Chaffinch

Nature often provides me with inspiration, and along with my tea-tray (yes, I did say tea-tray), this art journal page pays homage to the chaffinch and its bright spring colours.

I covered the page in assorted dictionary pages and splashed on pigments from Faber-Castell Big Brush markers and Spectrum Aqua markers. It took a while to get the intensity of colour shown. The chaffinch image came from a 2016 calendar (bought cheaply in April!) and as it’s spring themed I added nest and egg rub-on transfers. The music notes are Washi Tape and the wording for the bird call was taken from my tea-tray. Outlining and highlighting elements were done with a black Uni Pin marker to make the images pop.

Here is my tea-tray which I picked up from the local Air Ambulance charity shop. It’s a RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) design and it shows all my favourite garden birds. It makes me smile every time I use it.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:

• Oxford University Press 1978 pocket dictionary
• Liquitex Matte Gel medium
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt pens (Sanguine 188, Cold Grey IV 233)
• Spectrum Aqua Artist’s Marker (Moss, Slate)
• Uni Pin Fine Line marker (Black 0.1mm)
• Ranger Archival ink  (Jet Black)
• Royal & Langnickel rub-on (Birds Nest #Roy-563)
• Hobbycraft decorative tape (Assorted Black and White)
• Dovecraft alphabet stamp set (Capital and Lower Case DCVW0050)
• The Works British Birds calendar 2016
• White tissue paper