What is Gesso and How to Use it by Rebecca Parsons for The Graphics Fairy.

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Sure, you can simply frame something and nail it to the wall, but why be ordinary? Here, 17 unexpected, totally untraditional ways to hang pictures up on your walls.

A great collaborative kids process art project.

One of the outstanding properties of encaustic is it’s translucency, which makes it a great medium for collage. Collage can be used with encaustic to provide the main focus of a painting, or …

Stuck for ideas? Here are 20 art techniques to try, using materials you probably already have, suggested by real life artists. :)

There are great rewards to be had if you break out of your creative comfort zone, like gaining more confidence and having a more fulfilling and satisfying art practice.

An exhibition at the Centraal Museum in Utrecht

"a river runs through it" mixed media on canvas 36"x12" do you ever feel overwhelmed by the barrage of information or sheer amount of words, images upon images, (even the relevant/beautiful/powerful ones)? overload. do you struggle with the weight and worth of your additions to the massive pile to sift through as i do? self promotion seems to be a necessity of our craft these days... yet, even when done humbly and respectfully it feels a little bit like pulling a bandaid. and throwing it in the pile. doesn't it? "a river runs through it" mixed media on canvas 12"x36" my attempt at a respite: step 1: unplugging. a walk through the fields. playing in the dirt. picking fresh vegetables. making a child laugh. jumping in a bouncy house. sipping my tea slowly. sitting around the fire with loved ones. leaving the camera at home. step 2: simplifying my own input. editing the heck out of my thoughts. ruthlessly cutting out unnecessary words. really digging to get to the heart of things. visually, if i must paint (and i must), this is not a joke: i paint everything white. i use mostly materials others would consider trash. i wash them in white (paradoxically, covering them in paint actually reveals their essence to me) and hesitantly proceed to add my contribution. then i feel that even this entire last paragraph was perhaps not entirely necessary. forgive me. then i add a few more images, not even ironically. and finally i say good night, without further editing. "a river runs through it" detail would love to hear your strategies for dealing with information overload! please do share!

Looking for haircut ideas for medium length thick hair? Here are 25 sensational medium length haircuts for thick hair you should try.

Hello my dear friends :)Today it's gonna be a little special. Why ? I am gonna talk as usual about projects, videos etc but... I will also talk about you guys, yes YOU ! But before that... let me jus

Dina Wakley, our featured artist of the month, shares a multitude of mixed-media techniques and tips in all of her work for creating expressive art. Here are a few of our favorites.

Visual Arts is definitely not my forte, but I do however enjoy it. I know some teachers hate glue and supplies and anything that can make a...

I printed on my Gelli Plate some greeting cards the other day, and it took me quite a few tries to figure out how to get coverage all the w...

I was so inspired that I decided to draw my own little Matisse Garden inspired by Amodeo's illustrations to create organic shapes in the classroom.

We had such a lot of fun at the Gelli Arts printing workshop. Thank you so much to all who came, I enjoyed every minute and didn't we make hundreds of prints! Some of the people who came to the workshop were new to Gelli and some had their own plates but hadn't used them much. A few people were already Gelli addicts and wanted another chance to play and learn new techniques. That's the fun of Gelli plate printing though isn't it? Every time we play we learn a new way of making prints and find new effects that can be made by trying different tools and different combinations of layers and colours. Here are a few photos of a few of the prints. I didn't take many photos because I was having too much fun but these show a few of the many techniques we tried including printing with real leaves, using stamps, stencils, hand cut masks, hand cut printing blocks. All these lovely prints can be used for backgrounds, card making, paper patchwork, collage etc but sometimes people ask... 'What next?' 'What else can I do with my prints?' If you are addicted to making prints you can end up with boxes full of original, unique prints that you can't bear to use because they are too beautiful, and probably unrepeatable. Or you may be so busy making new works of art to think about using the old ones. Well, lets use them! The next Gelli workshop, next Spring will be all about using our prints as a starting point in design! This will include learning to draw into the patterns to make unique artwork which we can develop into fabric prints etc. Below are some of the drawings that I have done on the prints I made from the demonstrations I did at the class. Some started as hopeless failures because that is what happens when people are watching a demo! Ha ha. Doodling has rescued them! Watch this space to see what's next for these prints and drawings. And if you'd like to join in, I will be adding next year's workshop dates to the blog soon.

2nd grade mixed media inspiration: Heidelberg Project, Detroit (and my fellow flickr art teachers, who did a similar lesson w/ popsicle sticks...we just made it a local thing.) :) if you're not from here and don't know about Heidelberg, you must go read and then come and visit: www.heidelberg.org/ If you are local, you can get a sense of how the kids just "got it" w/ this project. We are crossing our fingers that we'll win a field trip from Target to get to go to Heidelberg in the spring! :)

What is Gel Medium and How to you use it for Art and Crafts. This is a comprehensive guide to this useful art supply. Great for Collage work & Mixed Media Art.

All you need is... card stock paper, One white Crayon, And Water colors. Draw anything you want with the white Crayon. push down hard. After you are done... Color with you water colors! the color won't cover up your drawing because of the wax! And done! Have Fun!!!! ;)

Hello, hello everybody! I am back with new inspiration and with yet another technique- using drawing gum with Lindy's. This is something I've done already a f

52 different mixed media techniques to alter cards! Explore and experimant with different materials and make your own altered playing cards

A round up of how to gelatin print, inspirational images, and tutorials.

I started out making a card this morning, but just wasn't "feeling it". So I gathered everything up and put it to the side and started with a different thought. It was raining outside so I decided to grab some bright Distress Paint colors from the shelf to make something happy! I found a piece of chipboard on the shelf - yep, just plain 'ole chip. Painted a coat of Gesso from Dina's new line and let it dry (which is VERY quick - I like that). Once dry, I painted over the surface with Worn Lipstick (my favorite pink Distress Paint). I spritzed it with a light mist of water to make the lines disappear once dry. Tissue Wrap is next...just add pieces with Multi Medium. Another favorite - Distress Damask stamp and Watering Can Archival Ink. This whole project is really fast and random. What you think may be really important - like where the stamp is placed - really isn't. It's just about building the layers to create the texture. You might notice I didn't even use a stamp block, I just rolled it on. You will need to let the ink dry before the next step (or use a heat tool like me). Two more colors of Distress Paint - Peacock Feathers and Crushed Olive. Make a paint palette on your craft mat to work from. Then use your best tools, your fingers, to add paint to the surface. Don't think too much. In fact, if you can limit yourself to 2-3 minutes to add the paint, it will force you to make more intuitive choices. Next the Crushed Olive. This is how I ended. Knowing when to stop is part of the process! Set aside to dry. How about a little texture? Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste/palette knife and the Bubble stencil. This stuff is like butter! Most important, CLEAN the stencil when the paste is still wet!! Can you mix stain and paint? I did. Tumbled Glass Distress Stain and Tarnished Brass Distress Paint. I pounced the Distress Stain over the dots until the stain was puddling, then pounced a bit of the Tarnished Brass over the top. I dried the mix with the heat tool and then wiped up the remaining liquid with a paper towel. So this is the part that might be a just a little scary for some, but stay with me here. I put some Gesso onto a palette knife (yes, I know that usually goes underneath the paint) and ran it down the surface. I just kept adding Gesso in the thin coat till I thought it looked balanced. I know, really random, right? I let the Gesso dry, then tinted it just a bit with Vintage Photo (gotta love that new Mini Blending Tool). Now a quick easy layer of Worn Lipstick, just over the Gesso. I added the paint with the dabber top and smoothed it out with a wet wipe. I had this piece of Frameworks sitting on my desk that I had previously painted with Iced Spruce. I punch out the centers and stamped them with text. Then added them to the canvas. I created a drop shadow using Distress Markers. Next up...a Chitchat saying. And a little more marker work. Again, fingers are your your best tools for smudging. The last step is to add some speckles with the new Spritzer Tool. Insert the marker in the tool so the marker sits just past the tip where the air comes out. Hold it up above your work, aim the Spritzer air hole straight down and squeeze. Super fun tool to work with and it adds a fine splatter effect that makes the perfect finishing touch. I added a metal piece from the Adornments - Nature pack (with a little Iced Spruce Distress Paint added) to a small clip board I had. The just slipped the little painting under the clip. Loving the final result. Do you notice you can barely see the tissue and the stamping layer? But what you can see is important in the layering process. I know I used a lot of different products in this project. But really, the idea is to use what appeals to you... colors you like, stencils you like...make it yours. Just remember, layers are the key! Hope you have a happy day! Now go create some layers! Carry on, paula InLinkz.com

I love the look of text in art. This is a tutorial for a technique that I've used for the background of one of my recent canvases (bel...

2020 Topic 9: Collage It Hi everyone, Keren here to kick off our latest topic which is all about collage. From our earliest memories of making things, we probably did some elements of collage but hopefully we've all developed a more sophisticated style by now! In its basic form, (strictly speaking) collage is a picture created by sticking other pictures or paper (or thinner substances) together to create a new image. Its 'next of kin' is probably assemblage and it would be easy to blur the two, but there are subtle differences where assemblage tends to be more sculptural and involve more than just glue to combine the elements together. Glue is a heavy feature of collage. I've not been super strict about sticking to the collage definition, but mostly looked for a collaged vibe. The PaperArtsy blog has plenty of inspiration and our first example is by Pam Thorburn who has collaged hair and face so beautifully. Using the same colours makes for a harmonious piece but with some wonderful texture and check out the post for a real masterclass to this technique. PaperArtsy Blog Gwen has a style that lends itself beautifully to collage. This example with some of her stamps shows the rainbow of collaged papers. PaperArtsy Blog Controversially I'm beginning with a piece of digital collage. Can it be classed as collage? I'd love to know what you think! This striking piece gives a really strong collaged look. It's a piece entitled Self Identity and would be a really useful technique for a self portrait. Sephora Venites Collage can be a wonderful combination of images and colour, and these bright, modern versions have some wonderful details. Triple The Scraps Collage doesn't have to be a blended affair. This piece of contrasting patterns and textures has a patch-worked feel to it. Cathy Nicols This monochrome beauty is a stacked delight. Gluing layer upon layer of lace and fabric results in a strong dimensional piece. Pion Design Whilst researching for this topic, there was a consistent thread of humour and quirkiness. This piece appealed to me for the quirky design plus I rather love vintage Singer Sewing machines! Mohanad Shuraideh Collaged pieces don't need to have the whole space collaged; there's some in the background, but the main focal flowers are really delicately collaged. Susanne Rose Moving back towards the surreal, this is a good example of how you can use bold but simple images to provide impact. Don't be afraid of using seemingly disconnected images to tell a story. Jordan Westre One of the best things about collage is using the textures to add to your art. Torn edges of newspaper add texture and also highlight the layers. The added colour in this example is exquisite. Rachelle Panagarry Creating landscapes using torn papers adds shadow and interest without complicated colouring. Choosing papers with different shades is the key to creating shade and highlights. Notice how the layers look so much like ripples in the water. Shelli Walters Studio I don't know what glue this artist used, but many enjoy a decoupage glue or an artists acrylic medium. Some thinner papers that become translucent when medium is added create another dimension to your collages. Tissue paper is a fab option for this look. Bored Art Combining fibres and paper makes for a fascinating piece. The fibres look like they've had colour added to them. Such a beautiful landscape. Little Field Studios Collage can provide bolder dimension and I thought the way that the torn edges created an aperture was really pleasing. Not adding adhesive all the way to the edges is a unique effect too. Caterina Giglio You could argue that this next example is isn't really collage but I thought that the design element was strong and was a good example of a superimposed image onto another that takes the design through each element. Merve Ozaslan I'm pushing the envelope (a collaged one of course!!) here. It's sneaking into the assemblage category really, but there are collaged elements here and I thought it was a inspirational piece to show layering. Gregory Euclide This next piece is nudging itself into 'favourite' position. Using type and collaging text to create a piece that really looks like a nest and I adore the thickly painted eggs. Christine Mac Shane Art This more carefully placed collage is striking with the black bordered butterfly. Looking carefully at the piece shows so many different papers. Lindsey Kay Co These are wonderfully collaged and have so many elements that your eye is drawn around each piece in a myriad of directions. Maka Art I hope you've loved this initial delve into collage. The great thing about this technique is that you can make pieces using whatever you've got already- even newspaper or junk mail. If you want to create along with us, please share on our social feeds so we can see what you get up to. The best places are Instagram @paperartsy or post in PaperArtsy People Group on Facebook. Make sure you tag us in your contributions, we love to see what you get up to in your creative world!

Lutradur heat distressing 1. . Spunart.

I love love love a good diy project... Even more when it is something for the kids. This was so easy that I just couldn't pass it up My inspiration... Amy Lou over at Southern Belle Soul, Mountain Bride Heart has such an amazing story that goes along with her adorable heart art. I love the shabby chic look...and of course it's DIY!!! Here's how I did it!! Tools... Paint and brushes Canvas Mod Podge Scrap booking paper Vinyl letters from target A favorite saying or verse Step 1: Mod Podge your scrap booking paper on to the canvas (next time I will just paint the canvas...the paper was a bit more noticeable than I wanted). And, let dry. Step 2: Once you have picked out your verse cut out the vinyl letters and take some time to plan out how you want the saying to look. And, once you have it the way you like...peel and stick! Step 3: Now here is where you can let your creativity fly...paint over the letters! Step 4: Let it dry...we have had some great weather here in South Jersey for the last few weeks. Window opening, breeze coming in, sun warming up...so great weather for drying painting!!!! When the drying is done peel the stickers off.... And the final product... Our favorite thing to say to each other...from one of my favorite books "Guess How Much I Love You"...something we say everyday to each other. I am not only in love with the final product...I love the letters that we peeled off... Don't they look great!!!! I just think it will be great to mod podge them onto a smaller canvas...hmmm Happy Friday!!!

Faux Encaustic Technique by Heather Tracy for The Graphics Fairy

Art Journals & Some Creative Inspiration (or Admiration….) By random chance I have found myself looking at people’s journals this weekend. It turns out that there are some very crea…

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” ~ Albert Einstein This art course will help you! Mixing with the Masters “A New Twist on the Old Masterpieces” (Volume One) Looking for Volume Two? Click here. Mixing with the Masters gives you and […]