birch tree yarn pull art

Cover your work surface with a disposable covering.

Begin by mixing the paint with the pouring medium by pouring the paint into a plastic cup and then adding in the pouring medium. The mixing ratio is 1-part paint to 2-parts pouring medium, or approximately 30 ml paint to 60 ml pouring medium for use on a 9" x 12" [22.8 cm x 30.4 cm] canvas. Do this for each colour of Prussian Blue, Light Blue Permanent and Titanium White. Stir with a craft stick until the mixture is well blended.

Start with the Prussian Blue mixture and scoop a small amount of the mixture from the plastic cup with a craft stick and put on the canvas. Then with the flat brush, cover the canvas evenly with the paint mixture. Next, using Light Blue Permanent mixture, dab a line of it along the top, middle and bottom of the canvas with the craft stick. Now blend these lines into the base coat with the flat brush using gentle left and right strokes over the canvas.

Cut a strand of yarn that is about 4" [10.1 cm] longer than the height of the canvas. Then using the Titanium White mixture, scoop out some with the craft stick and make a vertical line of the mixture on the table covering next to the canvas. The line of white mixture should be about the same length as the height of the canvas. Holding each end of the yarn, begin to dip it in the line of the white mixture. If needed, use the craft stick to gently push the yarn down into the mixture to coat it evenly.

Starting from one side of the canvas and holding the yarn taut, place the yarn down on the surface, apply even pressure and begin to drag it from left to right to create the trunk of the first tree. Be sure to apply even pressure at the top and bottom of the canvas to have the white paint create an even pattern. If needed, dip the yarn back into the white mixture to create your second tree. Repeat as many times as desired.

Creating the snow splatter can be done several ways. Dipping the yarn back into the white paint mixture and holding it over the canvas, and then gently tugging the yarn in opposite directions which will create a snapping effect. As the yarn snaps from loose to taut, the paint will splatter onto the canvas. Another way is to dip the flat brush into the white mixture, then holding it over the canvas, use your finger to flick and stroke the bristles, which will splatter the paint.

Dip the end of a palette knife into the white mixture, making sure the side edge is covered. Then with the side edge of the knife, with a carving motion, begin to create the branches by moving outward from the trunk and then upwards. This gentle carving motion will also pull some of the underlying blue colours from the background. This step can also be performed by substituting the knife with plastic card, like an old membership card. Repeat as many times as desired.

Once complete, allow to dry for 24 hours.

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