Fast and Fun Symmetrical Art Journal Background by Stephenie Hamen

February 2015

Guest Artist Stephenie Hamen shares a quick and simple background technique for art journals featuring Dylusions Spray Inks and Dina Wakley Media Gesso.

Materials
Instructions

Instructions

I love art journaling. I never go anywhere without one on me – or maybe 2. Lots of times I pre-make some backgrounds so that when I have time I can add my doodling. Here’s one that is quick and fun to create.

1. Open your journal to a new set of pages. Spray the pages with water from your Mister

2. Pick a color of Dylusions spray and mist the pages quickly. If over-saturated, use a paper towel to quickly wipe away pools.

3. Close the art journal and hold it for a second or two with your hand, adding light pressure.

4. Open the journal back up. You should have a fairly symmetrical image across both pages.

5. Heat set your pages. Repeat the process with a second color.

7. Once you are happy with the colors, do a similar process with gesso.

8. Allow the gesso to dry completely.

9. Now you have created a fun background so all that is left to do is add your thoughts, your doodles, and the rest of your ink work to the page!

Stephenie Hamen is a mixed media artist, paper crafter, avid home cook and recipe writer, as well as a gardener and mother of 2 boys, Owen and Jacob, and wife to Matt. Stephenie started out as a teacher and loves to take that passion for education to teach others about creating and living an artful life. You can learn more about Stephenie on her blog: http://mycraftyadventures.com/.