Lodge in the Forest

[Image ID] A wooded, sunlit scene with a stream in the foreground. The focal point is a broad-trunked tree that has a round door and a round window in it. A couple of lanterns hang from one of the branches. [description end]

This piece was created using stamps from Lavinia Stamps, and some of the techniques used were inspired by the work of Lisa Taggart/@Inkybliss

I started this piece by painting a colourful gouache background onto a piece of hot pressed watercolour paper. I chose gouache as it gives much more vibrant tones than watercolour, and hot pressed paper as it is significantly smoother than cold pressed and so is better for stamping onto.

It’s quite hard to understand how these papercraft/painting hybrid pieces come together without actually seeing it, so I’ve inserted a photo of the individual stamps used below.

[Image ID] A photo of the stamps, laid out on a grey background, used to create the picture. [description end]

As you can see from this photo, each element from the picture is a separate stamp which is then inked and stamped according to the composition I’m going for. Some of the stamps are used repeatedly, such as the tall thin tree trunks; whilst others are only partially inked, like the two opposite facing trees where I only used the upper branches.

After the initial layer of gouache, I stamped the images in black Versafine Clair ink. I find this to be the best ink for most purposes as it is water resistant, so won’t smudge, and gives a deep black line without needing to stamp over it repeatedly.

Once that was done, I went over various areas with a mixture of Pitt Artist Pens, more gouache, and Distress Oxides, to add shading to the images. Towards the end of the process I began to add highlights with a gold gel pen, and several colours of glitter pen. These highlights can be seen better in the images below.

[Image ID] A close-up and of the first image, tilted so that the light catches the shimmer effect on the trees. [description end]

[Image ID] A close-up of the foreground, tilted so the glimmer on the water and the highlights on the dry stone wall and toadstools are more obvious. [description end]

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Stamps used: Tree of Courage, Tree of Hope, Druid’s Inn, Fairy Steps, Small Lanterns, Lamps, Bell Flower Vine, Red Pine Large, & Tree Stem

Gouache Paints: Castle Arts

Fabre Castell Pitt Artist Brush pens (various colours)

Gold gel pen: Uniball Signo

Sparkle/glitter pens: Uniball Signo

Black fineliner

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