Free Online Class with Instructor Joy Ting.

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I'm wishing to loosen up a bit in my approach to Water Colors or mixed media. 

 I did a class with Joy Ting. Seems she runs a freebie class every month or so. I was interested in the floral prompt photo, not able to share which was just a huge smattering of flowers, layers and layers of fresh flowers. So many, you couldn't possibly paint them all on a small 11 x 14.  I used a heavy multi-media paper, because I knew we were going to be doing a lot of different things.

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Stage 1

I should have taken photos as we went along, but working live so fast it is impossible...basically I got the floral shapes done in class and no background or leaves. 

The flower shapes were very loose with sloppy wet water colors. Then we scribbled/marked up the flower shapes (I used some water-based Gelato sticks in bright colors.) You can see the blotchy colors on the rough texture of the paper. 

It was so loose, it literally looked like blotches. 

After class I added watercolor greens in the background. I personally am not fond of white paper, unless the subject matter (snow, clouds, houses, flowers, etc.) are white. This was the first day.

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Stage 2

Okay, I wasn't happy with the definition of Day 1. So I dragged out my colored pencils, alcohol markers and went to work. 

First thing I did was take the Gelato marks with water, and then alcohol to marry the markers and the Gelato marks. I tried to blend them into their surroundings, and then I began darkening the background and shadows with markers and ordinary colored pencils.

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Stage 2

I just didn't want blotch flowers, but blotches then began to be Marigolds, Zinnia Stock, Canterbury Bells, leaves of Coleus, Bachelor buttons, Morning Glories, and a few I'm not sure what they are. 

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Stage 3

Slowly the jumble of shapes began to blossom and the background retreated back. I softened lots of edges with alcohol on a brush, but still leaving some grainy bits of the Gelato sticks (the flowers on the bottom) for texture.

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Stage 3

I chose to not have access to the prompt photo after class, so I let the shapes take me to flowers I knew. 

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Stage 3

Even a stem of Lupine grew from some blue blotches.  The pink/blue flower to the right was layered with mauve marker over the scattering of blue water color and Turquoise Gelato stick-nummy subdued lavenders.

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Stage 3

Morning Glories are beautiful and easy to spot, but the gold cluster on the left which was in the photo, I can't seem to identify the flower (with tube bells with speckles.)  

Backgrounds: I didn't use any black, it just seems so. Layers of green water colors with added dark browns and dark green markers deepened the background.

Light and dark shadings on flowers/foliage were usually done with colored pencils or thin marker tips. 

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I'm not totally pleased with the result, but I learned so much from this process.

Conclusion: Try as I might, I'm not a super free painter...I like some reality added to blotches. I will try to  continue and loosen up. I'm also thinking I'm trending toward multi-media. And, really liking the alcohol markers for their control and intensity. I really enjoy the transparent layering of the markers over the water colors or other media...intensifying here and there, subduing and defining elsewhere.

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PS my Faber Castell Water-based Gelatos sticks  also break down with alcohol on a brush, making them very versatile. I had picked up this set on deep discount. And I'm considering watching for a deal on another set. I had considered oil pastels, but now I think the water/alcohol dissolvable will be better for me.

Any questions, I will try and answer!

What's on your Art Desk 

or in your Sketchbook, 

this week?

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question. 

Join me at these fine blog parties:

Tuesday Turn About

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All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own unless identified, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown.  

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission.  

Thank you for your cooperation, 
Sandi 

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Mather Creative Mindfulness: Lake Shore Organic Shapes

Mather Creative Mindfulness:Lakeshore Organic Shapes.

I totally love my Monday late afternoon class with Casey. The Mather classes are geared towards seniors, but honestly how fun the prompts are and free spirited.

This week the guide was to just work with organic shapes. I had been thinking so much of the beach in my hometown on Lake Michigan. I'll be visiting later this week and I will definitely stop at the lakeshore and beach.

We were encouraged to begin with large free lines and then some organic shapes. 

For me the idea of water and sand, seaweed and critters in the lake. Lake Michigan is full of rocks, fossils, polished glass, bits, small shells and birds picking the shoreline

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From the outlines we were encouraged to make concentric lines following our main shapes. The example was in black and white and then red. Well, you know how I love color by now....so I think I used at least a dozen. 

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I think I like it this way.....Definitely a fun exercise. Sometimes scribbling is just a wonderful way to pass an hour or so. 

My lines are a bit shakey, but I love the layering of the colors of my alcohol markers from 5-Below...you can't beat the price. Every time I use them I discover a new combination of colors and marks.

Hope you enjoy my 'Lakeshore Organic Shapes'.

Thanks to Mather Free Online Classes for Seniors

 Information: HERE. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question. 

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All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own unless identified, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown.  

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission.  

Thank you for your cooperation, 
Sandi 

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Playing with Resists and Different Medias

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You must think all I do is paint, well, maybe 4 times a week for an hour or so...so not that much. It takes me longer to make these posts. Well, the budget just doesn't allow for too many new products, so I decided to test what I have in the house and in my paint stashes as resist products. Some items are over 20 years old...so bear with me and my results.

Charting your own products can be the only way to give a crafter/artist information on what a product actual does with the media/products they use.

On the left side I have my different types of media which are stroked from left to right across all three connected pages, it folds up neatly in my sketchbook.

Across the top are different resist or what I thought could be resist products.

Procedures after scribbling/striping each resist media down the pages. 

 I then painted by mixing the chosen media with enough water to carry the brush across one page and refilling and continuing, left to right.  I chose different colors and sometimes transparent and opaque hues of the same type of paint. Of course water weakens anything, but I needed a fluid one layer wash of as strong as possible color. 

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Looks, like a mess, but let's look at it page by page and in detail.

Page 1

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Across the top are the resist type products,

LtoR

Dawn Soap,

Yellow chalkboard chalk, 

Washable Elmers Clear Glue in twist top bottle

Modge Podge Matte. 

These were all brushed, scribbled or painted down the page in quick strokes.

After painting, the resist surfaces were wiped with a damp cloth...of course this also affects the water colors.

I've circled in pen any interesting or worthy effects.

The colored stripes from Top to bottom are the following media. 

(Gold) Cake Gouache,

(Orange) Tube Gouache, 

(Brown-almost opaque) VanDyke Brown tube watercolor, 

(Lime-Green transparent) tube Watercolor, 

(Quinacradone Crimson-Transparent) Golden tube fluid acrylic, 

(Blue opaque)-Golden tube acrylic, 

(Crimson transparent)-Golden tube acrylic, 

(Green)Artists Loft Acrylic tube paint, 

(Blue) Apple Barrel acrylic craft paint,(Lime transparent) Alcohol marker,(Green )Alcohol Ink dripped into sprayed alcohol solution, 

(Blue) Alcohol Marker, 

(Deep red )Alcohol ink dripped unto sprayed alcohol solution.

The alcohol products were not in contact with the water.

All the products were thinned so they would paint/mark all the way across the page.

BELOW on page 2, the  color stripes are all the same as above on each of the three pages.

I've circled in pen any interesting or worthy effects.

Page 2

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Resist from Left to Right going down the page.

Left to right going down, 

Black Grease Pencil-nice and strong, 

Pebeo Drawing Gum solution, 

Gum Arabic, 

Titanium Zinc white oil stick, 

Scotch Permanent Glue stick, 

White acrylic gesso,

These were all wide stroke applied without any  scribbling except for the grease pencil.  Again everything was wiped off with a damp paper toweling.

Page 3

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Left to Right to bottom, 

Lt. Blue wax Crayon,  

Washable Wax Crayon, 

Pebeo Masking Pen, wiggles and straight (peel off when dry), 

Aleenes Clear Tacky Glue,

Empty space was to be- Winsor Newton masking liquid-second bottle that has dried up on me...and it's 15+$ a bottle so no results, but I won't be buying it again. DANG!), 

Elmer's washable Glue stick in last spot.

The Pebeo products actually worked the best, leaving white paper to show, but had to be peeled off after everything was dried. All the other products worked to some degree with certain types of paints. All columns were lightly wiped with a wet paper towel to wipe away on top of the other resists. the alcohol products did what they were supposed to do without washing off.

 Alcohol inks and markers really penetrate the paper and even the Pebeo products didn't completely protect those surfaces. You can definitely get some interesting textures and mottling though, so if you use these mediums experiment with your own products and by all means, chart them.

Water colors are mostly transparent and water based Gouache are opaque were also weakened or textured with almost all of the products except for chalk and white gesso.

 Gesso is actually a painting ground and simply absorbs the colors of everything, but washing off a bit will expose the textures the gesso strokes or application may show.Interesting textures can be had with stencil or textured gesso surfaces on paper.

The Acrylic products worked pretty well over all the resists, except for again Gesso which absorbed the colors.

Inexpensive Good results for water based paints were: 

Washable Kids Elmer glue stick...great mottling for large surfaces.

Dawn dish soap worked OK, but removing from small areas would be difficult and q-tips would need to be used. Mottling effects can be achieved with this.

Elmers Washable bottle glue with twist tip...works well for lines with even opaque products, smeared gives interesting effects.

Crayons show through pretty much anything, but don't actually resist much. Worth experimenting with.

Scotch Permanent Glue stick, a little bit stronger than the washables, and it won't wash away, so permanent.

Chalk---gave interesting effects with alcohol products, not much with water based.

$$ Pricier Good results for water based paints or alcohol products.

Grease Pencil...shows through everything, won't remove with repeated layers or rubbing off with water, but dissolves with alcohol products. (this is the pencil you peel paper off of to expose the grease stick).

Modge Podge is basically a sealer/but, alcohol soluble..so great for washing off water media surfaces. A thin or thick application or stenciling/stamping would effect water based media and give great effects. Totally ineffective with alcohol products as it will dissolve into mush with them.

Aleene's Clear Tacky Glue. (This is my go to glue for lots of projects) A bit pricier than Elmers, but works well under all water based paints except for opaque craft paint. Even plays well with alcohol products. Test first before using.

$$$ Most Expensive ( of course these have the best results)

$$ Pebeo products provided excellent results....on the higher $ amount but for precise resists, it's great. (note bought and used at the same time as Newtons but doesn't seem to dry up (1 year old product)

$$ Gum Arabic is used in oil painting and as a binder for water colors...so it does give some resistance to watercolors when wiped off with a wet cloth. Mottled textures, stands to reason it may react differently with different types of water colors.

It also affects alcohol, but probably not predictable, but a way of creating unexpected textures!. 

$$$Windsor Newton resist. I do not recommend, because I have two bottles that dried up in less than 2 uses each.

I hope you find this useful, and even better encourage you to try different types of resists with the painting/crafting products you use. 

   Happy RESIST Painting!  

Thanks always for visiting, 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question. 

Join me at these fine blog parties:

Tuesday Turnabout

Whimsy Home Wednesday

Vintage Charm

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own unless identified, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown.  

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission.  

Thank you for your cooperation, 
Sandi 

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Garden Popping with Produce, Blanche and Freezing Veggies!

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Hi, All...well you are probably sick of my painting, but the other half of my life is gardening. Honestly, we have had a ton of rain here, so you have to run out and do something whenever it is not pouring. 

But, HOT...our humidity actually has been in the 90%, the bugs love it, I don't.

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We've had two meals of Beans, the Broccoli is starting- 4 nice heads this week. The first heads are always the best 

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Yellow summer squash are starting. Lots of blossoms, but with the rain the blossoms have limped up and fallen off before polination.  I have flowers here and there to encourage flowering, and the sunflowers are everywhere.

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We've had one small Zucchini, and a small Cucumber is waiting for salad tonight.

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The Snow Peas are done, I'm leaving them to dry for seed. And, I will replant in August. We can always pop them in the greenhouse if it ever turns COLD.

 Meanwhile we have had multiple meals, and now a bag that needs to be frozen.

Monday is clean the fridge day...hubby and I both shop when we are out and we both bought a bag of those small peppers that keep so well and are sweet and tasty.  So, long as I'm going to clean the fridge, I decided to blanch and freeze all our miscellaneous produce and some of the fresh from the garden.

A simple HOW TO:

BLANCHING AND FREEZING VEGETABLES

Equipment:

Knives, cutting board, compost container, large covered pot, Sieves or colander, medium metal bowl for icing, drainboard, pot holders, draining or straining spoon, timer, freezer bags, hot pad holders.

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Today I'm using my 1968 REVERE WARE WORKHORSE Dutch Oven. 

Specs online say this is 6 quarts, which is perfect for small batches of veggie blanching. This is the last of my Revere ware pots and pans from our wedding to survive all these years, it's from when they were still well made. I like using it because the lid rattles when it comes to a boil.

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The first veggie I did, was cleaned and de-stringed Snow Peapods. This was the last picking and there are a few mature peas in here, but they are still so tender.

 I  blanched them in boiling water for maybe 2 minutes, and then tossed into ice water until chilled. Scoop them onto the drain board and on to the next Veggies.

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I did roughly three cups of beans....very young and tender, these were blanched in the same kettle of water for 3 minutes and then sieve drained and tossed into fresh cold water and ice...completely chill and drain.

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The time in-between was just enough to prep the next veggie and let the water recover to boiling. I use a metal bowl because of the ability to chill fast and is also heat tolerant.

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My last batch for this kettle of water were three medium (@ 4-5") heads of fresh Broccoli, loosely chopped.

All were blanched for maybe 4-5 minutes.

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(or until the boil returned) and then chilled in ice water and put on the drainboard. Here, I dumped them in the hot water.

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After blanching and in the ice water, the Broccoli is still crunchy, but remember you are going to cook it one more time, so less time is better. Broccoli will break down if you pre-cook for too long, so I just cook it until it starts to boil.

Well about the rest, I was going to do the Summer Squash, too, but we will have that tonight for our Carb with Turkey burgers and Asparagus (purchased).

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So that leaves the 1/2 bag of peppers, a purchased Yellow Pepper and

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these homegrown garden onions. I have had lots of onions through the Spring and early summer. and the ones in the raised planters should be ready next week. Then I will plant some more for Fall.

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So chop, chop, chop...loosely and these I did a bit large, and the onions and other pepper a bit smaller.

These were tossed into boiling water and less than 2 minutes then into the a fresh ice bath.

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Perfect assortment for any cooked dish. Now into the freezer bags.

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The Pepper mix is still draining..but, these I just label the date..you can see what everything is.

I use GOOD quality freezer bags. I Reuse them by washing the bags out and drying them and then using for leftovers. 

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The fresh on sale Asparagus...pre-cooked in the microwave for 5 minutes so it can keep a day or two more. We will still have fresh for our omelets in the morning besides. Again, hubby bought extra because of the sale.

Cleaning up is always the REDO or REUSE  by Composting. We add some paper products, paper towels and coffee filters. Everything else is vegetable waste or green, egg shells, from the kitchen except for any meat or dairy products, NO Banana peels, and we are trying to eliminate seeds goes into the compost. (Bread products are toasted and fed to the birds)

All this gets layered with grass cuttings, bush clippings and any non-weed greenery we have from the yard. Hubby layers in Peat Moss and this year, Vermiculite to loosen our clay laden soil. We have been amending the soil here since the early 80's and well, it's still clay...blacker clay, but clay, lol.

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While cleaning the kitchen the full bowl of compost went out, and I started a new bowl. Mornings coffee grounds and an egg shell.

I was careful not to throw any pepper seeds into here, 

 Honestly we have more plants growing in our compost pile then the garden. 

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I wonder what all those Squash/Pumpkin looking plants are?? 

Tomatoes, peppers, maybe Watermelon? We had Watermelon on Memorial Day...LOL.

All those in the back I think are Tomato plants?

How are your 

Garden Veggies Doing?

Thanks always for visiting, 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question. 

Join me at these fine blog parties:

Love Your Creativity

Handmade Monday

You're the Star

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All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own unless identified, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown.  

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission.  

Thank you for your cooperation, 
Sandi