This is another beautiful post from artist Tracy Hickman aka @anonymous.palette on Instagram.
“Day of the Dead and DEAD of the Day” These pages were so fun to make. Totems of sorts started by collating vintage tickets and ration stamps on a white gesso background over altered book pages. I collaged two tea bags on top of these elements to soften the colors and get some grungy business going. I next used the Thatched Repeat Pattern Stencil (11″x11″) in a cascading vertical layout and sprayed Distress Oxide Spray from Ranger through the cutouts. After heat setting, I used a little bit of white gesso to feather in and create a cascading pattern.
I next used Y Repeat Pattern Stencil (8.5″x11″) and sponged white gesso through in another cascading V shape starting at the top. This Sugar Skull, Sugar Skull – 2 Layer, I turned it upside down and spread Ranger Texture Crackle Paste through with a palette knife. An important stop using this crackle paste is to let it dry naturally. I then used a series of distress oxide sprays From Ranger (cracked pistachio, fired brick, and mermaid lagoon) to color and highlight the cracks in the sugar skull. I placed that same stencil back on top and sprayed white Sugar spray paint from Ironlak so the pattern could jump out. I next painted a spray ink from Lindy’s Gang, black orchid silver, Is the background of the skull to contrast the features.
Two skulls needed two skeletons so I spread Modeling Paste from Golden through the Skeleton Stencil -Small (5.75″x6″) onto a thick black matte paper. Small pair of scissors cut these perfectly detailed skeletons out and they were a collage and to the sugar skulls.
I used two teabags with vintage stamps, (a trick or treat bag on the left and a noose for the hangman on the right 😉
I reinforced the layering and contrast at the top of the pages with a few stamps from Seth Apter and PaperArtsy (EM54 and a small circle grid stamp) and embossed using clear embossing ink from WOW! And Baked Texture Powders from Seth Apter in Eclipse and Sedona.
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