Get ready to dive into a vibrant and layered mixed media project that’s part holiday, part whimsy, and all-out creative fun! This art journal page features three bold, triangle-shaped trees made from sheet music and painted with bright acrylics and gold details set against a textured background full of stencils, splatters, and stamps.
Prep your art journal page by taping off the edges with painter’s tape. Start by sealing your art journal page with matte medium or gesso. The goal is to create a smooth, sealed surface for layering paint and collage.
Using a combination of DecoArt Acrylics and stencil brushes, blend together colors like Cobalt Turquoise Hue, Primary Magenta, Prussian blue, Titan Buff, and more.The background should gradually get darker toward the edges for dimension.
To add texture, grab a piece of bubble wrap, dab it in paint, and press it gently onto your surface. Don’t be afraid to overlap colors or use your fingers to smooth transitions. Let the layers dry slightly between applications or use a heat tool to speed up the process.
With acrylic paint and your favorite stamps, add texture and contrast to your background. I used a stencil brush to add white paint to the bottom of my page. I also use a fan brush to add white paint splatter. Use circle stamps, texture stamps, and even the edge of a paint cap or sponge to make impressions. Dry with a heat tool.
Tear or cut three triangle shapes from old sheet music. Vary the widths and heights for visual interest. Arrange them loosely on your page to get a sense of layout. Make sure they don’t overlap the page’s borders or interfere with any masking tape borders you’ve used.
Once you’re happy with the placement, set them aside for painting.
Paint each triangle with a bright color (I used Primary Magenta, Primary Cyan, and Fairway Green) while still allowing the sheet music to peek through. Use a stencil brush or foam pouncer to keep the texture soft.
Once the base color dries, go in with Extreme Sheen Gold and a liner brush to add loose swirls or patterns on top. This adds sparkle and a festive pop! You can also add stamping to the tree shapes – dots, grids, text, or abstract patterns work beautifully.
Once your background and tree shapes are dry, glue the trees onto your page with matte medium. Apply the medium underneath and over the top to seal everything in. Press gently to prevent curling, and smooth out any air bubbles. Use a heat tool to help everything set quickly, or let it air dry while you clean up.
With carbon black acrylic paint and a liner brush, paint simple tree trunks below each triangle. Then, using white acrylic paint and a stencil brush, dab on a snowy effect along the bottom of the page and around the tree bases.
If desired, add more stamped texture or shading with an Aquarellable pencil. Just remember – this pencil activates with water, so spray fixative before sealing if you want to preserve your shading.
Use a spray fixative over your finished piece before applying a brush-on varnish or sealer. I used a satin sealer to give it a soft finish. Once everything is dry, remove any painter’s tape borders and admire your work!
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Supply List:
- 7 X 10 Mixed Media Journal
- DecoArt Extreme Sheen: 24K Gold
- Painter’s Tape
- Decoart Media Acrylic Paints: Cobalt Turquoise Hue, Quin Violet, Titanium White, Primary Magenta, Titan Buff, Primary Cyan, Carbon Black, Prussian Blue Hue and Fairway Green
- Stamps: Totally Tracy: TT18026 Dotted Swirls and TT16014 Totally Tracy Textures
- Krylon Workable Fixatif
- Aquarellable Pencil
- Decoart Matte Medium
- Decoart Gesso (White)
- Brushes: Tracy Weinzapfel Sets
Check out Tracy’s Art Journal Starter Kit!
Tracy’s Resources Page and visit Tracy’s Shop