Graffiti Style Canvas

Hi everyone, Carmen here doing a very nervous first post :)

My daughter turned 13 this month and had already had the best part of her present earlier in the year when we helped her part fund a laptop on the understanding that it was her main birthday present. I still wanted her to have something special to open on the day though but didn't want to go spending more mega bucks... we are trying to teach the girls the value of money ;)

I had this blank canvas that had been in my stash forever. I have also been doing a very fabulous online Alisa Burke class in graffiti techniques. I thought I would combine the two. I had a rummage through my photos on the pc and came up with one that was my daughter's current favorite. One that she had taken while messing around doing self portraits with her little sister. Gangsta stylee.

The techniques Alisa teaches in her class are all about layers, lots and lots of layers and making use of the stash you already have along with maybe not so conventional materials. Basically if you can get your hands on it... get it on your work. I have to say I am loving the thinking there.

So in the end this canvas was made up of a base of Elsie Flannigan doodle paper, red acrylic paint, lots and lots of fabric paint, the drips are gorgeous, shiny black nail varnish that never lost that thick gloopy texture as it dried. Various pens I just had laying on my desk - markers, some sparkly Copics I picked out the writing with... The photo was severely distressed and then raised on foam pads.
The flowers were from my stash, again been there an age, they were attacked with glitter glue, ink, nail varnish, loose glitter, Glossy Accents and attached with super glue as were the charms that, you've guessed it, have been in my stash for I don't know how long. I also stamped various words and images on the background using Stazon and some household metallic silver paint.

I was a bit worried that maybe the canvas was more to my style than my daughters - she has days where she is such a pink princess and days where she seems to be on the verge of going Emo or Goth lately so I wasn't at all sure of the reaction it would get...however I had wanted it to reflect the photo that she loves so much. I'm pleased to say she was over the moon with it and a big sigh of relief was had from me :)

Thanks very much for taking a peep :)

Carmen x

Comments

[Eleanor]

Wow Carmen, fab techniques going on here, what a perfect newly teen-aged gift.
E
xx

[Mandy]

Gorgeous canvas & I'm loving the mega-layered style & nail varnish... great stuff!!

[Debbie Roberts]

Beautiful canvas Carmen, I absolutely love it, what a wonderful first post.

Debbie x

[Happy Days]

Fantastic creation Carmen - I love it!x

[Lynne V]

Stunning, I love it.
I'm on a tidy up campaign and have just chucked out a load of old nail varnish:(
Never mind I'm sure I'll find more stashed away somewhere.
Thanks for the inspiration.

[jennie]

That is one fantastic spread, Carmen, i really like it!

[claireliz]

Oh Carmen, that is so very very Fab! I love it.
x

[Alix]

oh wow...this is totally bonkers...and i LOVE that!!

[jayne]

This is fabby Carman. I love the layering & flower too. The photo is cute also and a lovely story to scrap about x

[Gucci Shoes]

Hello, This is a facsinating Blog...as a prospective undertaker this is just the sort of insight I require! One question has me wondering: there is a bit of folklore I hear is that claims the dead are generally buried without shoes...is this true?

[Air Jordan 14]

Brilliant! What a great read. That was a good post - informative but not too heavy. Thanks for taking the time out to write it! I think spirituality is really important too, we certainly agree on that point. A leader without spirituality is missing a key element.

[NFL Jerseys]

Gorgeous canvas & I'm loving the mega-layered style & nail varnish... great stuff!!

[Packers jerseys]

Beautiful canvas Carmen, I absolutely love it, what a wonderful first post.

[authenticjerseys]

wow...the picture is very beatiful!i LIKE it very much!