Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Summer of Color, Week 3: purple, purple, yellow



Once again I'm joining our dear hostess Kristin at Twinkle, Twinkle Like a Star.  This week's colors are purple, purple, and yellow.  I had lots of trouble with this combination, mainly because they are complimentary colors (across from each other on the color wheel), and as such can quickly turn to mud if not treated properly.

I don't have a lot of purple or yellow, so I drug out every medium in those colors I had.  I was hoping to make something where I didn't use bed sheets for a third week in a row.

I started by attempting to give my Gelli plate another chance, but you might be able to see all the problems I had.  First, my brayer wouldn't roll on the Gelli, as you can see on the far left.  However, when I offloaded the brayer to clean it on one of my used file folders, it worked fine.  It just wouldn't roll on the Gelli.  Add to that, I somehow damaged my Gelli before I had a chance to use it more than twice.

Even after I gave it a good cleaning, the circle was still on the plate.  I ran my hand over it, and the circle was sligthly raised.  I have no idea how it happened, because I've treated this plate like it was gold.  I cleaned the plate, turned it over, then added more paint.  You can see the circle must have gone all the way through the plate, because now I had two circles.

I was hoping I could work my way around the problem by using only part of the plate.  I decided to lighten the deep purple by adding a bit of buff colored translucent glaze, which would act as my third color.

That didn't work, either.

Again, I see nothing but mud, even though I allowed the purple to completely dry before I added the yellow.

I won't bore you with my two other experiments which I didn't bother photographing, none of which included painting or dyeing fabric.  I finally settled on these three colors.

I threw about 10 techniques at this piece, which took two days to complete.

I just kept adding more and more things to the wooden block until I was finally happy with the results.

I still have trouble getting the lighting right, especially since this is a color challenge.

I painted the back and sides of the board using the bingo dabber ink.  I colored a sheet of white scrapbook paper (12" X 12") with the paint on the right of the assembly and the bingo dabber color on the left.  There was a LOT of difference in colors when I checked them on a used file folder, but not much color variation when I applied them to the scrapbook paper.  One thing I was happy about was the color of the wood.  The wood grain showed through the ink and showed up best in the outdoor shots I took.  The purple color differences are also most obvious in those two shots.

I colored a doily using the yellow paint, then added the clock hands.  I was sure I was going to have to dye a button, but finally found one (albeit a bit too large) that was purple.

Silk sunflowers, lilies, white flowers I dyed lavender, and some genuine lavender from my garden made up the bouquet.  Bits of lace were used as filler, where I would normally add leaves. 

I bought this board on a clearance rack at Home Depot (a US big box home improvement store).  It was originally 8 ft long, but I cut it in approximately 12" lengths.  I say approximate, because the saw blade removes about 1/8" with each cut.  This board was damaged in that it had not been planed properly, so there was a rough "bump" on one side.  I hid that problem by first dyeing the side, then later adding a piece of yellow and white ribbon I ran the bingo dabber over before attaching it.





I used the bingo dabber ink to color the large lace purple and used the paint to color the small lace yellow.

I had purple wire and beads, but no yellow beads.

I made a few using yellow polymer clay I decorated using two Sculpey rollers.



I am so glad this latest color challenge is finished.  This is probably the truest representation of the color combination.  I hope you like it.   If nothing else, it smells fantastic!

I was able to visit all 119 entries that were available by the deadline last week and saw some amazing art.  However, as I have mentioned in the past, I am unable to leave comments if you posted on Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, Tumblr, Pinterest, and some Goggle + blogs, since I'm not a member of any of those social media sites.  I was even unable to view several Facebook entries because they were hidden.  But, I certainly appreciate those of you who dropped by and I hope you enjoy this entry as much as you seem to have last week's.

53 thoughtful remarks:

johanna said...

oh my, elizabeth! i read your post thoroughly and actually i think it would have taken me at least a week to make this! you even made the pearls yourself, what a Variation of techniques!! the circles on the plate are quite mysterious... i hope you can integrate them most of times, as this plate is so expensive!
same with me about the social media,,, even Google+ is annoying!

have a great week, summer is here to come (at least for a few days;))

Sharon Fritchman said...

Elizabeth, I always love and look forward to visiting your blog each week for the SOC. I have to agree with you - I had trouble with these colors, too. And I didn't even have purple in my stash and actually went to Hobby Lobby to buy some spritz in purple! LOL!! But anyway, I totally love the work of art you created. And all of the amazing details, like the clock made out of the doily and your hand made yellow beads on the purple wire. It is awesome and totally creative. Thanks for sharing, my friend! HUGS!!!!

Viktoria Berg said...

This is an amazing piece! I can see what a lovely present this would make. Do you think it would be hard to turn a version of it into a working clock using one of those diy clock mechanisms that can be taped onto a board? A local shop sells this:
http://m.clasohlson.com/se/Klocka-med-lösa-siffror/36-4843
Following your blog is making my mind go unexpected places... ;-)

Halle said...

This piece turned out incredible! After all the trials you went through the end result is fab!!
Laying in bed last night I came up with a game plan for mine. Now just to execute. :)

Valerie said...

Waw, I LOVE your piece of art!
It seems to say: "time for a sunny summer!"
That is something we really need with the weather here in Belgium... ;-)

Linda Gibbons said...

Well, it turned out to be a wonderful, cheerful piece! The circle on the gelli plate is certainly odd, mostly you hear about dents. Maybe it's a crop circle.
if your brayer doesn't work you could try spreading the paint with a plastic card...

Craftymoose Crafts said...

You continue to amaze me! WOW! Even if purple was not may favorite color and even if I didn't love, live, and bead flowers....I would love this piece. You put a tremendous amount of work into it and it really paid off.

That said, since this would be my favorite color, one would think it would be easy for me, right? Nope! Still struggling!

TwinkleToes2day said...

Your finished piece is completely gorgeous and I hope that it is hanging somewhere that everyone who calls round will see it. I really really l like it :D :D

Nancy said...

What a cheerful piece- love the doily and your yellow beads. Your misbehaving Gelli plate is a mystery. Maybe get some gelatin and try making your own gelli surface for a several uses and then you can toss it. Recipes on the web.

Unknown said...

After a trying start your finished board it gorgeous! I have not started mine yet but worried about making mud.

GlorV1 said...

Your work turned out wonderful. Great job.

Valerie-Jael said...

The end result turned out very well after the big adventures with the gelli plate beforehand. Hugs, Valerie

peggy gatto said...

Wow, wow wow
You are so creative!
Loved seeing the process too!

Anonymous said...

Really sweet project. I am loving hot yellows lately and I almost never use purple, but I have a bit. Feel like I've missed too many posts. Catching up. xox

Helen said...

Love the purple on the wood, and those huge flowers look great - but what a lot of differences in colour from photo to photo... good luck with your gelli plate - you'll have to embrace that circle!!

sue :) said...

Your project has turned out to be a wonderful mixed media piece. well done for working through the painful early stages. x

BJ said...

Love how you always are so free playing around with paints and the such like. It's still not my "thing". Glad to see the bed had been relieved week - LOL Adore your piece with the hint of lavender I am even getting the aroma from here. BJ

Krisha said...

WOW E!! This is gorgeous. Cameras always have a hard time with purple. DH bought me a Vikings Jersey for Christmas a couple years ago, then apologized for not getting the blue one.....LOL, no he's not a Viking fan!! It took me a while to convince him that the Vikings color is "purple"

I have yet to get all three of our SOC journal pages posted. Ended up making a trip to Hobby Lobby this morning........OMG!!! They have Christmas decorations and were setting out all the fall and Thanksgiving stuff..............and we haven't even had July 4th yet!! I was like.......really??? the temperature has only dropped 10 degrees.............LOL

Carol said...

Well your final project turned out great. Bummer about the Gelli plate maybe you can contact the company and see if they have any helpful suggestions.

Lori Saul said...

You are the master of mixed media- take a bow!

Tammie Lee said...

so fun to see how you went about this.
it turned out lovely and full of Summer's spirit.

Rebeca Trevino said...

Oh E, the colors are fabulous!
this project, says summer to me. just perfect.
you should be really happy with this one.
congratulations.

Jenny said...

Your canvas is beautiful Elizabeth.... I just love that you added the sculpy beads on the hanger... and the sunflowers just pop... gorgeous work...

Jenny X

SCarol said...

Wow, this is so striking! Love the doily clockface.

froebelsternchen said...

FAN*TAS*TIC!! Elizabeth! I am impressed! Gorgeous work for SOC!
Hugs,Susi

Kristin Dudish said...

Great post - I'm so glad you shared your experiments! I also love all of the fun details you've put into your work :)

~*~Patty S said...

Beautiful and colorful piece you created.
Those colors together are so vibrant and your sprigs of real lavender go so nicely too.
SOC is quite a challenge and you really stepped up to the plate E.
oxo

CJ said...

This would actually make a great real clock. I know one can buy hands and the works to put behind a piece. Of course, although I've had the idea to do that a zillion times, I've never done it myself.

Thanks for visiting my SOC this week.

Monica said...

Elizabeth I always have trouble with purple and end up with a funereal look Do not quite understand this except I do associate the color with sadness and loss. I worked with gelli plates on cardstock and they came out awful. I was using Dylusions paint. it has a wonderful creamy consistency and refused to blend I tried to make a more rosy purple and it came out brown. So I went back to my Walmart sets and finished it but the aura was not a happy result. you did much better.
hugs monica

debs14 said...

You worked so hard on this piece, and what a beautiful end result. So beautiful!

Linda Kunsman said...

Wowza Elizabeth-I am so impressed with your GORGEOUS hanging/clock!! Despite your not so happy beginnings with the gelli (I have no clue about the appearance of the circles)you have come away with a super piece. I wish we lived close by so we could gelli plate play together:)

Rolina said...

Wonderful piece - I especially like the hanging wire/beads, it is so clever (and I may have to steal it)!

Mellowood Gallery said...

This piece is absolutely fabulous. I know it took you a long time to do but it was worth the effort. You must have a great stash of 'things' to use in your mixed media art - wonderful!

Robyn Oliver said...

WOW Elizabeth, this plaque is just so stunning, bright and happy - I love what you've done, the clock hands and flowers are excellent.

kat said...

This is a wow piece! What a creation, you really had fun and made something beautiful!

Sherry's Cabin said...

I am glad you didn't quit because the final outcome is gorgeous! The colors pop like crazy! The details are perfect. I don't have a clue about gelli plates... unless you serve it with peanut butter, but this is great! :)
God bless,
Sherry

Neena said...

I love the piece. So bright and cheerful.

Christine said...

Love what you have done with this week's colours!

Denise Price said...

What a bummer about the Gelli plate problems. Still, I love what you came up with in the end, and the doily "clock" is my favorite part.

Deborah Weber said...

I always love seeing what you're up to Elizabeth - you've got your hand in so many creative pies. Another great SOC piece. I've become obsessed lately with wood grain and I was fascinated to see how your piece absorbed the color differently per the grain.

Kristin said...

xo

Tracy said...

Sorry to hear of your trials with the challenge this week, Elizabeth! The final piece looks beautiful, though :)

Svenja said...

The doily and the sunflower make such a clever combo. Thanks for letting us have a peek at your work process! (It makes me feel a little ashamed because I'd have given up much more easily...)

Deb said...

You have created such a beautiful piece of art. The "doily clock" looks amazing. I love your wire and bead hanger.

ULKAU said...

Oh, you have made a big project this week, great work! Thanks for your nice words in my blog. Ulrike

Miriam said...

Goodness me you have put so much into this weeks colour challenge and made a wonderful piece! I laughed at the brayer incident! Sounds exactly like me "now look, I'm giving you one more chance"
"Who you talking to?" says my hubs. "Oh, The brayer, (or the stencil or my computer!)"

JansArtyJunk said...

Oh...Elizabeth, I look forward to visiting your blog each week for the SOC. I agree, I also found these colours tricky to work with. You rocked this weeks colours with your arty creation...so many fab details, Loving the doily clock and your creative hand made yellow beads on the wire. :)

Fallingladies said...

I love your idea of making your own yellow beads, it turned out lovely!

Virginia said...

Beautiful - love the clock!

Unknown said...

You have a great blog! Lots of eye candy. Thanks.

Jennifer Rose said...

ooh very pretty and summery looking :D

hmm that is very odd about the gelliplate and a pain in the butt because of the price of them :/

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow! There really is no end to your talent! This is stunning! I do love these colours together! Chrisx

Caz said...

I love this piece! I love the big bright sunflowers and the lovely purple background! It's all fab!