Sunday 12 May 2013

Anything But A Card Colour Challenge. . . . . . . .

This fortnight at Anything But A Card we have a colour challenge for you and the inspiration comes from this image:

You can make anything you like as long as you use something from this colour palette on your piece. You can use all the colours or select those that inspire you the most - it's your call. Don't forget to come back to Anything But A Card in two weeks time to see  the rest of the team's inspiration.

I'm going to admit that I looked at this image and intended trying to use them all but what a mess I made of it! Couldn't mix the right green/blue; the muted cranberry like tone was too dark, the pink was too bright GRRRRRR. . . . . .!

In the end, I decided to use the reddish tone and the pink (or as near to as I felt able) with other colours of my choice and was able to produce something I felt happy with (I also added the green tone on the left in a little place!). I now know that there is a reason why I avoid challenges with these colour palette themes: I'm useless at them!

Here's my make - a tag of course - hope you like it even despite little affinity with the colour inspiration image:

My finished tag which uses two colours from the palette and others of my choice.
The background was created by using random brushings of two blue shades and white acrylic paint (Americana from DecoArt). The face image was then transferred onto the tag using image transfer paper and a photograph which had been manipulated in Photoscape. This particular image was given to me in a recent class (with Mr AS) but I've been playing with my own photos and it's so addictive - watch out for more pieces like this!
The dragonfly was stamped in a cranberry like colour with barely pink was of acrylic over the top to soften and blur the image.Some script was stamped on the lower tag using the same method. Once transferred, the appropriate features were painted black several times to build intensity and layers.


To stamp the dragonfly, I masked off the black features with masking fluid. When removed, this left faint marks on the black so I had to repaint. I then knocked the bottle of fluid over and spent forever trying to get some back in the bottle and the rest off from where it spilt. . . . . .this tag was NOT going well!
Some twisted sari silk was added to the tag to tie in the black used elsewhere. 
The washer die cut was added to the tag top and bottom. Painted with black and sprayed with  a shiny 'varnish' - one layer only because I wanted to keep the texture from the card below and just add a subtle sheen.
The flower was cut from various Tim dies. Each layer was painted with acrylic, then stamped and stencilled randomly with archival ink. Once constructed, the bloom was sprayed with the same product as the washer die cut and lastly, sari silk was used for the flower centre - can you see the little extra colour from the inspiration palette I added? (it was all I had of that colour - in anything!).
The washer die cut was given a spray shine finish because I wanted to have a contrast to the very matte look of tag.

There you have it then! Do I think I've answered the challenge? Mmmm, not fully no, but I have tried to use something from the brief and turn it around to fit what I like! That's what this is all about really isn't it? Personal interpretation and making art that you believe in.

I can't wait to see what you come up with and I'm sure you'll be far more successful than I was with matching the colours!



(NO MORE COLOUR PALETTE CHALLENGES FOR ME!!!)




27 comments:

  1. This is gorgeous Julia. The colours are lovely with the striking black contrast and the face is beautiful. The layered up flower is an absolute stunner too.
    Hugs, Fliss xx

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  2. Fantastic tag Julia. Love the multitude of elements included and how dramatic it is. Hugs, Jenny x

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  3. Beautiful tag, you have used the colours very well! Valerie

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  4. What a beautiful tag Julia, I LOVE it. Your pick of colours from the palette is perfect (lol think I would have picked the same!!) and I adore the face transfer, what a fun technique. Ooh and not to forget that amazing flower, stunning work sweetie.
    Huge huggles and roll on June hey!! x x x x

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  5. Julia, this is awesome!! I love how you've picked out some of the colors! Awesome job

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  6. Very striking piece Julia that looks fantastic. I love the dragonfly onto her face and that flowers pops fabulously. Nicola x

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  7. Ooh this is fabuous! I love the colors you used along with all the different textures....amazing as always!

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  8. Yes, believe in you Julia!! Your tag is amazing, love the details and especially the way you stamped the dragonfly on the face...wowww, great result...Lovely in total!

    hugs, Alie :-)

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  9. A stunning tag Julia, you wouldn't think you had struggled with the colours, a great combination.
    Avril xx

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  10. Beautifully dramatic Julia, I love the contrasts and your fabulous flower.
    hugs {Brenda} x0x

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  11. Wow! That looks fabulous Julia! I love it! x

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  12. So interesting what immediately triggers us to create and the things we come to more warily... I'm similar to you with colour challenges, but I love that you can pick and choose here rather than use all of them, and I think you've chosen brilliantly. The colours are definitely dreamy - even slightly psychedelic with those strong black graphics, and wonderful circles. The flower is fab but, like Alie, my favourite bit is the dragonfly face!
    Alison xx

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  13. Fabulous Tag Julia.
    Great colors and details.
    love it.
    Greetings Janny

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  14. what a stunning tag - beautiful textures and colours - wonderful layout - fabulous xx

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  15. Using the dragon fly as the base for the face is inspired Julia. It gives your woman a wonderful ethereal look!
    My head was spinning too with the colour combo, particularly the pink.
    The graphic quality of your piece is wonderful.

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  16. Wow Julia this is gorgeous. I agree the dragon fly on the face is so effective. Love the colour that pop against the black, the flower is so beautiful. I've been behind in visiting, just checked out the rest of your designs, all so beautiful! Take care, Shirleyx

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  17. WOW, its stunning Julia, the way you place the dragon fly in her face is wonderful, love your color choices, now that flower is amazingggggg, love how you created it, all with the black is just STUNNING..Thanks so much for sharing and have a wonderful day..

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  18. Amazing color!!!! Love that face and the dragonfly on it is fantastical!!!! I love the washer ribbon too...it's a peek a boo! I love this tag!

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  19. O Julia, can’t believe that you struggle so much with those colours… this tag is super gorgeous….I love colour contrast and image is so cool…..Hugs from Slovenia

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  20. I too would have struggled with that palette but youhave made a very striking tag with heaps of mystery about it....what a challenge and yOu certainly rose to it! Hugstrace x

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  21. Julia this really is a wonderful piece inspired by the colour challenge. The contrast of the colours is stunning and everything just seems to pop against the black. The flower is amazing and the dragonfly in the face just a wonderful idea. I love colour challenges as everyone interprets the colours in very different ways and sometimes you just never know where it will go! x

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  22. That's a fabulous creation, great details.

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  23. Love what you created for the colour challenge!

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  24. What a fabulous tag Julia, I love all the different textures and the dragonfly face - the flowers are fabulous too.
    xxx Hazel.

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  25. There's something very swinging sixties about this - I love it.

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  26. Awesome tag - LOVE the dragonfly coming up through the face!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Juliax