A study in black.....

Who would have through a magazine and a pot of black paint could bring such enjoyment and relaxation.  This process of "reverse collage" does just that.  Who would have thought it, eh?

Today's play time was altering a number of pages from the second of my bound magazines and a rather large section dedicated to the Collector's Choice segment and the Artist Reverse Journal submission.  Both artists used black for their backgrounds, but my eye thought it needed just a little bit more, always keeping in mind the thought that this magazine journal may one day be a journal where one might write on the painted in pages.....if only I journalled.  Perhaps one day.

So here we have the first spread.  So I painted it out black.  Nice affect, but it needed something more.  But what?

I looked around my ever increasing accumulation of materials on my desk and my eyes landed on an old bottle of Crackle Medium.  This bottle has not been opened in five or six years, so at the time I was not totally sure it would still do it's thing.  But let's give it a try shall we?

So over the black acrylic I splashed on a liberal amount of the medium, tried to wait until it was dry, but I just couldn't.  I then applied a coat of turquoise paint and used my heat gun to speed up the drying process.  I did forget just how easy it was to make acrylic paint bubble and burn with the heat gun......So back off girlie.....

Ta da.....not too bad.  I had totally forgot that I outlined the Mona image in Antique White, so not really what I was hoping for.......it pays one to not be in such a rush to try things and plan a bit.  LOL.  Next time.  

I was concentrating so hard to make sure this spread had enough black paint on it that I totally forgot to take a before picture.....old habits are hard to break.  But I am OK with that. 

Back on track.  The before picture......

The after picture.  No crackle this time.  Wanting this second group of  spreads to have the blackboard feel to them.  I envision who ever might journal on these pages using colored gel pens or perhaps a white pen.  This one I have labeled "Remember the Now".

I knew it wouldn't last.....I started painting and thought "Oh no.  I did it again."  But, I managed to rein  myself in long enough to take a "in process " picture.  

After - "shine brightly"

And the last one for this evening, as I am sure I have people who are looking for their supper, cat that needs to come inside, laundry to be put away......  I need to do just....one....more.

Very pretty.  "Wander"

 I am putting my black paint away for the evening.  

Tomorrows study will be in shades of rust.

Perhaps......

Gnite.