Tuesday 11 January 2011

A Kinda-sorta Self-portrait (ish)

I had so much fun making the tag for yesterdays Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge, that I decided to revisit and rework it as a sort of self portrait.

I started out my taking a photo of my hand holding an ink blending tool, and converting it to a black and white pencil sketch in my graphics software. I then printed it out on white card, which I cut down to make a white tag with my hand in one corner. I printed again onto thin paper, and cut the hand out to use as a mask.

I masked off the hand and stamped "Head" by Stampotique (their name for this boy stamp). I also stamped the filmstrip down the side in two sections, first masking off the area where the trail from the ink blending tool was to go.

Next, I masked off the hand, boy and filmstrip and stamped the backgrounds. A bit of Promarkery magic, and bob's yer uncle :) Finally I applied some walnut stain around the edges and put some acetate filmstrip ribbon over the stamped filmstrip sections.

I had a lot of fun doing this :) If you're wondering which is the self-portrait part, the hand or the chubby boy with the enormous head, keep your wonderings to yourself! LOL As ever, click on the image to see a larger view :)

30 comments :

Julian said...

This is stunning - I love the way you've combined elements with quite different aesthetics (the little figure, the photographic hand, the film strip, etc) into a totally coherent composition. So many great things about this piece, I just don't know where to start. Bravo! You are amazing.

Hels Sheridan said...

Corrrr Dan, this is FAB~ULOUS!!!! Loving your masking... and the hand idea... brrrrilliant!!! I think the self portrait is obviously the boy.. I have seen you wearing that jumper ROFL x

misteejay said...

I love this - it is so clever and the effect is fab.

Toni :o)

Laura said...

Fantastic Dan. Loving this. Great techniques you have used!

Andrea said...

Dan I will not comment on which bit is the self portrait :-) but this tag is unbelievable, just brilliant on your part, what a great mind full of ideas that just never ceases to fail us, as you can tell I just think this is amazing artwork x

Nancy Wethington said...

Fabulosity at its finest! This rocks!

Netty said...

I love the way you come up with so many unique craftings. Totally inspirational. Annette

Minxy said...

He he, looks just like you :op Love what you've done with this one, especially the ink tool and splash of colour, very clever :D

Scrappy~Sarah said...

great tag there, like the use of the pencil sketch hand. Keep forgetting to use my graphics package to make some different pictures.

Sarah said...

VERY clever, you clever clever-person you

ScrappyDandyDoo said...

Hahahahah thats amazing and very clever Dan :D
Love it!!!
Julie xx

Sid said...

Nice tag Dan !

Kit said...

this is really great, just love it!

Karen leonard said...

Cute !! Karen

Elaina said...

Tim Holtz move over. This is really inovative and clever. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Claire said...

that is fantastic Dan.
C
xx

Deb (dcorder) said...

Love this grungy self-portrait!

salamanda said...

Your use of layers is brilliant. Daft question but do you always plan out your art first? No matter what I have in my head it always ends up differently. If you don't mind I am going to have a go at this kind of masking technique.

Lynne Forsythe said...

Sitting here shaking my head in AMAZEMENT!! Truly a GRAPHIC wonder!

Glen said...

LOL at your comment Dan. I don't see any resemblance AT ALL! However, I do see 'Dan the craft man'! Lovely tag, as always - even though I don't like those ugly Stampotique creatures. They should be left for Halloween! *Ü* TFS. ~Glen~

Katie said...

I love this one!

I know which bit is you!!!!

Hazel said...

Love your little peeping Dan

fatmonica said...

Fabulous.I love the way all the elements come together as a whole.

KimberlyO said...

Wow! This is an incredible piece of artwork. :) This tag reminds me of watching some of your videos. Excellent job, Dan!

Jules said...

Wow Dan, this is amazing, I love it!

Sue in CT said...

I never ever thought of that....turning it into a sketch to use. Wonderful!!! I love your self portrait...LOL. (Going to try some of it too.) That film strip is awesome. Everything about it is awesome. Thanks for showing it and how you did it. (I need to spend a lot more time on your blog as all your things are wonderful.)

Bonnie said...

Your tag is amazing and I love the blinkie!

JaneH said...

Love the uniqueness of this, Dan! I've never seen this done before, so it's very creative. I especially like the 'softness' (for lack of a better word) the images and colours. Really, really like it.

Lori said...

Love this Dan!

Kris said...

Very cool :)

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