Emma W

Hints and Tips – “Fixing” a Problem

Have you ever looked at project and thought “… hmm that’s not quite right”. Well I have and here is a hint to help you fix it

Michele Brewer, the Creative Director of Powertex UK has a saying, that if you don’t love a project it’s because it’s not finished. I’ve had this problem over the last 24hrs with my cut canvas example for our new class, I didn’t love it.

Powertex Cut Canvas - Original Colour Scheme

This is how it looked yesterday afternoon, sort of finished but not quite right. It feels a little samey, no contrast, nothing standing out. So I went back to the drawing board with it, well technically the Craft Table, and with the words of wisdom from Michele our creative director ringing in my ears, I started by added a layer of colour.

Using Turquoise pigment mixed into varnish to I added a layer of colour wash, trying to keep the muted tones, which was helped by the fact I was painting over the mahogany bister so it wouldn’t be bright as if I was painting directly on the ivory, It immediately felt better and if it was Popping. I have finished it with a dry brush coat of Rich Gold. I have ended up with a colour palette with which still soft and muted but with the necessary contrast that it needed.

Powertex Cut Canvas, alternative colour scheme

And that is the beauty of Powertex, it is not just a “Once and Done” project, I regularly give my wreaths a coat of paint to freshen them up made from pigments and varnish, as this mix is strong enough to add colour but light enough that it doesn’t fill in all of your texture.

Powertex - Cut Canvas details (Portberry Crafts)

So next time you are looking a project and you are not loving it – try adding a coat of coloured varnish or even make a spray of from pigments and the new Powerfix to make your own sprayable varnishes. More information about Powerfix coming soon.

If you are still not sure you love a project you can email me via portberrycrafts@gmail.com and we can have a chat about what you can do next. All the Powertex UK tutors want you to get the most out of Powertex and your creations and are here to help.

So which do you prefer? The original in all browns or the second version with added blues?

Emma W