Blog: Mixed Media

Sign up NOW! Six more days until Creative JumpStart 2016 starts!

Have you signed up for Creative JumpStart 2016 yet? Get your creative groove and mojo back with 24 artists and 25 inspiring downloadable videos – Art in Translation – during the month of January! Check out who is part of CJS2016 this year:

And the best thing? Right now it is on SALE: You get 25 videos for just $45 (USD) for a limited time if you sign up before December 31, 2015 at 11:59 pm (EST)! After December 31st, 2015 it will be 50 USD. Sign up here!

CJS2016InfoGraphic

Don’t forget: On Sale now for 45USD!!!

It is going to be a lot of fun and super inspiring! It will give you a huge kick with inspirational ideas, tutorials and insights into other artists’ work! Make 2016 your art year!!!

We are looking forward seeing you January 1st, 2016!

Nat

Comments (2)

  • Maude Leake

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    I signed up when you first offered this thru Julie’s site. I got charged, but did not get anything else saying I was set. I may of put wrong e-mail address on the paypal. My credit card was charged.

    Can you help???

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Maude, I actually emailed you three times, and the email bounced, so I think you did indeed provide a faulty address. I am going to email you right now again to the email I see here and hope you receive it. If you see this comment and have still not received anything, can you check your spam folder, and if not there- can you contact me directly? Thank you! I got you and we get you in :)

      Reply

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Action Today or … In My Art Journal Today

ActionToday01

My wonderful friend Karen posted her quote on her facebook page and inspired me to create this journal spread:

“Be in action today to create the tomorrow of your dreams” – Karen C. Auld. There is so much truth in this- love it!

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The colors were inspired by the flowers that are blooming again on my deck …it is crazy warm here for this time of the year!

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I painted the background with different shades and tones of green and then used a spray painted stencil to create a reverse imprint on the spread. It was a quick page- but it felt good to get the hands messy and enjoy some beautiful colors.

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the poor girl looks a bit pale- I think she needs some action ;) I used pencils and markers as well as some other pens for her.

I will post the supply list at the end!

—– On another note! I am coming back to Sweden – Stockholm for some workshops next year – May 27-29, 2016 – woot woot!!!! —-

Check out the announcement and classes here if you are in the area – I would love to see you!!!!

 

I taught at this event a couple years ago and it was amazing – I am looking forward seeing some familiar and also some new faces again!

…….and here as promised the supply list for the art journal spread –

nSupplies



I wish you a gorgeous day!

Nat

Comments (1)

  • Joi@RR

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    What a neat project. I’m sure that my take is totally off the wall but here it is. The background is so light and airy and cheerful – so fun. But the figure is so much darker, grungy, hooded… stagnant looking. Then your sentiment…. tells me that there are opportunities and dreams to be had but only if we are not stagnant – only if we don’t lose hope… and for me… only if I dare to dream!!!!!! Great message here – thank you Nat!!! j.

    Reply

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Holiday Market in Jersey City, NJ – Dec. 6th, 2016

ProjectMarketJC

THE JERSEY CITY PROJECT celebrates its second anniversary with Project: MARKET on December 5th & 6th, 2015. I am super excited that I will be there with some of my original artwork but also my artwork as giclee prints, 2016 calendars, purses, and fridge magnets.

The heated outdoor market is located in the Historic Downtown section of Jersey City, NJ and will act as a kick-off to the holiday shopping season highlighting local, celebrating seasonal, and encouraging economic growth amongst small businesses. Melding an old-world bazaar aesthetic with elements from popular culture, the market is not unlike the downtown area where it’s located – a burgeoning neighborhood rich with history and ripe with new development.

If you are in the area – come on by and visit us – behind the City Hall just a 5 mins walk from the Grove Street Path Station! I would love to see you!

Nat

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Reality …or In My Art Journal Today

Reality_NatKalbach01

“I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality.” Frida Kahlo

Red is such a passionate color and loved using it for my textured collage background stamped with yellow and gold.

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I loved the outcome – those colors just make me happy.

Here is what I used

nSupplies




wishing you a colorful and happy day!

Nat

Comments (7)

  • dixiekugel16

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    Gorgeous work! I was at MOMA last week and saw her self-portrait with monkey in a beautiful mirror and painted glass frame. Your journal work evokes the feeling and energy of Frida’s painting.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you so much Carolyn! Have you seen the picasso sculpture exhibition too? I sure hope so – I bet you loved it!

      Reply

  • gloz

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    Wow, a great journal page. I can’t wait to get started on my first Frieda.

    Reply

  • Stampendous Stamps

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    Fantastic journal piece, Nathalie. Absolutely love those colors and such a great quote to live by. Thank you for sharing your N*Studio stamps with us today!

    Reply

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Trust or Bust … or In My Art Journal Today

Trustbust_NatKalbach01

True, I guess …sometimes it is hard to trust…but what else is left over?

Some texture play in my art journal. I used flexible modeling paste through my Crackle Stencil, let it dry and then applied some Glass Beads here and there.

Trustbust_NatKalbach02

After the glass beads dried I used Liquitex Spray Paints and sprayed over – sometimes going back in while the paint was still wet and blending some of the colors. I finsihed the spread off with some white ink splatters and the “trust” sticker as well as some writing.

nSupplies




I hope you have a great day <3

Nat

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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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Art Tapas – Bite Sized Tips for the Mixed Media Artist – Tip #5 Fat Over Lean

Art Tapas are short videos (1- 3 mins) that will give some practical tips or advice about anything that is related to tools, art supplies or processes and any Mixed Media or Hobby Artist might appreciate. Lots of times these reflect some mistakes that I made along my journey, so to speak, things that I learned the hard way and sometimes they are just some things that I would have loved to have known when I actually started in Mixed Media.

Fat Over Lean Rule

Art Tapas – Bite Sized Tips for the Mixed Media Artist – #5 Fat over Lean from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

I hope you enjoyed this Art Tapa –  and if you have questions that you would love to have answered in some of the Art Tapas videos- let me know and I might just cook one up for you to nibble on :)

Happy Creating !

Nat

Comments (8)

  • Kasia Krzyminska

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    Love all of your Art Tapas Nathalie. Everything seems so easy with your explanation. Can’t wait for the next one :)

    Reply

  • anisey

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    Hi Nathalie,
    First, I love your work. To further comment on this fat over lean thing, It really does apply mostly if not exclusively to the use of oil media. Oil takes much longer to dry and cure. It tends to float over, until the surrounding elements allow the oil to settle and dry. Any media that prevents the drying process will only make the oil float on the top layer for a longer time. Like humidity. Oil and water don’t mix, because oil will always float to the surface. That’s why we always apply any acrylic or inks before the oil paint layer. Oil always goes last. Thanks again for a great post!

    Reply

  • Gunvor

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    Another great tapa – Thanks you! I really love them and am so greatful that you share your knowledge this way. Plus now I know why my alcohol ink pen was ruined …

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Glad that helps Gunvor – sorry about your alcohol ink pen – maybe you can buy a replacement nib. Some companies offer those – that way you won’t have to buy a new pen!

      Reply

  • Rebecca Buchanan

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    Another great tapa–thanks so much. This was all new info for me. Thank you for being so generous!!!

    Reply

  • Kathy P

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    Great tips again today, Nat. Although I could not get this video to load….it kept stopping and stopping! But I hung in to the end! TFS!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thanks Kathy. This is a problem that has to do with your connection at that time. You need to outwait the buffering of the video – indicated by the grey bar in the video. Best way is to hit play and then stop right away and wait until the entire video is buffered- that way you can play it without the stops in between. Sorry it was a chunky day :(

      Reply

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Listen, Smile …or In My Art Journal Today

Disclaimer: This post includes an art journal page with a swear word – I know….OMG!  Please …get over it, it is called personal expression . If you have a problem with that or art, you might be better off looking at something else . Don’t email me to complain, don’t visit my blog anymore because I might post things like this again and, farewell!

ListenSmile_NatKalbach01

“Note to self: Listen, smile, agree…and then do whatever the **** you were gonna do anyway! ”

Sometimes an art journal is a the best way to get some grumpy feelings out …and this was just the right thing for me to write down at the situation I was in. So there, I felt better right away :)

ListenSmile_NatKalbach02

But besides that I was dumping my grumpiness onto this art journal spread – I had a pretty fun time painting :) I had used some colors, mixing and brushing them on and also doing some marks with my brush.

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The white splatters were done with a fan brush and white Liquitex Acrylic Ink.

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For the stamping I used my Stampendous Mark Maker Set and the Hero Arts Ink Pad – I love the chalky look of it and how it gives a nice layered look.

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For the journaling I use a Fineline Applicator filled with a mixture of Liquitex acrylic ink and soft body paint.

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The orange-purple-brown texture pieces are actually acrylic skins which I applied with Matte Medium – I love using those in  my art journal.

Here is a list of all the supplies I used

nSupplies



Nat

Comments (7)

  • D.Ann C

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    Loving the colors that fit your mood, especially how the orange pops like a fire from within! Coming here from FL via Stampendous : )

    Reply

  • Carla Harrell

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    I am so f***ing excited to see an artist use ‘foul language’ in their art!! LOVE IT, ALL OF IT!!

    Reply

  • Barb J

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    Freedom of expression is what makes art work. I like what you have done with the colors and stamps on this page.

    Reply

  • Gayle

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    This made my day! Loved the disclaimer and your great freedom of expression that also carries over in your art. So liberating!

    Reply

  • Jean

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    Love the sentiment (and the art as well)!

    Reply

  • Lydia

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    It’s GORGEOUS! And make art however you want :)

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Love the texture and your words don’t bother me. LOL

    Reply

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