How I Choose between Light & Regular Modeling Pastes

I love using all different kinds of pastes for my art. It adds dimension and texture. There are many different texture pastes out there but I generally always use two.  TCW's Light & Fluffy and Regular Modeling Pastes. They are quite different from each other. 

How I choose? I ask myself do I a solid or porous paste. To understand, please read I've explained their differences below:

TCW9004 Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste dries porous. It's full of tiny holes that hold color. I like to use it when I want saturated color because it all soaks into the paste. When it's dry, I use either a paint brush or a spray of water to re-wet the surface to add color. Too much water or paint it will lose the stencil shape. It turns into mush.

TCW9004 Modeling Paste dries solid. The paint, unless you mix it in the paste, will stay on the top of the paste. It doesn't soak into the paste. I love to use this when I'm using lots of paint. When it's dried completely it stays solid and doesn't lose its shape when you add lots of paint.

Here is a TCW Design Project where I used both pastes. The tree (TCW866 Cypress Tree) I used Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste but the landscrape in the scene is Modeling Paste. I wanted to use Light & Fluffy on the tree because I wanted saturated color. 

Do you use modeling pastes in your art? What is your favorite one to use? I would like to know.

If you want to see how I created this piece, head over to The Crafters Workshop blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Make It Artsy - The No See-Ums Get You Every Time!!!!

I still can't believe it but I filmed two segments for Make It Artsy. I did it!!!! For those who do not know it's an arts and crafts show hosted by Julie Fei Fan Balzer of Balzer Designs which appears on TV with your local PBS channel, online MakeItArtsy.com , and YouTube.  You can also find them on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

As soon as I received the email I had to read it twice. I first thought they had wrong person but my name was right there. I was excited, shocked and petrified. I've never even taught a class before so how could I even do something on TV?  Something inside me said YES go for it and I did.

Doing things out of your comfort is a scary thing for everyone. It's the no see-ums that are scary. All my thoughts running rampant in my head wondering what was going to happen really screwed me for sure.

This is what the studio looks like. All those cameras, lights and no see-ums was a little overwhelming.  After I filmed my first segment I realized that my no see-ums in my head were pretty much nonexistent.  Everyone in the studio was so friendly and welcoming. Julie...she's so good. When I couldn't come up with a word she was right there continuing the conversation so it made it easier for me to keep going without looking like an idiot. LOL 

 

 

The best part were these wonderful artists. They are so down to earth, friendly, so nice and really helped me to stay as calm as I could be.  They have appeared in the show before so it was nice to hear their feedback and tips.

 

Seth Apter

 

 

 

Cat Kerr and Joe Rotella   (I close my eyes when I'm nervous. I need to practice!!!)

 

 

I was so nervous I hardly took any pictures. Thank you to Seth for taking this one which was my first segment I filmed. Yes, my eyes are closed. They are probably closed in all the pictures.

 

 



My second segment went so much better. I was more relaxed and having a little more fun. I'm not sure I want to see myself . I will keep you posted on the date it will air.

Overall it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be and it was a great experience. All those thoughts in my head never came to be. I'm hoping the next situation outside my comfort zone I'll think about this day and realize those no see-ums just don't exist.

Have you done something outside your comfort zone? Inquiring minds want to know!

Thank you for stopping by! I truly appreciate it.

 

How I use My Mother's Painting for My Art

My mother was an artist, my parents died in 2004, and she loved nature especially birds. She worked near a river and during lunch she would take pictures of birds to use in her art or just sit and sketch. During one art show someone tripped and knocked off a couple of her paintings. It was raining that day so they were water damaged. One painting was a swan family. She waited patiently every day at lunch to take pictures to create the painting. Since she couldn't sell it because of the damage, she gave it to me (being reframed now).

I love the painting and I've taken pictures of the parts of the painting to use in my art. I've created many pieces that I love and can't give away.

This is another piece of art that I created with her swans a few months ago. It was created on two round wood ornaments. I have decided how I'm going to display them.  I'm thinking of using wire to keep the two pieces together and then display them in a shadow box that I can hang on the wall.

 

I used many die cut pieces and rub-ons. I also used TCW stencils (no surprise there). I used TCW737 Love Sonnet and TCW785 Ornate Borders.  The swans were printed on Matte Photo Paper.  There are actually 5 or 6 baby swans (cygnets). She called this painting The Ugly Duckling. All the cygnets were white except for one which was brown and gray.

 

I couldn't decide whether I wanted to have a daytime or nighttime sky or clouds or sun so I put it all on this piece.  This piece made me realize how much I love collage.  

 

 

 

As soon as I get it back from being re-framed I'll add a picture to this post. My photograph is only part of it so you can't see the whole thing.

 

The pieces I create with her art is like having her right with me. She's my biggest fan next to my daughter. Growing up with my parents reading fairy tales to us this one became very special when she named it The Ugly Duckling. That story is one of my favorites.

 

Have you used something special from your loved ones to create a piece of art?

Inquiring minds would like to know!

 

Thank so much for stopping by! 

 

 

on my mind, out of my mind, oh no my mind

Welcome to another post when I'm feeling out of my mind. I have a hard time transitioning to fall. I love summer even the hot and humid days. The only thing I do like are the colorful leaves. They are just starting to show themselves.

I work for a tax accountant and I start prepping for that horrid tax season in November. I think that's why I have so much anxiety for fall. I'll be busy from November through to April 15th. Also, I hate the cold.

In the fall my art is sort of a mess. I look at it and wonder where my head is at. So out of my mind is correct. To keep my mind focused I work like to work in mixed media collage. It keeps my mind and hands busy with little pieces of paper trying to make it work. I don't know why it's calming for me but it works.

This piece is called Many Moons. Here is a picture of my auditioned papers. I spend quite a lot of time auditioning pieces and sometimes they just don't work and I'm diving into my box of scraps looking for something else.

The long strips are dried wet wipes. I keep them and use them in collage all the time. I have quite a stack.  Some are a form of polyester plastic so I figure with gel medium they will last quite while and not disintegrate.

Here is the finished piece. Its hard to photograph because of all the metallic on it. What you think is white is silver.  I also added Seth Apter's Cling Rubber Stamps by Impression Obsession called Border Lines.  I'm obsessed with this stamp!

Another thing I've been doing to keep my mind focus is color. Every time I use a stencil I spray it with water and put it down on paper. I keep going on one piece of paper until I like the way it looks. When it's all dry I put it away to use another day.  Fall is here so now I'm pulling them out and coloring them in with watercolors. I'm not a fan of watercolors so in an effort to change my mind about them I try to use them.

Fall makes me feel like I have to squirrel away all my nuts for the winter and get everything in order so working on collage and coloring in a page like a coloring book keeps my mind at peace. Well, maybe for a short time!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

TCW Gel Medium Gloss - When it Dries You Can See Right Through IT!

Hi Everyone.
Today I have a small Feather Abstract to show you. It's 5"x7" and I even have a few step out pictures.  I'm creating a Semi-Transparent Journal and this is a piece of that plastic I'm using.

I started out by using a brayer and adding paint to the background.  While the paint was wet I put a stencil on top and wiped away the paint. Sorry I don't remember which stencil I used. It was from The Crafters Workshop.

The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with stencils and mediums to create this project.

The opinions I share are solely my own because I do love to use them.

 

Then I added a stamp to the background with Archival Ink. The stamp is an old unmounted stamp and I do not know where it came from.

 

 

Here is where the fun happens. I added the feathers from TCW389 Fancy Feathers with TCW Gel Medium Gloss.  As you can see its white while its wet.

 

 

 BUT when it dries it's crystal clear.  I added some titanium white Golden High Flow Acrylic around the leaves.

 

 

 

Here is the finished piece.  I'm in love and will be making more of these.

 

 

I hope you try some TCW Gloss Gel Medium. It's so much fun to work with. Can you imagine all the possibilities?

Thank you so much for stopping by!

A Beautiful Bouquet

Today I'm sharing a Design Team project for The Crafters Workshop. August 1 starts with the new design team and new stencils.  Make you check out all the TCW new team and their creations!

I created an easy piece of art using TCW823 Rose Bouquet and TCW Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste.

The best part about TCW's Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste is that you can let it dry, add water with a brush and add a touch of paint and it will spread through the paste. I usually use high flow acrylics or add water to paint for this technique. I wouldn't wait a few days to do it. I've found the longer it sits it no longer reacts with water very well.

You can see the whole tutorial HERE.

The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with stencils and mediums to create this project.

The opinions I share are solely my own because I do love to use them.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Don't forget to head over the The Crafters Workshop Blog to check out what the rest of the Design Team created!

Where do you find a PINK OCTOPUS?

I found one here on my tag. Couldn't resist creating one with an unusual color. Who knows maybe there are pink ones in this world!!!

 

The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with stencils and mediums to create this project.

The opinions I share are solely my own because I do love to use them.

 

 

To create it I used TCW781s Scrollwork on the background. I love to roll on the color with a brayer, take off the color through the stencil with a baby wipe, dry it, and then add more color and more wiping. Just layer upon layer.

 

Next I added the Octopus (TCW607s) and while I was waiting for it to try I added TCW568s Moving Vines.  When everything dried I painted it.  

 

That's it. Pretty simple and colorful. This one is going to my art sister Sherie!!!

 

Thank you so much for stopping by!

 

A New Collage: Mellow Yellow

I love collage. I like going through all the bits and pieces of paper I've saved. There are times where I just dump out my scrap drawer and find pieces for collages. I put them in separate envelopes so I can use them in the future. Sometimes I just dump them right back in the drawer because I don't like the combination anymore.

This collage I decided to create a background using white and yellow acrylic paints and a stencil called Tuscan Floral by The Crafters Workshop. My collages usually have lots of negative space but this time I didn't want to leave the background all white.

 

Next I took my pieces and auditioned them to decide where I wanted them. The yellow flower is actually the bottom of a water bottle. I tried to use it to create some stamped flowers but it didn't work that way I had hoped.  The blue and yellow papers are scrapbook paper, dry wall tape (holes), and two other pieces of scrap paper.

 

There are so many pieces I keep that I do go through it and throw some of it away. I know I can hear some of her screaming NOOOOOOOOOO!  When this drawer is to full to close, I go through it all.

 

 

 

Here it is finished. The bee I think was part of a piece of scrapbook paper but I've had him forever so I'm not sure. Oh, the two little greenish circles on the left is bubble wrap. See I keep way too much!!!



Thank you so much for stopping by!

Creating a Koi Pond with Stencils

One (there are many) favorite artist is, Claude Monet. I am so drawn to his paintings especially his water lilies. I could stare at them forever and so I decided to create my own water lilies painting.

I started with a 11x14 cradled wood board and painted in with TCW Black Gesso. Then using acrylic inks and water added green, yellow and some blue to the background.  When all the paint dried I used TCW433 Wildflowers stencil to the background.

Using modeling paste I added the fish from TCW499 Koi Pond stencil. 



 

 

 

 

After the modeling paste completely dried I painted the fish and then added the lily pads.

 

 

 

Here is a close up of the fish. 

 

I also added flowers to the lily pads with modeling paste and painted them in magenta.

Here is the finished piece. I really enjoyed creating this and there will be more in the future.

 

This painting was put up for a Breast Cancer auction where one lucky winner took it home.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cheating with Stencils: Abstract 5x7 Shapes

Received an email giving their opinions on my art that using stencils was cheating. I should learn how to create art without them. They were also of the opinion that abstract art is not art. I don't think using stencils is cheating and Abstract art is my favorite. I use stencils for mark making, texture, and the designs add to my paintings not the opposite and yes, I do create art without them too.

Today's Abstract painting is created entirely with stencils. It's one of my favorite paintings and it was created on a 5x7 wood panel that was actually on sale in my local arts and craft store. I love creating on wood but it can be expensive. Stores that carry those wooden signs with quotes go on sale and I find some for $2 to $4 in all sizes and I just paint right over them.

I started this by painting over the sign with black gesso by The Crafters Workshop (TCW). To add texture I used TCW Matte Gel Medium and added tissue paper and some painted deli paper to the wood panel.  I also added a few pieces of paper towel.

I let it dry over night and then I added more yellow, orange, and black acrylic paint.

Now I could paint my own shapes on this or use some other items to make some marks but I used the Shapes stencil (TCW762) by The Crafters Workshop.  I started by adding the shapes in the same yellow and orange paint and then started using black.

To finish it I added my scribble. I love to add scribbles or sometimes it's hard to read word but this one is just a scribble.

I use stencils for 75% of my art and I don't think it's cheating using them. There are many artists who do use them. I love hearing others' opinions about art whether its mine or others. This email wasn't very friendly towards the end but everyone has their opinions. I have mine too.

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read this post.  I hope you enjoyed it.

Butterflies 2: Mixed Media Canvas

Sometimes creating art and blogging don't mix. I'm creating lots of art but I don't have pictures of my process so I feel like I shouldn't share it. I know...share it anyway.  But today's post I have a few pictures of my process YAY!!!

   

I started this piece using a 12"x 12" cradled wood panel. Almost all my art starts with painting the substrate black. I love the way the colors pop off black so that why I start this way. This piece I painted over the black with green, white, and yellow. The globe is from a napkin and the hot air balloon is a stamp on tissue paper I found in my stash. The bottom is a mixed of book pages, music paper, tape, and scrap paper.  

I used The Crafters Workshop (TCW) Matte Gel Medium to adhere all the bits and pieces of paper. All the other marks were created by using TCW stencils: Ornate Border TCW785 and Distressed Details TCW754.

In the photo below the paint was dry and I started adding rub-ons. I believe they are from Tim Holtz but I don't keep any of my packaging so I'm not sure. I also added more yellow paint and my favorite color, black. I love the darkness and looking up to the top of the canvas to the light.

With the addition of black paint I decided to add more from the Ornate Borders stencil and added more rub-ons.  If you notice I used all the words from the rub-on page. I love to do that although its expensive having to buy them all over again.  I also use TCW gel medium over the rub-ons so they stay on permanently.  The butterflies are from my stash.

Here is the finished piece again. The only change I'm going to make is to add shadows to the butterfly wings.

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop and read to the end of this post. I truly appreciate it. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment.