My friend, Donna, surprised me with a few antique store finds this spring...some great old books to use in my mixed media. Inside one of the books we found a wonderful bonus;
this old negative of a steam locomotive
So I scanned it into my computer and used it to create this mixed media piece.
STEAM LOCOMOTIVE : Mixed media on cradled board, 6x6"
I cut a map of Canada out of a 1950's Canadian atlas, mounted it on card stock, and washed it with titanium buff fluid acrylic paint. Then using a two step crackle compound and a gel stain, I created the antiqued finish. When this was all dry, I applied digital grounds for a non-porous surface. After drying the grounds overnight, I printed the locomotive onto the antiqued map. I used my handmade stamps to embellish the surface and added black ink around the edges for a smokey, aged look. I painted the cradled board black before mounting the piece with heavy matte gel. A satin varnish was sprayed over the surface.
I debated about adding other elements but I didn't want to detract from the locomotive itself.
