glitter art

[gargoylia.livejournal.com]

i decided to make a new glitter picture. it's extremely time consuming, and can be killer on my back, so i'm taking a break to show you guys how to do it.
hope you like it!



first... pencil out a design. i prefer using black paper, not just cuz it's my favorite color, but it's easiest to see the pencil markings.



then you need to get all the tools together. i'm using silver glitter for this piece. you also need a sharp point (i'm using a clay carver, but a needle or straight pin work too), something with a flat edge to straighten the grains (i'm using a plaque remover, which has only ever been used for glitter art... i swear!), and a dab of glue.



this is how i hold the tools.



i usually grab between 6 and 8 grains of glitter, and straighten them out in a line. any less, and the process goes too slow... any more, and they won't fit on my finger without falling off.



after the glitter is straight, pick up some glue with the needle.



take the needle to the picture... and smear some glue in a line.






go back to the glitter and pick up the line of grains. you need to moisten your finger tip just slightly, so they'll stick. i usually just "fog" them, like you do to sunglasses when cleaning them.



then voila! they stick!



take the glitter to the glue, and stick them down.



they never lay down straight, so this is where the straightener comes in handy again.






then just keep trucking along...













after i get the outline done, i'll go back and fill in each segment. i'm not sure how i'm going to do the center yet. i might just fill it completely, or try to do a design... not sure yet. but i'm sure i have a couple of months to think about it, since it will take me that long to get there.

wish me luck!