El Mariachi - Dia De Los Muertos Mixed Media Canvas

Hi friends!  I hope this finds you all well.  Today I have a new canvas to share with you.  I'm very excited about this piece because it's a first for me. Recently I was asked to do a custom piece featuring men and you all know I've only painted women right.  This piece is very important to me because it's for a family member so I wanted to get some practice in before starting their canvas.  I set out searching for images of men that inspired me and I found some great Dia De Los Muertos and mariachi photos to help me get started.  So here is my very first canvas featuring a man:

Meet "El Mariachi", this is a 30x24" canvas and it is for sale so if you're interest message me on FB or shoot me an email (artist.normagomez@yahoo.com).

I started out by stretching my sketching muscles in my art journal.

Then I moved onto building the background.  I used all types of acrylic paints and Crafter's Workshop stencils with Dylusions spray inks to create layers.

Once I was happy with the background I transferred my sketch to the canvas.  I used a projector for this part but I think I would have better off just sketching it again.  It was kinda hard to see my projected image and I ended up having to make lots of corrections to my sketch.  So I think it might have just been easier to sketch it on.

With the sketch down, I slowly began painting my mariachi.

Here's a side by side progression of my mariachi.  It's fun see the photos next to each other.  You can really see what it took to get to the finished piece.

Can I tell, I love the way he turned out!  I think he's very handsome and mysterious all at the same time.

Here's a closer look at the detail on his sombrero.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this guys so don't shy.  Good or bad, either way I wanna know what you think so please share.

If you're interested in a print, I'll be adding them to Etsy very soon so keep an eye out for that.

Thank you for stopping by and have a beautiful day, Viva El Mariachi!!

Prints now available on Etsy!

Muertos Tag: Paper Wings Productions Anything Goes Linky Party

Happy Friday!  Today I'm playing along with my friends over at Paper Wings Productions.  This year they've added Linky Parties so we'll have a chance to share our Paper Wings Productions creations on their blog.  This month's theme is Anything Goes so I pulled out my favorite PWP stamps and got to work.

I've been trying to reorganize my studio lately and one thing that has become abundantly clear is that I really need to use up my scraps.  So almost everything I used is from my scraps stash.  This tag was in my drawer.  It was a failed PWP design team project but I thought you what, it'll work for a mixed media tag.  It already had the beautiful yellow and pink inks and stamped papel picado from the Dia De Los Muertos Hombre stamp set.

I grabbed the Liquitex Glass Beads just because I hadn't used them in awhile.  All I did was spread it over the tag with a pallet knife.  Then I added some fusible webbing that was left over from the Fall Nesting Components kit.  After all glass beads medium dried I started layering and completely forgot to take progress pics, sorry.

The next step was creating the heart. I used a Heidi Swapp stencil to guide me a bit.  I added three rows of the roses also found on the Dia De Los Muertos Hombre stamp set.  I actually embossed the roses with fine detail black embossing powder.  I wanted to continue with the textural feel of the tag.  I added a bit of color to the roses with Dylusions inks.  I applied the ink with a water brush.  Then I outlined the heart with Liquitex ink.

The honeycomb pattern is the sticker outline from one of the very first Paper Wings mixed media kits.

I used a mask to arrange the muertos close together and colored them in with Distress Markers.  I fussy cut them and then just slipped them in.

I also added some found jewelry, patterned paper scraps, leaves, roses and ribbon.

The heart up top is actually an earring, pretty cool right.  The stud is going through the hole in the tag and the chain is connected to the earring's backing.  Well thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll join the Paper Wings Linky Party too!  Here is the link:  Anything Goes Link Up Party.  One lucky participant will win a $25 gift certificate so go get linked up!! 

Paper Wings Production Jun Blog Hop & Giveaway: Blue

WELCOME to Paper Wing Productions June Blog Hop & Giveaway! If you've arrived here from Katie's bloh, then you're in the right place.  If you’re just stopping by for a visit, please CLICK HERE to start from the beginning.

This month we're back to colors.  So get ready to be dazzled by beautiful BLUE. Now no hop would be complete without a little blog candy and this month we are changing things up.  Take a look at is this month's prize pack!!

This generous prize package contains:

Mix & Match Essential Tool Kit
Paper Crafter Crayons- Reds
Paper Crafter Crayons- Neutrals
Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils- Blues
Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils- Greens
Textural Accent SamplerRetail value over $65!!!

Make sure to complete the entire hop for a chance to win this awesome prize pack from our sponsor: Faber-Castell!

For a chance to win all you need to do is:

• be a follower of the Paper Wings Productions blog
• visit each of the participating designer's blogs and leave a comment
• come back and leave us a comment on the PWP blog telling us you completed the hop.

To increase your chances of winning:  like the Paper Wings Productions Facebook page and/or invite your friends to the hop.  Be sure to leave a separate comment for each of your additional entries. 

 We will announce the winner here Tuesday, June 10th, 2014.

Hello everyone, thank you for stopping by!!  Today I have a really fun summer inspired mixed media piece to share with you.  This time of year I have the beach on my brain so I pulled out the Summer and By the Sea clipart sheets.

I'm using a chipboard banner covered with Cosmo Cricket paper from the Creative Girl Nesting Components kit.

Next I added birds using stencils the Crafter's Workshop stencil included in the For the Birds Nesting Component kit.

I used gesso with the stencil so it would resist when I sprayed the background. 

Once the ink was dry, I embossed with the beautiful Writing stamp.

Once the background was done it was time to start layering.  I added more Creative Girl papers and clip art.

I added K&Company diecuts and jewelry bits from my stash.

The sentiment is from the Happy Day stamp set.

Finishing touches include glitter embossed Renaissance Blue Fern chipboard (currently on sale for $3.15 in the PWP online store), Ric Rac and rubons.   Okay it's time to send back to The Aviary!

***Here is the complete line up just in case you get lost along the way***

Amber Rasmuss

Carrie Avery

Dana Tatar

Erica Rose Thompson
Katie Smith
Norma Gomez ***You are here***

Paper Wings Productions Blog “The Aviary­ - http://paper-wings-productions.blogspot.com/

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY!!

&

Let Your Creativity Take Flight!

Happy Day Clear Stamp Set Writing Cling Stamp Writing Backgrounds Cling Stamp Set Creative Girl Nesting Components Mixed Media Kit Summer Clip Art Sheet For The Birds Mixed Media Kit Starburst Set- Mermaid Seashells By the Sea Clip Art Sheet

InLinkz.com

Paper Wings Production April Blog Hop & Giveaway: Turquoise

WELCOME to Paper Wing Productions' April Design Team Blog Hop & Giveaway! If you've arrived here from The Aviary, then you're in the right place. 

This month we're working with beautiful and peaceful Turquoise.  So get get comfortable and get ready to be dazzled by our design team, enjoy the hop!! 

The main prize is a $25.00 gift certificate to the Paper Wings Productions online store.

For a chance to win all you need to do is:

• be a follower of the Paper Wings Productions blog
• visit each of the participating designer's blogs and leave a comment
• come back and leave us a comment on the PWP blog telling us you completed the hop.

To increase your chances of winning: like our Facebook page and/or invite your friends to the hop.  Be sure to leave a separate comment for each of your additional entries. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 8th, 2014 on the Paper Wings Productions blog.

Hello everyone, thanks for stopping by!!  Today I have a really fun mixed media collage to share with you.  I was pretty happy about this month's color because I love cool turquoise especially with a pop of a warm color like pink or red.

So I started out with one of the backing boards from the Nesting Components kits.  Dana does this so I thought I'd give a try too ;D.  I wanted to just have fun, let loose, do some recycling and use up scraps.  I found strips of stamped paper from one of my Dec projects.  Believe or not it was still hanging around on my desk, lol.  I just glued them on with Modge Podge and the blue was accidental.  It was paint that was still on my paint brush but hey it works!  The strips of paper are stamped with the Postcard stamp. 

Recently my son went through a phase where he was taking electronics apart so now I have lots of techie scraps lying around.   Being the hoarder "creative" person I am I saved all the little pieces to use in my projects.  I also dug into my junk box for chipboard bits and cardboard.  The yellow piece is actually the divider from my grandson's Memory game (no one's stuff is safe, lol).  I gesso'd everything and stamped a cute little bird from the Bird Melange stamp set.

Next it was time to get inky!!  I sprayed various shades of teal, turquoise and blue Dylusions inks over everything.

After that I dug into my Nesting Components kits and found THE perfect image (love her).  I tucked in my techie pieces here and there.

I randomly stamped the Writing cling stamp and added beautiful pink flowers.

This beautiful sequenced heart has been in my stash for over 10 years!!  I'm glad I finally found the perfect spot for it, see hoarding pays off (sometimes, lol).

Here's another look at the beautiful pink flowers.  The jeweled flower is my stash of flea market jewelry finds.

She looks pretty sassy don't you think?!  Her look, the beautiful bold color and all the bling instantly reminded me of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun".  So using another scrap from my desk, I stamped it on using the Perfect Alphabet stamp set.  This is my newest PWP stamp set and I'm so glad I got it.  It's a must have, trust me!!

I managed to work in a yellow bangle some more birds and the piece of tag.  I have to say, I really love this one!!  It just makes me happy :D

Okay well it's time to send you off to your next stop so head on over to Amber's Blog!

***Here is the complete line up just in case you get lost along the way***

Norma Gomez

Amber Rasmuss
Carrie Avery

Dana Tatar

Erica Rose Thompson
Katie Smith

Paper Wings Productions Blog “The Aviary­ - http://paper-wings-productions.blogspot.com/

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY!!

&

Let Your Creativity Take Flight!

Postcard Cling Stamp Writing Cling Stamp Writing Backgrounds Cling Stamp Set Fly Away Cling Stamp Set Bird Melang Cling Stamp Set Perfect Alphabet Clear Stamp Set Vintage Cuties Clip Art Sheet November 2013 Nesting Components Mixed Media Kit

InLinkz.com