My First Tutorial (Sort Of)

At Step Outside Your Box today the challenge is "Backgrounds" and at Saturday's Workout, it's "Tissues," so I thought I'd show you a method I use to make backgrounds using paint and tissue paper or napkins. I know it's not rocket science, but a few people have asked what medium I use for intensely colored backgrounds. So, here you go: I started with a page in my journal and gave it a good brushing with plain water. Then, I squirted acrylic paint directly onto the page and brushed it all over. I tried to let that dry naturally, but I got impatient and hurried along the process with a blowdryer.



Next, I went back, rewet the page, and started adding layers of watercolor. I did this until I was satisfied with the effect, and then, I let that dry. With this page, I used the same process for the pink and the turquoise backgounds.



Then, I brushed red and white striped tissue paper with the same pink acrylic paint, and, when it was dry, I used fancy scissors to cut out little tissue pieces, which I added as collage elements, along with a doily, paper roses, and antique bird and butterfly images. The Victorian girl came from one of the 1907 Burr Atlantic Monthly Magazines from my sweet father-in-law, Ira. I photocopied the vintage images to preserve the originals, and then handtinted the copies with Prismacolor pencils. Here's the end result, which I think I will use as a special Valentine for Mr. Al. He especially likes the collages I make using pictures from his father. so I can say that the valentine is from both of us. Ira would like that too.