GUEST ARTIST ROBIN LARIDO, A MIXED MEDIA TALENT!

I met Robin in cyberspace, on LinkedIn in the mixed media/collage group. She's a peach and is nice enough to share these works with us. The links beneath the images take you to her Etsy shop.
Her first piece, shown in two photos below, is dimensional and tactile.

https://img1.etsystatic.com/033/0/6042216/il_570xN.648003577_8s9s.jpg


https://www.etsy.com/listing/201283849/mixed-media-collage-rustic-elements-on

The collage above was done with acrylic paints, Glimmer Mist, PearlEx, tulle mesh, a photograph, textured cardboard, brown paper, text clip art, tree bark, butterfly image, copper jewelry wire, heavy gel medium, & clear waterbased varnish.                  

About Robin

"I'm a mixed-media craft artist. I love to design and create wall hangings, quilts, altered books, collage and assemblages with lots of embellishment. I enjoy making hand-crafted gifts for family and friends, which are always appreciated.

"I take my inspiration from my surroundings, incorporating lots of flowers and natural elements in my work. I live in Croton-on-Hudson, NY.

"I majored in Fine Arts at Brooklyn College and also studied graphic design and art mosaics. Some of my work was published in the Summer 2009 and Summer 2011 issues of Somerset Studio Gallery magazine."

 

Thanks, Robin, for guesting here! And for using some of the spare photos I sent you in your work!
Paula Guhin, the Mixed Media Manic.

CONTEST WINNER (S) ANNOUNCED

The first name chosen in a fair and random drawing (for the 2015 calendar!) was Jusaweecatnap. If she (or he, I suppose I should say, to be politically correct) will kindly contact me personally with a mailing address, I will get the prize out asap. I'm on Facebook and if one is a friend they can message me.

Besides the full-size calendar, I also had a folding one for a desktop, so I thought, What the heck, let's do another drawing! The name selected the second time was Robin Larido! Robin, I will need your mailing address too. Thanks!

 

My sincere hopes go to the others who participated that

you'll stick with me and try again next time, truly! 

 

    

Thanks!                    



GIVEAWAY BOOTY YOU CAN USE!

Note: This contest is now closed.

Simply leave a comment below this post for a chance to win a brand new 2015 picture calendar.

(If you try to be as prepared as I do, you'll be glad to have it this early.  Or give it as a gift at the holidays!)

I require the winner's contact info to mail the prize!

Watch this blog for the name of the winner at the next post. 





Thanks for following this blog!

Alter a Photo for Collage (or just for fun!)

Scratch a Photographic Print  to Add Interest

 

I'll bet you have some commercially-processed photo prints that are less than perfect. Or maybe you have duplicates, or disappointing enlargements.

 

Here's how to have some fun with them...and if you goof up, it's no loss. If you like the effect, the "new" piece might stand alone--or you could work it into a painting or mixed media artwork.

 

First, soak the print in warm water (not too cool, please) to soften the emulsion. Gently blot dry.

 

Then just scratch away with a good, sharp tool! The technique works best in the dark areas of the photograph. The lines may be yellow or blue, depending on the print.

 

If you don't like it, cut or tear into collage pieces. 

NOTE: I plan a giveaway soon with a very useful prize! It will be just for my followers.



MORE PHOTOCOPY FUN - Handcoloring a Still Life

We've said it before--photocopiers are great tools!

For this project, I placed a few flowers, leaves and stems directly upon the glass plate.
To keep from crushing them flat with the cover, I used a cloth over the arrangement before pushing the "copy" button.

The machine was NOT a color copier.



TIP: Make a lighter copy, not too dark.

THE FUN PART
If the paper is too slick, spray it with a matte
fixative first, which will help "grab" the pigment. (It will add tooth.)

I used Berol Prismacolor pencils, and yes,
the project reminded me a bit of coloring
as a kid in a coloring book.

BUT IT WAS FUN!

Try it yourself...I promise you'll enjoy it.


P.S. Here's a link to a really exciting project with photocopiers...
http://mixedmediamanic.blogspot.com/
2013/10/you-too-can-be-warped-technique-