I recently enrolled in a super fun on-line class taught by Roben-Marie Smith. Her class is called Mixed Media Mayhem. You may have already heard about her class but in case you have not ... let me tell you ... it is GREAT!
While I was waiting for some of the sprays and paints I ordered to arrive, I decided to dive in and watch the first few videos. Her technique is loose and uncomplicated ... don't think too much and just start. I love that! And the one thing that I found myself totally in awe with ... the movement and motion of her hands ... very inspiring!
Here's a glimpse of what I've been working on since watching Roben-Marie's videos. This is not exactly what she is teaching in the on-line class, but this what I was inspired to make on my own. I'll post my work from her class at a later post.
Here's what I did:
- On a panel of watercolor paper, smudge and swirl a couple of colors of watercolor paint. Let dry.
- Using a rubber stamp (Stitches and Dots) and brown ink pad, stamp the image randomly on the panel.
- Dribble water onto the stamped image and move the ink around to smear. Dab with a paper towel to soak up the excess water.
- Add gesso with a paintbrush or your finger and randomly smear it over the stamped area.
- Using stencils, brown ink and a sponge, mark up the panel , then smear stencil image with water.
- Add another layer of gesso and let the panel dry. (Use a heat gun to speed up the drying process)
- Using Letter stamps (Best Life Alphabet) and the brown ink, add letter and words to the panel and again, smear with dribbled water.
- Adhere an image from an old book page and a scrap of inked paper.
- Using a sewing needle and thread, stitch a running stitch through the panel.
- Continue to add more watercolors and gesso to the panel and sprites and splatter inks.
- Using a fine tip permanent marker, journal thoughts and words and then swipe it with another layer of gesso.
- Ink the sides of the panel and using your finger, smudge and smear the edges.
- Add small accents of bronze metallic acrylic paint.
After I have a bunch of these panels collaged and painted I'll be stitching them into an art journal ...
Stay Tuned!













