Art by Marlene Acrylic Paints Review

Art by Marlene and Studio Light have released a new range of acrylic paints! And they have just arrived at the Mixed Media Art Studio, Melbourne, Australia. Michelle takes you through the colours in each of the 4 sets, and then swatches each colour onto a display board, showing you the colour and transparency of each paint. Colour swatching your new paints is a great way to get to know your craft supplies, and helps creating layers in your mixed media canvas or art journal.

Materials List

Art by Marlene Studio Lights acrylic paint melbourne australia

You can see the full range of craft supplies and art journals at Mixed Media Art Studio online store

A Desert at Sunset Painting by Gloria Malouf-Marsh

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This article is written by Gloria Malouf-Marsh

I started this painting from scratch.  I imagined a desert scene, I introduced working with sand textures, texture paste, warm colors sprang to my mind. The gold/yellows/oranges, different shades of hues, spindly plants that thrive in the desert climate, rock techniques, cactuses and the like. I also worked with dark and light – shadow and brightness.

Gloria Malouf-Marsh's Desert at SunsetI started at first to gesso the canvas. From 2/3 of the canvas up, I applied a paste and sand composition and let dry. This raised the texture and added an atmosphere to the base of the picture, which I would like to call a desert composition.   I had no idea where I was going; I just allowed my creativity to lead me.  I knew there was a road leading me somewhere. This road, I could see far in the distance. So I sketched mountains, rocks, cactuses, and started to build the tones and the painting started to come alive.  The rock face at the bottom and foreground was built up with texture paste composition.  I used a palette knife to apply knife shapes and irregular shapes to create the jagged rocks.   I wanted to maintain the warm shades and not to introduce any cool shades.

The different shades of the sunset were very effective.  I painted the area from the mountains upwards with vermilion red and used graduated shades of yellow/gold/ orange to create the sunset-scape.

As the painting was taking shape, I was transported into an earthy desert and the connection to the earth was of paramount importance to me. It’s also a form of meditation for me.  The warmth of the earth beckoned me deeper to the roots of the soil. I felt very close to the earth and very grounded. The symbolic meaning evoked a sense of humility and a deep sense of  gratitude. This desert time  brings on a change of heart, a transformation and a time to reflect.

The desert represents the hardships and challenges one has to overcome in one’s life. And through this challenge, one comes out so much better for it.

Keep creating! Enjoy!

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My name is Gloria Malouf-Marsh. I live in Brisbane, Australia, with my husband Greg and my daughter Salwa .  Springtime is glorious in Brisbane. I rise early and go for brisk walks, do my yoga practice and I’m inspired to face the day with inspiration and confidence. I get creative ideas for painting when I’m in nature. I love listening to nature’s sounds and watching and hearing the birds.

I am developing discipline in creating and making time for myself to daily paint. I seem curious to want to further my techniques.  I’m working with the building texture  mediums.  A sense of confidence and enjoyment has developed with me regarding honing my skills and techniques in the art medium, and I do enjoy this website so much.  Hearing peoples’ ideas and seeing their talents, just simply amaze me.  It is a special global family.   If I can create, so can you! Enjoy!

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Jenny Panda’s Painting

This article is written by Jenny Panda

Last year I made a collage/mixed media picture based on my sister Val’s life. She was born in India, moved to England and  I tried to combine all kinds of fleeting glances of memories from her life into the picture.

Painting

I used matte media to build up certain parts of the pic: doves and textures of various things. I drew her portrait and used a photocopy of that which I embellished with gold for her hair and various parts of the rest of the pic.

I used photocopies of an Indian dancer painting I had done to add patterns here and there, also some Celtic pics as we have theological and Celtic roots.

There were many varied memories to incorporate into the composition.

I was so glad to have made the pic as she recently died and now I have this with which to remember her.

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Jenny was born in India, during British Raj, educated in England, then moved to Canada in 1970. She has taught in England and Canada for 34 years with an emphasis on creativity; art, drama, music, children’s literature and computer exploration.

Jenny is now an Executive Member of Fine Arts Society of Milton

You can see more of Jenny’s work on her blog Jenny Panda

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Clock Work Inspiration Canvases

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This article is written by Peg Rounds

Some days just don’t go right and other days do

There are some days that everyone has things that just don’t go right.  I know I sure do, but I sometimes need to make it a point to stop and think that every day isn’t like those days.  I decided to create these inspirational canvases so that I can see them and remember that there will be good days and not so good days, too.  These are really fun to make and can be done with any inspirational reminder that you may need so be sure to make some of your own and place them where you can see!

Begin by painting the canvas with a base coat.  This will be the paint color that shows through.  Allow it to completely dry.

Next, die cut a piece of acetate with a die cut machine to create the stencil pieces that you will be placing on the canvas.  Spray each piece with Easy Tack by Krylon so that they can be easily removed.  Place them in position on the canvas.

Die cut acetate to create a stencil

Dab paint, using a second color of paint, into the open areas of the stencils so that the paint gets into the smaller areas.

This is the second step to painting the canvases.  First use a dabber brush to dab paint into the open areas of the stencils after they are applied.

Now, paint straight brush strokes across the entire canvas from top to bottom to cover it.

Allow the paint to dry and carefully lift upward on the edges of the stencils to remove them.

Lay those aside and begin the work on the spiral pieces that will be the inside springs.

Start with a piece of jewelry wire.  The length will depend on how large you will want the spiral,

Curl one end of the wire using a pair of pliers,

Create a loop in the end of a piece of jewelry wire.

Continue to wrap the wire until you have all of it wrapped into the spiral.  As you work each new wrap should lay beside and against the last one.

Wrap the jewelry wire so that it creates a spiral

Take the pliers and grasp the center of the wire and lightly pull it up and outward to create the pieces that have sprung.

Pull the center of the spiraled jewelry wire out.

Age the coils by applying a patina to them.

Allow them to dry slightly and sand them with a fine sand paper to shine them up a little.

Create the second canvas in the same way, but when creating the coils do not pull the centers outward or patina them.

Finish both of the canvases by adding the inspirational message using wooden letters and attach everything with glue.

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Peg Rounds has been seriously creating many types of art since 2007.  Her focus has become mixed media, card making and jewelry making.  She is often found on social media sites pegscraftingcorner where she enjoys sharing all that she has created.

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