my Spread!!

http://alteredartandstuff.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/brush-effects/

[iHanna]

I don't know how you can just top last months crusade with a new one EACH month? I love this one!

http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/?p=988

[kim mailhot]

Wow this is a popular Challenge this month, Michelle ! How wonderful ! It is only half way through the month and so many people have jumped into the the Brush Effect play ! Yay !

I jumped in too ! See my play here :

http://queen-of-arts.blogspot.com/2009/03/rhapsody-in-red-gpp-street-team-crusade.html

Off to visit some more painty peeps !

[julie thornton]

Have made a start Michelle but I still feel I have a little more to do so watch this space! Great challenge btw :)

http://julie-justme.blogspot.com/2009/03/crusade-29-brush-effects.html

[Lay Hoon]

Thanks for your encouragement.

Mine another exercise for the brush effect.

http://mescrap.blogspot.com/2009/03/gpp-29-brush-effects-continue.html

Thank you.

[Robin]

Looks like you've got a hot one here, Michelle! Naturally, I had to play. Thanks as always for keeping the creativity running!

xxoo Robin

http://alchemy-studio.blogspot.com

[iHanna]

another one from me

http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/?p=989

about monoprinting

[stephanie]

more brush loving to share...
http://rodrigvitzstyle.typepad.com/rodrigvitz_style/2009/03/brushing-up.html

[Jane]

Part two is up, as always:This is a blast!
http://paintedheartstudio.blogspot.com

[Cecile]

My first contribution to the crusades :
http://quilt-creations.blogspot.com/2009/03/gpp-team-crusade-brush-effects.html

I had great fun !

[Regina R]

I am SO behind this month. I updated the blog with one of the projects I did earlier in the month. Hoping to carve out a bit of time later this week to post the rest of my brush work and also catch up on what the team has been doing.
http://rgrdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/03/gpp-crusade-no-29-brush-effects-take-2.html

[Regina R]

I just posted a quick update on my brush strokes. It's brief because I need to get to work. Please leave any questions in comments & I'll address them.
http://rgrdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/03/gpp-crusade-no-29-brush-strokes-take-3.html

[Iris]

This has been a great challenge, and I am soo pleased that so many people are posting more then one section of work. I have posted up two more images of brush strokes and portion control and am hoping today to be able to work on the tutorial on the photoshop brush and using the same theories on the digital imaging end of all this creativy. Thanks again.

[Regina R]

I wish the photographs had captured this process better. I've also forgotten some of the steps, but I think this post represents my process fairly well. I hope you will enjoy it.
http://rgrdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/03/gpp-crusade-no-29-brush-strokes-take-4.html

[Renata Pacheco]

Hi, Michelle! Another submission for this crusade (already in English version): http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scraparty.com%2Fscraparty%2Findex.php&langpair=pt|en&hl=pt&ie=UTF8