Challenge yourself with colours by Kasia Salmanowicz

Hello!

This time I made a challenge myself. I decided to decorate a paper box, but I will use the first three colors I draw from the entire range of metallic and sparks paints that I have.

Fortunately, I chose a shade of metallic brown, but also a deep, shiny violet. It's a color that maybe just a few times appeared in my projects over the years, but I caught it - so it had to stay that way.

I decorated the lid of the box with a 1mm thick cardboard, beautiful Finnabair metal accessories, mould elements, some wire and art stones.

I glued everything on with soft matte gel and covered it with white gesso. Then, after drying, I painted with three shades of metallic and sparks paints. I really like the whitening effect in my mixed media projects, so I did it this time. I invite you to a video tutorial where you can see everything carefully.

Hugs,

Kasia Salmanowicz

Products I have used - all the images linked to Mixed Media Place online store:

Bravely - Assemblage for art Daily Cafe - by Finnabair

Hi my dear ones!
I know I wasn't so present on the blog with my own posts recently - it was mainly because I'm trying to work on expanding on my other social media - Instagram accounts (personal and official brand) and my own You Tube Channel. This is where I show my day-to-day life, adventures and creativity and if you didn't check them out yet, maybe you can do it now and subscribe, to make sure you won't miss anything?
The project I'm sharing today I've made for the Art Daily Cafe Blog - and it is inspired by the topic of the month - "Poetry of Decay" and both rust and recycling... couldn't it be a better combination for me? I don't think so!

If you know me a bit you know I'm more of an old soul, finding pleasure in exploring architecture, monuments, remains of the castles or villages - and Ireland is a perfect place for these activities. 
I enjoy going to the flea markets or car boot sales looking for old books, photos and mysterious objects, which were part of everyday life in the past. Simple touching them, wondering who were their owners and how they were used makes me happy... but there is so much more! Now my imagination is kicking in: 

all these old, forgotten toys, tools, books and photos have so many stories to tell. I love them with all their imperfections as they are showing clearly how old and how special they are. They are precious pieces of the past - and I can help them shine again!

I think there is real poetry in these rusty, woodworm eaten frames. I can see so much value and mystery in each object, which was cherished by people in the past, even if its condition is far from perfect... in fact, this worn out looks s a proof these items were once loved, used or displayed. Can you imagine the hands holding these before? I wish I could know all the story!

Maybe they were an important part of somebody's life? Maybe they were putting a smile on somebody's face? I can't know that, but I can give them their second chance - new life and new meaning, a brand new story to tell. You don't need to much to show their natural beauty - and the whole process of putting them together is pure pleasure. 

Do you want to know how I did it? Here is the video for you!

From now on they will be cherished as a keepsake on my shelf, sparkling happiness in my heart and giving me a chance to honour the people who are close to me or tales which I'd like to tell myself.
There is so much beauty in the decay and imperfection, you just need to look at them closer, with not only the eyes but with your soul.
I hope I was able to inspire you a bit.
Sending love

Angelica - why BIGGER is better (sometimes)! - by Finnabair

Hi again my friends!
I'm slowly going into my usual "teaching mode" which will start in September and I'm going through my spreadsheets, orders and class samples... and look what I've found! It's a class-made sample, so it is full of imperfections, but  this also will give t you the idea what are we REALLY doing during the workshop.
I don't think I was showing you this project on the blog before, and it is really one of my favourite ones to teach! Why?

Angellica Collage is a big canvas which is also a full-day class.
This means we can focus on one project for longer than just four hours! It's great to go deeper in details, techniques and options working at a bit slower pace. In my classes I'm doing my best to use the time to maximum, trying to guide the students through the whole process smoothly and as fast as possible, so they can take home a finished project as a future reference... its also true that if you won't finish in the class, most probably you will never come back to this project again, and this would be such a shame, right? I have to add from myself that most of my mixed-media artworks without the final touches look much worse than you could expect... so adding last bits and pieces is crucial!

Angelica is full of textures, details and metallic colours - it is a real mixed-media collage in my signature style and with the size reaching 60 cm it really is a statement piece you can put on display - but it needs a bit of time and love! 
At first, I was a bit unsure if such a long class will be well seen by my students, but after talking to many of you I felt encouraged to try longer, full-day projects as well and now I'm happy I did!

The benefit of working on one project longer is not only making something bigger in size but also getting more time to think on the placement of the elements, choosing colours, adding those" perfect touches". Just imagine putting every layer with love, adding next elements and seeing it all coming together in the end - it is really rewarding, empowering process! 
If you are one of those independent and artistic souls you won't be disappointed - during the class you can also add your personal elements if you wish and there is always a choice of patterns and colours, so each and every project is really unique.

 "Angelica" is based on techniques which are easily adaptable and transferable to other surfaces - and this is, in fact, the case with all of my classes. during the creating process, you can try a range of art mediums, starting with Art Basics: gels, gessos and then moving to various embellishments and Art Ingredients to finally work on the colour palette using my Art Alchemy range of products: paints and waxes. Sounds fun? It is!

For me longer class means more time to share not only product and technique information but also some more personal tips and tricks or just get in touch with my students, making this class a bit more special for both sides. Teaching is truly my element and as much as I don't like the paperwork and the time I have to spend on all the preparations the moment I'm stepping into the room is just turning into pure magic... so double treat for me!

If you were wondering if this kind of class is for you - I hope I could help!
You can check the schedule of my classes for the next months here, in "In-person classes" section of the blog.
I hope to see you in the classroom!

Ocean's Tales - Altered Book FB Live Video - by Finnabair

Hi, how are you my Dears?
It's been a while since I've posted my project here - it is all because I'm drifting somewhere between recharging batteries, planning new creative adventures, catching up with emails and tasking the advantage of the best season of the year - Summer. If you are interested what I am up to, the best way is to check private Instagram, updated daily - especially if you are a fan of Irish landscapes and a bunch of random thoughts :)
If you were able to see some of my latest photos, you can see I was on Aran Islands, spending most of my time walking on the cliffs, listening to to weaves and inhaling the salty air. This is my favourite way of relaxing for sure - Ocean has truly magical powers and it is so very close to my soul... I could spend days just staring at it, but I not much would be done this way, right?

Speaking abut the ocean, today I've got one of my older FB Lives for you - and it is all sea and ocean inspired  of course! If you like altered art as much as I do you will be having great time trying similar ideas on the books, boxes, canvases panels... literally everything!

I've picked a really nice selection of art mediums to create effects on this cover: Art Extravagance Graphite Paste for the lovely, gritty texture, Art Basics Heavy Body Gel as the super strong adhesive and Black Gesso as the background. All that together with a bunch of a bit unusual elements was perfect start before adding some amazing, metallic colour!

The final look is a mixture of one of the most versatile products in my range - Mica Powders with a tiny bit of Art Stones, Metallique Paint and pinch of Glitter... it may sound complicated but I promise you, it is all much easier than it seems!

Check out this FB Live Video recording - all edited and uploaded to my YT Channel for you!

I hope this project will inspire you to make some new, cool altered items for your home collection - maybe it is time to think about finding something special during your vacation travels and turning it into personal art piece? Why not?

Sending you love and all the best creative vibes
Finn

Shabby House and new Sparks - by Finnabair

Hi again my dear friends!
The most crazy and creative weekend in Ireland has finished... and I have to tell you I have many reasons to be proud of what we did! Great atmosphere, new friendships, beautiful projects of  my students and a lot of messy fingers - all that was included in our Mixed media gathering package!

During these classes I had a chance for the very first time use my new Art Alchemy Sparks - and they did fabulous job to colour my embellishments during Shabby House Class... oh, did I mention it was the debut of this project as well? Double excitement!

Just check out this mind-blowing combination of blues and browns. It's vintage, feminine and grunt at the same time - perfect combination if you like to stay on the "lighter side of mixed-media", I think.

There are so many inspiring, delicious products to try in this class: Icing Pastes, Liquid Acrylics, Sparks and of course a selection of Art Basics such as Gels and Gesso. We were playing with Tissue Papers, stencils and my favourite metal embellishments - Mechanicals.... oh and don't forget elements of Art Daily Journaling line as well - great mix, don't you think?

I have to tell you although all the Shabby Houses were different - we could pick our favourite colour palette to work with - they were all equally beautiful. I'm so happy my new class was so succesful and I'm already planning all the new colour palettes to work with in the classroom - with my art alchemy paints the possibilities are endless, right?

Here are selected products I've used in this project - all liked to Mixed Media Place Store:

I hope you are having a great week - I'm seeing some of you this weekend in The Netherlands!
Woo hoo!
Sending love