I Caught A Fairy!!

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Hello to all... Tamiko here.  There has always been something about fairies.  Something magical.  Something that makes you want to go on a hunt for one when you're in plush grasslands or possible fairy dwellings.  I was one of those kids that said,"If I ever found a fairy.. I would find a jar & put her in it!  Polk a few holes in the lid of course and keep her as my magical friend forever! Or until my mother found out! (HA HA & smiles)"  So of course I never told when I looked for fairies.  Put out crushed food in lids from jars out for them.  Nope, that was my secret! Now it's OURs!!


It's hard to draw sometimes and it's even harder to learn when directions don't make logical sense to you. :)  Sometimes we have to different approaches to get the same results and sometimes just knowing there is another way to achieve it puts a little sparkle back in us and allows us to be open to other methods.  The last time Sandee was here, she helped you discover a new method on how to recreate your fairy here.  This week.. I would also like to do it again!  Let's begin!

So many of us are afraid to try to draw fairies because it requires us to draw people and we haven't all acquired that skill so easily yet.  I practice all the time and not just fairies just drawing in general. 

 I went through stash and found my jar book.. and decided to break it up and use it as individual panels.
 I took some news paper bits and matte medium and adhered the paper bits to the board.  I did it in a patchwork way because I plan for it to add a little hint background texture to my finished piece.  I also chose matte medium over decoupage because in my experience it layers better when you plan to use gesso.
  I then took an image I liked from a magazine and adhered her on top of the layered bits of paper.. again with matte medium.  You can even grab images from your home photos, just make a color copy of them so you don't ruin the photo.
 Then I took my gesso and you want it a lil' translucent.  So I added a little water to mine.  It's normal consistency would have kindly covered that image right up!  I wanted the tooth which provides a little grip for my next layer.
 I covered the image too.  I can still see her enough to grab the parts of her I need to make my fairy come to life though.
 Took my Sakura Indenti Pen and traced her.  The ink dries pretty fast and writes over the *dry* gesso fine.



I took my gelatos and I dipped each one in water before I used them on the surface.  Then I used my finger to move it around. I repeated this process for each color applied and used a clean finger each time. (I just dipped the finger in same water and wiped off on a paper towel I was holding nearby).  Every fairy needs wings, so I cut more bits of paper and stuck them right where they needed to go.  Then I began to use my gelatos to color her body and clothes.  I doodled and colored her wings in.


Here comes my finished piece.. :)

I took my big brush Pitt Pitt and added details to the wings.  They glide smoothly over pretty much anything because they are made with india ink.  Don't forget to let them dry, they have smudge- ability. which can be wonderful or a terrible thing.. (smile)  I am so glad I have had the opportunity to work with Sandee and the Moonlit Dreams mixed media kit and YOU lovely FD followers. It has indeed challenged me teach myself to demonstrate and ask questions differently.  There are many ways to get things done.. it's up to us.. to just figure out.. which way is easiest for us to learn and maybe then we can be open to incorporate other ways as well.  I hope this was as fun for you as it was for me and as always.. have a wonderful rest of your week!!

Thanks for stopping by... :)






15 Comments »

15 Responses to “I Caught A Fairy!!”

Unknown said...

I love it Tamiko. The colors just pop off the page. Love how you transformed a picture from a magazine and turned it into a fairy. Great job. I just received my kit today so I can't wait to start practicing drawing fairies.

Sandy said...
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Sandy said...

I love how you transformed the picture from the magazine and made it a fairy. You really did capture her in the jar for you to keep forever how awesome.
Sandy :)

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

This is amazing!!!!!

Melissa said...

Love how you took an idea and made it work for you! I really think that is what creating is all about!

Granny Korner Craftingwithartgrandma said...

What a cute design. Love it.

Byrd Street Studio said...

Wow, I keep looking at this thinking it would make the cutest pin in miniature. How cool is it that you made a fairy out of a magazine picture????.This jogged my memory off how we used to catch lightening bugs in a jar and I used to pretend they were Tinkerbell and her friends. I had all but forgotten that in my childhood. Gorgeous piece!

Martice Smith said...

So fun to watch you transform a magazine image into a beautiful little fairy! She looks so happy to be caught by you :)

Unknown said...

Just look at you.. Your piece is adorable.... Love it.. Love the inspiration for your piece as well. Think I have looked for a few fairies as well. Love what you do Tamiko and love that you share so freely..

SandeeNC said...

I just LOVE this, it's so cute and your secret is safe with me!

Megan Smith (aka Daisymeh) said...

Wow! What a cool idea! Totally love how it turned out!

Rachelle Olaridge said...

Fabulous Tamiko! Fantastic technique and project are just amazing! WTG!!!!

Classygirl said...

Nicely done. Thanks for sharing the steps. Love seeing how the magazine image became more of a drawn image.

Athanasia said...

I love this idea, great project Tamiko!

Isbaha said...

This is so interesting! Love the result.