Mixed media canvas - Anna Style!!

I have long admired the style of Finnabair - Anna Dabrowska and had my work situation been a bit more settled, I would have applied to attend the classes she is teaching at Snazzy's in Swindon later this year, but right now can't afford to (maybe next time!!)  It's the spraying with black that gets me...

Anyhow, this afternoon I decided to have a crack at a small version on canvas....

I needed to find a small photo - preferably black and white - to use... obviously I don't have any of me - but I did find some that I took on a visit to Kew Gardens - I used to love black and white photography, but haven't done any for ages now... But I'm waffling. I found a suitable picture that I could crop without losing the focal part of the picture.

 For once I planned out the look of my piece, before starting to glue stuff down.  My first step was to ink some bubbles through a stencil with iced spruce distress ink. Permanent ink would have been better, of course, given that you spray over the top later... derrrr. told you it was my first go!

You are meant to keep the spray off the photo, but....

Anyhow I used some glimmer mists (a gold, a silver and key lime pie) I chose some green Prima flowers. to tie in with the natural theme, some leftover sparkly mesh and a couple of flourishes which I 'painted' black with archival ink and then added some Treasure Gold (white fire) and a couple of metal flowers.

Used some buttons and black dew drops for some of the flower centres.

When you've finished placing everything on (though I did add the black drops last of all) you give it a squirt with black - this is sooo scary, and my black (Black Marble Dylusion) did end up a bit heavy handed in places.

It would have been better on a larger canvas, but I wasn't sure how it would turn out for my first go, but I do like the look and will definitely have another go!