Blog: Mixed Media

My Favorite Mixed Media Essentials: 1. Acrylic Paints

Hands down my all time Mixed Media Essential is Acrylic Paint.

I had a very intense acrylic paint phase a couple of years ago and then I guess I needed a break and neglected those beauties for spray paints for a while. But I am so glad I came back to them!

What I love about Acrylic Paints is:

  • they are fast drying
  • generally cheap – or at least long-lasting even if it is a bit more pricey
  • they have a plastic like surface (due to the plastic polymer emulsion)
  • they can be thinned with water and that could make them almost look like water-color in some cases
  • they are permanent once dried
  • they cover surfaces if opaque
  • you can use other paint media on top of acrylic paints
  • you can use some fun media with them for amazing backgrounds and textures
  • you can create amazing backgrounds and texture with solely acrylic paints

Here are some examples:

beautiful easy background – that can be also used for a scrapbooking layout:

background and texture with acrylic paints:

background and texture using other media and cheap supplies:

texture creating on a scrapbooking layout:

creating some fun handmade embellishments and use it for some accents on a layout:

using them with other acrylic media

using it on difficult surface – like acrylic pages of a minialbum

using acrylic paint to make embellishments your own

Pretty amazing what you can do with acrylic paints, isn’t it? And there is way more!!! So yes – just because of it’s versatility it knocks me off my socks and is my all time favorite essential :)

Which acrylic paints I use:

Here comes a saying that I learned when studying law : “It depends” – LOL. Nice one, huh?

Well, I used a lot of acrylic paints. And over the last couple years I learned what I like and what I do not like.What I like, doesn’t have to be necessary what you like.  so just take it as my thoughts and my preferences, ok?

  • So first of all let’s state that I like good quality artist paints. Because I learned over the years that especially when working in an art journal for example that they aren’t that tacky as a lot of the cheaper non artist ones.
  • I also love good quality artist paints because the color shift between wet and dry is not that high. I love to see how my work might look like when it is dry while I’m still working with my paints. I had many disappointments in the past where I was thinking a nice bright red was rocking my socks and then it was dry and a dark bloody mess as the paint shifted a lot when it dried.
  • Highly pigmented colors go a longer way and they are usually also more beautiful. They also can be buffed for a great glossy finish- which for me also is mostly true for more expensive artist paints.
  • I love texture and I love to create texture with paints – so I prefer thicker colors – I can also just thin them down if I want – and so I am a big Lover of Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paints. I also like Winsor & Newton especially when it comes to their translucent acrylic paints. A good bargain and a very good quality are alos the Liquitex Basic Acrylic Paints.

nSupplies

I hope you liked this post- let me know what you think. Next up is Gesso.

huge hugs

Nat

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If you want to learn more about acrylic paints- check out my Über*Media Acrylic Paint Online Workshop

Comments (4)

  • scrappegal

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    Lovely inspiration projects you are showing! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Easter 1928 is such an elegant LO Nat.
    Thanks for the paint info. I believe that you were the first to inspire me to even try using paint on a LO. Tons of fun and extra special in my art journal. I love the Liquitex tubes since they come in small sizes which are good for travel.

    Reply

  • Jessica Sporn

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    I used to favor watercolor over everything else but have fallen in love with acrylic paint — especially since discovering Golden Fluid acrylics. xo

    Reply

  • mjmarmo

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    Love the many ways you use the paint!

    Reply

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Maya Road Guest Designer- Canvas- Tutorial

For my guest designer spot with Maya Road this month I created this 12 x 12 canvas using lots of Chipboard DoorwaysMaya Mists, and Gesso.

I created a video sharing how I made this canvas:

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH5MHQMMgmY&feature=youtu.be]

So love those colors :)

And I totally love those doors…yum yum!

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial :)

 

hugs

Nat

P.S.: psst

Comments (12)

  • Deleted User

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    I like this piece for the foyer!…like a welcome to my visitors, says a lot! tfs Nat.

    Reply

  • Marjie Kemper

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    This is fabulous, Nat! Love how you used the neg spaces on the green door and all the yummy texture you built up with the CB and gesso.

    Reply

  • Rose Curtis

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    love what you created with the doors!

    Reply

  • Liz Thayne

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    Love your use of colour and texture on this canvas. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  • Bev W.

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    Yes!!! So liking the colors and those doors are a must have and on my wish list! Congrats Anne:) Thanks for the vid Nat!
    ♥Bev

    Reply

  • Conny

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    Die Farben sind einfach der Wahnsinn und ich liebe ja die Embellish von Maya Road – absolut Genial!!!!!

    LG Conny

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Yes, you are the texture lady! I enjoyed this video while eating my breakfast. And you can use reds and oranges as well as blues and greens. The quote has me thinking
    this morning. As always, thanks for sharing your crafty knowledge Nat.

    Reply

  • Dottie

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    Love, love the door canvas!!!

    Reply

  • Erika N

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    Very clever page. I love your idea and the this page.

    Reply

  • Birgit Kunte

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    Einfach der Oberknaller, die Türen, super gefällt mir total gut, liebe Grüße Birgit

    Reply

  • enscrappersbekendelser

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    Oh, wow it’s SO über cool. Thanks for the inspiration :)

    Reply

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Mixed Media Circus – The Grand Finale: Book of Techniques Workshop

You’ve asked and now we’re answering!  Watch for descriptions of all the classes we’re teaching to roll out over the next few weeks.  And now, just like a nosy reader, we’re starting at the end.

Ihr habt gefragt und es soll Euch geantwortet werden! Beobachtet, wie all die Workshops, die wir unterrichten, in den nächsten Tagen vorgestellt werden. Und nun, ganz wie ein neugieriger Leser, beginnen wir einfach am Ende.

On Sunday afternoon, November 27th, 2011 – in Hamburg  Germany –  Julie and I will team teach a class called, “The Grand Finale: Book of Techniques.”

Am Sonntag Nachmittag (27. November 2011 in Hamburg) werden Julie und ich gemeinsam einen Workshop mit dem Namen “The Grand Finale: Book of Techniques” – also Das Große Finale: Buch der Techniken” unterrichten.

BookOfTechniques
Use this book as an art journal, scrapbook, or simply a beautiful reference for all of the cool techniques you’ll learn using gesso, gel medium, acrylic paint, and PanPastels (and a special thank you to PanPastel for coming on board as a sponsor of our Mixed Media Circus).  These are some of our favorite supplies and we’ll teach you our favorite techniques using them!  We’ll create texture, play with simple resist techniques, and experiment with paint!  Not only will we share tons of techniques with you, but we will go over all sorts of useful information about these products and give you some easy do’s and don’ts for when you head home!

Verwende dieses Buch als ein Art-Journal, Scrapbook, oder einfach nur als ein wunderschönes Referenzbuch zu all den tollen Techniken unter der Verwendung von Gesso, Gel Medium, Acrylfarben und PanPastels (und einen besonderen Dank an PanPastel für das An-Bord-Kommen als Sponsor unseres Mixed Media Events). Dies sind einige unserer Lieblingszutaten und wir werden euch unsere Lieblingstechniken mit diesen Medien zeigen! Wir werden Textur erzeugen, mit simplen Resist Techniken arbeiten und viel mit Farben experimentieren! Und wir werden Euch nicht nur eine Menge Techniken zeigen, sondern darüber hinaus Euch auch viele nützliche Informationen über die Medien geben und Euch weitere Tipps und Trick auch für das forgeschrittene Spielen zuhause mitgeben!

If you’d like to sign up (we’re just a little less than half full right now), you can find all of the information here.

Falls Ihr Euch anmelden wollt (Wir sind etwas weniger als zur Hälfte ausgebucht zur Zeit), könnt Ihr Informationen  hier erhalten.

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Art Mesa 2011 – Workshops in Madrid, Spain

Artmese header

Ahhhhh – finally I can reveal another of many secrets :) My wonderful and super talented friend Cuchy and I are offering a Mixed Media Workshop Weekend on June 4th:)

Ahhh- endlich kann ich noch ein weiteres von vielen Geheimnissen aufdecken :) Meine wunderbare und super talentierte Freundin Cuchy  und ich bieten ein Mixed Media Workshop Wochenende am 4. Juni an :)

I know Cuchy from my workshops in Barcelona and we have been ever since in contact- I love her work and her amazing techniques and furthermore- she is just an amazing uplifting and fun person! So from there our idea to do a workshop weekend together started – and so here we go – Art Mesa 2011 – an art table – is born.

Ich kenne Cuchy von meinen Workshops in Barcelona und wir sind seitdem immer in Kontak geblieben. Ich liebe ihre Arbeiten und grandiosen Techniken und darüberhinaus ist sie einfach eine wunderbare, positive und fröhliche Person! Und so kam die Idee ein Workshop Wochenende zu organisieren – und da sind wir also – Art Mesa 2011 – Ein Kunst Tisch – sozusagen.

Check it out on the Art Mesa 2011 Blog.
Mehr Details auf dem Art Mesa 2011 Blog.

  • Gabriela Seminario

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    Happy that I already saved my seat for the two workshops!!!! yeeiii!!!

    Reply

  • Vicki Chrisman

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    What fun! One day.. we WILL teach together!

    Reply

  • Martha Richardson

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    You know that I’m drooling…I am going to get a passport and one of these days show up at the awesome workshops that you are involved with…REALLY!!!!

    Reply

  • Kerstin

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    Boah! Das machst Du genau richtig. Und ich erhöhe die Neujahrswünsche dann mal um superlativen geschäftlichen Erfolg! ;)

    Reply

  • Michelle LaPoint Rydell

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    Your life is so inspiring Nat! Congratulations on your new workshop – it sounds awesome!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    My schedule does not allow for me to attend (ha ha), but it looks like a fun time!

    Reply

  • sasha farina

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    i wanna fly there and attend your workshop!

    Reply

  • cuchy

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    I’m counting the days!!!

    Reply

  • erin yamabe

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    woo hoo congratulations, that sounds amazing! if i had the money and time i would be there!

    Reply

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Guest Artist Video for Stampington & Company

 

Guest Artist for Stampington & Company

Here is my latest published video as a guest artist for Stampington & Company. It shows how to create these Canvases featuring Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and Glimmer Glam as well as Vintaj Altered Blanks and Sakura Pens.

Guest Artist for Stampington & Company

 

I love the look that the Gel Pens create on those Vintaj Blanks and those cracks are my favorite.
Guest Artist for Stampington & Company

Guest Artist for Stampington & Company

Guest Artist for Stampington & Company

Guest Artist for Stampington & Company

hope you like it! Have a wonderful day!

huge hugs
Nat

Comments (8)

  • Kathleen Glossop

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    This is awesome!! Thanks very much for sharing, really gorgeous :)

    Reply

  • sylvia

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    bookmarking and saving for later! have a great weekend!!

    Reply

  • francoise charles

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    i don’t like it. i love it!! and i love it even more when you make it look so simple!

    Reply

  • Lisa Dorsey

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    COOL canvas Nat and such a great video!

    Reply

  • betsy sammarco

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    i am so intimidated by canvas – thanks so much for this – might just try it now!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Nat, I just love how you make everything look so easy peasy!
    Off I go to see if my LSS has Vintaj Altered Blanks.

    Reply

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