Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Big Mistake (WOYWW 125)

It's Wednesday when we show to the world what is on our work tables that we're working on. Julia had the fantastic idea of this weekly hop around the globe - you can find all the details on her blog, Stamping Ground.


Doesn't this canvas look awful?? I was working on it for days and then were quite happy how it turned out - until I tried to adhere the photo of Mama Owl to it that would have been the final touch. I used Modpodge which was a stupid choice in the first place because it's not strong enough for matte photo paper. When I used a brayer to flatten everything evenly, some of the Modpodge appeared on the photo - it looked awful. I tried to save it, but no such luck. So I ripped it off - of course it didn't come off completely!


The stuff to use for adhering matte photo paper is soft gel - and of course that was the one I did NOT have. So I stopped by the art supply store on my way to pick up Kaefer from school and then tried again to adhere the photo (newly printed of course!) to the canvas. Fortunately it worked this time. The last finish were those three metallic letters on the left and finally the canvas was finished. And I'm still happy with it.

47 comments:

peggy aplSEEDS said...

great piece! so glad you were able to save it.

Jennie -The Artistic Stamper said...

LOve love the canvas.. and mistakes always are rectifiable... aren't they? LOL
Happy woywwing
Jennie #2

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Ah Carola, what a happy chappy the owl must be to back in the right spot, adhered with the correct material! love the pickie and the canvas and final touches, Shaz in Oz.x

Sunshine Girl said...

Wow this is lovely - glad it worked out well for you - I am forever accidently sticking things down and then trying to remove them - I try now to leave things in place for awhile before making the final decision - kind of works for me! Thanks for sharing and have a great week.

voodoo vixen said...

Oooh I hate it when that happens... it is soul destroying ruining something at the last touch!! You have managed to save it beautifully though as you owl now looks fabulous!!

Helen said...

WOW! I love how it turned out.... what a gorgeous owl.

CRAFTY WOMBLE said...

Thank goodness it worked in the end otherwise a lovely background canvas would have been wasted. Very autumnal I am sure the owl is very pleased with it's new home

Neil said...

Great looking creative space this week. Hope the rest of the week is creative and fun for you.
Well saved! You art looks great.

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Well done for showing the failure as well the great outcome - we don't often do that, but we all have moments of Aaaaargh, WHY did I do that!! The owl is fab :)
Hugs, LLJ #43 xx

Chantal said...

very nice artwork to create

Bridget Larsen said...

OMG that owl scared me lol he is huge, lovely canvas.
Bridget #37

famfa said...

Glad you got it sorted. At least you didn't give in. Good results.

Spyder said...

ohoo I didn't see the 'mistake' at first I thought you'd done a bon-fire night canvas, but the bottom pic soon put me right, it's a lovely owl canvas.... I have just bought some 'softgel' but I think it must have been old stock, because it's solid..or is it supposed to be like that!?! Have a great week. Happy WOYWW!
(Lyn)) #46

Ann B said...

Beautiful canvas and a stunning photo of one of my favourite birds

Sarah said...

I know that one!!!! But it all turned out well and I love the colours and the image!!!
Thanks for sharing today! Sarah at 5.

Mats said...

Wonderful art! Thanks for sharing.

foxysue said...

This is so lovely, I especially like how the dark marking heart shape on the owl's face stands out.

Sue x

Julia Dunnit said...

Wow Carola! Great recovery - bet you were cross with yourself to begin with and then just desperate to get the right stuff and move on..it totally worked!

Hels Sheridan said...

aw a fab canvas... loving that owl.. and I bet you are chuffed that you managed to sort it out... isn't it a pest when things don't work like they should :O))

donnalouiserodgers said...

use the rips, it makes fantastic texture - I NEVER use modgepodge - it is the most awful stuff, matte or gloss mediums, liquid or gel - much more reliable in terms of finish and dryness once finished, love the finished piece and owl is gorgeous,

I love matte photo paper for drawing on too but not too sure if, like gloss photo paper it contains chemicals? one day i may poison myself or others, Niall has a pink fit when I start burning plastics without my mask on.

dx

Anonymous said...

Phew! Glad you were able to save the canvas!

Hugs
Brenda 84

HeARTworks said...

I like the paper you work on! One day you can use it for a project! Your owl is dramatic! Patsy from
HeARTworks

Bren Graham Thebeau said...

The end result is what counts and this is a great finished piece!

Darla said...

Glad you found the gel medium. Mod Podge has never worked for me and never seems to dry.

Your final piece is great and the fact that you've used your own photo in it makes it really special.

Darla

Shoshi said...

Before I scrolled down, and could only see the canvas and not your remarks about it, I said "Wow!" You may think it looks awful but I think it looks great - just a beautiful work in progress! I am just getting into this wonderful world of mixed media and find it extremely exciting! Happy WOYWW, Shoshi #85

The Crafty Elf said...

It was so impressive for you to show your mistake. We all make em, that's for sure! I think your finished project is just amazing and it inspires us all not to give up as better things will become of what we learn by our mistakes. Thanks for the visit and have a great week!

Marjo said...

Wow, you did a great job saving your canvas! Thanks for the peek and sharing, have a great WOYWW

xoxo Marjo

Anonymous said...

I'[m so glad it all worked out in the end. Mod Podge is horrible stuff in my opinion. It never fully dries and if you happen to lay something on what you thought was your dried piece, it sticks to it, even years later. Consequently, I have had the same thing happen to me and it's maddening. Gel medium is magical! Love your owl piece. Happy WOYWW~

Tertia said...

Turned out great in the end! I think I would have trashed it and not even tried to save it, just shows you, never give up on a work of art.
Happy WOYWW

Kyla said...

oh I hate it when things go a bit pear shaped....looks great now though.
kyla

Anne said...

Your completed canvas looks great, you must be so relieved to be able to 'save it'. Thankyou for sharing. Anne x

Robin Panzer Art said...

Well we all have those "Oh Crud" moments but you've rescued the piece beautifully! Happy WOYWW ~#105 Robin Panzer Art

Sally H said...

It is stunning. I LOVE your owl!

Kay L. Davies said...

I agree with Shoshi, it looked like a work in progress, and not awful at all.
Of course, with Mama Owl safely attached, it looked like a work of art.

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

karen said...

Oh, the first picture had me worried because I saw the gorgeous background and wondered if you would be able to save it. And yes, you certainly did! Yay!
This is a gorgeous piece! Well done you!
xoxo Karen

Tracey FK said...

Great save... even if Owls scare the you know what out of me... there is something very satisfying when you get it to work after struggling with it xx

Carin Winkelman said...

Looks great! I was thinking however (before I saw the finished piece) how cool a structure that torn paper would make to paint over. But I get the frustration of something not working out the way you want to. Glad you were able to save it.

l00pyscraftcreations said...

Oh excellent rescue!!!
its a beautiful piece hun, well worht being proud of!!

Happy Woyww
Lou #63

Maria Ontiveros said...

Wow - it is totally awesome!
I recently repurposed a canvas with a messed up picture. It felt good take something I hated and turn it in to something I liked.
Rinda

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

So glad you managed to save that canvas. The owl is stunning and sits beautifully on that lovely background.

Terrie said...

Thanks for sharing your boo boo and fix! For novices like me, it always appears that beautiful art arrives finished, effortless, and error free. It's nice to know others mess up occasionally! :) But the best part is that you were able to recover and end up with a fabulous piece!

bohemiannie! art said...

Turned out awesome. Glad you saved it!

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Ende gut, alles gut. Der Keilrahmen sieht total schön aus. Ich wusste nicht, das Modge Podge nicht das richtige Medium ist. Danke für den Hinweis.

Angie said...

That is an amazing canvas ...I will remember that about modge podge ... the end result is stunning.

Love your calendars and your German junk food looks so yummy.....I enjoyed the catch up.

Electra said...

There are no mistakes in art-and this one turned out lovely!

JoZart Designs said...

Can't find your email addy so can you email me please re our swap? I have an idea..........my email on my side bar.
Love Jo x

Franka Benjaminsen said...

That's a terrible experience and I'm afraid of such situations too. When you make the finishing touch it goes wrong. But you repaired it perfect. Well done!!! Thanks for visiting me and sorry I'm a little late. Bye, Franka