Mastering Mixed Media - EXPO 2025

I am so lucky I caught these offerings this year. Starting May 1st and running until May 14th. Yay! I am definitely ready to expand and learn. While I'm learning, we get the chance to do a piece of art of our own rendering by the teaching artist. Some I am not real sure I'll every try. There are wonderful teachers sharing their talents and I can pick a few that speak to me and try them in these two weeks. How awesome is that?

The first thing I really wanted to try was actually something I'm doing on the regular now but in a way different way. I love layered collage art. It's going to be shared here in the blog a lot, so hang tight, you'll see it soon and often!

I'm not mentioning the teachers here; in doing so it sends them info about the post or photo and although I'm not at all embarrassed or don't WANT them to see what I've done, they have enough to do. And so, this is what I've done so far since May 1st (it's now May 5th at this writing).

The teacher added a rainbow in hers and used bright pinks and blues. I just recently got copper acrylic paint ... you KNOW I had to use it! The first layer, that can't really be seen, has intentions written on it, all over the page, top to bottom. Second layer is some book pieces ripped up and glued down, third layer is watercolor crayons, fourth layer is black wax pen, fifth layer is acrylic paint and paint pens. Micron ink pens were also used, ink pad stamping here and there. That might be it. Lots on it and I loved every minute of making it! It's my daughter's favorite at the moment. Can't wait to make something else using these layers. Fun!!

Next up: Watercolor, graphite pencil, acrylic and waxed deli paper. The splatters got away from me, but I don't hate it.

Both watercolors are on 5.5 x 8.5 inch paper. The top one shown here was my second one to try. Not loving this one at all but love the feeling of freedom to just paint and go! I have a love/hate relationship with watercolor. I try to practice using it every week and often just put some colors down on paper and call it done, then once dry rip it up and use them for collage. Maybe that's what I'm supposed to do but seeing the above gives me the thoughts that I should attempt a little more exploring with watercolor. There's no reason not to try.

This one says: "Embrace Uniqueness" and really isn't my style but that's the point in taking these classes. It's fun to stretch outside of the comfort zone. Point is, I did it and will do it again, maybe even the same basic design. Done with acrylics, paint pens, black ink pens. I think I could love it more if I had used alcohol ink markers. So that's a plan for next time. I do love the sky and that bottom left side. The rest is ... meh.

A lot of the artists who are teaching this EXPO are sharing faces or people. I don't have a desire to even try that, not even to stretch. But I do enjoy watching them take a blank piece of paper, add color to it and then begin to create a face. That's more than awesome.

I'll share more art of mine when I decide to try a few more techniques/styles that are being taught. Next week, I hope!

 

Enjoy the journey.

Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com