Monday 3 September 2012

Family History Canvas

This is my third design team piece for Its Crafting Time, a fab shop full of crafty goodness.

My theme for this canvas was sepia, so I found an old family photo. This is my Great Great Grandfather his wife and 4 children in Vienna, we think the photo must have been taken around 1897. I am going to send it to my G Uncle who still lives in Vienna, hence the spelling of family. We send each other parcels every Christmas but we have never met. I would love to meet him though, only I don't speak a word of German, I need an interpreter......anyone up for helping me?

This is quickly becoming my favourite style of canvas making, it looks so interesting in real life, very touchy feely.




I painted the canvas with white gesso and let it dry. I stuck some random scraps of paper & fabric in the central area of the canvas. I cut a piece of grunge board big enough to cut the Tim Holtz’ On the Edge die and stuck this to the canvas too.


 Along with these I added a die cut tree, some embellishments and then gessoed over the top of them all.  Then I pushed some more gesso through a stencil to add some texture in the top right corner



I used a Sandal Dabber to add a little cream colour across the canvas then added my photograph & stuck on more embellishments around the edge of the photo. I distressed the embellishments with gesso.





It's a great way of getting rid of bits and bobs around the house and chucking them under gesso!

15 comments:

Clare with paint in her hair said...

Great minds think alike, I stuck that tree on a canvass with the intent of covering it today too! You might want to get an Austrian language teacher, it is different to German :P

Inkypinkycraft said...

wow, this is stunning, a beautiful piece, so wonderfully put together, love how you have showed what went underneath!!!
what a wonderful make and i am sure it will be treasured! trace x

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Gorgeous layout, I love using Gesso over bits and pieces and you have used the technique beautifully here. Your embellishments really showcase your image wonderfully. I really love your blog and your artwork. Tracy x

Words and Pictures said...

Glorious canvas - it looks just sensational, and yes, I'd like to reach out and touch it too! It's a really wonderful photograph too. With family connections into a similar area of the world, we could probably help out with interpreting - either letters if you need them translated, or even in Vienna if the timing was right... If you're interested, Trace has got my email if it's not on my profile (not sure about leaving it in a comment in case of trawlers!).
Alison x

505whimsygirl said...

Hi Michelle,

This is just beautiful! I love the old family photo and am sure your great uncle will love it.

I love working with gesso - so versatile. I painted some birdhouses this weekend but am not loving them.... may start over!

Hugs,
Kay

...the yorkshire fox... said...

...Michelle I loVe your creativity, the way you build your layers and the delicious tones, this superb canvas is such a wonderful idea and how amazing is that family photo from all those years ago...your Great Uncle will be totally blown away when he see's this amazing piece of art...a fantastic piece of work Michelle, well done...Melxx :)

May said...

Simply Stunning work Michelle, I adore the layers & textures.. Brilliant photograph.. This will be treasured for years to come
just Perfect... Hugs May x x x

Sandy said...

Wow Michelle this canvas is a dream.
So amazing remember and fantastic details.
Great shabby style.
Love this.

Martina said...


Your art is fantastic Michelle! What a wonderful Blog you have! I`ll be back for frequent visits for inspiration! WOW! Best to you
MARTINA

Anonymous said...

Oh my Michelle, this is gorgeous...Love your old photo and all the layers...Well done...LOVE it. S xx

hazel said...

This is stunning Michelle. I love the layers and the beautiful photo in fact I love everything about it.

Thank you for becoming my latest follower - you have a beautiful blog and I'm now your latest follower.
xxx Hazel.

Sharon said...

Really enjoyed looking at your blog your canvases are fantastic!! Look forward to seeing more of your work and congrats on the CE DT post.Very well deserved!! x

Marjie Kemper said...

I adore your canvas, Michelle... it's absolutely gorgeous! Love how you laid out all those elements and unified them with the whitewash/gesso. It's stunning!

The Archiving Angel said...

Simply gorgeous!!!

Unknown said...

Absolutley gorgeous!

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