In the Studio This Week – Distractions and Some Mixed Media Work
- kengba4
- Jan 2, 2024
- 3 min read
In the studio this week is a misnomer. I wasn’t in the studio very much at all due to the New Year’s distractions. I did start the second painting with Mark Making from the Mastery Program. I also managed to play a little with watercolor and painted an owl.
Mixed Media Piece
I started another mixed media piece from week 19 of The Mastery Program. I had done one previously and felt I just didn’t grasp the concept. The process is to pick a source, draw it on watercolor paper, and then use a variety of mark-making implements. I used water-soluble graphite and paint pens to scribble over the drawing, keeping in mind that these would possibly show in the final painting.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="2560" src="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3019-scaled.jpg" alt="Pen sketch of a sulky girl with a knit hat" class="wp-image-6131" style="width:600px" srcset="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3019-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3019-225x300.jpg 225w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3019-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3019-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3019-1536x2048.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
Kind of ugly, isn’t it?
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="2560" src="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3020-scaled.jpg" alt="Drawing of a girl with a knit hat embellished with mark-making" class="wp-image-6132" style="width:600px" srcset="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3020-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3020-225x300.jpg 225w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3020-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3020-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3020-1536x2048.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
After sealing the marks with a fixative, the next step was to apply washes using transparent acrylic paint.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3021-768x1024.jpg" alt="Drawing of a girl with a knit hat using transparent washhes" class="wp-image-6133" style="width:600px" srcset="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3021-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3021-225x300.jpg 225w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3021-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3021-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3021-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
Then I used transparent acrylic paint to bring slightly more intense color to the face and features.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3023-768x1024.jpg" alt="Mixed media painting of a girl in a knit hat" class="wp-image-6134" style="width:600px" srcset="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3023-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3023-225x300.jpg 225w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3023-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3023-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3023-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
I felt the background was too pale, so I added more transparent washes. I’m letting this dray and next will be the opaque layers and possibly oil paint. Stay tuned next week for the result.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3024-768x1024.jpg" alt="Painting of a girl with a knit hat done on watercolor paper and acrylic glaxes" class="wp-image-6136" style="width:600px" srcset="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3024-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3024-225x300.jpg 225w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3024-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3024-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3024-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />
Mixed Media Owl
I follow both Amber Kuileimailani Bonnici of Women Unleashed and Tamara (Tam) LaPorte of Willowing. Amber has been hosting a retreat for the new year and Tam is one of the guest instructors. I highly recommend checking out their websites and you can still join the retreat at the link below:
Tam’s lesson was a cute little mixed media owl done primarily with watercolor. I like to challenge myself to use watercolor more frequently so I can feel more comfortable with its unique properties. I also have a penchant for owls so I felt compelled to squeeze this in despite the holiday distractions.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="763" height="1024" src="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3022-763x1024.jpg" alt="Mixed media painting of an owl " class="wp-image-6137" style="width:600px" srcset="https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3022-763x1024.jpg 763w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3022-224x300.jpg 224w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3022-768x1031.jpg 768w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3022-1144x1536.jpg 1144w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3022-1526x2048.jpg 1526w, https://create4today.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3022-scaled.jpg 1907w" sizes="(max-width: 763px) 100vw, 763px" />
Takeaways
The new year is always a time to reflect on the past year and plan ahead. I don’t go overboard with resolutions, but I do like to have a big picture of what I want to accomplish in the coming year. Finishing the Mastery Program with a marketable artist’s portfolio is my number one goal for 2024. What about you? Do you make resolutions? Do you adopt a word for the year to keep on track? I’m a big believer in using whatever tools work best for you to grow as a creative human being. Much love to you all….
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