Some exciting new paint products released at Creativation recently

WOW! So many new paints are coming this spring! DecoArt will soon be releasing these new products that were unveiled at Creativation in Phoenix in January. Why do I like DecoArt paints and use them for all my paintings? DecoArt paint products are second to none! They use top quality colour pigments and they are long lasting quality paints - not just craft paints. DecoArt has been around for YEARS! And they keep on improving every year. Watch this video by Mark Montano. He will inspire you to explore your creative genius and give lots of ideas how to use these brand new paints.

Here are some exciting NEW things to try:

DecoArt Pouring medium
This medium is all you need to add to your paint the get awesome marbled paint effects. No more running to the hardware store to get silicone! There are SO many people pouring paint these days and it's really fun - if a bit messy! Just search for acrylic pouring videos on Youtube to see how much fun this can be. You add the pouring medium to any DecoArt paint colours - two or three is best - and stir. Then pour the paint onto canvas or wood. Tip it to let the colours mingle and run together. You should have the surface in a tray because the paint will drip over the sides to coat the whole thing. As it dries, little cells form and it adds more interest to the marbled pattern that forms. Let me know if you'd like to try it in the studio and I'll let you know when the product becomes available to us in Canada - should be sometime this spring.

Clear Pouring Topcoat
They've made a really neat high-gloss laquer finish. It's super shiny - like epoxy without the mixing! This would be perfect for a finish coat on hand-painted jewelery, or a wood box where you've used the pouring medium on the outside. I have some small painted necklace patterns that I want to try this on. You can also paint it over journal pages. It can be used on almost anything. Doesn't yellow, no bubbles! Pour it on and let it dry.

DecoArt Stylin'
Got shoes you love but they are a colour you don't wear much? Paint them the colour you want! You can refresh your belts, purses, paint on leather, vinyl binders etc. Make accessories match that dress for the wedding and save buying new shoes and stuff to go with. Or paint a cute design on some inexpensive runners for your kids. I can't wait to try this one too. I have a belt that could use a refresh! I've also seen people paint designs (landscapes) on skates and boots as well. This paint won't crack and peel off. I can't wait to try this product too.

Americana Decor Texture
This paint comes with texture mixed in already. Really thick and great for doing palette knife painting with texture. I think it will be great to try with stencils. Just tape the stencil to the item you're painting and use a palette knife to smooth the heavy body texture paint over the design. Lift off carefully and voila! A raised design to pretty up the cover of a journal or add some interest to an old dresser.

Matte Metallic paint
Metallics are on trend right now. DecoArt already has a super great line of shiny metallic paints but now they have added matte metallics. So, paint that looks like brushed silver and brushed rose gold. I think I'll rose gold a bunch of pots and boxes around my house when I get my hands on this paint! Can't wait!. I bet it will look great for lettering on signs too! You can count on me adding this to everything! I've got a bunch of ideas already!

Extreme Sheen Metallics
These metallics are extra shiny. Got some frames in the house that could use some refreshing? Wipe some on and wipe off. Betcha it would look cool to do up some older carved frames and update them. Or maybe paint some pots to look like brass or copper. Matching pots on the deck this summer. Did you know you can paint on a silver tea service. This metallic wouldn't tarnish!! I have a galvanized lettered sign I might like to make a different colour. Hmmm! Wheels are turning

AND

Americana Premium Tube Acrylics
These ones I already have a whole set of! Michaels carries them and I got them when they first came out - on sale!! Who doesn't like to save money?  It's a medium bodied paint - a little thicker than Decoart's regular Americana paints. Some of the colours are transparent so they are great for doing glazes. They don't have as many colours in the line - and you really don't need to buy one of every colour because it's easy to mix whatever colour you want if you have taken a colour class to learn how. It's pretty easy!!  I like these for art journaling, and painting landscapes that have a little texture. I love the colours - the pigment is very strong and these are artist grade paints. Very similar to Liquitex Basics or Golden paints but less expensive!

Americana Decor Curb Appeal
This paint came out last year. We haven't seen it up here in Canada, but in the states there was a huge trend of people painting their doors in bright colours. You can also paint planters to match and boxes and lawn chairs. Colour co-ordinate your house! And it's great for outdoors! OR indoors! I did see extra bright coloured doors inside houses in one of the decorating magazines I glanced at recently. One lady painted a heron on her patio door and then decorated her deck with a beach scene to go with! Pick a theme and use your doors as a canvas - why not? Or even paint a simple floral garden design on a fence. That should keep you busy all summer!

Americana Home Decor paints
Some of these are already here in Michaels. Chalk paints that are way more affordable for painting over that old dresser or tray that's chipped. You can use these paints and stains for outdoor window boxes, mailboxes. Paint your furniture inside. I have a scratched coffee table I'll be doing over sometime soon! Redo your kitchen cupboards!! Endless ways to use the variety of paint types in this Home Decor line.

Americana paints
There are 15 new colours I will be trying to get my hands on too. They look soft and pastelly - Beautiful.

Why aren't there pictures? You'll have to watch the videos. I have not yet got these but I'll be first in line to get some as soon as they reach our Canadian crafting shops!

What new paint will you try first? Make a list of home DIY and refresh projects! Can't wait for spring!

Day?? 30 in 30 challenge

What is it??? Working on a coloured pencil course by a friend of mine ...deadline approaching! Yikes! Stay tuned for progress!  (Sort of fell off the 30 in 30 wagon - jumping back on :-)  )

Day 20 of the 30 in 30 challenge

It's a GLAD DAY!!  I've been working on this for a while. This is from a photo I took at a friend's garden on a sketchclub outing. Gladiolas were her father's favorite flowers. I made her a painting that is very similar ;-) I'm including the reference photo. You will notice I changed the colour a bit. I've done a LOT of orange paintings and I much prefer the pinky tones. Artistic license!
Not sure if it's done yet. When you take a photo of your painting you see all kinds of things you might like to change LOL!

Day 15 of 30 in 30 challenge

I think it's the 15th day of the 30 in 30 challenge - and I haven't posted for a couple of days because...life... but here's my latest 30 in 30 painting. This took me 2 studio sessions.  I may still do some tweaking here or there but this is all for tonight! Anybody want to give him a name??? #30in30

Day 11 30 in 30 challenge

I know it's hardly fall yet, but by the time I teach this painting at ByDesign it will be late November and people will be looking forward to snow for Christmas. Don't the little cardinals just cheer up this winter scene?  This is my day 11 painting for the 30 in 30 challenge Snow scene with cardinals.

Day 10 30 in 30 challenge

Today I spent most of my day getting ready for the new class I hope to be teaching at ByDesign Academy. There's so much preparation to do to teach a class. There are price lists to figure out and instructions to write. And after that's all done I painted another two beginner paintings for the teens to do. Day 10's painting is a still life with sunflowers in a blue jar.

Day 9 30 in 30 challenge

So this weekend has been quite full! We were with our grandkids on Saturday and Sunday has just flown by. I have been working on two different paintings, but neither of them have been going as planned. This happens at times... One is a coloured pencil iris that is very overworked right now and I intend to start it over again - I just ordered a new set of Polychromos Coloured pencils and I can't wait to use them for my flowers! I also will be using a different kind of paper for the iris painting because the paper I used isn't as good for building up layers - which you have to do in order to blend the colours together well.

The other painting I have been working on is of some hydrangea petals in watercolour. It was fun because Hudson (3 years old) pulled up a stool beside Grandma to watch me paint. He was fascinated watching me put on the initial wash. Maybe he'll take painting lessons from Grandma in the future!

I just love the varied shades of blue and purple and cream and pink. But alas, I tried it on a new type of watercolour paper and it's not taking the paint as well as what I normally use - so I will be starting that one over again this week as well.

Good news is that Paul will be away tomorrow so I will be able to spend most of my time painting without distraction except from my doggie who likes to play a LOT! And Tuesday I will have quite a bit of time on my hands as Paul will be having a surgery in the morning and likely sleeping off anaesthetic in the afternoon and evening. Painting really helps me to keep occupied when life doesn't always go the way you hoped! It's great therapy for what ails 'ya.

I decided to post a photo of a watercolour painting that I have done recently. This one is of Chinese Lanterns - these are very interesting flowers - the pods dry to a vibrant orange colour around this time of year and you often can find them as dried flowers at the market. I haven't seen any in gardens lately. I understand they are quite invasive and they spread all over. I painted this (adding my own touches) from a step by step article in an art magazine a number of years back - the Leisure Painter. I love this magazine. It's truly one for beginners and has so many step by step tutorials. It's on my "have to buy" list every month. I have QUITE a stack saved up!

Day 8 30 in 30 challenge

Nuthatch

Colored Pencil

Look at this!! I'm actually posting a finished painting on the proper day :-) This is a coloured pencil painting that I did in an online course. Actually the background is done with pan pastel so it's officially a mixed media painting. The design is by Patsy Deal. I love doing birds and wildlife so I enjoyed this piece. 

Day 7 30 in 30 challenge

Three amigos

Acrylics

6x6

personal collection

So a lot of my paintings take more than a day to paint so I'm posting one I painted a while ago. I found these cute baby swans on one of our regular jaunts to the beautiful park in Stratford Ontario. I think I have more swan pictures than any other kind of photos - including the cute squirrels and birds in my back yard!! 

Day 6 30 in 30 challenge

Sooo... pressing on today with getting samples ready for my upcoming ByDesign painting class for teens... I painted this simple canvas art bag for them to carry their stuff back and forth to classes. They will learn the basics of painting on fabric as well as mixing paints to learn the colour wheel. I love creating lessons where the object painted on is useful!

Day 5 of 30 Old Roses still life

In the fall I will be teaching a teen art class for ByDesign Academy in Bloomingdale. This will be one of the projects in the 8 week course to be held on Tuesday nights. If you know of a teenager who loves art and who wants to learn to paint with acrylics, please let them know about my classes.

Stay tuned to see more painting projects I'm working on for this course.

Day 4 of 30 in 30 challenge

This old barn is falling down more and more every time I go by it. It was the perfect subject for a pen and ink drawing. I did some oil rouging on it to add in the colour. 

Day two 30 in 30 challenge

This is the second painting in the 30 in 30 painting challenge put on by Leslie Saeta.

I painted from an actual plant in my studio and I added a china bird that I have. I looked for it but couldn't find it when I wanted it, so I drew it into the painting.

I thought I'd include step by step photos this time. I don't think it's quite finished but almost :-)

30 in 30 Challenge

This is my first painting in September. I have decided to enter Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge - which means I will be trying to paint 30 paintings in 30 days...In reality it may be fewer than that but I'm going to try to keep it up this year.


Some of my paintings will be quick and easy paintings and others will be ones I have worked on already for quite some time and I will try to finish them up this month. Some of the participants have a theme but I don't think I will have one. I just want to get more paintings added to my own personal original body of work.

As a Decorative Painter I often paint designs that other artists have created - using their line drawing (with permission) and loosely following their instructions. I usually have a pattern packet or I'm taking an online course from the artist, or I'm using their design packets or published books. It's a great way to learn new techniques and skills. Then I apply what I have learned to my own designs.

This painting is my own original - painted from a still life set up in my studio.

Aug 11 Sketching Kit

 

I thought I'd show you some photos of the supplies I take with me to Sketch Club Wednesdays. I found a cute little blue polka-dotted bag at Michaels a couple of years ago. It has lots of outside pockets and one large inside pocket. In the pockets, I keep a palette knife, and an assortment of erasers. I use them a LOT!!, a waterbrush, some watercolour brushes and a bulldog clip or two to keep the wind from blowing my pages. The name tag is from the Master class I took from Robert Bateman (inspiration)

 I take mosquito spray with me in case they are bad -

The inside holds mosquito spray in case they are bad, and I have sunscreen because you can't always stay in the shade for .the whole two hours as the sun moves.  My watercolour set has just the basic colours from tubes, water, a water mister, 2 little gelato cups to hold clean and dirty water, a pencil case with various sizes of Pigma pen markers. Pigma pens are permanent when dry so you can paint over them with watercolour and they don't smear. The other pencil case holds a selection of mechanical graphite pencils. and a pencil case with pencils, a blue col-erase pencil, another waterbrush, a carbon ink fountain pen and another uniball marker. I sometimes include a small set of coloured pencils.  I also take a small package of kleenex tissues (without lotion in them) and I will throw in some paper towels folded up in a ziploc baggie. I also have a small kitchen sponge which I wrap the paper towel around to absorb water, and little bits of sponges to make trees. There are blending stomps too. I have some watersoluable graphite pencils. You can draw with them and then add water to make the shadows. I keep my monopod for my camera in there too because sketchclub is always where I use that - to steady my camera if I want to take a better shot.

I still have room in that bag to put my sketchbook - right now I'm using a Canson Multimedia sketchbook. The paper takes water and ink really well and it is good for pencil sketching also.

You could just take a sketchbook, and a pencil and eraser. You can draw anything with just that much equipment. But I like to add some colour so I take a lot more stuff with me. I try to pack light and this is what I normally carry with me each week.

I often have a tea in my pop up top tea thermos.

I take along my camera. It's a Canon Powershot SX60HS with a zoom lens built in. I first learned about this camera from Robert Bateman. He uses it when he's out on hikes looking for reference photos :-)  I love it for its ability to zoom in to capture details that are too far to get close enough to. And I usually just use it on the automatic setting. It does such a great job. If I forget my camera I do use my i-phone 6s but it's only good for close ups.

I have a lightweight aluminum and canvas fold up stool to sit on. It has a shoulder strap so it can be carried easily.

There are lots of places online that show what other people pack and carry in their sketching kits.
Keep it as simple as you can because even a small bag can get heavy if you have to carry it any long distance. Mine is just right!

Keep it packed and ready to go so you will be able to join us any Wednesday a.m. you happen to be around in the KW area. All summer we travel to different locations. There is a schedule print out at the Button Factory on Regina St W in Waterloo. In the fall and through the winter into spring we meet at the Button Factory for sketching in one of their meeting rooms.

Or there is a group that meets on Saturdays called the KW Urban sketchers. They have their own schedule and they often go further afield than the Button Factory Sketch club.
But we are all fun people and we don't bite! Please join us :-)