Mixed Media Workshop

I love creating with mixed media, and I love teaching others some of the techniques I've learned from others or just by experimenting. With mixed media, the sky is the limit for your creativity, and it really challenges you to create outside the box. One of my staples when doing a mixed media art is gel medium. I love the Golden line. It's so fun to experiment with all their different ones. I've listed my favorites below. The sampler set is a great way to start. Just try them all out to see which ones you like best.

Gel mediums are great for creating texture, adhering papers and giving your paint a little something extra. I taught a workshop this week with some older students, ages 4th-8th grade. I let them have a little more freedom with color choices and composition. I just gave them the subject and taught them some new techniques using texture and gels. I loved the way their paintings turned out...if only we would have had more time.

And more peacock paintings this week.

One of my other favorite things to use to create texture is modeling paste. You can build up layers create all kinds of texture.

Painting Peacocks

Painting Peacocks has been one of my most popular workshops this summer. I know I've posted some Peacock paintings before (see HERE), but I had to post these beautiful ones from this summer too.

Added a little twist to these Peacocks by adding some bling. Students used the glitter glue and went to town. 

I got tired of the blue/purple combo so I had the students try a different mix here. 

What's your favorite?

Studio Still Lifes

This week I did a still life painting workshop. Students painted on a 16 x 20 canvas with acrylics. These students ranged in age from 2nd grade to 5th grade (amazing!)- and completed their paintings in 2-1/2 hours.

  

Here's our set up that they were painting.

I teach as we go, and do some demo, but I try to never paint on the students canvas. These were done all on their own.

I have baby wipes for the students to use for mess ups-work great for removing paint from the canvas.

I really encourage them to paint loose and have fun with it-not to get to bogged down in a lot of details. I emphasize basic shapes and color/values.

I'm in the process of setting up a Facebook page for my art studio. If you are a Facebook user I'd love for you to "follow" me so you will know about my blog posts and other artsy crafty things as soon I they happen ; ) I'm trying to figure out how to get a button on my blog, but for now, just click HERE and it will take you directly to my page. Please share with all your friends, especially if you're local. I'll be posting any upcoming workshops on Facebook too.

Painting Butterflies

I had a fun little group of girls getting ready to enter kindergarten in class last week. I had planned to do folk art style houses, but they vetoed me and collectively rallied for butterflies...so glad I went with their suggestion because we had some beautiful butterflies!

I always try to incorporate in all my lessons how wonderful it is that God gave us so many beautiful things in creation alone that can inspire us to create art. Butterflies are a great example.

I also like to talk about what an awesome creator God is-the best artist that ever existed-and the Bible says that we are created in His image. We all have the ability to be creative!

God gave us each a unique ability to create, just like he made us each unique in the way we look, in our talents and our personalities

It's wonderful that we each have a unique and different way to express ourselves...

just like these butterfly paintings. No two are the same!

In one of my classes, as I was explaining about what an awesome artist God is, one little girl interrupted and said, "but this isn't Sunday school class, this is art class." 

Nothing makes my heart happier than to share just how much God is involved in the creative process, and a part of everything that inspires us as an artist. 

Her comment made my day, and reminded me why I love teaching art to kids!

In this lesson we also learned about the color wheel and patterns in art. Paintings were done in acrylic on a 16 x 20 canvas in a 2-1/2 hour workshop.

More Razorback Paintings

More Razorback Paintings! In this painting lesson students painted a close up of a Razorback. It was a younger age group so this was a little less detailed than the last Razorback lesson I posted. Basically the steps are the same.

Paintings were done in acrylic on a 16 x 20 canvas and took 2-1/2 hours to complete. Several of the students painted this especially for their Dads as a Father's Day gift.