Project Skinzapfel!

Andy Skinner and Tracy Weinzapfel are hosting a joint challenge on their Facebook groups (Andy Skinner and Friends and Tracy Weinzapfel Studios Mixed Media), daring their followers to create a piece of art that combines both of their styles in some way.

This is my entry and below is a brief step out of how I created it. I was influenced by one of Tracy's favourite colour palettes - blues and greens with a red heart and I added bubble wrap printing and a inspirational words also in homage to Tracy. I've used Andy's techniques on my piece - including stamping into modelling paste and mega crackle.

Most of the products are of course from DecoArt and here's what I used:

• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics: Pyrrole Red, Cadmium Orange Hue, Cobalt Teal Hue, Cobalt Turquoise Hue, Primary Cyan, Green Gold, Quinacridone Burnt Orange, Metallic Gold, Payne's Grey, Blue Green Light
• DecoArt Media: Modelling Paste, Crackle Paint, Ultra Matte Varnish
• DecoArt Weathered Wood
• DecoArt Metallic Lustre: Silver Spark
• Stampendous Andy Skinner stamps: Toxic
• Stampendous Natalie Kalbach stamps: Marks
• Rubber Dance stamps by Katy Leitch: Affirmations

1 For the base of my journal page I used a piece of canvas on a roll. I cut it larger than needed and lightly marked the eventual size with pencil before painting the background with orange and red paints.

2 Once dry I added Weathered Wood - and then when that was dry a layer of Crackle Paint. This is Andy's Mega Crackle technique and there's a video here.

3 When the magic cracks appear add some washes of watered down paint in blue and green tones, mixing lightly. Then coat with a layer of varnish to prevent any damage to the crackle (the Mega Crackle is a bit more delicate than using the Crackle Paint normally).

4 Place a stencil over the background and fill with modelling paste using a palette knife. While the modelling paste is still wet, press a stamp spritzed with water into it repeatedly to create texture.

5 When the paste is dry, paint over it with Pyrrole Red paint. Add a wash of Payne's Grey and then highlight the texture with Metallic Lustre, applying it lightly with your finger. Outline the heart with Stabilo All pencil in black and blend with water to create a shadow effect.

6 Alter some metal cogs to make them look like copper with verdigris effect. To do this mix Gold Metallic with Quin Burnt Orange to make copper paint and apply to the cogs. Add some Blue Green Light in places with a sponge, then add a wash of Payne's Grey and a bit more copper. Repeat until happy.

To finish: Stamp with bubble wrap and Cobalt Turquoise Hue paint. Add some stamping in black and white to add detail. Finish the page with some wording and a little Metallic Lustre to the edges.

I am really pleased with my piece - hope you like it!

Katy x