STUCCOED DREAM CANVAS
PROJECT CATEGORIES
Tools & Materials Needed:
- Artist’s canvas on stretcher frame and primed (you can order any dimensions you need from an art supply store)
- Ornamental gesso
- Spatula
- Light beige latex paint, satin
- Water-based glazing liquid
- Mixing container 2” paintbrush
- soft, clean, lint-free rags
- photocopies or prints of the letters D, R, E, A, and M
- mylar
- indelible marker cutting mat
- X-acto knife
- Fine-grade sandpaper (optional)
Recipe
- 1 part latex paint
- 3 parts water-based glazing liquid
Instructions
Our dimensions are 24” x 30”.
Step 1. (Shot 1) Apply a fairly thin layer of gesso with a spatula, covering the canvas completely. Build up a nice texture by crossing your strokes and varying the pressure on the spatula.
Step 2. (Shot 2) Mix the colored glaze according to the recipe. Apply the glaze to the canvas evenly. Rub and blend out the brush marks with a soft rag and let dry.
Step 3. (Shot 3) To make the letter stencils, print out the word dream from your computer or use a photocopier to get the size letters you want. Trace the letters onto Mylar with the marker and cut them out. With the letters D, R, and A, normally you would cut bridges in the stencil to hold in the interior pieces, but because we are using gesso to fill in the stencil, bridges would be too difficult to fill in later. So cut out these letters completely, and then tape the center parts down on the canvas in position inside their corresponding letters.
Step 4. (Shot 4) Center the stencil letters on the canvas and tape them down. Dip your fingers into the gesso, and fill in the letters, being careful not to get any underneath the stencil.
Step 5. (Shot 5) Remove the stencil when it is properly filled in and let dry overnight.
Step 6. If you feel that the texture on the dried letters is too jagged, give them a light sanding.
Step 1. (Shot 1) Apply a fairly thin layer of gesso with a spatula, covering the canvas completely. Build up a nice texture by crossing your strokes and varying the pressure on the spatula.
Step 2. (Shot 2) Mix the colored glaze according to the recipe. Apply the glaze to the canvas evenly. Rub and blend out the brush marks with a soft rag and let dry.
Step 3. (Shot 3) To make the letter stencils, print out the word dream from your computer or use a photocopier to get the size letters you want. Trace the letters onto Mylar with the marker and cut them out. With the letters D, R, and A, normally you would cut bridges in the stencil to hold in the interior pieces, but because we are using gesso to fill in the stencil, bridges would be too difficult to fill in later. So cut out these letters completely, and then tape the center parts down on the canvas in position inside their corresponding letters.
Step 4. (Shot 4) Center the stencil letters on the canvas and tape them down. Dip your fingers into the gesso, and fill in the letters, being careful not to get any underneath the stencil.
Step 5. (Shot 5) Remove the stencil when it is properly filled in and let dry overnight.
Step 6. If you feel that the texture on the dried letters is too jagged, give them a light sanding.
