Watercolor Heart Video Process

I cannot believe how long its been since my last post!  A year has flown by in the blink of an eye.  As I get older the time seems to go so much faster.  Looking toward the future for the blog I hope to post and share more of my process with tutorials including videos.  

What has not seemed to change with me is that I continue to bounce back and forth between digital art and traditional.  Over the past year I have created a lot of new work and my style continues to evolve.  It does however continue to include grunge and of course lots of hearts. 

I am excited to share  my first video today!  Recently I have pulled out the watercolors again as they really help to calm me besides being just so darn fun!   

Supplies

*Dr. PH Martin Liquid Watercolors 

*Strathmore Watercolor paper - I love the 6x6 artist tiles

*Palette knives in various sizes

*Spray bottle of water

I have lots more to share so stick around!  In other exciting news I have a new article coming out in the Autumn issue of Somerset Digital Studio.  If you are on Instagram you can catch up on my recent work over the past year.  Follow me @cathybueti 

xo

My First Mixed Media Video!

Well, I finally took the plunge into video!  Obviously videography is not my strong suit so this will be a work in progress but I am excited to finally share the process of creating one of my mixed media pieces!

I used a small piece of cardboard that I had prepped with a layer of gesso.  I didn't really have a plan for this piece so I created on the fly which is typically how I work.  

Hope you enjoy this peek into my process!  I hope to be sharing more of these eventually with instruction!

xo

Abstract Landscape . . . New Mini Tutorial

"the sun always shines again"

acrylic on paper

I wanted to share this piece with you guys today and hopefully inspire you to let go and let the paint lead.  I created this mini abstract landscape using 3 colors of paint and a few pieces of tissue paper collage.  It was done with only a palette knife.  I don't like using brushes so when I can I use either a credit card or palette knife.  Here is how I created this little painting . . . 

*Choose 2 colors of paint and titanium white.

*Squeeze the paint directly from the bottle/tube onto the surface in the area you want it to go. 

* For landscape typically you create a horizon line which should be above or below midline rather than directly in the middle.  I squeezed the gray color on the bottom with some white and the yellow on the upper portion also with a small amount of white.  

*Using a palette knife or an old credit card start dragging the paint on the bottom.  Use a light hand to gently mix the white in for areas of highlight.  

*Wipe off the palette knife and begin doing the same with the top color.  Continue going back and forth until you feel its done.  

*To bring out contrast while the paint is still wet using the palette knife scrape into areas along the bottom removing some of the paint.  

*When the paint is dry tear a couple of pieces of tissue or any collage paper and glue it to areas along the bottom to mimic land.  Matte medium works well for this.  Or even mod podge if you have that on hand.  For this piece I used tissue paper I had already prepared with my favorite word stamp with Staz On permanent ink. 

*You can also drag the palette knife into the wet paint to create more texture and line.  

One of the things I love most about this process are the images that show up.  Over on the right side of the screen on the painting I see what looks like a couple in an embrace in the gray paint just below the yellow.  

Hope you will try to let go in your own creating and enjoy the process!  

xo

Cardboard Fun . . . A Mini Tutorial

It is no secret I have a bit of an addiction to gesso.  Recently I have been using gesso to adhere collage to various surfaces.  The one I have been loving the most as of late has been cardboard. 

I always seem to have pieces of corrugated cardboard lying around.  (I find the corrugated kind holds up much better to wet media)  The collaged pieces you see in this piece are photos printed on glossy paper that I tore up adhered to the surface with matte medium.  

I worked intuitively and quickly on this piece.  

My process went a little something like this . . . 

* Using a palette knife apply gesso to the cardboard letting some of the board show through if you wish.  (I happen to love the look of it peeking through!)

* While the gesso is still wet scrape into it in various areas for texture

* Add some ink, spray with water and let it drip.  

* Tear up a photo and collage onto the surface with matte medium.  

* Add final details with a Stabilo pencil or paint pen 

* Using Stazon ink stamp some inspiring words as a final touch!

Let me know if you try this as I would love to see your work!  Just add the link in the comments so we can all check it out!  

xo