Mon Ami Pierrot - Inspired (Loosely) by Julie Ann Lee for Paper Artsy

This week has been the turn of the sweetest Paper Artsy Guest Designer of them all, lovely Julie Ann Lee! The last couple of times it has been Julie Ann's turn I don't seem to have managed to join in so I was determined to have a go. She has the knack of looking at the world around her through an artistic eye and bringing her interpretation to us, this week in the form of a series of three canvases featuring the Green Man. She said she was worried we might be scared of masks as some people apparently are, and the Green Man can be rather gargoyle-esque, but it certainly hasn't put anyone off judging by the number of amazing challenge contributions. What a talent to be able to inspire people in that way!

Well, I love masks, bring it on, I'm not scared at all! I am scared of men with beards, but that's to do with the fireman in Trumpton! I decided to go a bit off piste and do a Pierrot mask rather than a green man, for the very simple reason that I have had my Paper Artsy Pierrot stamps for some time and haven't used them, and this seemed a good opportunity.

I ordered a couple of ceramic masks from ebay which looked like the ones Julie Ann had used, and as she said, the Frescos went on like a dream. I used a coat of Snowflake first off, then the eyes, a scull cap, and tears with Little Black Dress, and lips with London Bus. I painted a chunky 6 x 6 canvas with French Roast, then added Crackle Glaze, then a mixture of Pansy and Lilac and Eggplant. I embossed the Story of Pierrot wording in black ep (I used plates 3 and 4), and also the Pierrot image. I stamped the remaining images from the plates and gold embossed onto green Chatsworth paper. This bit I wasn't happy with, I wish I hadn't used green. I mounted these pieces onto black cardstock, including the Pierrot on the Promenade wording.

Then I mixed grungepaste with Old Gold and puff paint and smeared it through a distressed harlequin stencil as I associate harlequins with Pierrot, and sprinkled with gold ep before heating with a heat gun. I then added a bit more gold with Brass Treasure Gold and also used some round the edges.

I gave Pierrot a white ruffle using the Tim Holtz rosette die and added lots of mauve feathers as I also associated feathers with masks. Wasn't sure I liked this bit either. I then added my remaining images here and there, and some pearls as I felt it needed lifting with a bit more white.

Do have a look at Julie Ann's Green Men if you haven't all ready. I am entering this week's challenge which is here.