On The Bench - Bullseye On Liquid Art Panel

Having fun experimenting with my Bullseye paintings on Pebeo's new Liquid Art Panels. Thank you Pebeo for the panels, paint and other supplies to play with! :)

You can find all the fun mixed media Pebeo supplies on Dick Blick's website HERE. And, Pebeo has some fantastic how-to videos on their YouTube channel HERE. Enjoy!

Happy Arting!  :D  Tristina

Studio Open House Success!

A Big THANK YOU to everyone who attended the Tarpon River Art Center Studio Open House on Friday night! It takes all of you art-lovers to keep our community ALIVE. Many pieces of artwork and jewelry were sold off the walls and out of our studios. And many more are available! Just comment below or email if you would like to visit our bustling Artist cooperative in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Two art-lovers who won my artwork in our night's raffle. And more raffle winners!

Entrance to my studio. :)

Entrance to Joseph Regan's studio. He is a master realist and mural painter.

Hallways lined with artworks by the Tarpon River Art Center Artists.

 Sandy's studio. She specializes in wicker restoration and beautiful jewelry.

Lorraine's studio. She specializes in stone sculpture and oil abstract painting.

Frank's studio. He is a stone and wood sculptor.

Ken's studio with oil painting student works and one of his paintings in process.

Jane's studio where she specializes in glass!

 Kristina's studio where she knots away and paints in mixed media.

Beautiful weather for an Open House, yummy food, wine and drinks.
A GREAT time was enjoyed by all. :D

Hooked on Resin

As a follow up to an earlier post, here are a few paintings done with fabulous Pebeo acrylic iridescent Dyna and florescent paints after pouring Pebeo's thick viscosity Glazing Resin over the dried paint. I had so much fun with the first one, that I went ahead and resined 3 more! Now I'm hooked!!! There's nothing like the crystal clear glossy surface of a beautifully cured resin pour...ahhhhhh. :D

Florescent Black, 22in x 28in, 2014, acrylic paint, black sand texture gel, and resin on canvas.

Poppy, 12in x 12in x 2in, 2014, acrylic paint, sand texture gel, glass paint and resin on canvas.

Here's a close up of the sand texture gel with Vitrail glass paint deepening the color.

And a close up of the deep sides where I let the resin drip on purpose. Love those drips!

Reflections on a Knoll, 30in x 30in, 2014, acrylic paint with resin on canvas.

Here you really see the reflection of the resin surface.

And one final resined painting for FUN...

 Plus Blue, 8in x 8in, 2014, acrylic paints, white sand texture gel, glass paint and resin on canvas.

Revamp Your 'Old' Art

Just read an excellent article from the Jan/Feb Somerset Studio magazine by artist E'Layne Koenigsberg titled, 'The Art of the Revamp'.

In the article E'Layne speaks of her discovery of the 'process' creation method which differed from her 20 year career making 'product' driven art. "Process creating bubbles forth from a spontaneous, magical place deep within our gut, not art conceived in our mind." She began to tear up 'old' work and combine pieces with new elements with, "no rhythm or reason to my method of application. My paintbrush had a mind of it's own. I moved spontaneously with no attachment to the outcome and no judgement about liking or disliking what I was creating."

In my Fearless Art Journaling classes I ask my students to leave any preconceived notions of what ART is outside the room, relax and have FUN. I then guide them through exercises in letting go of expectations and just going with the flow...and if they have trouble moving ahead, usually when I see them "thinking" too much, I'm there to gently suggest the next step.

If you are looking to develop your creative artistic muscle and let loose a little, I suggest you find a local or online Art Journaling class. Approach the class (or if you're adventurous, classes!) with an open mind and dive in with both feet. Go with the flow of the ideas and projects presented and imagine how far out of your comfort zone you can take it. Then, attend regularly.

I think you'll be surprised how much improved your art-making will become in a very short time. Remember, Art Journaling is for you! Take a deep breath and enjoy the PROCESS!

Happy Arting! :D   Tristina