Monday, June 1, 2026

At the Art Table

These days, I'm doodling less but I'm loving my watercolor paints! Of course making painted papers with acrylics is also a large part of the week, even though I have a lot of painted papers for collage already to go and use, I enjoy creating the fodder just as much. I'm learning it's okay to enjoy the creative process just as much as enjoying using them in my collage art.

A few days ago I finally got myself some new fine liners, so I'll be doodling again as well as mark-making and am looking forward to it. I've missed them!

As usual, there's always something on the table. And by the time I write this, I'll have reached 100 days in the collage a day journey. I studied the book briefly, flipping through from day 1. Actually the collages I made are fairly uniform in the way I approached them: a few different colored papers and either cut or ripped to fit the small square almost always adding an embellishment of some sort at the end.

95-98

 I'd like to do another 100 days because now it feels like a habit I'd like to continue. It's possible I'll just start a new art book but maybe using a different approach or more papers per square or maybe make shapes within the squares.

The many journals I have are continuing to grow and I grab one each day and do at least one thing in them. I'm learning the more I do this, the better I am getting at my favorite art forms. It's true, practice makes progress.

Creating a grid work journal has helped me study composition

An old book turned into an art journal helps me learn negative space and I like it!

Making a book using brown paper packaging, junk mail, painted papers, book pages helps me play freely in any way I choose. Here, this particular page's background is actually from the brayer roller and paint brushes. It's so pretty.

Cover page of the brown paper packaging journal and a favorite Emerson quote.

Creating watercolor cairns - love doing these and try making at least 3 each week.

The Hardibacker boards (made of concrete on one side) are getting used for paint practice and I'm diggin' the results so far!

Playing with watercolor, acrylics and ink like a kid creates the funky looking designs that I am drawn toward (literally).

Doing one of my favorite techniques on this page: layering of painted papers, watered down paint then sanding it off a bit and adding more paint, stencil and some vessel shapes turns the page into a grungy look.

This page started out with a black background, I added magazine clippings in green but the yellow paint just created more yellow wiping out the green and so, I went with it - adding more yellow, gold, black, white and grey.

Another page in the brown packaging art book. This has small scraps of painted and embellished papers along with some affirmations. Feels very zen.

I still make cards - side A

Side B (love these circles!!)

Painted papers using stencils and an old credit card on the left, watercolor doodles on the right

On the left is an egg carton bottom, on the right a few layers of hand made masks both on the Gelli plate

Left side is a few stencils and leftover paint on medical exam paper, center is a rub off of another paper, on the right is the same egg carton paper shown above.

Putting stencils under medical exam paper and rubbing paint on it creates these interesting designs. Can't wait to use them!

Some of the stencils used to create the papers above.

 

 

Enjoy your week!

Cindy,  EarthMotherMosaics - Mixed Media Art

Instagram: @artbyearthmothermosaics 

Stay Peaceful and Enjoy the Journey

At the Art Table

These days, I'm doodling less but I'm loving my watercolor paints! Of course making painted papers with acrylics is also a large par...