Textiles in Mixed Media

Today is MONDAY and my mixed media art workshop is tonight! I have a dozen eager and talented ladies that have come with willing hearts and great creativity. I was looking at a mixed media blog over the weekend and wanted to post it here for inspiration. The name of the blog is

Mixed Media May

and for every day in May for the past few years, they have a guest mixed media artist and an interview.

I was guest artist a couple of years ago on this blog. To get directly to my interview, click

Melanie Douthit Mixed Media May Interview

So.......... for tonight's class I am demonstrating my technique for painting on a collaged paper background. I will take a prepared background and go from there. FUN and SCARY because my students get to see any woops that can happen, which, frankly, is a plus because we all need to know that creating is a process with an unexpected end result and bumps and woopsies come along the way, so you learn to improvise!

and I can NOT stress enough to everyone to follow this blog NOW! This new mixed media blog will have prizes! but you need to follow and comment on the blog, and also on Facebook!!! Who doesn't like inspiration AND the possibility of GOODIES to create with? Go to

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

This is what I am working on right now. It's not technically mixed media, but I did do something new on it.

I created this background which I loved and is almost a finished painting in itself, but in the spirit of pushing to the limits, I took my Pitt Big Brush white pen and....

Again... Taking it to the limits.... As of right now it in in the process of being a landscape. Check back! And if you want more peeks.... Follow me on Instagram!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Mixed media house art

It's a beautiful Friday and I am finishing up some fun mixed media projects.

I made this house earlier this week. 

I used patterned papers, stickers and my Faber-Castell Big Brush Pens and black Pitt pens. I had some leftover rub ons and just randomly added them here and there. 

In my mixed media class, we played with texture medium and spray inks with stencils. On Monday we will be using fabrics for texture, and taking our backgrounds to the next level and actually putting art work on it. Remember, "Let It Go" and don't hold back. It's just paper and paint. 

Here's a couple of photos from Monday night's class.

And I wanted to share a new mixed media inspiration blog! They will have a monthly challenge with examples from their design team. They are giving away prizes! Bookmark it and check it regularly. It's

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge.

Have a great weekend! 

Gearing up for Mixed Media Class Number Two

The first mixed media class was this week. What a fun group of creative ladies. I had a little surprise when the woman that urged me to have the class walked in with her mother. I knew her mother and had not seen her I over ten years. I just didn't know these ladies were related! What a small world!

I used wood blocks and show basic collage using dress pattern paper, patterned scrapbook paper, and adding texture with ink and household stencils (things you find around the house). The ladies took the ideas and created their own designs. Here are a few pics.

For those taking the class, a recap of some of the things talked about. For art supplies, check out:

http://www.dickblick.com

For scrapbook products:

Emmas Paperie

Mixed media products

Scarlet Lime

And one of the students recommended watching Donna Downey videos at

Donna Downey

For the next class, don't forget to bring:

Your choice of surface...canvas or wood. If you being wood, please have it primed with a water based primer or gesso so you can start right away.

Papers for collage

Paints- your choice of colors and brands. All acrylic or latex (water based)

If you have stencils, bring them but don't buy until you see demo

And the regular items, brushes, mod podge, paper towels, scissors

Notebook with ideas of what you might want to create and anything else you might want to incorporate with your piece....alphabet stickers...etc

Don't forget a small jar.

I will be demonstrating a collage background using paper and stencils. 

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions before then.

Thanks for stopping by.

Live in the Moment Mixed Media

Yeah- it's Friday! Lots to do today to get details finished on my Mixed Media workshop which starts in three days! If you are taking my class, don't forget to jot down ideas or questions to ask in class. The first day will be a bit fast paced because I have sooo much I want to teach you, yet still allow time to play... I mean create!

Here is a piece I worked on here and there between other projects. The background is various patterned papers. I added some border stickers (cut in half down the center) and drew off my design with black paint. It was several days before I could get back to it, but I had to decide if I wanted to leave the flowers in touched or not. 

After painting the background, I decided color! I purposely didn't paint the entire background because I wanted the music paper to show. I added paint with stencils, and stamps with. Lack ink. I went back over the black lines with Scribbles paint. Then I added washi tape, word stickers and punched butterflies.

I have lots to do today! My daughter's local theater production opens tomorrow, and Sunday I will be at the annual Blend of the Bayou event as one of the Bayou Artists. Looks like beautiful weather, too! Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Mini Art with Mixed Media

One of the "fun" play time things I do in my studio is create mini art with mixed media. I used to be a scrapbooking addict, and have oodles of papers and embellishments that I haven't used. I love finding creating ways to use them. One of my favorite size is 5"x5" (or 6x6). I spent the afternoon in my studio "playing" with my scrappy supplies, so here is a look at what I made.

The first project was a special request from someone. They had specific colors and words they wanted. That is helpful because it helped me choose papers and embellishments quickly.

I used patterned papers and sheet music for the background. I used a border sticker on the side (I cut it down the middle to give the scalloped look), and chevron washi tape. The pink shape at the top is part of a scalloped card stock photo frame. (Mixed media will make you look at your stash in a new way). The flower petal was part of a feather duo... I removed the feather. I had purchased a package of fabric flower shapes specifically for mixed media art as well as the mini alphabets, but the rest of the stash was from my stash. I used a background stamp around the edges (carefully covering the center of the image) and alphabet stamps and other items to create texture on the surface with ink and paint. I used a waterproof black pen to draw the stitches on the flower. 

The next fun piece is a redo of one I made last year. 

I used various patterned papers and tissue paper (from a sewing pattern) on the background. I painted the sky and defined the mountains. I used a border sticker on the bottom. The tree is torn from a cardboard box (tear away the top layer to reveal the cool texture). I drew the bird and treetop shapes on the back of the papers and cut out. The background has random texture stamped with paint and ink. I used a multi alphabet stamp (larger than the one used in the precious project) on the image. A waterproof ink pen ( I used the Scarlet Lime doodle pen here) to define the clouds, treetop, bird and flowers. 

For those of you that are local, I am teaching a mixed media class beginning in May. (As of this writing there is only one spot left). I will be posting projects on my blog to give you an idea of the type of supplies and techniques we will be using.

Besides our local Hobby Lobby, many of the supplies I use in these projects can be purchased online at Emmas Paperie or Scarlet Lime. 

I hope you have been inspired! Thanks for stopping by. 

For my Upcoming Mixed Media Art Class

I'm teaching a mixed media art class soon, and wanted to post a few images of the type of things we will be doing in this class. If you are local and would like information, please respond in the comments or on my facebook page.

In progress of a collage piece.

Finished piece. This was done on reclaimed lumbar (from scrap pile at a new construction).

Here is one more

Collage with some texture and paint.

Starting the painting process.

Finished image. This is done on 20" x 20" canvas.

Thanks for stopping by!

"Music and Lyrics" Solo Art Show

The "Music & Lyrics" Art Show at MAD Gallery in Monroe was last week. I've been busy painting new pieces for the show for the past few months. Since I love incorporating music in some fashion into my art, this theme was fun!!

Here is my invitation.

This is one of my New Orleans themed paintings called "Preservation Hall Jazz"

and here is one of the paintings inspired by a song title. This is called "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant"

And here are a few photos from the gallery.

Thanks for stopping by! I have a few more shows to get ready for. It's never a dull moment around here. Have a great week!