Elizabeth Sanford

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ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #44: This is the cover for a piece called Family Secrets. I used a Dremel tool to modify the shape of the central hole and to make grooves in  the wood. I then  added additional texture with an X-Acto knife and stained the surface with walnut ink and diluted acrylic.  Next I glued a flat slice of walnut shell, which I cut with jeweler’s saw, to the watercolor painting in the center.

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ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #43: This was done on an upcycled vinyl banner. First I used a permanent marker to sketch the design on the unprinted back of the banner, marking all the negative shapes with an x. I then cut out all the negative areas with an X-acto knife. After I finished cutting, I painted it with a mixed acrylic bluish black.

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ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #42: This was done on Claybord, which is a wood panel coated with a smooth white clay ground. I began with thin lines of acrylic medium. After they dried, I applied multiple layers of diluted acrylic ink, sometimes tilting the panel, spraying it with water or partially blotting the wet paint with a paper towel. I also added a little spattering. Learn more about Claybord here:

http://www.dickblick.com/products/ampersand-claybord/