MEMORIES - Mixed Media

MEMORIES

Acrylic Collage - 12x12x1/2 inch canvas

Purchase Info

I have painted with watercolor for over thirty years but I also love to experiment with acrylics, collage and mixed media. For Memories I began with a photo of a window with flowers and glued it on a 12x12 canvas. 

I painted the background with acrylics and enhanced the flowers with paint. I stamped with bubble wrap and a swirl stamp using blue acrylic paint and used white gesso around the window. I finished by stamping the numbers to hint at an address. So much fun

TOUCH OF PURPLE - Creative Challenge - Value

TOUCH OF PURPLE

Watercolor - 11x14

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Creative Challenge - focus on value in your painting. I used different shades of watercolor to create a strong value pattern in Touch of Purple, painting the darkest darks right next to the lightest lights in my focal area. I used the whole value scale from almost black to white but did not use a lot of variation in the mid tones. Keeping my brushstrokes loose and painterly created movement throughout the painting.

We often focus more on color than actual the actual value of those colors. It can be helpful to view your painting in black and white so that you can clearly see if you have a range of lights and darks and if your value pattern provides a strong composition.

A PLACE TO BELONG - Acrylic Collage on Canvas

A PLACE TO BELONG

Acrylic Collage on Canvas - 12x12x1 inch

Purchase Info

Occasionally, I like to switch things up a bit and take a break from my watercolors. For A Place To Belong I collaged different papers with images on to a gallery wrapped canvas. I used acrylic paint to tie the elements together and enhance the texture of the images. I used images of garden, flowers, windows, checks and text to create a sense of home. A Place to Belong!

ADOBE COLOR - Acrylic Painting

ADOBE COLOR

Acrylic - 11x14

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I switched gears from watercolor and used fun, bright colors of acrylic paint to create this southwestern piece. Turquoise, peach and magenta along with collage and stamping to create texture. 

Mixed Media Acrylic Collage Series - RIDE, BLOOM & SOAR!

RIDE

Acrylic Collage - 10x10 canvas

Purchase Info

It is often helpful to work in a series so when I decided to play around with combining acrylic paint with collage papers I decided to tackle three different pieces at the same time.

BLOOM

Acrylic Collage - 10x10 canvas

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I used 10x10 inch gallery wrapped stretched canvases for the base and began by gluing on random pieces of text torn from old books. I added some acrylic paint on top on different shades while letting some of the papers show through.

SOAR

Acrylic Collage - 10x10 canvas

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I used the dropper from a bottle of black acrylic ink to loosely draw the main subject - bicycle, flowers and bird - and then collaged more papers on top using painted rice papers and patterned tissue paper.

It definitely helped to work on all three paintings at once since I was using a similar creative approach for each piece and could use the same supplies for each step. It also took aways the pressure of having to make a perfect piece and allowed me to relax nd enjoy the artistic process!

MEMORIES - Mixed Media Photo Art

MEMORIES

Acrylic Collage - 12x12 gallery canvas

Purchase Info

Memories is a big departure from my regular practice of painting watercolors. I began with a photo of an old window and flower box and collaged it on to a painted stretched canvas. I then began adding acrylic paint around and on top of the photo to enhance it and integrate it with the painted background. I used stamps - swirls, checks, dots and numbers - to add even more visual interest!

The gallery wrapped canvas is ready to display on the wall, propped on a bookshelf or on an easel.

TEXTURES OF SPRING & Acrylic Collage

TEXTURES OF SPRING

ACRYLIC & COLLAGE - 16x20 canvas

Purchase Info

I have painted with watercolor for many, many years and it is still my favorite medium but every once and a while I venture out and try something new. For Textures of Spring I used acrylic paints and hand painted decorative rice papers to create this colorful vase of flowers. It was so much fun to play around with the bright paint colors and the textures created with the collage papers.

Art With Heart Monday - Creativity & Sunflower Collage

SUNFLOWER DUO

Acrylic Collage on canvas - 10x10

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Creativity is giving yourself permission 

to see things differently.

~ David Robert ~

Yoga, Art and Balance

ASPEN FLORAL

Acrylic Collage - 9x12 board

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Since we moved to Tennessee I have been attending a yoga class several times a week. I never thought I would enjoy yoga but as I have gotten older (just a little) I realize the need for more stretching and balance in my exercise routine. I have always been a runner but I have started to try and mix it up a little with walking, swimming and yoga and to try and find that perfect balance between pushing my body and not hurting it.

I think balance is important in all areas of our lives and especially for our creative journey. We need balance in the colors we use, the values in the compositions we are creating and how critical we are of ourselves and our work. Most importantly, we need to try and find the balance between the enjoyment of the artistic process and the desire to push for the final product. We need to remember to steady ourselves, relax and enjoy the creative ride!

Red Poppies, String and a Kitty Cat

POPPIES

Acrylic on canvas board - 9x12

Purchase Info

Is the kitty going to play with the string or the bright red poppies? Looks like right now he is just relaxing and biding his time.

These acrylic collage poppies can be displayed as is on an easel or slipped into a frame - the choice is yours.

Mixed Media - Working in a Series

NUMBER 3 

Acrylic Collage - 8x8 panel

Purchase Info

I find that it is often helpful to paint in a series when I am trying something new.  Working on more than one painting at a time takes the pressure off of trying to make everything perfect. I feel freer to experiment and change things up a bit.

I used the same color palette, collage papers and stamps for both pieces but tried to change the composition up a bit. I have found that working in layers is the key for any mixed media collage piece. This was a total departure from my watercolor painting and so much fun!

NUMBER 5

Acrylic Collage - 8x8 panel

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MIXED MEDIA MONDY - Acrylic Collage

STANDING TALL

Acrylic Collage - 8x10

Purchase Info

A fun piece where I used a blue toile patterned paper to collage on to an 8x10 canvas panel. I used acrylic paint for the flowers and then ink for bold line work.

This final piece can be displayed as is on an easel or slipped into a frame.

Tissue Paper, Acrylics and Sunflowers

SUNFLOWER SPRING

Acrylic collage - 10x20

Purchase Info

Sunflower Spring is a departure from my watercolor paintings. I used colored tissue and rice papers to collage on to mat board and then acrylics to negative paint around the flowers. I added more layers of collage and paint until I was satisfied with the piece. The beauty of this technique is that you can build up nice texture that is not possible with transparent watercolor.

Day 2 - Five Days of Fall Paintings

HARMONY

Acrylic - 11x15

Purchase Info

I painted white gesso on 140 lb watercolor paper for the base of this acrylic painting. I stamped and scraped into the gesso to create texture for the fall trees.

Acrylic, Layers & Texture

HARMONY

Acrylic - 11x15

Purchase Info

In my new class Fun With Acrylics, Collage & Mixed Media we have been experimenting with layered backgrounds full of color and texture.

Brand New Class - Acrylics, Collage and Mixed Media!

I am excited to announce a brand new weekly class - Acrylics, Collage and Mixed Media! We will paint, stamp, stencil, collage, letter, spatter and embellish. Use acrylics, inks, pastels and markers. Paint on paper, canvas or fabric, Explore, play, create and experiment. Realistic, whimsical or abstract.  This is a class where artistic expression is encouraged and having fun is the goal. 

Class is offered in Colorado Springs, CO beginning May 7, 2013 - for more information please email me at MarthaKisling@msn.com 

Third Acrylic Tree Collage from my Creative Corner!

ASPEN FLORAL

Acrylic Collage - 9x12 canvas board

Purchase Info

 

The third and final acrylic collage in my experimental tree series for my new Creative Corner!

 

I decided to be really funky using pink and purple colors and papers with flowers on them for the sky and trees. Using a canvas board I collaged on printed tissue paper with pink roses for the sky and different purple patterns for the mountains. Using scrapbook papers with a flower design I brushed turquoise acrylic paint across them and cut out my trees and branches. I also cut out some flowers and added some dots of gold paint for their centers.

 

I loved experimenting with acrylics and collage in this Tree Series - watch for more to come from my new Creative Corner!

Creative Corner and the Second in my Acrylic Collage Tree Series

SPRING GREEN

Acrylic Collage - 9x12 canvas board

Purchase Info

 

As I mentioned last week, I have been painting in watercolor for over twenty years and love everything about the medium but I am still always on the lookout for new things to try. I have decided to try and experiment with at least one new idea a month - my new Creative Corner!

 

For the second collage in my Tree Series I decided to go for bright green and yellow spring colors. I began again with a canvas board and collaged on printed tissue papers using a soft yellow leaf design for the sky and different green patterns for the mountains. Using scrapbook papers with a flower design and scraped acrylic paint across them I cut out the trees, branches and leaves. I also used textured rice paper tinted green in the sky and continued building up layers of paper in my mountains. 

 

It was fun to use more texture in this second collage - watch for the third in the series next week!

Geraniums All Framed Up

GERANIUMS

Watercolor Collage

 

I always love it when my art collectors send me a photo of their watercolor matted and framed. It is always fun to see the colors and style that they have chosen for their home and I think Virginia in Washington did a wonderful job!

ART SALE and GERANIUMS

GERANIUMS

Acrylic Collage 14x20

SOLD

 

I don't often stray from watercolor but I did use acrylic paints and some collage for a mixed media painting of geraniums in flower pots. Geraniums now has a new home with Virginia in Washington!

 

Don't forget to check out my Art Sale in my Etsy Shop - 20% off all original watercolors! Use coupon code 'School' at check out - expires Sep 10.