Blog: Liquitex Acrylic Inks

Light or… In my Art Journal Today (or yesterday ;) )

Instead of a New Year’s Resolution I, amongst many others, pick a word that I try to live by in the new year. Last year it was BOLD …this year it is LIGHT …next year it might be ITALIC… just kidding ;)

NatKalbach_Light

Light is indeed my word for this year. It is a good word for many different kinds of lights that I would like in my life. I want to take thinks more lightly, travel light, be light and not overthink everything too much, eat light, and …see the light at the end of the tunnel :) Let’s see where this goes!

NatKalbach_Light2

Light is also the page spread in my art journal itself and the time I spent on it. I created it very quick on December 31, 2014 – after contemplating with myself, that I a) have no time because I had to work on last minute stuff for Creative JumpStart  and b) that I have no time because I should really make myself representable for a little party I was going to. Well…Light helped- little bit of acrylic inks with a brush – little bit playing, little bit of acrylic paint on a stamp …and voila- done. And aren’t I glad I did it…it is in there…in the journal- as a good reminder until I fill the book- LOL.

nSupplies


What is your word if you have one?

 

Nat

Comments (6)

  • ljfsyd

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    Powerful work of art. Our work reflects our thoughts, our environment. This is where our inspiration comes from and rightly should. What you have created reflects the dilemma in Jersey City, as in many cities within this country………

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  • Laura

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    I have never “taken on a word” in this manner before but going to try it out this year so mine is ” reframe” . :)

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  • emperessenigma

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    Mine is ‘grow’ as in expand my mind, learn new things. Reach and stretch myself out to share with others.

    Reply

  • kristabellerichman

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    Mine is “rhythm.” It came to me while listening to Tam’s meditation on day 1, as in a need to pay attention to the natural rhythms and flow of everything this year.

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  • cabramofsky

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    Mine is focus, for this year I am retiring and embarking on an art career.

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  • nurse-ratchet

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    Fab pages ,Nat. I am embracing “imperfection” this year!

    Reply

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Photo Painting Technique

CJSUberMediaOWSLOGO

Those of you who were part of the Creative JumpStart 2013 saw the videos that me and my artist friends posted on my website throughout January 2013.  The videos are not available here anymore, since CJS 2013 was only available till June,  but I thought it would be nice to repost my 10 technique videos over the next couple weeks- so that you have access to them whenever you want and see what CJS 2013 was all about.

And now let’s jump to the 7th video in my Über*Media Creative JumpStart 2013 Workshop which was the Photo Painting Technique :)

If you have no external speakers on your pc – turn up the volume a lot (the audio is very low in this video)

CJS 2013 Technique 7 Photopainting from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

As you might have seen I just proposed Creative JumpStart 2014 !

CJS2014Lable

It will work slightly different this year and has some major improvements like a forum and an easier access- and I can tell you already the line up of artists and the videos are AWESOmE!!! For 20 Dollars -that is less than 1 Dollar per video (23 videos by 21 artists) it is a great deal! Check out the information here :)

I would love to have you!

And here are my supplies I used for the Photo Painting Video above:

nSupplies

Have a gorgeous and wonderful day!
hugs
nat
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Nat

Comments (2)

  • Sue Abell

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    This is great news Nathalie! Thanks so much for doing Creative Jumpstart again, I can’t wait! Have a wonderful Christmas, see you in January!

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  • smokeysmom

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    I’m signed up for CJS2014! I can’t wait for it!

    Reply

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Sgraffito or Make Your Mark Video

Sgraffito is an art term describing a technique used e.g in plaster, pottery, glass or paint. Basically one or several layers of the medium are revealed by scratching into the top surface. The term comes from the Italian word sgraffiare and means to scratch. Not sure if that will help me with my next Italian vacation but hey… you never know ;)

Now why is that something that might interest me? It is cool because you can create TEXTURE- yum yum! Do you need to have more reasons?

You actually saw some stuff already where I used the sgraffito technique- like on this piece from a post here playing with the Derwent Artbars. I used a tool that Derwent especially made for this, called the scraper.

But there is more…Scratching into still wet acrylic paint – Texture heaven. You can use all kinds of tools for it – like a plastic fork, the end of your brush, palette knifes…ah there are many many possibilities.

It is fun to add some sgraffito marks to your backgrounds or art journal pages – Let’s do a quick background video – I have a list of all supplies used below :) :

I love to use Liquitex Heavy Body Paint with the Sgraffito techniques, because they are – as the name might give it away ;) – heavy bodied paint.

I already have something in mind where I will use this background as a foundation – you will see it soon.

And if you want to learn more about acrylic paint techniques and a LOT of background techniques with them…

well….;) I can recommend my Über*Media Acrylic Paint Workshop. You don’t have to have Heavy Body Acrylic Paints….but I will show you how you can overcome that problem of having none anyway so you can still do sgraffito. But hey- Sgraffito is only one of more than a 100 techniques in that workshop :)

I just love Acrylic Paint :)

nSupplies

Hope you enjoyed the little video :)

Nat

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Nat

Comments (24)

  • windinn

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    What fun to watch this, and wonderful results. That background ROCKS!

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  • Connie Permenter

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    Wonderful Techinques and I am going to purchase some of those Liquidtex Heavybody paints … Could you tell the the colors you used ? Thanks so much for sharing!

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  • Denise

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    Great technique, even better your use of color. Thank you

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  • Jo Murray

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    WOW!!!! That is gorgeous…. how could you possibly improve it?

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  • pamplamoussejuice

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    Background?! I would have been done with it after all that! I think it looks fabulous all by itself!

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  • ajsartjournal

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    Great video Nathalie, thanks for sharing.
    AJ

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  • Lisa crofts

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    what a fabulous video. Nathalie I love the look of all the liquetex paint and tools. I “need” that splatter brush too.

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  • Daniela

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    Danke für den tollen Artikel – und den Tipp mit dem kostenlosen Muster :-)
    LG Danny

    Reply

  • Lisa Flaherty

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    What a great technique, Nat! I love the possibilities of the different things you could use to scratch through the paint. The printed tissue paper layer adds nice depth to your wonderfully colored and textured piece! Also, I wanted to tell you how I much I enjoy your videos. Your fun, whimsical nature comes through in the production. Also, how amazingly clear the close-ups of your work are! What is the video camera that you use? Can’t wait to see more!

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Lisa, I use a Logitech Camera Vision Pro – it is a really good camera- I like it a lot.

      Reply

  • jjsobeyj

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    Well, now I need to go look for one of those splatter brushes – that made me all kinds of happy watching that! (I’ve tried with regular brushes, and wasn’t that excited about the effect)

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  • kittybg

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    I went to a WS on Friday and we did sgrafitto with Golden Open acrylics. If you like sgrafitto, you’ll love Golden Open. (No, Golden doesn’t pay me :D Also, I prefer liquids better because I need my acrylics to dry quickly and open takes a whole day.)
    Bye, Kitty

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Interesting :) I do know Golden Open Acrylics – but I feel the effect that I want to archive texture wise is more beautiful and more me with the Liquitex Heavy Body. And I do use all kinds of acrylic paints too ;) They do dry quick- but that is then when you can use a Retarder to mix in for longer opening time. I guess every artist has their own loves ;) Thanks for your comment, Kitty
      nat

      Reply

  • Dottie

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    Love this piece!! The colors and the texture are wonderful and fun. Need some heavy bodied acrylic paints. Thanks again for sharing you expertise.

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  • Bev W.

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    I’m in acrylic heaven:) Thanks for the vid Nat!! Your such an inspiration!

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  • Irma

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    Danke für den Link! Ich habe die Probe einfach mal angefordert und hoffe jetzt ganz dolle, dass ich zu den Glücklichen gehöre…
    Sonnige Grüße – Irma

    Reply

  • Jan B

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    Gah! I just LOVE your videos, love watching you work. Amazing piece! (I’m loving your Acrylics class by the way…working through at my own pace and having fun playing with paint and color.) You’re SO inspiring! :)

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  • Anne Porretta

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    This looks like so much fun! I have lots of acrylic paint but not heavy body. Off to the store and off to creativity. Thanks for great post, Nathalie!

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  • france papillon

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    i’m in love. once more! girl your productivity amazes me!!!
    one question: what surface are you working on? doesn’t seem to be paper…

    off to get inky!!!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      I used a paper block for acrylic and gouache painting with 250g. It is block made for the art supply store in my hood. I love that it is still thin enough that you can use it in an artjournal- but total sturdy and it is adhered on all four sides to the block- so you have to cut it off, which prevents wrapping. Not sure which real paper company stands behind it.

      Reply

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