As an artist I've always intended to do a true self-portrait, but frankly I'm terrible at selfies and kept putting it off. Then I read a book about the importance of family portraits and wondered, "why not?"
I read that chalk paints make the best transfer surface and well we here know what the BEST chalk paint is, right?!
The supplies are so easy peasy:
Dixie Belle Chalk Paint
Dixie Belle Clear Coat Sealer
Dixie Belle Grunge Glaze
Stencil
Substrate (such as a canvas or piece of wood )
Toner copy of YOU!
I chose a couple of selfie pics that I did not hate, printed them in mirror format on my printer, THEN took them to a store to copy in black and white on a toner cartridge printer. (Very important to use a toner copy!) Trim out the excess...
I just happened to have these little canvases to try it out with. I also tried it on foam board and it worked fine.
Decide which awesome Dixie Belle Chalk Paint to use. I chose Buttercream. Placing the image face down in the WET paint. Brayer and rub it into the paint to smooth out.
Wait to dry completely. Does not take long. Wet your fingers and rub slowly and gently in a circular motion to rub off the top layer of paper.
I happen to love the imperfections, but if it would make you crazy...then start from inside edges first and go very slow. Keep it damp and eventually you will emerge.
Now, I did not wait for it to completely dry before I added the Dixie Belle Grunge Glaze and then the Dixie Belle Grunge Glaze and I payed for it later. I still had some small bits of paper left, but now it was trapped beneath product.
Cie la vie!
Here it is with the glaze:
After the clear coat:
Of course I had to jazz it up a bit, using a stencil.
Just a touch though and added the year the photo was taken with a paint pen, because I'm sure I will forget.
Well, that sure was fun! Thank you for following along.
See ya next time with more DIYDesign Studio fun.
-Trish Alger
