More is more! Opulent, excessive, colorful and patterned….Mixed media at its MOST exotic! No steamer trunk or passport required. Begin your journey by selecting an intriguing portrait – Perhaps a Russian Czar, or a Princess from the Royal Court of India, or a Moroccan Sheik, or a regal Samurai? You’ll spend the day learning endless ideas for layering, stencils and masks, low-tech texturing and embellishments – plus you will
“crack the code” and finally make your collage elements look fresh, original and distinctive. Your completed (18 X 28) mixed media banner will have the look of an exotic tapestry, and you’ll return home with a sheik’s ransom of ideas for your future work in journals, collage, and mixed media paintings. For Seekers, Adventurers, and Visual Vagabonds.
Supply List:
- 8 oz. container of white gesso
- 8 oz. container of acrylic matte medium (for paper collage)
- Small container of gel medium (for heavier collage items)
- Scissors or exacto blade
- Masking Tape
- Your usual mark-making tools – gel pens, Sharpies, soft pencil, etc.
- Pack of index cards, any size or color
- I will bring large paper to work on, but you can also bring your usual art journal for note-taking or any additional work you want to do during class.
- 4 Sheets of different colored tissue paper
- Texturing tools: Small pieces of corrugated cardboard, cheesecloth, string, faux finishing tools or sequin waste, rubber stamps, etc. You don’t need all of these – just bring a selection of interesting texturing options.
- A selection of inexpensive acrylic paints (2 oz containers). Bring at least 8 – 10
colors, including black. PLUS two metallics. Lumiere paints, made by Jacquard, are very effective for this project.
- Portfolio brand water soluble oil pastels. Very inexpensive and available at Staples or
Dick Blick. We will be working with these a lot – please bring this brand. No other pastels perform like these, and I want you to learn all of my ideas for using them.
- Palette for paints, water container for brushes
- A selection of inexpensive bristle brushes. Bring a large (2 ½”) brush for gesso, and a selection of other sizes to use for paint and medium. Include a small detail brush.
- A package of foam make-up wedge sponges.
- Decorative stencils: Think about exotic lavish patterns, swirls, paisleys, florals, and geometric designs. Die-cut scrapbook papers work well (very affordable!) and many online sources have interesting options.
- For Collage: This project is ALL about collage papers and lavish embellishments, so bring plenty of options to work with.
- Select your “personage” for the central focal point of your panel. Choose someone
fascinating and intriguing. Think of characters from foreign bazaars, exotic spice markets, Chinese operas, the Khyber pass, a Venetian Carnival. Make at least 4
good-quality blk/wht toner copies of their face – 8” from chin to hairline.
- Bring a selection of at least 12-14 colorful decorative papers, to carry out your theme.
Various patterns and motifs. Choose from scrapbook papers, giftwrap, old correspondence, marbleized papers, paper lace, old wallpaper, examples of text or lettering…..anything that carries out your theme, and adds colorful detail.
- Also, bring blk/wht toner copies of collage elements that support your theme. For instance, you might want to add a “scene” or a “landscape” to your portrait panel.
Also, check with copyright-free sources for patterns and motifs that illuminate your theme. “The Grammar of Ornament” is one of my all-time favorites. ** Note: I recommend toner copies because they do not blur or smear when wet.
- Embellishments: We will spend most of the day creating the painted collaged panel, but you can also bring some embellishments to add. Think of buttons, tassels, velvet leaves, tags, feathers, fibers. Swatches of fabric, canvas, leather, braids, etc. Bring things that are easily glued to a surface.
Optional:
- You might want to bring a postal mailing tube for transporting your completed
panel back home.
Study my samples, shown here, then start searching for the ideal, fascinating, exotic persona. Feel free to email me with any questions.
