Guest Post: Laying the Foundation with Jenn

Hello everyone! It’s Jenn Shurkus here- from New England and Shurkus.com.  I’m wicked excited to be here and thank you to Julie for allowing us to share on her blog!

I figured with it being a new year- and all about fresh starts I would teach you a great foundation technique for Art Journaling. I have had quite a few friends this past year asking me how to get started in Art Journaling, and feeling overwhelmed by all the techniques and supplies to be had- so I always share with them this easy yet affective technique. I learned about this technique in one of the first classes I ever took with Dina Wakley, I think back when she was doing her Art Journal classes online.

Let’s get artsy!

Step 1: Gesso your page, or spread in your art journal. I am working in the large Dylusions Art Journal from Ranger. I cheat by heat setting it to speed up the dry time.

Step 2: Using a palette knife scrape on one color of paint. Here I used Dina Wakley’s Ruby Paint. Be sure to leave some “white space”

Step 3: While the paint is still pretty wet lay a stencil over your page ( I used Julie’s Shattered Circles), and rub through it with a baby wipe. If the baby wipe is really wet, be sure to wipe it off on your artsy apron or a paper towel to absorb some of the moisture. Work your way around your page. Also rub in the white areas, some of the paint will transfer from your baby wipe onto the white gesso’d areas.

Step 4: You can now begin to build up more layers on your page. Here I used Julie’s Chevron Stencil and Dina Wakley Night paint (my fave!). I also use a stiff bristled brush to do this step so that the paint won’t seep under the stencil.

Now you have a base on your page to begin with. It’s sometimes hard staring at a blank page to get started and get those creative juices flowing!

I also put together a quick tutorial video for you with a BONUS technique of using your stencils like stamps! Watch the video below:

SUPPLIES USED:

12x12 Chevron Stencil 12x12 Shattered Circles Ranger Heat Gun Baby Wipes Dina Wakley Palette Knife Dina Wakley Paints - set of 12 Dina Wakley Brushes Dina Wakley Gesso Dylusions Journal, Large Ranger Teflon Craft Sheet

InLinkz.com 
Jenn lives in New England, with her kitty Mister Harley and her boyfriend Chris. She's been papercrafting for 15 years, and has played multiple roles in the paper craft industry as an independent store manager, designer and teacher. With a degree in graphic design she is also Copic and Ranger certified. She is part of the Simon Says Stamp.com design team and the Lawnscaping Challenge Design Team. Jenn loves to show people new and clever ideas to design their cards and projects. She has a flair for the "artsy-fartsy" without going over the top. She designs her projects in the way to inspire, but not intimidate. Jenn is eager to share her creative passions with others and encourage their artistic growth. She currently is teaching classes with Ranger, Lawn Fawn, Hero Arts and more. You can read more about her, and her handsome kitty Mister Harley and wicked cute boyfriend Chris on her blog {creative chick} as well as follow her creative endeavors on:

• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jennshurkus
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennshurkus.artist
• You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/jennshurkus