Family of Textures

Inspiration comes in all forms.
This particular mixed media project came from a couple sources.

First it was this photo I took of a shower curtain; yes that is what it was.

When we visited my step-daughter at her new home I admired her shower curtain in the downstairs bath. I thought at that time it would make a great subject for a mixed media art project. This weekend we are traveling back up to New England and staying with her. So I thought it was high time I acted on my inspiration.

About the same time, Shawn Petite (one of my favorite mixed media artists) posted a project using a lot of texture and grunge in very subtle earth tones. How much inspiration does one really need?

I knew I had to record it because if I don't keep practicing my video editing skills I will never get the hang of it. Recording is the easy part. Putting it all together is the challenge. The project gave me a lot of grief, it started out good, got very muddy and undefined. But then finally took shape. Looking back at the piece I can see layer upon layer of texture and "yumminess".

As I began editing each of the frames, I caught sight of an AARP card on my table. What? in EVERY frame! I wish I knew how to blur out a portion of my screen, but I don't, I tried a few options, then settled on a rectangle on the right side to block it. I use old credit cards to smooth out surfaces and move paint. But I did not want it in my video.

Alas, I will find a way to blur out portions over time. I did find editing tools for my tips, giving it background colors and different fonts. As I get more comfortable with the application, I will branch out further, but at this juncture, it takes me a long time to get what I get. Letting go of perfection..? maybe a little. The music is not perfect and I missed one tip about the modeling paste. But I did not want to go through the compile process again for something so miniscule.

Here it is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wocGIsN_bRc (Mixed Media - Family)
Enjoy!
Product List:

Fine line marker - White
Liquitex professional Matte Medium, Gloss Gel, Glass Beads, Light Modeling Paste, Gesso and Glazing medium
Ranger Archival Ink - jet black
Deco Art acrylic paints
Dreamweaver embossing paste black
Blick & Artist's Loft Soft Pastels
Charcoal Pencil - General
McCalls Dress Pattern
Drywall tape and heavy crepe paper courtesy of my Art Journal Club

Tranquility

"the quality or state of being calm and peaceful"

I have it in my life. Do you?

I decided several years ago that I did not want to be indebted to anyone for my time, my energy or my talents. I spent so much of my life "having" to do stuff, that I don't want to "have" to do anything anymore. I no longer wear a wrist watch or set an alarm (unless I need to catch a plane)

This is a large canvas I developed yesterday: 18X24. These mixed media paintings of mine often take shape over the course of several hours. Rarely is the result exactly what I imagined before beginning. In the video there is a quick view of a very large butterfly; that was supposed to be the star of the show, but it never made it. During my video-taping I stopped several times to look closely at the painting and decide where to go next before resuming. The entire process was 10 takes. Luckily for the viewer, I sped the process up by 500%. No one wants to watch paint dry.

The final video is about 20 minutes. I am happy with it. Hope you like it, you can always fast forward.


View On YouTube:
https://youtu.be/0nAS5i1TKbE
Product List:
stencils by Shawn Petite
Fine line marker - White
Liquitex professional Matte Medium, Matte Super Heavy Gel, Gesso and Glazing medium
Ranger Archival Ink - jet black
Marabu Art Spray - black
Deco Art acrylic paints
Dreamweaver embossing paste black
Blick Soft Pastels
Charcoal Pencil - General

Thanks for stopping by. Leave me a comment so I know you visited.

Unbreakable

Let's face it, now and again we all hit a few bumps in the road on this life's journey. We experience loss, hardships and many disappointments. But we pick ourselves up and get back in the game. Not broken, just bent.

This mixed media project came to me the other morning. I thought about doing an art journal page, but decided a 12x12 canvas would have so much more impact. I had intended for the heart to be a colorful mosaic, but the colors ended up being so wrong with the background. So I changed them. During the video taping, my battery died, so I did not get the final changes. But alas, the final project is there.

View On YouTube:
https://youtu.be/VoXY4MQsAws
Product List:
stencil by dylusions and Tim Holtz
Fine line marker - White
Liquitex professional Matte Medium, Gesso and Glazing medium
Ranger Archival Ink - jet black
Daler Rowney Acrylic Ink - sepia
Deco Art acrylic paints
Dreamweaver embossing paste translucent
Blick Soft Pastels

Thanks for stopping by. Leave me a comment so I know you visited.