New Mini- Workshop. Free. Here. Now.

Chris and I have developed a small series of free tutorials that we will be posting here. Consider it a small taste of what you normally get in our full workshops. The techniques will be quick and you can apply them to art or your journal. We'll list supplies, talk about the video AND answer your questions here.

If you have any questions or comments, please post them here. Chris and I will post answers to the questions here so that everyone can read them all in one place. Why? Because if you have a question, someone else has a question and we can all learn here together. Please do not email me your questions. Post them here. Check back daily or subscribe to the comment thread for continually learning.

Without further adieu, I would like to introduce to you: Very Easy Fast AND Fancy Backgrounds, parts 1 & 2:

 

Very Fast and Fancy Mixed Media Backgrounds from Julie Prichard on Vimeo.

 

(Please note there is only music audio on the video. In class, the videos we produce have voice-over narrative as well. You can mute the music and listen to your own music and read the captions for this mini-workshops.)

Part 1: Schmear

Chris and I use Golden paint. The paint offers a strong pigment load and you will find a little paint goes a long way. We have identified a small palette that will lend excellent mixing results with a wide range of color for you: Titan Buff, Titanium White, Hansa Yellow Medium, Anthraquinone Blue and Quinacridone Red. Chris starts will a small dot of each color on her disposable palette. These colors will not make mud.

Using a palette knife, Chris takes small dabs of each color and mixes them directly onto a Strathmore Visual Journal (Mixed Media). If you have not picked up one of these books yet, do it. The paper is excellent for multi-media artwork. I also love how the covers are so sturdy. Chris is burnishing the paint onto the journal using a plastic palette knife. Notice how little paint is needed.

Transparent colors will not make mud when mixing. If you are having trouble with paint, you may want to consider our Color: Beyond the Basics online workshop. The workshop will deal with mixing color, understanding paint AND several painting techniques. Ever feel confused about what color to add to your composition? This is the class for you.

In our journal, we have sewn in a piece of Strathmore Black Art Paper. This paper is listed as being suitable for pastels, watercolor and drawing, but we find it hold up great for mixed media application as well. The black paper is to show you the difference that a black under painting would give. You're making journals, right? Why not start with black paper?

Back to the video- Transparent colors will not show up on the black paper until you mix Titan Buff or Titanium White with the color. Adding these two colors will produce an opaque color that looks great on the darker surface. Experiment with mixing the colors with the Buff and White and notice the difference that each color gives you.

We filmed this video while it was very hot in San Diego. Notice that Chris does not stop mixing color. We notice that the Strathmore Mixed Media paper does not "suck up" the paint as quickly as some other brands allowing us slightly more working time with the paint. To make her paint move a little longer, Chris adds Golden's Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Gloss) to the mix. This is another one of our must-have products. Notice how much further she can extend the paint with only a little glazing liquid.

Part 2: Sparkle

Next up, Chris is going to add a couple of drops of Golden's Interference Blue and Micaceous Iron Oxide paint to the palette. She will mix these colors in with the colors she already has on her palette to make difference effects. The Interference paint reacts differently depending on what color is placed beneath it. When you turn the paper in the light, you will notice the interference properties of the paint.

I love interference paint. If you are into making things look dirty and grungy, then Micaceous Iron Oxide is also a must-have color.

Imagine these techniques covering your journal page or canvas. Both of them are so simple, yet they are really beautiful. For their simplicity, they look very sophisticated! We hope that you can remember these techniques and add them to your painting repertoire. Please let us know if you have any questions about the material covered in the video and be sure to stop by again soon for more techniques!

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