Map of Dreams - Collage or Journal? - by Finnabair

Hi there my Creative Souls!
New Year.
New beginning.
Also - a new mood board created for our Art Daily Cafe project.
Last week I was showing you my first official make of 2020 - it was all happening on Art Daily Cafe Blog, here, and I was explaining how maps are an important element of my life is no many ways, both literal and metaphorical. 

I don't want to repeat all this information here, especially I'm talking about my inspiration during the video I added below - but let me tell you: this project is very personal and meaningful to me and I'm so happy I pushed myself towards creating it.
There are so many nuances in it and pieces I've added into this collage which are showing my personality, my story and my dreams. You can say this spread speaks my language and on so many levels - in fact it is full of things you can call my "creative vocabulary".

I'm blessed I could take the time and creating something for "myself". This is the essence of "Art Daily" project to me and I'm so happy I have this little oasis of creativity in my life, without any pressure to show the techniques, new products or latest designs. These are so exciting - by all means, I love doing it - but creating for the sake of creating is a totally different animal. I'm sure you get it.

So here it is - my little gift to you this month - my step-by-step video, explaining the process the best way I could. I was trying to add a little of the background info to it, so there is a lot of talking, but if you don't like this kind of videos, just switch the sound off!

Here is the list of the supplies I've used - I hope it is useful! All of them are liked 

to Mixed Media Place Store!

Thank you so much for watching - stay tuned for more exciting things happening this week... the new release reveal is coming soon!

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

Clear. Sparkly Tag - FB Live

Hi my Dears!

As you can probably see on my personal Instagram account, I am now in Lima, Peru with my classes. The possibility of travelling, meeting new people, seeing new places is just amazing! I collect all the memories, tastes, scents, sounds and then, when I am in my studio, I create "stories" in a shape of mixed media projects.

Here is one of them - clear, sparkly tag, that was created during one of my Mixed Media Minutes with Finnabair seesions.

Both tags features my sets of Glitters, Art Alchemy Metallique Paints, Mechanicals and 7 Dots Studio word stickers. 

As you can see, clear background could be fabulous space for mixed-media projects.

The video is now available on my youtube channel. You can watch it by clicking below, of course, but if you are still not subscribed to my personal YouTube channel, here is direct link.

Thank you for visiting the blog today. Enjoy your weekend!
Finnabair

Inspired by Klimt (and Icing Paste!) - by Finnabair

Hi again my friends!
Have you seen our latest mood board for April at Art Daily Cafe Blog? If not, you should check it as it is absolutely gorgeous! I was waiting impatiently for this month to come as I was sure the project from the team and you, our online friends, will simply blow my mind...
Speaking about Art Daily - every Monday, following the topic of the month, we publish a new prompt for you. And I just have to show you how I got inspired by one of them!

"If you could have your portrait painted by any artist in history, who would you pick?"
I was thinking about this sentence for only a short moment - the answer was easy for me and I think it won't be too surprising, when I will show you my journal spread.

Klimt's love for patterns, bold designs and colour stole my heart right away.
His most popular paintings are known by almost everybody... but there are so many more of his works showing his amazing talent, sensitivity and an amazing eye for detail. If only I had a chance, I'd love to be his model without a blink of an eye... only to be able to look over his shoulder when he was creating!

When I was working on this project I had a quick look through the album with his paintings and as a result, I've put some of his signature elements together. I know how far I am from his masterpieces, but I wanted to try anyway!
The whole spread is one big experiment with metallic textures, glossy acrylic paints and bold patterns - and I have to admit it was great creative exercise. I've used a lot of art mediums to get the finish I liked - but my pages are really durable thanks to this process!
I've started with a good coat of Art Basics Soft Gloss Gel over the printed paper - I've picked 2 pages from an old book. I've added more paper layers and metallic skins a bit alter using 3D Gloss Gel - it is a bit thicker and it was easier to stick thicker elements with it.

Most of the dimensional patterns in this spread were done using a selection of stencils and 2 colours of Art Extravagance Icing Pastes - beautifully creamy, metallic gels which added the most beautiful effects to my pages. I've used Fire Ruby and Vintage Gold colours to create my palette. 

For final colouring, I had to use the product matching my super shiny finish of the project - and here my new Art Alchemy Liquid Acrylics were absolutely the best solution! I've added shades of brown, pink, red, purple and yellow and I fell in love with them once again!

There is a special technique bonus to this page - for creating some of the textures, especially the "dress" of the main character I've used pieces of Icing Paste Skins I'd prepared before. You can see them on the picture above - they are flexible, durable and very easy to make if you have plastic embossing folders and Icing Pastes of course! Just think about all the possibilities of using them not only on the canvases, covers and pages but also bottles, boxes and pots!
You can see the tutorial on making them in the short video below - I hope you will get inspired to play with this concept!

Here are some of the products I've used to work on my journal page 
- all liked to Mixed Media Place Store:


If you feel inspired by Art Daily Cafe mood board - don't forget to tag us #artdailycafe when posting on Instagram! This way we have a chance to see your beautiful art and maybe repost it as well!
Thank you so much for visiting me today - happy creating!

Altered Hearts tutorial and Social Media Talk - by Finnabair

Hi my dear ones!
I know I'm quiet sometimes, but it doesn't mean I'm not working - in fact the more quiet I am the more likely I'm busy with some cool - and possibly secret- stuff. There is a lot happening behind the scenes - classes are organised, products are released and designed, flights are booked and project are made. Some of these I'm trying to share with you through my social media.

Social Media - big thing nowadays, and I'm trying to be on the top of it as well - and you may help me, if you will spread the word I'm waiting for you all out there!

For example - Instagram accounts. Do you know I have two of these? @finnabair_studio is full of projects, inspiration and general mixed-media love while @finnabair is my personal one where I'm sharing my own projects only, travels and general glimpses into everyday life. And sometimes some random stuff I enjoy. And sometimes I talk too much - nevermind!

Starting last year I've decided to be more active on my FB Page and convinced by my creative friends and Prima I'm hosting Mixed Media Minutes - Live Shows on Facebook where I'm creating small projects step-by-step or present some useful techniques, product info or new releases! It's the easiest way to see them all before they are in the shops! Many of you told me though thy are not FB people, so I had to find a way to get these cool shows to you somehow - and here we come the last but not least - my own You Tube Channel. This is the place in the web with 100% Finnabair made videos and tutorials - so maybe you'd like to subscribe and tell your friends to do the same so you won't miss a thing... like the cool tutorials I've uploaded in the last month?

Here is one of them - Altered Hearts - featuring my new sets of Stamps, Mechanicals and Art Alchemy Liquid Acrylics in the great company of Art Ingredients, Sparks Paints and 7 Dots Studio Papers. 

You can see the whole project done step-by-step - how cool is this? And the product list is included in the YT video description as well! Check it out here!

If you'd like to see more of the videos or (maybe) subscribe - please follow this link. 

It would be great if you could tell your mixed-media friends about this option as well - the more of us the merrier!

Sending love your way

Colours of the Past - new collage class by Finnabair

Hi my dear friends - I'm sending you the warmest wishes from beautiful South Africa!
I was waiting for a long time keeping this project secret, but now, after the class is done, I can finally share it here... Please have a look at one of my newest classes proposals - "The Colours of the Past" This large canvas is full of all mixed-media goodness!

Negative space, texture, patterns and colours – all that can fit in one project which is the journey into the world of dimensional collage.“Colours of the Past" is a great chance to clean your head and keep your hands busy… simply follow your intuition and enjoy the process of building layers, glueing and painting.

This class is focusing on a bit different way of composing and organising your project but also finding a way of using the supplies we all have somewhere close in our reach: in our studios, kitchens, garages, gardens… with the presented techniques and your favourite choice of colours you can create a truly unique artwork which will be a statement piece on your wall or shelf!

During this full day class, we will build the project together from the bottom to the top, building layers of the project and trying different techniques.
I will do my best to break the process into easy to follow steps. We will try different art mediums from all of my lines including White Heavy Gesso, Icing Pastes or Heavy Body Gel, new Art Alchemy Liquid Acrylics Paints, Art Stones and more! You will have a wide choice of finishing possibilities and colours to choose – and we will use such materials as Tissue Papers, embellishments created with the moulds and HDF bases and elements.

All the techniques can be easily used on many other projects such as home decor and altered objects or journal pages. The project is suitable both for advanced and beginning students - so you don't need to feel intimidated by the size or the complex look of the finished project!

If you think this is something for you - check where you can join my classes - here! This class is already conferment for Norway and the UK... but more locations is coming soon!
Sending you love and hugs from the very tip of the African continent!