8/20/13

A New BIG Mixed Media Painting

CREATIVE DREAMING. Contact me to purchase the original.

Painting these BIG pieces is a completely different experience for me.

At first, I always feel like I need to know exactly what I am going to paint. If you're a regular reader of this blog you know that is not how I paint. 

I like to let my characters come to me out of the canvas. 

Whenever I force it, my pieces don't have the same depth or feeling. Yet when I'm painting so large I feel like I'm wasting paint and precious art supplies if I don't start with a plan.

By stepping back, I've learned that I just don't have fun with painting unless it's spontaneous and free-ing. My favorite part of the process is when the painting reveals a story to me.

So especially when painting big, I've had to learn to let go and follow my instincts.









This bunny went through a lot of different layers. 

It was always meant to be a rabbit, yet I tried to push it into new directions, which never, ever works for me. For a while, I tried very hard to turn it into a lion.

Then once I accepted it as a rabbit, I started having fun with my painting process again.

I stopped pushing and trying to control everything. I forgot all about wasting paint and just played.

Then it wasn't until I closed its eyes that everything really fell into place.






CREATIVE DREAMING. Contact me to purchase the original.

For this piece I pretty much used every single art supply I have (except glitter, which is kind of surprising. although glitter with rainbows and stars feels a bit too much to me... right now).

I layered lots of acrylic paints, tissue papers, vintage wallpaper, pastels, spray paints, pencil, inks, water soluble oil pastels and shiva oil paint sticks. Then on top I sprayed a varnish to keep everything in place, followed by a layer of vintage-hued decoupage and wax.

I call this painting CREATIVE DREAMING... a little homage to the process in which I remembered to set my intentions and pay attention to my instincts and everything around me to bring my dreams to life.

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ps. a HUGE thank you to everyone for all of your kind words, enthusiasm and support for my new course SERENDIPITY - A Year In Mixed Media

I am so excited for this class! We have such an incredible group already!

If you'd like to join us for the year, find details here. Class starts September 16, 2013.














  



6 comments:

  1. I love how you paint in your spontaneous way and this big one is as magical as your smaller ones! The process won after all hooray! xx

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  2. Hello there! My name is Erin and I was pretty excited to see your work featured in the hallway at American Girl a few weeks ago...it's always wonderful to see an artist I recognize!

    As a fellow mixed media artist [who's nowhere NEAR the level of technique you are...your work is really gorgeous!] I have a question for you- what type of spray varnish do you use to seal your pieces? I use Krylon Matte Finish, which I think I like the most out of the ones I have tried, but I'm always curious about what others are using when I see that they spray their work too.

    Okay, all for now! I love all the layers that went into this big one. :)

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    1. Hi Erin, Lovely to meet you! I also adore the Krylon Matte Finish spray... it's my favorite as it protects from uv rays and stops things from yellowing over time. I also apply a decoupage (vintage mod podge) and then a wax (dorlands wax medium) to give each piece warmth and a real matte finish. Best wishes! xo

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  3. I have never heard of vintage modge podge. May I ask what it is?

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    1. It's mod podge with a warm hue. Mod Podge makes it and it's called antique. Or I make my own by adding a bit of acrylic paint (golden's transparent yellow oxide) to regular matte mod podge. it's usually less expensive that way.

      http://www.dickblick.com/products/plaid-mod-podge/

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Feel free to say hello and ask questions. I would be delighted to hear from you! xo -juliette

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