Mixed Media Painting

Gone Destination – Painting

I wanted share with you my painting “Gone Destination” which I had painted for one of the chapters of my book Artful Adventures in Mixed Media. The painting shows “Pearl Paint,  an art supply store, I used to visit often in NYC when I was still living in Germany and once in a while visit my family in the States. I loved this place and I loved the building. I was very sad when it closed down.  The paining is part of one of my chapters in my book where I show how and why I created the background – and what it was inspired by. I was pleasantly surprised that this was picked as the cover image for my book by the publisher (you see as an author you do not have a lot of say on that ;) ) . A student of mine, Julie B., really wanted it and so it is now on it’s way to California. I am so happy to know this painting that is so special to me will have a new loving home.

Speaking of Artful Adventures- are you playing along in the Stroll Through the Hood Challenge and Free Classroom? It is so much fun and I love seeing all the different “hoods” of those participating from all over the world, from all kinds of different neighborhoods- rural, urban …It is like an inspiring mini-vacation! Check it out if you haven’t yet and join the fun!

Have a wonderful day!

Nat

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1.25.2016 – Painting

 

2016

I haven’t shown this painting yet which I did last year. It depicts a moment at the beginning of the big snow blizzard in January 2016. I stept outside the door to take a quick photo. The light was just amazing and I had to capture that moment in a painting. I used acrylic paints, markers and charcoal. It is one of my favorite paintings I did last year – the only way I like winter …in a painting ;)

Nat

Comments (6)

  • Cheryl

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    Ohhhh, I love this painting! Awesome work.

    Reply

  • Barb Charlotte, NC

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    I don’t say it enough but, I enjoy your site. You always have fresh ideas.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you so much Barb! have a gorgeous day and thank you for visiting me :)

      Reply

  • Joi@RR

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    Oh Oh OH OHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh – It’s INCREDIBLE Nat. Those colors… and those buildings…. AMAZING. The snow is perfect too. I agree – the only way to have snow is in a painting!!! This is a MASTERPIECE…. in my eyes!! You made my week – thanks so much for sharing. Xj.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Awe. Joi- you are the super sweetest. thank you so much !!! have a beautiful weekend!

      Reply

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New Mixed Media Painting – Suburbia

SuburbiaCanvas01

This painting (12×12″ – acrylic paint, ink, spray paint, charcoal on canvas)  is a bit unusual because it is actually not an urban theme – but I loved creating it nonetheless :) My brother in law is super supportive of my artwork and he has commented on quite a few of my paintings when he was over that he would love to own this or that piece. So I thought…maybe I paint something more personal for him…which would be his home – and so this was a birthday present, which put me a bit in a pickle. You know …I usually do not do artwork with other people in mind or as a commission…and it was a bit hard for me to really let go and just do my thing without thinking of what he might think or how he might like it.

Here is a little montage on how the painting evolved over the weeks

suburbiacollage

Started with the underpainting, added the sky, added one layer after the other glazing over and over for the facade which gave a lot of texture and dimension and lastly added details, plants and other fun stuff

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Here you see some of the close ups

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SuburbiaCanvas04

I love this house – so many wonderful memories are connected with it and I hope my brother in law likes the painting as well and it speaks to him

Now…off to the next painting

Nat

Comments (8)

  • Joi@RR

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    Oh what fun to see the progress pictures. It’s much less busy and bold than I’m used to seeing in your art Nat but as Barbara said – it’s still YOU. My personal description of you is “rustic contemporary”!!! And this painting for you BIL is a perfect example. It’s abstract with a earthy fair – rustic contemporary – ehehehheeh!!!! LOVE the colors and the textures you achieved. So fun seeing this – you did GREAT. Xj.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Joi, so happy to hear you liked the progress photos. Rustic Contemporary- oh I like that :) Thank you for your wonderful comment and have a great weekend!

      Reply

  • Kathy Gledsdale

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    How lovely, beautiful colour choices.

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you Kathy -yeah I start to really love the bright yellow and pink at the moment :)

      Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    What a nice and thoughtful present.
    Thanks for showing us how it progressed.

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you Sue- good to hear you liked the progress photos :)

      Reply

  • Barbara Poe

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    This is so charming! It’s still you, but a little different. I love it. I’m sure he will too.

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Awe thank you Barbara, glad you like it :) I think my BIL did too- He was looking right away where it could be hanged – so I take it as a good sign- LOL

      Reply

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New Mixed Media Painting – Flat Iron Building

FlatIron01

I finished this new painting of the Flat Iron Building in NYC which is 12″x16″. I had a good time with it, especially trying to get a bit into a different color scheme and using pastels. I was definitely inspired by the Art Stroll through the Degas Exhibition at MoMA.

ProgressFlatIron

This is a little photo collage showing the progress of the painting from underpainting, to adding more details, to changing things, over staring it down to finishing it up :) .

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Besides Acrylic Inks, Acrylic Paints and Acrylic Markers, I also used Charcoal Marker and Graphite.

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I added some finishing touches with PanPastels. It was fun – and I am very drawn to this color palette.

For those of you who want to know what I used specifically – as always a supply list- some links are affiliate links.

SuppliesCJS

 


Let me know if you find the process of a painting interesting to see- if so I will incorporate those collages more often !

Don’t forget that I have a Blogiversary SALE right now going on with 20% off of online workshops (like Creative Jumpstart 2016), DVDs, and select items (including all the stampsandstencils) from the n*Store online.  The sale prices are reflected in the store now.It ends tomorrow night!

Happy Blogiversary sale

Have a beautiful day!

Nat

Comments (4)

  • Rae

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    This might be my favorite one yet Nathalie. The colors are amazing and there is just something very real and alive in it! LOVE it! xx

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Awe- thank you so much Rae ! Hope you have a gorgeous weekend!

      Reply

  • Brenda

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    I like the color palette as well. I also enjoyed seeing the pictures of the different stages of the painting. Do you usually take pictures of the different stages for reference when working on a painting? Great painting!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      thank you Brenda! Yes I do take photos in between to see the evolvement of it and also where I might have taken a different turn- but also to check on color values and because it is just a different view to see it through the camera.

      Reply

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The American Dream – Mixed Media Painting

TheAmericanDream_01

I finished a new painting inspired by a street here in Jersey City that I heard being referred to as the New Orleans Row.

I used a acrylic paints, spray paints, markers, acrylic media as well as some pastels and wax bars for highlights – I had a good time :)

TheAmericanDream_02

This painting took quite some time – I had to let it sit longer periods of times to see if I would still think it was done and it was even hanging on the wall for a while to see how I would like it then. When do you know a painting is done? Well…when I stop dropping the vacuum cleaner when passing by because I need to change or add something ;)

SuppliesCJS



Nat

Comments (5)

  • Gina Sismilich

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    I love that painting. Your city scenes just get better and better.

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  • Joi@RR

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    Totally laughed out loud when I read your dropping the vacuum statement – you are so cute!!! Well – you already know that I ADORE this painting. YOU – dear Nat – just are THE BEST at this type of city scape work. I honestly believe you could go down as an “old master” someday for doing these. They are so unique and intriguing. Looking at this one… I feel like I can see inside…. and I want to put my foot on those steps right NOW. It just CALLS to me – asking me to come inside. The colors are just STUNNING… so perfect in every way. And I know in my mind that the yellow strokes are supposed to be reflections of the sky/sun but they add such a magical and happy aura to the painting. And the yellow lights high up on the porch could also be hanging flower baskets – in my mind!!! There is nothing dark about this building – to me – it is warm and bright and full of life. JUST LIKE YOU!!!! Ok – I will stop rambling but I truly think this is a WORK OF ART that will someday be NOTICED. Hugs. j.

    Reply

  • Rebecca Buchanan

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    Depth and complexity and yet such a wonderful ethereal quality to this. Beautiful painting–love it!

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  • Jean Marmo

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    I love this! The buildings are wonderful!

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  • Deborah A. Pierro

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    Hi Nat–I love the painting. I especially love your paintings of buildings and cityscapes. I do exactly what you do to decide if a painting is finished. I think that’s what most artists do. Best to you!

    Reply

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Glow – Mixed Media Painting

Glow_NatKalbach01

I finally finished this painting – I had a good time painting with Inks, Acrylic Paints, Spray Paint and Markers . It has quite some texture created with Heavy Body Paint but also with Natural Sand which is hard to capture on photos and the color choice was first a bit unconventional but then started speaking to me :)

Here is the list of supplies I used – as I know some of you enjoy seeing what went into it :)

nSupplies

 



I hope you have a gorgeous and creative day!

Nat

Comments (1)

  • Rebecca Buchanan

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    Wow Nathalie. So much to keep coming back to in this as a viewer I mean. Complex and wonderful. I do like the unusual color choice–it makes me as a viewer want to put a story to it. Bravo!

    Reply

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Gloomy – Mixed Media Painting

NatKalbach_Gloomy01

This painting was part of the Jersey City Art & Studio Tour 2015. I called it Gloomy and it shows the Powerhouse in Jersey City- and it now belongs to Lori – hopefully it makes her happy and not gloomy ;)

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It was hard to photograph as it has a glass like effect on top due to the Pouring Medium I treated it in the end with.

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Lot’s of texture work – and I found a new way to create texture with Liquitex Heavy Body Paint and Spray Paint – getting a peeled effect- oh yumminess :)

Here is what I used for those of you who want to know



Nat

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The Chunky Monkey Painting or … City Spring

NatKalbach_CitySpring01

I started a new urban painting and wanted to change things up in how I start my paintings . So instead of the normal procedure I forced myself to do it a bit differently.

I was inspired by some sgraffito in paintings by Paul Klee and Jean Dubuffets – which I have just shown in my Post here. Here is how my painting looked for a couple days when I was undecided if I should leave it like this or not. I actually really liked it.

NatKalbach_CitySpring04

I love taking photos of my work in progress to see in hindsight what I did and sometimes also …where I should have not taken the next step. As in this. Now that I look back …I almost ;) wish I would have just stopped. But I didn’t …a weird “this cannot be it” – feeling kicked in …and so I continued. And I went a bit overboard with it … kind of like when you hand me a jar of Ben and Jerry’s “Chunky Monkey” Ice Cream …nothings gonna stop me there either ;) although I know pretty much after two scoops that should be it.

NatKalbach_CitySpring02

Pretty soon I realized that it is not going into the right direction, but then I just wanted to see how far I could push it and I painted a lot with palette knifes -which I usually only use for texture. That was cool.  And then I also got totally addicted to sketching with a mixture of Soft Body Paint and Ink (Titanium White and Carbon Black) filled into a Fineline bottle. I know now exactly the consistency of the mixture of those two paint media I need to make it work. I just loved the way the lines came out and the erased dimensional look.

NatKalbach_CitySpring03

Do I regret going further although I am not loving the outcome? Nope …absolutely not. I learned a lot by doing this and I found some new things I definitely want to incorporate more into new paintings. I also learned that less is sometimes more and not boring …although overall more is more for me… I might just sulk and eat some Chunky Monkey now  ;)

I think it is important to do things in our creative process that we are not loving in order to stretch ourselves and learn . I really enjoyed the process and keeping track of this, so the time was not wasted.  And you know what …I can always make a new painting … maybe I even just gesso over this one …the texture underneath will probably already define the city skyline …what do you think? Now that makes me excited about this again … LOL – maybe it will be the continuing City Spring Canvas Saga.

Are you a less is more or more is more person? 



Nat

Comments (10)

  • Cheryl

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    I really like it, for it looks quite professional. I loved all the colors you used, and it looks and feels like an inner city. I hope you will keep it, frame it, a d. E pleased with the results of pushing yourself. I would hang it in my home!

    Reply

  • JanJ

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    Wow! I like both. In the original the colors are soft and light. I struggle trying to keep in pastel colors. To me, your completed one is more dynamic and powerful. I just can’t choose. Thumbs Up!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      yeah- the pastel was my problem too – it is just not me – mmmh mhhh – LOL

      Reply

  • Joi@RR

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    Good morning Nat. I like the first one – the more pastel one BUT… here’s the thing… if I went in a gallery looking for your paintings – I would never have picked the first one as YOURS. Sooooooooo…. my fav is the second one. PLEASE don’t gesso over it!!! It’s really Wonderful. Totally love the brown building especially the staircase and the sign on top. To me… it just is so you and also – to me – it’s a work of art. The first one is lovely – and it could be a new side of you – but the second one is FABULOUS… I love it. j.

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you for your feedback Joi! I agree- the first one was just not feeling me – but I liked it :)

      Reply

  • Deborah A. Pierro

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    Nat, I like the soft look of your new urban painting. I also like your previous urban paintings.

    Reply

  • Bea

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    sorry, i like it…b

    Reply

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2 Tallest – Mixed Media Painting

2Tallest

New Painting inspired by the view from the Statue of Liberty towards Jersey City and Manhattan.

NatKalbach_2Tallest02

On the left there is Jersey City with the tallest building in New Jersey

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on the right Manhattan …with the tallest building there…

NatKalbach_2Tallest04

It is funny, when I was the first time in NYC in 2000 I took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and on the way back I took a huge amount of photos of the skyline of both cities (of course back then the skyline looked a bit different) and I really fell in love with this view, but if you would have told me then, that one day I would live right there …I would have told you, you are insane- LOL

NatKalbach_2Tallest05

Here is a 15 second video of the canvas progressing

Progress of the Mixed Media Painting 2Tallest from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

I think it is fun to see the different stages, what do you think?

NatKalbach_2Tallest01

The size is 18×24 inches – here are the supplies and media I used:

nSupplies



Wishing you a wonderful weekend – I am off to Oklahoma this weekend to teach workshops at My Heart’s Fancy – there are still a few spots for the friday and sunday class available – so maybe I see some of you there :) .

Nat

Comments (9)

  • Gina Sismilich

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    Fabulous painting – I really admire your ability to portray feelings when painting buildings!

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  • Barb J

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    Outstanding artist work.

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  • Lisa Flaherty

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    Such a cool painting, Nat! Seeing the progression of layers in the video is really inspiring. Funny how life unfolds and finds you in unexpected places. :)

    Reply

  • Madeline Rains

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    This is one of my favorites that I’ve ever seen of your work!! I love it.

    Reply

  • stephanie

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    great piece!

    Reply

  • Joi@RR

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    I’m so glad you made the video Nat. I can see the gorgeous background with the letters better. The letters make it soooo New York looking in my imagination. The colors are perfect. It is a beautiful piece. I so love seeing your work. And TOTALLY glad that you came to New Jersey to live and teach and create! :) I KNOW they will love your Oklahoma workshop. I was married in Ok – 43 years ago!!! Have a blessed weekend.XX j.

    Reply

  • Marg Dinn

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    Love this painting Nathalie. You are really good. I enjoy the feelings I get when I look at all your paintings. to bad you are not close enough so I could view them close up amd in person. Maybe one day when do an exhibit I will be able to com. Keep up the fantastic work. As long as you are having fun I guess it is not work.

    Reply

  • Angie

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    Very excited to have you come to OKC!!! See you tomorrow! :-)

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Funny how we sometimes end up in a place that we never imagined.
    After 12 years of being at home with my son I recently returned to work as a lunch lady since it suits my schedule. I never would have guessed that 15 years ago (I was a social worker in the mental health field).
    Life is full of surprises!

    Reply

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