Wood Block Faux Fresco

If you recall yesterday I shared how to unmount your wood mounted rubber stamps. Now that you've got all those wood blocks, what do you do with them? Well, I've got really cool technique that will help you put some of those blocks to good use!

Faux Fresco on Wood Mounts!

Fresco is a painting technique where pigments (paint, dye, inks, etc) are applied to wet plaster. As the plaster dries it absorbs the colors and the two become one resulting in an amazing combination of textures and colors.

I call this "Faux" Fresco because a) I'm not using plaster and b) the medium I am using isn't wet when the paint is applied BUT it does yield some awesome results as you will see!!

Supplies:

Wood Mount Blocks (any left over foam removed)

Gesso (for the base coat & a bit of texture)

Paints - (for this example) - Stewart Gill Byzntia Acanthus, Golden Fluid Acrylics - Iridescent Copper & Iridescent Gold Deep. - Hannah Grey

(not shown)

Brass Embossing Templates

Patching Compound - Dap Vinyl Spackling OR Embossing Paste

Spatula (for spreading the Patch compound)

Blue Painters Tape (optional)

Cut & Dry Foam - Ranger

Instructions:

1. Apply a thick coat of Gesso to your unmounted wood block. For all of the examples I used the side where the stamp was mounted. I painted right over the sticky residue left over where the foam had previously been. Let dry completely. Depending on how thick it was applied and the temps/humidity it may take anywhere from 5-30 minutes.

2. Once the Gesso has dried, determine where you would like your main image to be.

3. Using Blue Painters Tape, temporarily adhere the stencil to the block. Stir the spackling paste and apply a generous portion over the entire stencil.

4. Carefully remove the stencil leaving the spackling paste in tact.

5. Continue adding additional spackled images if desired. Set the block aside to dry. Approximately 1-2 hours. Immediately clean stencil & spatula in warm soapy water.

6. Apply a small dab of the Green Stewart Gill metallic paint to a piece of Cut & Dry Foam. Dab the paint over the entire piece. You will need to make sure the paint gets into all of the cracks and crevices. This is where the foam is especially helpful as it makes a tough job easy.

Just look at the texture the metallic paint brings out!

7. While the green paint is still wet, immediately apply a very small amount of the copper paint to your foam. With a light touch apply the copper paint to the raised images and smudge it around a bit on the rest of your creation.

8. Immediately apply the gold paint in the same fashion. Blending all 3 colors as you go.

And here is what your finished product will look like!

Why not make several for a great "Faux Fresco" grouping!

(with the flash)

(without the flash)

Fun huh? And oh so easy :) Doesn't get much better than that!

I've got a few more ideas on how to use those left over blocks...so be sure to check back tomorrow!

REMEMBER: Friday is Ink Stained Sketch Friday so I'll share some fun Ribbon bound cards with you :)

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