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 - 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 :)

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

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