However sometimes one project can lead to others and that's what today's post is about. See before putting the signatures together I painted the papers with acrylic and then when I was done with that I had some paint left over. Sometimes I will use that to print papers with or just to fill up a sketchbook page. This time I decided to put the left over paint in this yet unused Canson Mixed Media book that I had. I bought it because it's huge and because it claimed to be full of mixed media paper. More about that later.
Once I filled two pages with the left over paint I just couldn't resist getting straight to work with them and here's what happened: two mixed media pages full of fun and colour! I'm showing you the full pages and some detail shots as well.
I so enjoy putting all sorts of supplies together on a page! For these pages I used acrylic paint, decorative papers, several stencils, gouache, paint pens, stabilo all pencils, wall paper clippings, drawing pens, glaze pens, coloured pencils, baby wipes, brush markers and probably at least a dozen other things. They really make me happy.
What didn't make me happy however is the Canson Mixed Media XL Book. Sigh, the paper just sucks and is not fit for wet media at all. I think the only way I will be able to use it in the future is to prep all the pages with gesso before using it, but really, a paper for wet media should just be able to... take wet media without any hassle! I will not get in too much detail about it, but just refer you to a review by Roz Stendahl on her blog that I wish I had read before I had bought it. Just check here if you're interested. All I can say is don't buy this book if you actually want to do mixed media in it. I think it might be fine for drawing, though I haven't tried that yet.
I will probably keep using it by prepping it with gesso as it is a wonderful size (I have the 11x14 inch one) and gesso is the great equalizer after all. Still...another lesson learned: check for reviews before buying a new to you sketchbook online! :-(
Wishing you all a wonderful and artsy Wednesday!