Life Book 2020

Supplies

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HerearethesuppliesIused.Pleasefeelfreetoadapttowhatyouhavealready.

• Mixedmediapaper(184lb)

• Assortedpatternedpapers,fabric,andbookpages

• MatteMedium,SoftGel,ClearGesso

• Acrylicpaints:o GoldenOpenPaintsRedOxide,VanDykeBrownHue(would

havereplacedwithBurntUmberearlieron),BurntUmber,TitanBuff,TitaniumWhite

o GoldenFluidHighFlowAcrylicTitaniumWhiteo GoldenFluidAcrylicBoneBlack(wouldhaveusedaGolden

OpenBlackifIhadit)

• Brayer

• Pencilanderaser• Letterstampsandink

• Finelineapplicatorand/orwhitegelpen

• Paletteknife• Scissors

• Assortedbrushes:filbertsizes2and12,flatbrush1”wide

Allstepsareofferings.Pleasefeelfreetoadapttoyourownideasorfollowalongstepbystep.Enjoyandbekindtoyourself.

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Step1:CreateaSacredSpaceandWriting

Bringinitemstoyourartspacethatbringyougroundingandpeace.Ibroughtinacandle,sage,rocksandacedarbasket.Reflectonwhatyouwanttobringtoyourartpracticethisyear.Howdoyoufindstillnessandquietinyourlife?Howdoyoutakecareofyou?Howwillyousettimeasideforyourselfandyourart?Howwillyoubekindtoyourself?Journalonyourpagewithpencil.Don’tworryaboutwhatitlookslikeasmostofitwillbecoveredup.Theseintensionswillbeinfusedintoyourjournalpage.

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Step2:DrawFace

Takeaphotoofyourselforuseaphotofromamagazineorphotographyoufindonline.www.unsplash.comisagoodplacetofindroyaltyfreereferencephotos.Printoutyourphototothesizeyouwantitonyourpage.Thereareafewoptionsonhowyoucouldaddyourface:Youcouldusetracingpapertotraceontheface.Youcouldalsogluedownthephotoandpaintontopofit.OryoucoulddrawitasIshowinthevideo.Addaverticalandhorizontalcenterlinetoplacethefeatureson.Startwiththenoseandmeasureallthefeaturesoffofthat(asIshowinthevideo).Theeyesarehalfwaydownthefaceonafrontfacingportrait.

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Step3:Background

Useamediumorgeltocollageonpatternedpapers,fabricandbookpages.Dothepapersgowiththeintensionsyouhaveforyourself?Findimageryyouwanttobringtoyourjournalpage.Useabrayeroryourfingerstopressthebubblesoutofthepapers.

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Step4:MaptheFaceusingPaint

Useyourdarkestpaintcolour(IusedVanDykeBrownHuemixedwithBoneBlack)andaddyourshadowsinfirst(eyes,eyebrows,nostrils,underthechin,sideoftheface,toplip,underthelip).Inthesecondlayer,IalsousedRedOxideandTitanBuff.Iusedamediumtone(mixedTitanBuffinwithmydarkesttone)attheedgesofthedarkestshadowandinmediumtonedareas.Useyourlightestcolourstothehighlightareas(TitanBuffmixedwithTitaniumWhite)(middleofforehead,middleofeyelids,underbrows,bridgeofnose/nostrils,bottomlip,middleofchin,cheekbones,middlepartofneck).Thisisyourmapsodon’tworryaboutitlookinggoodatthisstage.

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Step5:SecondLayerandThirdLayers

Useyourmapandkeepaddingdark,mid,lighttonesuntilyouarehappywithit.Rememberthatitwilltakeafewlayersuntilitallcomestogether.Bekindtoyourself.Workinsmallsectionsatatimeandblendtheedgestogether.Moveyourbrushindifferentdirectionsandkeepyourbrushfairlydry.Inthethirdlayer,IswitchedmyVanDykeBrownforBurntUmberasitisawarmercolour.

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Step4:HairandBackground

Iusedmyletterstampsandwritingstamptoaddwordstohertopandtoaddmymainintensionfortheyear.Ifyoudon’thaveletterstamps,youcanusegelpensorpainttowrite.IalsousedGoldenHighFlowTitaniumWhitetoadddripsandsomeTitaniumWhitemediumbodytoaddwhitetovariousspotsonthebackground.

Thankyouforjoiningme.Ihopeyouenjoyedyourselfandwaskindtoyourselfasyoupaint.

Tostayintouch:

www.melanierivers.ca

https://www.facebook.com/melanieriversart

https://www.instagram.com/melanie2_rivers

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbCkW52bl_XGAqV6nmO0Thg