Oily Cicada {an Altered Canvas by Riikka}

Today we're welcoming back RIIKKA with this beauty:

Riikka says "When I first saw this cicada bug chipboard, I fell in love. The shape is so captivating! So when I started to think what I should create for my guest post, I immediately thought about the bug and wanted to do a canvas using it. In my mind I saw the bug having black, oil-like surface that would shimmer in the colors of the rainbow on a surface of ephemera.

I painted the cicada bug first with black Plain Jane mist and let it dry. On top of the black coat I then misted bright Glimmer Mist colors knowing that only their colorful shimmer would show in the bug because of the black. I also wanted the shape to have a glossy, slightly crackled surface, but was all out of crackle paint. So I embossed the bug twice with embossing powder and while the second coat was still hot, I pressed my crackle stamp on it creating a subtle crackle effect. The surface looks almost like crocodile skin!

For the background I used various ephemera and leftover alphas together with a few arrow shapes form UmWowStudio. I glued them to a canvas base using regular glue and then spread gesso all over. After the gesso had dried I used Glimmer Mists to color the surface in blues and greens. I also added touches of black and white mist. Lastly I added some splashes of mist and pencil doodling to the background and mounted the cicada using a decorative needle.

I'm so honored to have a chance to guest design for UmWowStudio! Thank you for the opportunity!"


RIIKKA.. thank YOU! This piece is amazing and I'M the honored one -- I get to share your beautiful work using our products! Stay tuned for one more post this month from Riikka in CARD form :). Please leave her some love and let her know how much we appreciate her work!