Blank Canvas Blog Hop

9/12/2014

Today we have three of us posting our methods for conquering the blankness of an empty page. I'm one of those people who likes to be intentional in my art, but often times I struggle to think of where to begin. One of the things I do is keep an arsenal of techniques in my mind so that I can always have one or two ways to begin. My absolute favorite technique includes masking tape and the least expensive ink pads you can find. That's how I started this piece.

STEP 1: I picked my paper.

Watercolor paper from a pad.

I like to use paper that can take a lot of supplies and experimentation.

STEP 2: Gather masking tape.

Steps 3 - 5: tape down the page to create a straight edge, rip pieces of tape and place randomly around the page.

Steps 6 - 8: Rub two or three ink pads across the surface to saturate the page with color.

Steps 9 and 10: peel the bits of tape to reveal the lighter color patterns

As an added bonus and to prep another blank page, I like to take the bits of tape and lay them down on a blank page in my art journal. This conquers the blank page and helps me have a start the next time I'm experiencing a creative lull.

Later I use this same page to clean off my brushes from the paints and inks I use to complete the page.

Here's how the page progresses: CLICK THE FIRST IMAGE THEN SCROLL THROUGH TO SEE THE STEPS (descriptions are at the bottom of each image).

The finished piece -- I'm calling it Frantic Poppy Sunrise...

Want to be entered into a give-a-way for a $25 Visa Gift Card? Here's how:
1. Sign up for my newsletter if you haven't already.

2. Follow me on Twitter AND tweet the link to this blog posting -- make sure you use the hashtag #TheBlankCanvasHop

3. Leave a comment below telling us how you conquer the blank page/canvas, etc.

**Do all three to increase your chances. Closes on September 23rd.

When you're done here, check out Tori and Karen -- they are joining me today for Friday Frenzy. The rest of the hop continues tomorrow. See the full list here>>>

42 Comments

Carolyn

9/11/2014 10:13:08 pm

How creative! I swear, masking tape has 1001 uses! I usually flip through a magazine or a newspaper. A scene, a color, a place...something usually gets me headed straight for the sketchbook.

Kiala link

9/14/2014 02:47:42 am

Yes Carolyn -- a color and a place -- those are excellent ways to get ideas and move past any blocks you might be having. I'm a fan of watching YouTube and Ustream videos of my favorite art journalers -- that usually gives me tons of inspiration.

Martin Arkenstone link

9/12/2014 12:16:08 am

I love this process with masking tape.Did you ever try this with liquid latex?

9/14/2014 02:48:53 am

Thanks Martin!! I've not heard of liquid latex. Is it like masking fluid? Will have to try it.

ArtistKaren link

9/12/2014 03:07:14 am

Kiala, this was so much fun! You make it look so simple and then it turns out so wonderful! Makes me want to come over and play with you ;0)
xo Karen

9/14/2014 03:01:15 am

Karen I would LOVE to make art with you. We should work to make that happen soon -- me in NYC with you sounds like a grand idea :-).

Karen Friedland link

9/14/2014 08:43:44 am

Yay, Kiala! Yes, come to NY! I have lots of room for you stay, we'd have a ball!

BTW, you can buy sticky backed craft foam. I cut it up, put sticky on sticky and then you put talcum powder on it. That way the exposed parts are no longer sticky and they are very durable. I throw mine in a bucket of water until I'm ready to clean them & none have fallen apart yet!

Carol Pettiford-Jones link

9/12/2014 10:16:32 am

I don't do Twitter, so I am leaving a comment. I just subscribed with you about a month ago. I have been elated over all of the good, precise, and professional information and book art you bring to your youtube.

9/14/2014 03:02:58 am

Carol!!! Thanks for dropping by and getting your name in the give-a-way. I'm so happy to have you on board and look forward to seeing what lovely creations you are sharing with the world. Stop back by the blog on the 20th to enter for another chance to win a great prize.

Cynthia Patton link

9/12/2014 10:59:57 am

Wow! You make this look so simple, Kiala. I will never look at masking tape the same way again....

9/14/2014 03:03:56 am

Cynthia!!! Thanks for dropping by. Masking tape is a gift to my art so I have way too much of it around here and find neat ways to use it all the time.

Rita McGregor link

9/12/2014 02:31:38 pm

Doing some kind of background gets me started. I like your masking tape idea! Also like your deck as inspiration, too. :)

9/14/2014 03:05:41 am

Yes Rita -- I hear you on the backgrounds. I'll talk about it more on the 20th, but I totally see the blank page as an invitation and that makes it all the more splendid when I can fill it with color and goodness. I'll be using the deck on the 20th as well -- but you probably already guessed that :-). Thanks for always sharing with me Rita. Glad to be in community with you.

Lorrie T link

9/12/2014 03:41:46 pm

I like to look through my supplies and see what strikes my fancy. I never know what will inspire. I love the spontaneity that comes from a blank page!

9/14/2014 03:07:18 am

My dearest Lorrie!!! I was hoping I'd see you here. Make sure you check back on the 20th. I have a set of custom made rubber stamps that I'll be using in my art making that day :-) Can't wait to share that with the world.

Lucy Schmidt

9/12/2014 04:31:01 pm

I don't do the Tweeting thing, but do subscribe and enjoy your techniques and processes. I originally found you through your BIAD series and am still working my way through those videos & posts. I feel like I could pull this off -- I'm good at tearing things and scribbling! ;-)

9/14/2014 03:08:47 am

LOL Lucy -- tearing and scribbling -- that's all you need and you can create a lovely work of creativity. Thanks for following along with the videos. So excited about that. Let me know if you are making books -- love to see them.

Nicole Piar link

9/13/2014 01:31:19 am

I love how you make use of every aspect of this technique. Creating art is often about problem-solving and giving yoursef a limitation like starting with a particular technique can actually get the creativity flowing. thanks for sharing Kiala!

9/14/2014 03:10:06 am

Nicole -- thanks for dropping by -- I'm totally a technique junkie. I like trying new techniques, but I also have a lot of techniques that are my tried and true and never fail to help me get started.

Kimberley McGill link

9/13/2014 04:02:54 am

Lovely work! I find inspiration to start on a blank canvas by browsing color palletes. I have a bunch saved with the Chip It plugin that allows me to create a color paletter from any image I find on line.

9/14/2014 03:11:35 am

Kimberley, what's your favorite place to browse color palettes? I like Pinterest. OOOOH that Chip it plugin sounds fun. I'll have to take a look. You might have started something here :-). Thanks for sharing.

jan blount link

9/13/2014 06:22:30 am

This was great Kiala. It was really fun being able to follow along "almsot slide show fashion." Loved your idea for making an easy stamp...going to try that later with just some scraps. I keep thinking I need to carve them. And the painting...fun....poppies always make me smile.

9/14/2014 03:14:49 am

Jan!! Thanks for dropping in. I'm a huge fan of the craft foam stamps. I have sooo many of them that I've made it's kind of insane. I like carving too, but the craft foam is so easy and flexible. Yay for poppies -- they were the first flowers I learned to draw two different ways.

Jane Christensen link

9/13/2014 10:31:10 am

While looking thru a magazine I saw a colour combination swatch and used it to get started

9/14/2014 03:15:38 am

Yes Jane!! Perfect. I love finding color to start with in mags. It's rather wonderful.. Thanks for dropping by.

Carla

9/14/2014 05:54:55 am

I am so fascinated by your BIAD series that I have to limit myself or I would not get ANYTHING else done! So much fun to watch you create your books. I must stop and work on a commissioned picture BUT I CAN'T STOP MAKING BOOKS! Yee gads!

9/25/2014 06:58:09 am

YAAAAY Carla,
So excited to hear that you are making books and I totally understand -- once you start, it's hard to stop. Seriously -- really hard. :-)

Lezette link

9/14/2014 09:48:17 am

I love you use of masking tape. Thanks for sharing your process. It's a beautiful piece. - Cheers

9/25/2014 07:13:53 am

Lezette, thanks for stopping in. I can't get enough of the masking tape :-).

Grace link

9/16/2014 07:23:00 pm

I absolutely love how this turned out Kiala! Cool idea about getting a 2nd piece from it using the painted bits of tape on a separate page. Thanks for sharing this technique!

9/25/2014 07:10:27 am

Grace thanks for the note. Yes I have a hard time throwing things away, so I have lots of backgrounds that start with tape as the first layer. :-)

Trista

9/17/2014 05:11:29 am

How very clever! I will definitely have to try this. I like the idea of stamping ink on the canvas first. It really does get rid of the blank canvas. Thanks!!

9/25/2014 07:13:01 am

thanks for stopping by Trista -- yes get rid of that blank canvas

Virginia link

9/18/2014 11:20:09 am

Nice post! And I keep forgetting to use tape for masking! And was that a Scotch tape cartridge there you were using to make the circles? Fun!

9/25/2014 06:51:46 am

Yes!!! It was the inside of the scotch tape roll left over after it's all done. LOVE it. Makes great little double circles.

Fiona link

9/18/2014 06:05:21 pm

To start of on a blank page in my art journal (after gesso-ing) I either lay down some paint, or start off with some collage. It usually depends on what I did on my last spread - if I painted, I'll collage, and vice versa. I LOVE the masking tape idea. As a newbie to painting in an art journal, I'm trying to get away from more traditional art and also from my innate perfectionism (and it's so hard to do), so any new (to me) techniques are very welcome. I'll definitely be trying this masking tape technique on my next spread. Tfs, Kiala. Hugs from Spain xox

9/25/2014 07:08:38 am

Fiona!!! Switching it up is a great way to keep your creativity flowing and moving and growing. And I totally understand you with the perfectionistic tendencies -- I'm right there too. Yay for giving the masking tape a try. Hope you're having a lovely week in Spain!!

KimG

9/21/2014 01:20:53 am

I've been stuck on the paint scraping technique. Thanks for showing other ideas.

9/25/2014 07:03:40 am

LOL, KimG -- I get stuck on the paint scraping technique too because I love it so much. It's rather meditative. AND I really like the results of it. I've done an entire journal where that is how I started each page and then layered it from there. TOO MUCH FUN.

Darlene Campbell link

9/21/2014 03:06:09 pm

Excited about using stamp pads to spread color on the page. Very happy to have a chance to win the gift card. Thanks. I don't have trouble starting a new sketchbook as I LOVE the idea of all of those white pages to be filled. I like the challenge of it!