Second on the 2nd: Red and Yellow

 

Most of you know, whenever possible, I like my Second Look to somehow reflect what our current host at Art Journal Journey is featuring.  For four of the five years Kristin, whose blog is Twinkle, Twinkle, hosted Summer of Color (SOC), I participated.  Each SOC lasted six weeks. You can find all the years on my Previous Collaborations page.  

This post is from SOC 3, Week 5, July, 2013 and the colors are Candy Apple Red and Yellow.   

  I couldn't believe it.  This was the color combination I not only wanted, but a slight variation of it was what I suggested to Kristin, our wonderful hostess at Twinkle, Twinkle, before SOC3 began.  I had a plan.  I knew exactly what I wanted to make.  Then I thought about the NAME of the colors, and a competing thought came into view.  So that was when I knew I had to make two entries for this challenge.

For my first page, my supplies include (from left):
Clear acrylic block  (you can substitute glass, but you must cover or tape off the edges first)
White card stock
Yellow card stock
Plate for holding paint
Brayer
Red and Yellow fluid acrylics

  Allow me to explain this photo.  The white card stock is located BELOW the acrylic plate which is rather hard to see in this photo. The card stock will help me guide the top card stock so I don't get too far off course.  And I know this red paint doesn't look red, but I assure you, it is red, and not on the pink side of red, either.  This camera must have a thing for twisting colors around while giving me really unclear shots, too.

I laid a stencil upside down on my acrylic plate and got a good load on my brayer.

  I've mentioned before that I am brayer challenged, and even this new brayer doesn't work well in this situation.  Instead, I ended up "stenciling" the paint onto the acrylic block using a paint brush.

  I removed the stencil and laid my yellow card stock on the inked plate.

  As I began removing the paper from the plate, I got this sinking feeling that the paint had dried on the plate and now the paper was stuck to it.  If you look closely at the acrylic plate, you can see bits of yellow "fuzz."  Then it was time to clean the mess I had made.  And my disappointment was beginning to show. 

  After cleaning for what seemed like hours, I finally got the paint off the brayer and the acrylic block which was drying in my kitchen when I took this photo.  A closer look reveals I have outlined each letter using a red ink pen.  My disappointment has now lifted.

 

   Next, I got a rubber stamp and my Staz-on reinkers, since I didn't have the requisite ink pad I needed for this stamp.

 

  And although you can't see it very well, I used the glittery Stickles on the side of the Candy Apple.  BTW, I told you that paint was red.  I am sure you believe me, now.  I call this piece "Apple for the Teacher."

  My other piece began with what I think of when I think of red and yellow.  Although it looks more like pink and gold, it is really red and yellow I'm getting ready to spread around the white card stock using a plastic gift card.

  I love how this simple technique makes such an amazing background.

  Same red as before, this time paired with bright yellow on white card stock.  Lots of Asian influenced imagery.

I admit, when I had finished this piece, it felt not quite finished, so before I scanned it, I added the bit of joss paper in the lower left corner of the page.  When I scanned it, I felt it was now out of balance.

  I revised the piece by painting over the offensive joss paper.   Although you can still see a bit of it, at least, in my opinion, it's not quite so offensive.  

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This post is my contribution, now it's time to share your own Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable, as long as it's been published sometime in the past.  Then link below (direct links only, please) and Bleubeard and I, along with other Second on the 2nd friends, will be by to visit.