Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Mixing Up Media


Exuberance mixed media 7x5" by Meera Rao

A couple of months ago, I was the lucky recipient of a book giveaway from a fellow artist, author and blogger Paula Guhin at Mixed Media Manic . The book "Painting with Mixed Media"  by Paula Guhin and Geri Greenman is filled with ideas, step by step techniques and full color Portfolios of art. It has chapters on working with different media -acrylics, watercolors, oil paints, pastels and Tempera. Each chapter highlights a different painting medium, exploring the 'funky ways' it can be combined with other materials, and ends with 'Float your boat further' suggestions that challenges the artist to continue experimenting. The pages are sprinkled with 'Painting Pointers' -artistic advice and helpful hints,  'Savvy Substitutions'  - exactly that  and 'Green scene' - Eco friendly recommendations. 

I decided I needed to try out Alcohol inks with my watercolors and made a trip to the art store to buy a couple of small bottles.  Needless to say, I got lost in the aisles, and ended up buying a Pebeo Mixed media Discovery kit with Fantasy Prisme, Moon and Vitrail paints (6 bottles)  along with Pinata alcohol inks in 3 colors. The Pebeo kit promised "opalescent reactive paints that create an array of infinite designs and textured finishes." and I was seduced :) 

Back home I did a marathon session of You tube videos on Pebeo paints as I had never heard of them before.  Between the videos and the book I had receved, I was full of ideas but no plan. That meant I went off in a completely different and a totally experimental path :) I decided to use old out of focus photographs (double prints!) from long ago (when cameras used film and did not have digital previews) that I had saved because I could not bear to throw away something I had paid good money for. 

I used white gel pen, Pebeo Moon and Prisme paints for wonderful textures to paint on a photo of poinsettias.  Not a drastic change but enough with  more texture  and personality. I have the before and after shots below. 


Fire and Ice  Mixed media  5x7" by Meera Rao

poinsettia photo before 

'Exuberance'  on the very top of the blog is transformation of the photo below.  Here I used  Pebeo Prisme, Moon, and Ceramic paints, Pinata Alcohol Inks, and casein paint.  Pebeo recommends one to pour large quantities of Moon and Prisme (I am yet to try Vitrail) but I used droppers and toothpicks for what I wanted to do. I will use Krylon sealer when the piece is completely dry.  I am very pleased with my experimenting and  really like the results !  

Exuberance mixed media 7x5" by Meera Rao

the photo for "Exuberance"

Exuberance  Mixed media 7x5" by Meera Rao
Fire and Ice  Mixed media 5x7" by Meera Rao 


10 comments:

Carol Blackburn said...

Hi Meera, sure looks like you had some fun with that. We adults have to play too, don't we. I hope things are good with you.

Paula Guhin said...

OMG, girl, you are so talented! And Geri G would be tickled by your fishy header, too. Thanks so much for the mention and kind words. I'm attempting to reach you privately after this. Again, way to go.

Christine said...

What a fabulous time you have had with such great results.
Thank you for sharing.

ashok said...

Just awesome Meera

Meera Rao said...

Thank you, Carol! and yes, it has been a lot of fun playing :)

Meera Rao said...

@Paula, aww --you made my day :) and thank you for the inspiration!

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Christine, beginner's luck ? I am thoroughly enjoying my experiments :)

Meera Rao said...

Ashok, Thank you!Always good to hear from you !

Yvonne said...

I can tell you had fun with the new media. They came out well. Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your experiments.

Meera Rao said...

Thanks Yvonne!! too much fun hard to stop :)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...