Today I'm sharing a mixed media bottle with a beautiful dragonfly from Finnabair. I think it's no secret that the entire project is filled with media you can find at Mixed Media Place.
I used an HDF bottle as a base, onto which I adhered one of Finnabair's newest papers. Then I used moulded elements. I made some of the casts from plaster, and some from resin. I combined all the decorative elements into one main composition placed in the center of the bottle.
Once the entire piece was complete, I sealed the project with clear gesso, which allowed subsequent layers of media and colors to flow better. Next, I used Liquid Acrylic Paints, and after drying, I gently whitened the entire piece with white gesso to highlight details and give the piece a more three-dimensional character.
Of course, you can watch every step of the process on our YouTube channel - Finnabair ArtFiles. There, you'll find a step-by-step tutorial showing the entire process of creating this piece. I encourage you to watch.
Have a nice day,
Kasia Salmanowicz
Finnabair products I have used - all the images linked to Mixed Media Place or online store:
Some projects begin with a plan. Others begin with a very honest thought: “This is useful… but it could be so much more inspiring.”
That was exactly the case with this art supplies box.
I use this wooden box to carry materials to my art classes. It was practical, and it already had a little handmade touch, but the old decoration no longer felt like me. It was covered with painted papers, simple and colorful, but I wanted to turn it into something more personal, more layered, and more inspiring to carry around.
So I decided to give it a proper mixed media transformation. From simple storage to an inspiring art box.
For the background, I wanted a surface full of movement, texture, and depth. I built up the first layers with collage, texture, stencils, and color, creating an atmospheric base with vibrant turquoise, periwinkle, and yellow tones.
I didn’t want the box to feel too perfect or too clean. Since it is a real working box, used for classes and creative days outside my studio, I also wanted to keep the composition relatively flat and practical for transport. I have to admit I didn’t completely succeed, but it is still far from being the most dimensional project I’ve ever created.
Building the focal point:
For the center of the composition, I used a decorative frame to create a strong focal area. I love how frames can instantly make a mixed media project feel more intentional, almost like placing a treasured piece in a gallery spotlight.
Inside the frame, I placed three light bulbs as the main focal elements. They felt perfect for this project. Loooove them so much!
To me, they represent ideas, inspiration, and those little creative sparks that appear when you are teaching, learning, experimenting, or simply playing with materials.
Because this box comes with me to my classes, I wanted the message to feel clear:
Art is not just decoration.
Art is a way to think, to connect, to solve, to express.
Art is the answer.
Texture, contrast, and small details:
Once the main composition was in place, I started adding all the details that make a mixed media piece come alive: flowers, numbers, small embellishments, sequins, metallic touches, splatters, and highlights.
The contrast between the dark central area and the glowing yellow bulbs helped the focal point stand out. I also added lighter touches with wax on the frame to bring back definition and make the textures pop.
Those final white splatters always feel a little bit like magic to me. They help connect all the elements together and give the whole piece that messy, creative, studio-energy finish I love.
A box with a new purpose:
What I love most about altered art is that it allows you to take an everyday object and give it a new emotional meaning.
This is still a box for my materials. But now it feels like something that belongs to my creative world.
It is no longer just storage. It is a little reminder of why I create. Because sometimes the objects we use every day deserve to inspire us too.
Thank you so much for stopping by today.
I hope this project inspires you to look at a simple object around you and ask:
“What could this become with a few layers, a little texture, and a creative spark?”
You can watch the full tutorial here:
Happy creating! 💙
Priss
Finnabair products I have used - all the images linked to Mixed Media Place or online store:
