Wednesday, February 25, 2015

On the Bench - Sample Mania

I LOVE it when Art Supply companies provide generous sizes and quantities for their sampler packs. Case in point, today I am experimenting with archival quality acid free Art and Mounting Boards from a 5in x 7in pack generously given me last week by the Crescent paper company representative Milton Stevenson. Thanks Milton!


Btw, Milton's an artist as well at www.MiltonStevenson.com. In Atlanta last year I saw him beating up on a Crescent artist grade Illustration Board on which he had built up layers of acrylic paints and scraped and sanded away on the surface to create his beautiful distressed artworks.


Now, I'm putting Crescent's different sampler surfaces to the test with my brand of mixed media mania! So far, my favorite surfaces are the 1/8th inch thick Art Board 114, Art Board 99 (Illustration Board), Art Board 215 (Marker Board), and Mounting Board 8 (Ultra Black).

What are your favorite mixed media painting surfaces? Leave a comment below to share your experiences. Thanks!

HAPPY ARTING!  Tristina :D

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Color Theory Refresher

Who doesn't love books that are short & sweet with bold pictures? I recently found at my local Michael's Arts & Crafts store a Color Theory book by Patti Mollica that looked quite interesting on thumbing through. After having read the book, I'm so glad I picked it up!


Patti's explanation of tints and shades along with the expanded color wheel to include these was enlightening. I also especially liked her explanation of color blending to create loads of greens and skin tones - both with 'warm' or 'cool' tendancies. The Value Study examples were fundamentally important and I adored Patti's Personal Approaches to Color filled with her expressive paintings illustrating the different color & composition techniques she described in the book.

The main message I got from this book is to not feel "creatively stifled" by the "rules" of color theory, rather use the knowledge gained to embolden the Artist's color reproitore and help to troubleshoot areas of "visual discord" in works. 

I highly recommend this Artist's Library Series book from Walter Foster; especially for beginning painters, although experienced Artists may also find the excellent descriptions, illustrations and painting photographs helpful as well. I know I did! Take a peek inside yourself HERE.

Happy Arting!  Tristina Dietz Elmes

Monday, February 9, 2015

On The Bench - Inspiration Strikes!

I came back so inspired by the techniques I learned from UK Artist Jenny Muncaster in Frankfurt last week that I immediately grabbed out a big illustration board, slapped down some of my favorite collage elements (poetry and dress pattern tissue), drizzled on Pebeo Glazing Resin, liberally painted and poured on Pebeo liquid alkyd oil paints (Vitrail, Fantasy Prisme and Fantasy Moon), scattered metal leaf flakes, and accented with Mirror Effect transfer foil to create this 30 in x 40 in artwork. Thank you Jenny!!!



There's just something about red, blue and purple that have been calling me out to paint in large amounts lately?! What's been inspiring you recently? Is it a color, an artist you follow, taking a walk, attending workshops, reading a great book, being around other artists? Please share what inspires you to create in the comments below.

HAPPY  ARTING!  Tristina Dietz Elmes :)

Friday, February 6, 2015

Live from Frankfurt, Germany... CreativeWorld

From the Pebeo booth at the International PaperWorld and CreativeWorld show Feb 1 to Feb 3, 2015, British Artist Jenny Muncaster and I painted our hearts out LIVE to the delight of show attendees from countries across the globe - guests at the booth were from North America, South America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. During the show, i-Blio.com of France were filming, interviewing, programming and uploading Pebeo's Mixed Media magazine Inspiration No.2 LIVE. It was so exciting! To see the eZine, click HERE for tons of ideas, hints and tips for Mixed Media painting.

Jenny Muncaster and I at the CreativeWorld Pebeo booth.

My worktable with art in process!
 With Patricia, head of Marketing Communications for Pebeo.
 My mixed media peacock feather on canvas.
 Working on a "She Wondered" painting in a Liquid Art Panel.
 Jenny Muncaster being filmed live! See this in the Inspiration eZine.
Some of Jenny's artwork made live at the CreativeWorld show.

Hope you see some inspiring images and pick up a pencil, paint brush, palette knife, pipette, etc. yourself soon...  HAPPY  ARTING!  Tristina  :D