Blog: Mixed Media

Whatevers Round 2 #7…or Weird But Happy

the WHATEVERS 2 A

Are you ready for the 6th photo of the Second Round of Whatevers? If you missed what the Whatevers is all about or want to see all the past photos and takes…check it out here.

Click here to see what Cat, Vicki, Martha and Cuchy made out of the photo and which story they tell. (I will add the missing links later- since I am at CHA we couldn’t get all links together ahead of time )

Here is my take:

SwNatKalbach01

Journaling: Some People thought they were a weird couple, but they just had a fun and wonderful time and he carried her on his hands.

SwNatKalbach02

The tutorial on how I made this and what I used is part of Creative JumpStart today :) So if you signed up- check it out at noon EST :)

SwNatKalbach03

 

And here is the photo of this month’s Whatever for you:

Whatevers7NatKalbach

 

Here is how it works

  • Vicki, Cat, Cuchy (Carmen), Martha and I and I have made a one-year commitment to each other and picked twelve photos with Whatevers whom we will give a story.
  • Every month – if possible always on the 15th –  each of us will do a post with an individual story that goes along for us with the same photo.
  • If you want you can play along and we will have the photo for you to download and show us your version of The Whatevers. The photo will be posted at the end of our blogposts- not on Facebook!
  • There is no rules to the story itself- it can be funny, sad, uplifting, breathtaking- WHATEVER
  • There is no rules on the length or the form of the story– it can be a short sentence, an essay, a poem or a soap opera – WHATEVER
  • There is no rules on the artform you choose – it can be a scrapbook layout, an altered art project, an artjournal page – WHATEVER
  • Here is a rule though: if you take the photo you have to link back to us and show us your story.
  • These pictures are from our personal stash and are for personal use for you only! If you want to use them for a publication whether a book or magazine in print or digital form please ask for permission!
  • If you want to participate we’ll have a linky list for each Whatever Post.
  • You can also join our The Whatevers -Facebook Page

 

Two Button

thank you :)

Nat

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Comments (7)

  • Cat

    |

    Love the texture, it looks super amazing!

    Reply

  • Denise Spillane

    |

    I have to do this. Late for this month but I will do one for next month fun!

    Reply

  • cuchy

    |

    Just seen your tutorial at CJS. Cool!!
    Love the embroided pieces on your page.
    weird?? nahhhhhh

    Reply

  • Martha Richardson

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    Love the colors and stitching…aren’t we all a little “weird” ?

    Reply

  • Vicki Chrisman

    |

    Very cool with the addition of the stitching Nat! Love it!

    Reply

  • scrapinsue

    |

    Wonderful and I can’t wait to make a LO with this pic.
    One of these days I’ll even post the ones that I make.

    Reply

  • Ruth L

    |

    Love your “weird couple” story Nathalie!

    Reply

Leave a comment

My Favorite Tool: A Brayer

NatKalbachFaveTool

 

If you ask me what my all time favorite Tool is …well besides my fingers ;) – it is a brayer. The versatility of a brayer is just immense. You can use it for printing, mixing colors together, stamping, background creating, you can make sure things get applied evenly, you can use it for mono printing, even painting. You can use it with acrylic paints, with inks, with spray paints, with acrylic media – it is just the coolest thing in the world :) Well…at least in my world. I even did once (2008) a whole class on brayer techniques and it was a lot of fun.

Here are three tutorials I posted the last couple months where the brayer played a big role :)

Positive/Negative Stenciling

 

Brayer Technique Background

Bildschirmfoto-2013-12-27-um-16.30.15

 

Rubber Band Brayer Technique Background

 

So, what’s not to love about a brayer? ;)

Have a gorgeous day

Nat

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Comments (3)

  • cathsheard

    |

    Couldn’t agree more. I have spotlessly clean ones, semi-clean ones, ones so messy they are textured…love them all.

    Reply

  • scrapinsue

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    I’ve had one for years and really only use it to apply paint to a whole canvas or paper. I must try some new techniques.

    Reply

  • kat82ren

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    Love this amazing techniques, thanks for sharing!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Spackle Tackle 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. The videos are not available here anymore, since I have to make room for new fun things to come ..still thinking ;) …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 now let’s jump to the 5th video in my Über*Media Creative JumpStart 2013 Workshop which was the Spackle Tackle Technique  – one of my faves :)

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

This and the other techniques are part of some of my Über*Media Online Classes. They are there to free your creativity with techniques and how-to’s that go beyond one certain project. I want you to learn something new that you can adapt to your own style and can use for many projects to come.

Über*Media classes are dedicated to different kinds of media that cross a variety of materials.

I do have several Über*Media Workshops available right now for example Über*Media -PanPastel, -Acrylic Paint, -Gesso, -Acrylic Ink and -FoamStamplifier.

For my Creative JumpStart Über*Media Workshop I showed some of my favorite Über*Media Techniques that can be used in your Mixed Media, Scrapbooking, Altered Art and/or ArtJournal Projects.

 

And here are the supplies I used in the video:

nSupplies


Hope you enjoyed this :) have a gorgeous weekend
Nat

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Comments (8)

  • Tami Howse

    |

    Thanks so much for the “refresher”, Nathalie. I didn’t take notes during Creative Jumpstart (my first year this year to attend) and I’m sorry I didn’t. I loved it, though! I can’t wait to try this technique again!
    Fondly, Tami

    Reply

  • ลиqεŁล

    |

    Gracias por tus clases! La técnica es genial!!! Te deseo unas Felices fiestas!! besitos

    Reply

  • grandscraperona

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    Nat…i have used this tech several times, because always the effect is different depending on on the colors and the spots of water created. !…thanks for replaying all your ten techs. Waiting for 20l4 Jumpstart!…Have nice Xmas time…

    Reply

  • Nurse Ratchet

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    One of my faves and I had not remembered it for awhile….TX LGL!!

    Reply

  • Pam in New Jersey

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    I forgot how much fun Creative Jumpstart is !!!!!

    Reply

  • rillamom

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    I hope you are planning to have a Creative JumpStart Summit 2014! I just loved CJSS 2012…..

    Reply

  • Dee in NH

    |

    Thanks for the revisit. I love it!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Unleash Your Creativity or…Why I have been biting off my tongue

It has been an insane year already with the move overseas and if you are waiting for an email…bear with me – I am drowning in emails, setting up a cozy home, workshops and … I have been biting off my tongue for many months now because…I have also been working on a huge secret project..which is tied up with something else…and here it is …Can you spy the bigger news that are included in this already (big for me) announcement?

 

NatKalbach_UnleashCreativity

 

I am so thrilled and it was hard to not tell anyone…but the biting is not over ;) I so cannot wait to show you the designs when it comes closer to CHA. They are so me and I am very excited about them. Thank YOU my readers for your encouragements over the last years and support – without you, this would have never happened. I have been dreaming of this FOREVER and as some of you know I have been VERY close once to this a couple years ago but alas…it wasn’t supposed to be. But this time…it is – I am holding my babies in my hand already  :) If you are a retailer and interested in taking my class sponsored by Stampendous and Liquitex at CHA – you can sign up starting today November 12th (the CHA website crashed when the registration opened this morning- so they have to fix this)! All others…don’t be sad, there will be lot’s of fun coming up the next months :)

Sending a super big hug with a huge almost-around-the- face-if-not-there-were-ears-smile on my face to you

Nat


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Comments (24)

  • Anna-Karin

    |

    Wow, I am so happy for you!! I can’t wait to see your stamps, I know they will be wonderful. It must have been so hard to keep quiet about!! Big Congrats!!

    Reply

  • susan salyer

    |

    congrats to you well earned I know . have fun and enjoy your special time!
    hugs
    susan s

    Reply

  • Deleted User

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    Congrats, Nat…you have stepped with the right foot in US!…hope the best with all those conquers!….sorry i am not retailer…nice day!

    Reply

  • Dara Lynn

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    Congratulations Nathalie!! Cannot wait to see the full reveal!

    Reply

  • Denise Spillane

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    Congrats, this is great news.you will love CHA

    Reply

  • Sara Naumann

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    Congrats, Nat! That’s terrific news! See you at CHA!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    How nice to see you moving along in the mixed media art work and getting exactly what you deserve Nat! Hugs to you and a jump for joy too.

    Reply

  • Laura Strack

    |

    Congrats, Girl! How awesome, your own stamps! I really love the quality of Stampendous Stamps and I look forward to playing with yours.

    Reply

  • Gela

    |

    Wow! Congrats!

    Reply

  • Carmen Lucero

    |

    So happy for you, Nat!! I look forward to seeing your new stamp line!

    Carmen L

    Reply

  • Nurse Ratchet

    |

    Looking forward to February!!! LGL stamps…cannot wait for the sneak peek!! Soooo happy for you!

    Reply

  • chrisd

    |

    What wonderful news!

    Reply

  • Jennifer Palmer

    |

    3 cheers for Nat Hooray Hooray Hooray

    Reply

  • Rob

    |

    Congratulations Nat, it sounds wonderful. Lucky retailers. Like the previous commenter, I’m looking forward to Jumpstart again if you are able to do it.

    Reply

  • Cindy

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    Congrats Nat! I am sure your students will love your style as much as we do! Just a minor pout that I am not a retailer therefore not able to take the class! I am crossing my fingers there will be a Jumpstart in 2014!

    Reply

  • Liz

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    Many Congratulations! Can’ t wait to see yor stamp designs. Well done.

    Reply

  • Riikka

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    Congratulations!

    Reply

  • Amante del Papel

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    Congratulations Nath!

    Reply

  • Janj

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    Congratulations! Show us your Happy Dance!

    OH what fun this will be for you and the students! Do we get any sneak peaks at the stamps??

    Reply

  • Janine

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    Congrats Natalie! So well deserved!

    Reply

  • muriel

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    Oh, that’s super great! I’m so pleased for you who give so much to others through your art.

    Reply

  • Kathy P

    |

    Congrats, Nat! I am so excited for you—–you are going to rock this event!!!

    Reply

Leave a comment

The Yellow No. 2 Pencil or …a new canvas

Finally I had time to create a new canvas –

NatKalbach_TiconPen01

 

the first one in my new home here in Jersey City. And of course…if you live in an old pencil factory – you have to get inspired by your surrounding buildings :)

NatKalbach_TiconPen02

 

It was a bit crazy to work on the canvas in the middle of unpacked boxes but I am so glad I did. I think I will do a couple more yellow pencil canvases…

NatKalbach_TiconPen03

 

Here are some of the supplies that I used

nSupplies

Have an amazing day

Nat

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Comments (14)

  • Janene

    |

    I love the colors and the building is fabulous. Techniques are used so well it makes the piece so interesting and I could spend some time looking at each little detail. The pencil is a bit contrived, but I think it will be a big hit, and probably the first to selll.

    Reply

  • Jackie

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    Just gorgeous Nat!!

    Reply

  • Micki

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    OMG, I LOVE this. It is so freakin’ awesome!!!!!

    Reply

  • Lea Kimmel

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    Oh, Nat, I love this! Very, very cool! And, most appropriate for your new home! Can’t wait to see pics as you get it decorated and situated and all that fun stuff! You always inspire me!

    Reply

  • muriel

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    Ah! I love how the building melts into the background.

    Reply

  • Kirsten Alicia

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    Gorgeous canvas, love the colours.

    Reply

  • Amante del Papel

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    I love the old buildings! this canvas is perfect!

    Reply

  • Ursula

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    Deswegen hast du keine Zeit zu mailen ;)) Der Keilrahmne ist wieder sowas von genial geworden – und passt sowas von prima zu meinem ….. da winkt der Zaunpfahl meine Liebe ;)) Liebe Grüße Ursula

    Reply

  • Di Fritzsch

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    Awesome! (My favorite pencils, too) I love popping in to see what you’ve done to a canvas, and to find so many cool things… Absolutely marvelous!

    Reply

  • Jeanette - Tettiz

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    Fantastic piece!! I hope to see MOOOORE from you and that the move to the US will give you LOADS of inspiration to create gorgeous things for us all to drool over! ;-)

    Reply

  • Laura Strack

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    Beautiful! Glad to see you are inspired to create in your new digs.

    Reply

  • Jean A Marmo

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    I just love this!! The colors are amazing!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

    |

    Nice. Did you sketch that building Nat? Looks like a photograph.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Featuring Magazine Review

A couple weeks ago, I was asked if I would like to write an article about the Featuring Magazine which content is ArtJournaling, Mixed Media and More. I do have to admit I am always a bit scared of such requests, because I try to only write about things that I truly like and I also only use things that I love, so when someone asks me to write a review about something I have never had in my hand, I fear of what to do if I do not like it…because basically …I couldn’t lie. Well – I was intrigued to say yes after seeing the cover because it spoke to me and my style.

Magazine-Cover-issue-4

 

Pretty happy to say that when I received the latest issue I wasn’t disappointed :) First off all I was very impressed by the quality of this magazine based in the Netherlands. The format, the paper, the editing, the photos – very professional and appealing. What I love most is that there is no bric-a-brac on the pages…it is just the text and the artwork leading to the artwork having an even bigger impact. I love it!

FeatureMagazine

 

I loved the featured artists, and I had never heard of most of the people in this issue and it was awesome to learn about so many talented people. For example reading Sandra van Doorn‘s Poetry an her illustrations going along with it – was a super special treatment. I loved everything about it and it made me just happy reading and looking ! But there were many more and I have a long list of people I will have to check out on their websites.

FeatureMagazzine2

 

The articles and interviews are extremely well written – you want to take your time with this magazine and it will take some time to get through it as there is so much inspiration in the words and in the artwork, that each on of it has to sit a little bit, before you can continue. And then you are sad when you have been through the whole magazine.

It is  not cheap – which no magazine of quality is, and since I have worked for many years with a team on a magazine I know how much work is behind such a magazine. Actually for that quality it is even pretty decently priced! This is not a how-to-magazine – but for me it is right up my alley as I had the feeling I could take out so many different things from only one issue – inspiration from the artwork, the articles, learning about new people, even new ways of artwork and the stories of other likeminded creative people. I cannot wait for the next issue …and I guess….by asking me to write a review they got me hooked on the magazine ;)

Have a fantastic day :)

huge hugs

Nat

 

 

Comments (3)

  • KABOOM!! | Marit's Paper World (blog)

    |

    […] message and name was blasted out across Facebook and Twitter. And have you seen this review that Nathalie Kalbach wrote on her blog? WOWZAH, thank you […]

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

    |

    I love this magazine and have bought every issue so far!
    The quality of the paper is wonderful and I savor each article. It takes me weeks to read through the whole issue since I like to let what I read sink in. So glad to hear that you also liked it Nat (but I’m not surprised).

    Reply

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Whatevers Round 2 #4 or Happily Ever After

the WHATEVERS 2 A

Are you ready for the 4th photo of the Second Round of Whatevers? If you missed what the Whatevers is all about or want to see all the past photos and takes…check it out here.

Click here to see what CatVickiMartha and Cuchy made out of the photo and which story they tell.

Here is my take:

NatKalbach_HappilyEverAfter01

 

Journaling: He never stopped loving her although she would not even as much as look at him once she turned 15. But he would always say that he was married and that his wife would one day return. He died happily ever after.

NatKalbach_HappilyEverAfter02

 

I used Liquitex Heavy Paints and my What’s The Point Stencil to layer up a background. Since my stuff is still in the container I am limited to my wooden alpha stamps which I love so much.

NatKalbach_HappilyEverAfter03

 

And here is the photo of this month’s Whatever for you:

NatKalbach_Whatevers4

 

Here is how it works

  • Vicki, Cat, Cuchy (Carmen), Martha and I and I have made a one-year commitment to each other and picked twelve photos with Whatevers whom we will give a story.
  • Every month – if possible always on the 15th –  each of us will do a post with an individual story that goes along for us with the same photo.
  • If you want you can play along and we will have the photo for you to download and show us your version of The Whatevers. The photo will be posted at the end of our blogposts- not on Facebook!
  • There is no rules to the story itself- it can be funny, sad, uplifting, breathtaking- WHATEVER
  • There is no rules on the length or the form of the story– it can be a short sentence, an essay, a poem or a soap opera – WHATEVER
  • There is no rules on the artform you choose – it can be a scrapbook layout, an altered art project, an artjournal page – WHATEVER
  • Here is a rule though: if you take the photo you have to link back to us and show us your story.
  • These pictures are from our personal stash and are for personal use for you only! If you want to use them for a publication whether a book or magazine in print or digital form please ask for permission!
  • If you want to participate we’ll have a linky list for each Whatever Post.
  • You can also join our The Whatevers -Facebook Page

 

Two Button

thank you :)

Nat

LogoBlogSignature

 

Comments (9)

  • Vicki Chrisman

    |

    loving this Nat.. especially the sketchy sketch around them…. perfect! Amazing background as always!

    Reply

  • Maria Luisa Naval

    |

    tears in my eyes …I like so much your background colors.

    Reply

  • Cuchy

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    ohhh so sad, but you made him happy for a while

    Reply

  • Catherine Scanlon

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    I love your background Nat — so bright and colorful!! Love your story.

    Reply

  • Martha Richardson

    |

    Love your take with this photo. GREAT colors on your page!

    Reply

  • Julie

    |

    Oh Nat! You made me cry! Reminded me of the George Jones song – He Stopped Loving Her Today.

    Reply

  • Jean A Marmo

    |

    I just love where you go with these photos!!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

    |

    What a sweet story you have created Nat.
    Happy and sad at the same time.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Embossing Tape 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. The videos are not available here anymore, since I have to make room for new fun things to come ..still thinking ;) …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 now let’s jump to the first video in my Über*Media Creative JumpStart 2013 Workshop which was on how to create Embossing Tape- a technique I do love a lot for the fun effects you can get.

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

This and the other techniques are part of some of my Über*Media Online Classes. They are there to free your creativity with techniques and how-to’s that go beyond one certain project. I want you to learn something new that you can adapt to your own style and can use for many projects to come.

Über*Media classes are dedicated to different kinds of media that cross a variety of materials.

I do have several Über*Media Workshops available right now for example Über*Media -PanPastel, -Acrylic Paint, -Gesso, -Acrylic Ink and -FoamStamplifier.

For my Creative JumpStart Über*Media Workshop I will show you some of my favorite Über*Media Techniques that you can use in your Mixed Media, Scrapbooking, Altered Art and/or ArtJournal Projects.

 

And here are the supplies I used in the video:

nSupplies

I hope you enjoyed this little technique.

Have an amazing day!

nat

 

Comments (9)

  • Carmen Lucero

    |

    Thanks for making these videos available – I wasn’t able to complete the projects, so it’s nice to have a second opportunity! You rock!!

    Carmen L

    Reply

  • Amante del Papel

    |

    Nat thank you so much, for sharing this videos is very useful!

    Reply

  • Denise spillane

    |

    Loved this. I like to make my own tapes so this is another to add to my bag of techniques

    Reply

  • Denise spillane

    |

    Loved this. I like to make my own tapes so this is another to add to my bag of techniques

    Reply

  • Kathy Gledsdale

    |

    Thanks for sharing this! x

    Reply

  • Kathy P

    |

    Thanks for bringing this back, Nat! I need the refresher for sure….there were so many awesome techniques in this class, and I missed seeing it here!

    Reply

  • muriel

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    How nice to post the techniques again. It helps to refresh inspiration. I can’t wait to see what you are preparing.

    Reply

  • Donna

    |

    Thanks for sharing this technique here, I saw it and tried it in January and somehow FORGOT about it shortly thereafter!
    Hope you are settling in well here in USA.
    Peace,
    Donna

    Reply

  • Gunvor

    |

    That technique is soo cool! Thanks for reminding me!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Atmen Atmen…Breathe Breathe

One of the things that people would say all the time to me while moving was “Breathe” – I have to say….It made me sometimes roll my eyes…because…LOL- “breathing breathing, everyday breathing… ” ;) To those of you who said it: Love ya – don’t take it personally – LOL – I know you meant well with it.

NathalieKalbach_Atmen01

 

I had loads of fun with this canvas – and I used quite some fun materials like army duct-tape  and x-ray foil.

NathalieKalbach_Atmen02

 

I gave it to my former office…hehehe- I think my old working buddies can relate ;)

NathalieKalbach_Atmen03

 

Here are some of the supplies I used

nSupplies

BTW the x-ray foil is super sturdy and was the coolest material to do a project like this with this cut out and raised surface.
BREATHE ;)
huge hugs
nat

Comments (6)

  • Eniko

    |

    Love this! I’m moving ay the moment myself…what a hassle! I may make one that says: Breathe DEEPLY” Love your techniques! I thought it was stained glass at first. xo

    Reply

  • susan salyer

    |

    Love this piece. Brilliant magnificent art..you are talking aluminum foil right?
    Thanks for sharing marvelous art.
    susan s

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

    |

    I just love the expression on the guy’s face on your canvas. I’ll have to check out x-ray foil now.

    Reply

  • Gina

    |

    Please let me know when your classes begin. I am only 20 minutes away! I am art starved,lol.

    Reply

  • Maggie M

    |

    What is x-ray foil? And where do you get it? Sounds like an interesting media:)

    Reply

Leave a comment