Tuesday, August 19, 2014

The Summer of the Sun


Or sand....

I don't want this summer to end. I have been forever spoiled by beautiful beaches and magical sunsets. 


I visited the beaches of Fort Morgan, Alabama for a few days at the end of July. If you have never sat on the beach until the sun sets, please put it on your list. Golden glows on the waters is magical.



Back at home the next week, the August art crawl was so well attended that it was mind blowing. Sugar Gallery was out of food and beverages in the first 90 minutes.

The tv station even came out.

I can't believe that summer is almost over. As I write this, our students are in their first week of school. 

And in the studio, I'm still in the coastal mind. 


Sun and sand. 

Need to find a cure.

Friday, August 1, 2014

August Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!

August is the month of the "last hurrah's" for summer. (We don't even really want to think about the fact that many schools start mid-month. (bummer).

But the team at  Mixed Media Monthly Challenge have a fun challenge for our creative folks. This monthl our challenge is to use modeling paste (molding paste) along with stencils. How fun is that. Modeling paste (Golden Paints call their brand molding paste) is so fun to use. If you aren't familiar, it's a thick creamy substance that creates a textured ground for painting, collage or sculpture. It dried opaque white, stiff and hard. What's extra cool about it is that you can add your paint with it and make it any color you want!



In my challenge, I used a paper collage background and let it dry. I wasn't sure what I was going to do as far as the image, but I left for a week on the beach. When I came back, I was still in coastal living mode, that I added Bahama Blue to the modeling paste and randomly used some stencils.  I used a palette knife to spread it out. I don't cover every single inch with the paste while using the stencil. I like the mystery of unfound edges in my application.


 I let it dry for several days (It should dry in an hour or two). I worked on another painting because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do on this piece. After about a week or so, I had a friend that wanted a beach painting for her place on the beach, and I knew just the thing.


I painted this beach bungalow on it. You can still see the texture of the paste and the patterned papers peeking through. It's much more interesting in person. I had so much fun, I'm doing a few more.

So if you are new to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge, here is what to do - and there is a chance to win a prize! Create something (card, layout, craft, art, etc) and include modeling paste and stencils in your creation. Post a link to the image on the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge August Post (there will be a place to upload your link), and follow all the directions on your post. A random drawing will select one winner and that person will win a gift certificate from our sponsor Eclectic Paperie! 


We can't wait to see what you create! Thanks for stopping by. You have all month to create and upload your image.