Hearth & Home

 Happy Holidays, Ai fans!

One of my favourite things to do with my Art Impressions Watercolor stamps, is to use them differently then how they were intended.  I wanted to do a fireplace scene, and stumbled upon 5127 - Build My Life Set, and knew it would be perfect:  

                        

I used 6 different stamp sets to create my scene today!  I started with 5269 - Wood Frames Set, colouring just a portion of one side with my Tombow #969 Chocolate to create the wooden mantle.  I had to build my scene from front to back, so I used my stamp positioner to stamp the kitten from 5016 - WC Mini Critter Set in #947 Burnt Sienna, and covered him with a mask.  Next came the small window, which was coloured with #N45 Cool Grey 10, stamped in the center of my panel, and then covered with a mask.  I masked off the sides of my scene with purple tape, since the brick image is quite a bit larger - coloured the bricks in #N55 Cool Grey 7, and stamped it just below the mantle.  When I removed the purple tape and masks, I used my N55 marker directly on the paper to draw in the edges of the bricks that were cut off by the tape.  I used a damp brush to soften all the lines of my painting, and to pull out the colours.  

One of the small pots from 4869 - WC Small Container Set was coloured in N55, and stamped to appear just in front of the fireplace, then the rose trio from 5258 - WC Flower Set 4 was coloured in #856 Chinese Red and stamped above it.  I used four of the branch images from 4960 - WC Fir Trees Set, colouring just a portion of each in #249 Hunter Green to add greenery to the pot, and across the mantle.  I used a pencil to sketch in the logs and candles, then went over them with my 969/N55 markers.  The flames are a combination of #991 Light Ochre/993 Chrome Orange.  With my #992 Sand marker, I sketched in the wooden floors and painted in some streaks to suggest wood grain.  I picked up the colours of my scene from my palette, darkening the kitten, and adding shadows to the pot and bricks, as well as a darker shadow for the interior of the fireplace.  I used #569 Jet Blue to paint the walls, and create a contrast with the lighter bricks.  

Thank you to everyone who views our creations, and leaves such lovely comments.  Wishing you a happy, healthy holiday - we'll see you in 2021!