On the Bench - Loving the Simplicity of Resin Resist

After having attended Creativeworld in Frankfurt, Germany, in February 2015 and meeting UK artist Jenny Muncaster there, I was intrigued by her use of Pebeo Glazing Resin as a painting element and resist for painting over. (See more of Jenny's work here: http://jennymuncaster.co.uk/) I've been playing with the technique in the studio this week and enjoying the outcome.

I'll be using transparent Vitrail paint over the green painting to highlight the background and really make the resin resist pop. Then...may decide to use Mirror Effect foil on the raised area; don't know for sure yet, just have to see what develops!

Happy Arting!  Tristina :D

Book: Art Journal Kickstarter

My favorite quote today comes from Artist Nancy Belle in the book Art Journal Kickstarter, "When you are in doubt about a composition, draw a square in the middle of your page. This is the area to stay out of with any important images.  Align your important images with any of the four corners of the square..."

Check out more of her advice as well as artwork and insight from 99 other artists, including my piece "Dreams Come True" on page 43!

My page in Art Journal Kickstarter! So grateful to have been included.

Happy Arting!  Tristina :D

Encaustic Wax Excitement

Had a fabulous group of ladies in my Studio today spending the whole day building up and scraping back layers of encaustic wax paint. What exciting art they made!

Love Seeing Others Create

I LOVE to see other Artists (and those who say "I'm not an Artist!) create spectacular artworks when shown painting techniques and let loose with a huge supply to paint-at-will. Take a peek here at artwork made by Michael's Arts & Crafts store employees and several professional Artists at Pebeo paints' North American warehouse...

 Playing with Pebeo Texture Gels and Metallic Acrylics.

 Pouring Pebeo Resin paints in a Liquid Art Panel and sprinkling with dry Glitter.

 Look at that COLOR!!!

Pouring paint in the Liquid Art Panels is so much FUN!

 Annamarie Oke pouring Pebeo's colored Resin paints into a Liquid Art Panel.

Artist Chantal StPierre enjoying her Resin pour in a Liquid Art Panel.

Adding Fantasy Prisme paint to a masterpiece.

Milton Stevenson filling in his Cerne Relief design with Pebeo liquid oil paints in a Liquid Art Panel.

 Vancouver Artist Deb Chaney pouring a panel of FANTASY with Pebeo's liquid oil paints.

Proud of her Cerne Relief design painted results.

And here are some of the completed artworks: 

Looking forward to seeing what fabulous artworks my next group of students come up with! Until then...  HAPPY  ARTING!   Tristina

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

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

Excited to Teach in the Polymer Clay Adventure!

I'm so excited to be teaching a video workshop for the Polymer Clay Adventure in 2015! Here's a peak at the 'Cups and Saucers' we'll be creating together using polymer clay and Pebeo Fantasy paints, then incorporating them into a mixed media painting. To find out more about this amazing online retreat, click here: http://bit.ly/PCATristina2015

HAPPY ARTING in the New Year!!! :D  Tristina

On The Bench - Repurpose Feels Soooo Good!

I have found a local non-profit repurposing center, Trash to Treasure, where folks can donate any manner of items which are then available to schools, art academies, other non-profit organizations and the general public for purchase and repurposing. While there recently, I picked up several used canvases with either completed or partial artworks on them for pennies! I love these because they lend HISTORY to the layers of my collage paintings. Here's what I'm working on now with 2 of the 11in x 14in canvases I rescued...

Comment below with your favorite repurposing projects. Can't wait to see! :D

HAPPY HOLIDAYS and HAPPY ARTING!   Tristina

Bakehouse Art Complex Miami Visit

Had to share with you some of my favorite artwork by incredibly talented artists at the Bakehouse Art Complex in Miami, Florida, where I visited yesterday.

Lots of yummy sandy texture going on in this painting.

Olivier Dubois, 71in x 79in, acrylic and mixed media

That's all thread! Karla Caprali

Excellent illustrative style in B&W. Elba Martinez & Edwin Villasmil

Happy Art Spotting!  :D  Tristina

BAG Gallery Brunch - Small Works

I adore when Galleries hold Small Works exhibits! Just something about the small dimensions that invite finding the perfect gift or artwork to fill that special cubby hole while saving the pocketbook. The Broward Art Guild's Small Works exhibit and brunch today was a perfect example of excellent local artwork readily available at reasonable prices to encourage brightening a home for the Holidays. Below are some of my favorites from the show.

3 Paintings from my Bullseye series and a small painting from my 

She Wondered series below right.

Yay, both of Lynn Greenberg's paintings sold!

I really enjoyed these pensive pastel works.

Nice mixed media - collage and painting combination.

Exciting with the polka dot feathers!

One of my encaustic wax students! Great transfers onto the wax surface. :)

Fun artwork with image transfers and paint on fabric. AWESOME!

Spectacular colorful photography!

Wow, look what you can do with a book! That carving must have been meticulous.

Hope you seek out working artists to support in your community this Holiday Season and enjoy the original artwork in your home or smiles from lucky folks to whom you give the gift of ART!

HAPPY ARTING!  Tristina :D

Art Basel Miami - Beach Scope Show

Enjoyed contemporary artworks at SCOPE on Miami Beach during Art Basel today. Here are my favorites...