Lindy's color challenge January 2020

My take on January 2020 color challenge

After a long while (over a year since the last time) I decided to create something for the Lindy's color challenge. I also thought I would try something extra. Since 2020 is a special number I decided I would dedicate an entire art journal for Lindy's color challenges. I will assemble the art journal spread by spread, just like I did with the Kasia's Christmas calendar art journal. This time I might even get it done on time since each challenge has a full month. Wishful thinking... I somehow get the best ideas when the deadline is almost expired. Well, obviously I can always create something according to the monthly colors but I don't have to sign it up for the challenge. But since there is a chance to win some prizes, why not go for it.

The size of the spread is going to be smallish (14 x 20,5 cm). I'm still not ready to go for bigger sizes. For paper I'm using Canson Illustration (250 g/m2, 90 lbs). I would have chosen proper watercolor paper but I don't have any right now. But this was good paper, too. I cut it in size and made the scoring line in the middle. For priming I used Reeves' white gesso. I let it dry and then put over a coat of 13@rts' white gesso. I applied both with a palette knife for smooth surface. After the surface was dry I used the 13@rts' gesso as stenciling paste with the Prima's stencil. I sprinkled over the wet pattern Lindy's Magic moon pearls embossing powder. I tapped off the excess powder, put it back in the jar and then used the heat tool to melt the powder over pattern.

Ready for adding color

I made a color puddle of the Lindy's Whale watch blue magical and spread it over the pages with a brush and water. Occasionally, I dried it with the heat tool and then repeated the process. Now afterwards I noticed that there would have been a cute pouting face on right side of the spread, quite in the middle. It's a pity I didn't see it sooner. I could have used it for illustrating.

Anyone else seeing that pouting face? I don't remember seeing it before

I wanted to add some text to the white space. So, I took out my trusty Kaisercraft's script stamp (the only script text stamp that I have, actually). I used it bit too much. I would have liked less and subtle text areas. So, I grabbed the palette knife and applied little amounts of white gesso for translucent effect and 13@rts' matte white acrylic paint for opaque coverage. The acrylic paint was a wrong choice, because it is water soluble. It turned the colors more pastel like later on.

Adding some script text to the background

Covering the script text with gesso and white acrylic paint

It was time to give more color, so I took the Lindy's Frosty forest green spray and applied it with the pipe in the bottle. I didn't spray it. I usually don't spray because it's messier and wastes more color liquid. However, I did spray water to get the colors to flow nicely. After the green I decided to add more Whale watch blue because I wanted the main color to be more blueish.

Adding the green color and then some more blue 

After drying the colors with the heat tool, I wanted to add more visible text since the previous stamping was almost completely covered. I repeated the process of the stamping and covering a few times. I just couldn't get a desirable look to the spread. Eventually I had to put them aside and add more colors. The acrylic paint made the colors muckier and more pastel like. I had to clean some of it off and then add new color layers. Also the embossing powder got more visible while wiping colors of it.

Repeating stamping some text and then covering it partially

Before I was ready with the background I added some of that Ranger's black archival ink around the edges. Then I decided to add more black with the Staedtlers's black aquarelle pencil. I sketched with it around the edges and used a wet brush to spread the color. Then finally I used the black Posca marker just on the edges, avoiding getting it on the pages. Although, I did use it for some black splatters. I diluted it with water and whisk it with a small brush.

Darkening the edges

I wasn't quite sure what to use for focal point. I had a printed rose but only that one and it felt like there should be more. I couldn't find anything I liked, and even if I did I could not have been able to print them out. The printer toner was running low. So, I thought I would do something of my own. While attempting I remembered that my drawing and painting skills were utterly out of practise. But I had to try something.

I used the Lindy's Autumn maple crimson magical to make two color batches. In the cup was the lighter shade and on the counter a darker color puddle. I used the bigger brush to make colored areas with the lighter color. The brush was very wet so the color had a dome shape to it. I dried it with the heat tool and then added a slightly smaller area on top. Dried again and added more color. When the brush was too big for the center area, I took the smaller one and added darker color to the center. I did it a couple of times with heat drying in the between. The flowers actually look like flowers and I didn't even need to draw anything. When the painting was dry I fuzzy cut them and used the black aquarelle pencil to darken the edges. Otherwise the cut white paper would have been too striking.

Trying to paint flowers

The flowers will also need leaves and stems 

I planned to make more flat than 3D but in the end I decided to add Nuvo crystal drops (Liquid mercury) and over that some 13@rts' silver microspheres. The colors go well together. The microspheres may not be a good idea in an art journal. I probably have to make each monthly spread on separate papers and not attach the finished pages until in the very end. Otherwise, there won't be so many microspheres left when the art journal is finished. Or I may have to add some clear gesso or other adhesive on top to prevent them from falling off.

I would call it a finished piece

The whole finished spread

Here is the link for the Lindy's Whale watch blue magical, which is in the Nantucket pearls magical set:
https://www.lindysgang.com/products/nantucket-pearls-magical-shimmer-powders

Here is the link for the Lindy's Frosty forest green shimmer spray:
https://www.lindysgang.com/products/frosty-forest-green

Here is the link for the Lindy's Autumn maple crimson magical shaker:
https://www.lindysgang.com/collections/magical-powders/products/autumn-maple-crimson-magical-shaker

Here is the link for the Lindy's Magic moon pearls embossing powder:
https://www.lindysgang.com/collections/embossing-powder/products/magic-moon-pearls

And here is the blog link to the Lindy's January 2020 color challenge:
https://lindysgang.blog/2020/01/01/january-2020-challenge-is-here/

The graphic for January 2020 color challenge

And here you can read the rules for the challenges: https://lindysgang.blog/color-challenge-info/

Here is also the Facebook group link to the Lindy's creative gang group if you like to check it out: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LindysCreativeGang/