Blog: Art Journal

Batik – NEW STENCIL

BatikStencil

Here is another of my new Stencils with StencilGirl Products . 9 x 12 Batik Stencil: Early in 2014 I taught workshops in Malaysia and while exploring Kuala Lumpur I was truly inspired by the batik art that you could find in traditional clothing and fabric. With this stencil I wanted to create a pattern that can be either used as a whole for a background or single images for mark making in your art work. Here are two art journal spreads where I used the stencil- but I will show more in the upcoming weeks:

NatKalbach_Travel01

I first painted the background with acrylic paints. Then I placed the Batik  Stencil over the background to the right, sprayed with Liquitex Spray paint over it and then flipping it right away over to the left for a negative imprint .

NatKalbach_Travel02

For the next page I used the stencil only partly here and there.

NatKalbach_TearDown01

I used the border of the stencil to frame my art journal on the top and on the bottom.

NatKalbach_TearDown02

I spread a bit gesso with a credit card over the background  and then stencils with a light acrylic paint through the stencil. I used this space to later journal my thoughts.

NatKalbach_TearDown03

As you can see, I also flipped the stencil over to use the excess paint from the front of the stencil to create a negative imprint.

I hope you like this new stencil. Here are the supplies I used for these art journal pages

nSupplies



Have an amazing day and a great start into the week!

Nat

Comments (6)

  • stephanie

    |

    i think this is my fave of the new ones!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

    |

    This is a must have! I’ve always loved batik clothing and blankets.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Art Fusion at the InkPad in NYC – Photos

NatKalbachArtfusion

Last week my friend Birgit Koopsen visited me from The Netherlands. Birgit and I have been teaching together in Europe quite often and last year we organized our first Art Fusion Event in The Netherlands. This year our event was hosted by The InkPad in New York City and we had a great time with our students at Westbeth last sunday.

NatKalbach_ArtFusion01

Birgit taught a Mixed Media Canvas Class using Acrylic Paints and I taught an Altered Book Class using Acrylic Inks, Paints and Markers. Birgit worked with her new wonderful stamps and I was able to see my new Stencils in action :)

NatKalbach_ArtFusion02

It was so much fun. It was a very colorful day and we had a great time with our super talented students!

NatKalbach_ArtFusion04

Look at all those gorgeous images they draw in their altered book class!

NatKalbach_ArtFusion03

Thank you to The InkPad for having us and thank you to Liquitex for providing the acrylic media for the class! I am missing Birgit – but who knows – we might be up for something next year ;)

……

If you live near or in NYC – why don’t you join me next Friday, October 10th 2014 from 7pm-9.30 pm at The InkPad for an Art Journal Class – Artvergnugen with Photo Transfers

NatKalbach_ArtvergnugenAd

There are only a couple seats left – come and join us. I will show you some fun ways to do Photo Transfers and how to incorporate them in your Art Journal.

You can see all other in-person workshops I am teaching this year here.

Have a gorgeous day

 

Nat

Comments (3)

  • Laura Strack

    |

    I love seeing what everyone creates with your fabulous stamps and stencils! Looks like you and Birgit had a blast. Have a beautiful week :)

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Thank you Laura, wishing you a gorgeous week too! Nat :)

      Reply

  • Jackie P Neal

    |

    How wonderful that your friend Birgit was able to come here and teach with you! Wish I was there too! “)

    Reply

Leave a comment

Art Deco Wallpaper – NEW STENCIL

L319-2T

So loving my new 9×12” Art Deco Wallpaper Stencil I designed for StencilGirl Products – I know, I know…I’m full of myself- LOL. But seriously it is a stencil I wanted for a long time!

I love Art Deco Design – in my travels through Europe, especially to Paris – I made a lot of sketches from wallpapers in museums and hotel rooms from this era.

NatKalbach_artdeco01

In this Art Journal Page I used the stencil as a background and spray painted over it with several different Liquitex Spray Paints. I love how dimensional you can get with different color layered up.

NatKalbach_artdeco02

Here is another sample using it as a whole on both art journal pages …as …a …wallpaper for the quote :)

NatKalbach_soul01

I painted the background first with different acrylic paint colors and then layered the stencil over the background spraying with white and grey Liquitex Spray paint.

NatKalbach_soul02

I wrote the quote with Liquitex Acrylic Ink and a Bamboo Sketching Pen.

I will show some other ways on how to use this stencil in the next weeks :)

Here are the supplies that I used for those two pages

nSupplies



Hope you like the stencil- have a gorgeous day!!!

 

Nat

Comments (11)

  • Laura S

    |

    Woohoo, I too am looking forward to that bamboo pen video. I remember you mentioning the bamboo pen at Create but I never made time to ask you more. I love that art deco stencil and seeing your design ideas only motivates me to go into my studio and play. Hugs!!!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Thank you Laura! So glad to hear that this motivates you to get into your studio and play! Get them tiger :) hugs!

      Reply

  • Rebecca Buchanan

    |

    Glad you will be doing a video about the pen, but came here to comment that I also love this art deco stencil. You can be as full of yourself as you want because we are all sharing in the benefit of your creativity–can’t wait to get my hands on this. Kudos to you!

    Reply

  • Linda K

    |

    I was wondering about the bamboo pen also. I will be watching for your video on how you use this and any tips you may have. Thanks much.

    Reply

  • Kim T

    |

    Adore the colors in the second one and the way you used the stencil over it … I went to a Liquitex demo a couple of weeks ago and it was so fun seeing all the different products, amazing, the colors are just yummy.
    I also bought a bamboo pen and cannot figure out how to use it … I got it because Iove the way you use it in your journal, but there is nothing online on how it works … any insight? Love your blog!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Thank you Kim! The Bamboo Pen is a Dip Pen – you dip it into ink – that is the whole secret :) I will do a video about this soon though as you are not the first one to ask :) will try to do it soon :) Have a gorgeous day ,Nat

      Reply

  • Nurse Ratchet

    |

    Love that stencil and will be ordering it from Bizzy B. have never seen the Prima Writers tape before..looks intriguing !

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Wohooo – glad you like the stencil! BTW- the Writers tape might be not available anymore. Basically you can just cut up raw gessoed canvas pieces and fringe the sides and use those adhered with Gel Medium :)

      Reply

  • Sue Clarke

    |

    I love the colors in that second page and your stencils layer quite nicely.
    Have a splendid day Nat.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Intelligence … or In My Art Journal Today

NatKalbach_Intelligence01

Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings

NatKalbach_Intelligence02

I painted the background with Soft Body Acrylic Paints and used Acrylic Inks with a Bamboo Pen to write the Journaling. The Bird Image is actually a collage piece I used a Transfer Technique on – it is part of the Liquitex Packaging for the new Michaels Transfer and Photo Collage Set. I ripped the sturdy watercolor paper to the size I wanted it and applied it to the background as I wanted it to be part of my art journal. It is a great sample how you can incorporate a collage piece into your art journal later.

NatKalbach_Intelligence03

Here a the supplies I used for the whole spread:

nSupplies



Wishing you an amazing day!

 

Nat

Leave a comment

Circus Circus …or In My Art Journal Today

Showing you 2 pages that are coming one after the other in my art journal :)

NatKalbach_WithoutWarning01

The Circus arrives without warning….but the rule is

NatKalbach_NotMyCircus01

Not my circus, not my monkeys!

Isn’t that the truth ;)

Here are some details of the two pages:

NatKalbach_WithoutWarning02

I created a pretty grungy background with acrylic paints and Gesso and then used Liquitex Spray Paint to partly use my Elephant March Stencil coming into the page

NatKalbach_WithoutWarning03

For the writing I used Liquitex Black Carbon Acrylic Ink and a Bamboo Sketching Pen .

NatKalbach_NotMyCircus02

In this spread I created the background by dry brushing different acrylic paint colors. I love the texture of the paper itself but also of the brush strokes.

NatKalbach_NotMyCircus03

I sprinkled some water onto the still wet paint and then blotted it off with a paper towel- I love how the paper towel left an amazing texture impression reveal the paint underneath. Talk about happy accidents ;) And because I loved the background so much- I didn’t want to cover it up too much and just wrote over with the Bamboo Sketching Pen and Acrylic Ink again.

nSupplies



Hope you have a creative day today!

 

Nat

Leave a comment

I am not what I am …or In My Art Journal Today

NatKalbach_MyHands01

I am not what I am. I am what I do with my hands.

NatKalbach_MyHands02

I used Acrylic Paints and my Stamps and Stencils and wrote the quote with Acrylic Inks onto a piece of washi paper. I found the photo many years ago at a flea market in Germany and I always wondered about the story behind it.

NatKalbach_MyHands03

Here are some of the supplies I used:

nSupplies



Do old photos you see at a flea market intrigue you too?

Have a gorgeous day!

 

Nat

Comments (2)

  • Cynthia

    |

    Absolutely! I have a couple of shoeboxes full and several old albums that I have picked up at flea markets and antique shows. My mom thinks it’s sad that someone’s family doesn’t want them but I like to think it’s a way of honouring them, to use their pictures in my art. I am always curious about the people in the photos and what they might have been doing when the photo was taken.

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

    |

    Yes they do and my son thinks it’s strange that I buy pics of people that I don’t know. He does like making up the stories with me however.

    Reply

Leave a comment

A Good Day or… In My Art Journal Today

NatKalbach_AGoodDay

EVERYDAY :)

have a good one!

Nat

Comments (8)

  • Laura S.

    |

    Luscious layers! How’d you do that?! Maybe I will be learning a few of your secrets soon :)

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Spray Painted the background, used some Acrylic Paint. Let dry- and then placed the words over the background and sprayed over again. :) So excited you are coming to CREATE in Dallas- and yes- I will show loads of “secrets” there ;) have a gorgeous day, Laura!

      Reply

  • Tracy

    |

    Wow, how you get that iridescent look? Love it! Especially the border around the words.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Hi Tracy, I spray painted the background and used some Liquitex Soft Body Iridescent White Acrylic Paint here and there. It shows here and there and I am amazed you saw it as it is so hard to capture in a photo :)

      Reply

  • Jackie P Neal

    |

    Gorgeousness and yes I will have a great day! xo

    Reply

  • Erin

    |

    This looks awesome!
    Is this spray paint?

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Sorry, I forgot the supply list this time- yes it is Liquitex Spray Paint.

      Reply

  • Sue Clarke

    |

    I have been enjoying that you’re sharing more of your daily art journal pages Nat. Hope you have a nice Sunday!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Be a Fountain …or In My Art Journal Today

NatKalbach_BeAFountain01

Be a fountain not a drain!

I love this saying – it is a good motto to live by.

Liquitex Spray Paints over gessoed texture and masking tape background. Quote was written with Acrylic Ink and a Bamboo Sketching Pen.

nSupplies



Have a wonderful day !

 

Nat

Comments (2)

  • cheiron

    |

    Love the quote and the colors!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

    |

    Funny quote. First time I’ve heard it. I like the image it puts in my head.

    Reply

Leave a comment

CREATE Dallas 2014

I’m teaching 3 classes at the CREATE Mixed Media Retreat in Dallas September 19-20, 2014.

NathalieKalbach_CircuitShower01

It’s All About The Layers (6 hours) – Nathalie Kalbach

Date & Time: Friday, September 19• 9am-4pm

Price: 152 USD

Materials Fee: 15 USD

You will leave with: … a load of knowledge about paint media and techniques and various finished pages in your art journal.

Description: Create depth and dimension by adding several layers with different paint and other media to achieve intriguing art journal pages. Learn about different media and playfully explore how to express yourself in your art journal. It’s all about the layers—so come and join us!

Students Should Bring: White and a black journaling pen, a water jar, brushes in different sizes and formats, a fashion magazine, 2-3 cosmetic sponges, an old credit card, a water mister, baby wipes, a paper roll, a craft mat, optional deli paper, a brayer, an apron, scissors, palette paper, a heat gun, and an/your Art Journal. I use a Ranger Dylusions Journal but you can also use a Strathmore Mixed Media Sketchbook – whatever you prefer to work in.

Encrusted-Shrubbery

Encrustred Shrubbery Canvas (6 hours) – Nathalie Kalbach

Date & Time: Saturday, September 20• 9am-4pm

Price: 152 USD

Materials Fee: 15 USD

You will leave with: … a beautiful finished home decor item and lots of knowledge of techniques that you can apply in future projects.

Description: We will create a wonderful home decor canvas using Acrylic Paints, Stamps and Templates as well as Embossing Media and create a one-of-a-kind piece of art.

Students Should Bring: Please bring 12×12 inch big stretched and pre-gessoed Canvas, a water jar, brushes in different sizes and formats, 6-7 cosmetic sponges, a water mister, baby wipes, a paper roll, a craft mat, a heating gun, an apron, scissors, palette paper, black permanent inkpad, versamark embossing pad

Texture Heaven Art Journal (3 hours) – Nathalie Kalbach

Date & Time: Saturday, September 20• 6pm-9pm

Price: 89 USD

Materials Fee: 15 USD

You will leave with: …… a finished texture art journal and lots of technique ideas for future projects.

Description: Create wonderful texture pages with monoprinting, stenciling and stamping techniques, encrust them with different Embossing Media and bind them together in a beautiful tactile art journal

Students Should Bring: 4 pieces of lettersized sturdy white cardstock or sketch book paper, Brayer, Rubber Brayer, Black Permanent Ink Pad , Versamark, Heating Gun, 6-7 Cosmetic Sponges, Baby Wipes

 

I hope that you will join our classes – you can register here for the Dallas Event – and if you are living closer to Seattle– I am also teaching in October some of those classes there :)

Have a wonderful and creative day!

 

Nat

Leave a comment