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

On The Bench - Yummy Soft Pastels

Having taken advantage of a nice discount coupon this week at my local Blick Art Supply store opening, I've begun to experiment further with layering color in soft pastel using Rembrandt half sticks as my base, then working over top with softer pastel brands like Unison, Sennelier and Schmincke.

Thanks Kyle of Royal Talens for motivating me to grab out some of my favorite rough papers (watercolor paper with Pebeo High Density Modeling Paste) and introducing me to the Rembrandt brand...I'm in love! In between several layers of pastel, I used Grumbacher's matte fixative; works like a charm to lock in the surface and cut down on dust between color layers.

And, here's another great tip given me by Kyle; use water, acrylic matte medium or clear gesso (my personal favorite) mixed with the dust left over from pastel painting to create a greyish, purplish, redish, or greenish background on another surface - canvas or watercolor paper work best - to make colored toothy backgrounds for painting on with ANY medium, like pastel, oil paint and acrylics!

Let me know your pastel painting favorites (chalk, oil or wax) and tips in the comments below. Happy Arting!  Tristina :)

No Paint Left Behind Play - Purple

After laying out some gorgeous Violet acrylic paint on canvas, I couldn't bear the thought of throwing the remaining paint water down the sink, so... grabbed some sample papers and an acrylic paper pad and went to town sloshing on washes. Then, I pulled out my favorite box of NeoColor II water soluble wax crayons and played with color combinations to see which were pleasing together.

Loving the light green Jade wax crayon on the purple background. What unexpectely beautiful combinations have you discovered while playing with color?

HAPPY (purple - teehee!) ARTING!  Tristina :D

Love for Encaustic Wax Painting on Paper

Enjoyed another wildly successful workshop in Miami all day Saturday, Dec 14, at Romero Hidalgo Artist's Studio in the Red Road Arts District! The students had a blast learning techniques for working with hot encaustic wax paints making monotype prints and modifying the prints with oil pastel sticks, making encaustic-bound paper collages, and encaustic wax painting directly on paper with metal leaf enhancement. A huge THANK YOU to Sonia Hidalgo for inviting me to Miami to teach this workshop. She runs a classy operation and has awesome students!

Working with encaustic wax paint on hot palettes to create images to pull for Monotype prints.

Enhancing a monotype print on the hot palette with oil pastel sticks.

Studio owner Sonia Hidalgo visiting our workshop during a break in her teaching schedule.

Working on encaustic wax monotype print series' directly on the hot palette.

Finishing up a monotype print series and cleaning the other palette for encaustic collage.

Putting a last coat of paint on the final project of the day.

Enhancing encaustic painting on paper with metal leaf, then distressing with steel wool.

A selection of Cecilia's finished works. Love the satisfied smiles!

Encaustic wax Monotype print on Sumi-e rice paper.

Encaustic wax painting on handmade paper with distressed metal leaf. 

Claudia's collection of monotype prints, paper collage and painted paper all with encaustic wax paint.

Camellia's collection of monotype prints, paper collage and painted paper with encaustic wax paint.

Angie's collection of monotype prints, paper collage and painted paper with encaustic wax paint.

If you are planning on being in the South Florida area, feel free to check out the online event schedule on my website at www.MultiMediaMavenArt.com. Find the Events, Workshops & Demos tab on the left side of the screen and select it to view my calender. If you are interested in a workshop or event not listed in the calendar, email me at MultiMediaMaven@yahoo.com so we can accommodate your needs.

Happy Arting!  Tristina

On The Bench - Asian Inspired Art

Here's what's on my art table today. In process for an article I'm working on to submit to my favorite mixed-media magazine. What's on your art table?