Siren of the Sea ATC

I like Artist Trading Cards (ATC) because they are small (2.5 x 3.5 inches) which means that they work up more quickly than a standard card. Since there isn't a lot of room to work with, it is best not to clutter it up with a lot of busy-ness. This provides the perfect canvas for me to try out new ideas and techniques without investing a lot of materials in the process. In spite of the fact that I like ATC's so much, it has been a year since I've made one, so busy have I been with a hundred and one other things.

It was a real treat to make this one because I was working on a new idea. I wanted to continue exploring the interplay of light and shadow that I had begun several months ago when I created my Night Flight series of cards using supplies I had gotten from the CHA Crafts Supershow in Illinois last summer. I have always liked the way light filters through deep water, particularly the way it illuminates a small section of the water while everything else is shadowy and murky. I wanted to try my hand at creating the suggestion of light rays shining through water and the shadows beyond the light's reach. This ATC was my second attempt and although I'm still not satisfied with the way the mermaid looks, I like the overall effect enough that I'll keep working at this until I get something I really like.

Working on a base of pale green card stock with slight variations in color saturation, I sponged various inks to create the gradations of color in the background. The rays were achieved with masking and sponging. The masking technique was also used on the mermaid to prevent her from being contaminated with background ink. The image was colored with a variety of media: colored pencils, inks and markers. Cutting the left edge of the image into a curve was a last minute decision as was placing the image to the right. The original design was all straight edges and left aligned. I like this much better. The gold embellishments are carefully and strategically placed stickers.

Mermaid stamp: "Sea Siren" - Faerie Song Art Rubber Stamps
Seaweed stamp: Me and Carrie Lou Stamps
Background paper: Enchanted Complements Moonlight Lime - The Crafter's Workshop
Base card: "Navy" - Cardstock Warehouse
Stickers: Starforms Outline Stickers



Ballo ergo sum
- Gitana, the Creative Diva
Design team member for About Art Accents