Customer Inspiration... and a half! Sue Knibbs

Sue with her stunning canvas

When Sue Knibbs, one of our dear customers (and past participant of some of my workshops) came to visit the store on Saturday with a black wrapped parcel under her arm she exclaimed some nerves on showing me. Nerves of what I'm not quite sure since what she presented could be described as masterpiece!

What I adore about this beautiful piece of art work is it is every bit Sue, handcrafted with care and thought and truly made with love.

Detail of the crackle finish, stamping and serviette design

Sue and I spent some time discussing the method and details in the creation of this artwork. Here is some of the techniques and thoughts of note:

• Sue started out with a sketch and an idea stemming from an idea to use the beautiful SevenGypsies Victoria bird stamps. As her artwork developed the only idea that resulted in the finished piece was the use of the stamps as her ideas evolved so much.
• Background colours were brushed and sponged with acrylic paint.
• The colours she chose were a new combination for Sue. They work together brilliantly!
• The vine images are from serviettes. It is worth noting that she painstakingly cut each vine out buy hand to get a perfect result. Edges of the serviette were pushed inwards as she glued to get a slight bit of edge texture.
• Each of the stamped images (birds, text, doll images) were stamped onto tissue rather than directly to the canvas with Stazon ink. By stamping onto tissue, miss-stamping was avoided. Stazon ink doesn't run when adhesive is added and produces a nice black sharp image.
  
• Each stamped image was carefully cut out before adding to the canvas. The white parts of the tissue turn clear when adhesive is added but cutting out produces better clarity in the background colours.
• Sue's glue of choice is Mod Podge.
• Some of the background texture was created by applying acrylic in her various colours directly to fiberglass mesh (Magic Mesh) and then using that as a stamp to apply a grid texture.
• The ornate classic image was from a $2 shop frame.
• If any lines or areas didn't stamp dark enough or wasn't defined enough she would go back over them with her pen/acrylics to get the result she wanted.
  
• The crackle medium Sue used is our favourite Helmars Brand (available at NZ Scrapbook).
• Sue completed her art with one of our other favourite products - Bullseye Spray Shellac. So easy, so yum! 12 light coats to finish.

I liked how Sue also commented that she would say to herself "How am I going to fix this?" So often that is the case. Its persisting and problem solving that art evolves. Much like life! hehe



So wouldn't you agree - WOW! Sue has done a beautiful job.

Thank you Sue for bringing it in to show me, and letting me show my Blog readers. Enjoy it in your home, I am happy you are proud of what you have created - you should be! Yay you!!

~Kathleen x

Beautiful!