The Mixed Media Circus at Darkroom Door was super duper fun.  We had a great group of ladies and the space was lovely.  Thanks so much to Rachel for hosting us!

From the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Circus at Darkroom Door
From the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Circus at Darkroom Door
From the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Circus at Darkroom Door
From the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Circus at Darkroom Door
From the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Circus at Darkroom Door

Rachel wanted us to break in her pristine black tables.  I helped by leaving a mess as well as a little drawing!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a mixed-media artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops, her online classroom www.balzerdesigns.com, and through monthly membership at www.MyArtPractice.com.

78 thoughts on “Mixed Media Circus at Darkroom Door

  • Did you teach your Junque Journal workshop as well? I am looking forward to being able to sign up to take your on line Junque Journal class. It continues to be on my wish list. Looks like a very fun calss. Wish I were there. THanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Did you teach your Junque Journal workshop as well? I am looking forward to being able to sign up to take your on line Junque Journal class. It continues to be on my wish list. Looks like a very fun calss. Wish I were there. THanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Did you teach your Junque Journal workshop as well? I am looking forward to being able to sign up to take your on line Junque Journal class. It continues to be on my wish list. Looks like a very fun calss. Wish I were there. THanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Did you teach your Junque Journal workshop as well? I am looking forward to being able to sign up to take your on line Junque Journal class. It continues to be on my wish list. Looks like a very fun calss. Wish I were there. THanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Did you teach your Junque Journal workshop as well? I am looking forward to being able to sign up to take your on line Junque Journal class. It continues to be on my wish list. Looks like a very fun calss. Wish I were there. THanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Did you teach your Junque Journal workshop as well? I am looking forward to being able to sign up to take your on line Junque Journal class. It continues to be on my wish list. Looks like a very fun calss. Wish I were there. THanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Texture and layers oh my!

    Reply
  • Texture and layers oh my!

    Reply
  • Texture and layers oh my!

    Reply
  • Texture and layers oh my!

    Reply
  • Texture and layers oh my!

    Reply
  • Texture and layers oh my!

    Reply
  • Amazing and wonderful results, as usual in yours and Natalie’s classes! Looks like u two aree mucho fun!

    Reply
  • Amazing and wonderful results, as usual in yours and Natalie’s classes! Looks like u two aree mucho fun!

    Reply
  • Amazing and wonderful results, as usual in yours and Natalie’s classes! Looks like u two aree mucho fun!

    Reply
  • Amazing and wonderful results, as usual in yours and Natalie’s classes! Looks like u two aree mucho fun!

    Reply
  • Amazing and wonderful results, as usual in yours and Natalie’s classes! Looks like u two aree mucho fun!

    Reply
  • Amazing and wonderful results, as usual in yours and Natalie’s classes! Looks like u two aree mucho fun!

    Reply
  • I have to have that elephant stamp!!!! Where can I get it?

    Reply
  • I have to have that elephant stamp!!!! Where can I get it?

    Reply
  • I have to have that elephant stamp!!!! Where can I get it?

    Reply
  • I have to have that elephant stamp!!!! Where can I get it?

    Reply
  • I have to have that elephant stamp!!!! Where can I get it?

    Reply
  • I have to have that elephant stamp!!!! Where can I get it?

    Reply
  • Everyone here seems to have had great fun! And ordering from Darkroom Door is seemless, even from 9000+ miles away. Thanks for introducing us, Julie! Loving these posts.

    Reply
  • Everyone here seems to have had great fun! And ordering from Darkroom Door is seemless, even from 9000+ miles away. Thanks for introducing us, Julie! Loving these posts.

    Reply
  • Everyone here seems to have had great fun! And ordering from Darkroom Door is seemless, even from 9000+ miles away. Thanks for introducing us, Julie! Loving these posts.

    Reply
  • Everyone here seems to have had great fun! And ordering from Darkroom Door is seemless, even from 9000+ miles away. Thanks for introducing us, Julie! Loving these posts.

    Reply
  • Everyone here seems to have had great fun! And ordering from Darkroom Door is seemless, even from 9000+ miles away. Thanks for introducing us, Julie! Loving these posts.

    Reply
  • Everyone here seems to have had great fun! And ordering from Darkroom Door is seemless, even from 9000+ miles away. Thanks for introducing us, Julie! Loving these posts.

    Reply
  • Oh my goodness another great day of learning and doing, creating.
    Love Love Love it. I am really enjoying all the pics posts pod casts and scopes from your trip Julie.
    This has been such a fabulous adventure for you and for all of us that will not be getting to Australia. Love the video of the aboriginal lady doing the art work. Wow.
    Julie I just wanted to mention here that I have now started to paint with acrylic paints. I am painting on fabric have a few tee shirts I will be doing. I love working with acrylics.
    I am using a textile medium to help work the acrylic into the fabric. I also have fabric paints and fabric glitter markers.
    I too have also started to draw again. Not as good if I say as I use to be but it is coming along.
    I am going to purchase some brush stroke books and looking into sumi painting. I have done some sumi painting in another life.
    I use to teach ceramics when I was much younger. Awesome career but somethings have to come to an end. Need to relearn some of my brush strokes and
    Love the Paint journal books. Julie I saw a video of you using the Cinch. I have one and will be making a journal and binding it with the Cinch.
    I just have to make a decision on how I will be covering the front and pack and inside of the front and pack cover. I am thinking cloth, card stock rice paper or just doodling or stamping or painting or all of it.
    Speaking of stamps I checked out Artfoamies.com loved all the stamps there. I have made my own with foam thin craft foam and my trusty scan n cut, using layers. I used some with my acrylic paints on fabric how cool that was.
    Cannot wait for you to come home and read more of your great adventure.
    fawna

    Reply
  • Oh my goodness another great day of learning and doing, creating.
    Love Love Love it. I am really enjoying all the pics posts pod casts and scopes from your trip Julie.
    This has been such a fabulous adventure for you and for all of us that will not be getting to Australia. Love the video of the aboriginal lady doing the art work. Wow.
    Julie I just wanted to mention here that I have now started to paint with acrylic paints. I am painting on fabric have a few tee shirts I will be doing. I love working with acrylics.
    I am using a textile medium to help work the acrylic into the fabric. I also have fabric paints and fabric glitter markers.
    I too have also started to draw again. Not as good if I say as I use to be but it is coming along.
    I am going to purchase some brush stroke books and looking into sumi painting. I have done some sumi painting in another life.
    I use to teach ceramics when I was much younger. Awesome career but somethings have to come to an end. Need to relearn some of my brush strokes and
    Love the Paint journal books. Julie I saw a video of you using the Cinch. I have one and will be making a journal and binding it with the Cinch.
    I just have to make a decision on how I will be covering the front and pack and inside of the front and pack cover. I am thinking cloth, card stock rice paper or just doodling or stamping or painting or all of it.
    Speaking of stamps I checked out Artfoamies.com loved all the stamps there. I have made my own with foam thin craft foam and my trusty scan n cut, using layers. I used some with my acrylic paints on fabric how cool that was.
    Cannot wait for you to come home and read more of your great adventure.
    fawna

    Reply
  • Oh my goodness another great day of learning and doing, creating.
    Love Love Love it. I am really enjoying all the pics posts pod casts and scopes from your trip Julie.
    This has been such a fabulous adventure for you and for all of us that will not be getting to Australia. Love the video of the aboriginal lady doing the art work. Wow.
    Julie I just wanted to mention here that I have now started to paint with acrylic paints. I am painting on fabric have a few tee shirts I will be doing. I love working with acrylics.
    I am using a textile medium to help work the acrylic into the fabric. I also have fabric paints and fabric glitter markers.
    I too have also started to draw again. Not as good if I say as I use to be but it is coming along.
    I am going to purchase some brush stroke books and looking into sumi painting. I have done some sumi painting in another life.
    I use to teach ceramics when I was much younger. Awesome career but somethings have to come to an end. Need to relearn some of my brush strokes and
    Love the Paint journal books. Julie I saw a video of you using the Cinch. I have one and will be making a journal and binding it with the Cinch.
    I just have to make a decision on how I will be covering the front and pack and inside of the front and pack cover. I am thinking cloth, card stock rice paper or just doodling or stamping or painting or all of it.
    Speaking of stamps I checked out Artfoamies.com loved all the stamps there. I have made my own with foam thin craft foam and my trusty scan n cut, using layers. I used some with my acrylic paints on fabric how cool that was.
    Cannot wait for you to come home and read more of your great adventure.
    fawna

    Reply
  • Oh my goodness another great day of learning and doing, creating.
    Love Love Love it. I am really enjoying all the pics posts pod casts and scopes from your trip Julie.
    This has been such a fabulous adventure for you and for all of us that will not be getting to Australia. Love the video of the aboriginal lady doing the art work. Wow.
    Julie I just wanted to mention here that I have now started to paint with acrylic paints. I am painting on fabric have a few tee shirts I will be doing. I love working with acrylics.
    I am using a textile medium to help work the acrylic into the fabric. I also have fabric paints and fabric glitter markers.
    I too have also started to draw again. Not as good if I say as I use to be but it is coming along.
    I am going to purchase some brush stroke books and looking into sumi painting. I have done some sumi painting in another life.
    I use to teach ceramics when I was much younger. Awesome career but somethings have to come to an end. Need to relearn some of my brush strokes and
    Love the Paint journal books. Julie I saw a video of you using the Cinch. I have one and will be making a journal and binding it with the Cinch.
    I just have to make a decision on how I will be covering the front and pack and inside of the front and pack cover. I am thinking cloth, card stock rice paper or just doodling or stamping or painting or all of it.
    Speaking of stamps I checked out Artfoamies.com loved all the stamps there. I have made my own with foam thin craft foam and my trusty scan n cut, using layers. I used some with my acrylic paints on fabric how cool that was.
    Cannot wait for you to come home and read more of your great adventure.
    fawna

    Reply
  • Oh my goodness another great day of learning and doing, creating.
    Love Love Love it. I am really enjoying all the pics posts pod casts and scopes from your trip Julie.
    This has been such a fabulous adventure for you and for all of us that will not be getting to Australia. Love the video of the aboriginal lady doing the art work. Wow.
    Julie I just wanted to mention here that I have now started to paint with acrylic paints. I am painting on fabric have a few tee shirts I will be doing. I love working with acrylics.
    I am using a textile medium to help work the acrylic into the fabric. I also have fabric paints and fabric glitter markers.
    I too have also started to draw again. Not as good if I say as I use to be but it is coming along.
    I am going to purchase some brush stroke books and looking into sumi painting. I have done some sumi painting in another life.
    I use to teach ceramics when I was much younger. Awesome career but somethings have to come to an end. Need to relearn some of my brush strokes and
    Love the Paint journal books. Julie I saw a video of you using the Cinch. I have one and will be making a journal and binding it with the Cinch.
    I just have to make a decision on how I will be covering the front and pack and inside of the front and pack cover. I am thinking cloth, card stock rice paper or just doodling or stamping or painting or all of it.
    Speaking of stamps I checked out Artfoamies.com loved all the stamps there. I have made my own with foam thin craft foam and my trusty scan n cut, using layers. I used some with my acrylic paints on fabric how cool that was.
    Cannot wait for you to come home and read more of your great adventure.
    fawna

    Reply
  • Oh my goodness another great day of learning and doing, creating.
    Love Love Love it. I am really enjoying all the pics posts pod casts and scopes from your trip Julie.
    This has been such a fabulous adventure for you and for all of us that will not be getting to Australia. Love the video of the aboriginal lady doing the art work. Wow.
    Julie I just wanted to mention here that I have now started to paint with acrylic paints. I am painting on fabric have a few tee shirts I will be doing. I love working with acrylics.
    I am using a textile medium to help work the acrylic into the fabric. I also have fabric paints and fabric glitter markers.
    I too have also started to draw again. Not as good if I say as I use to be but it is coming along.
    I am going to purchase some brush stroke books and looking into sumi painting. I have done some sumi painting in another life.
    I use to teach ceramics when I was much younger. Awesome career but somethings have to come to an end. Need to relearn some of my brush strokes and
    Love the Paint journal books. Julie I saw a video of you using the Cinch. I have one and will be making a journal and binding it with the Cinch.
    I just have to make a decision on how I will be covering the front and pack and inside of the front and pack cover. I am thinking cloth, card stock rice paper or just doodling or stamping or painting or all of it.
    Speaking of stamps I checked out Artfoamies.com loved all the stamps there. I have made my own with foam thin craft foam and my trusty scan n cut, using layers. I used some with my acrylic paints on fabric how cool that was.
    Cannot wait for you to come home and read more of your great adventure.
    fawna

    Reply
  • I had so much fun in this workshop. When are you and Nat coming back to Darkroom Door?

    Reply
  • I had so much fun in this workshop. When are you and Nat coming back to Darkroom Door?

    Reply
  • I had so much fun in this workshop. When are you and Nat coming back to Darkroom Door?

    Reply
  • I had so much fun in this workshop. When are you and Nat coming back to Darkroom Door?

    Reply
  • I had so much fun in this workshop. When are you and Nat coming back to Darkroom Door?

    Reply
  • I had so much fun in this workshop. When are you and Nat coming back to Darkroom Door?

    Reply
  • Such a great workshop with Julie and Nathalie creating these beautiful layered painterly pages. I especially loved the technique of binding of all our signatures to make this fantastic juicy, textured volume, and can’t wait to put my personal spin on all the pages! I am so glad Julie and Nathalie got to see Terrigal and some of our beautiful beaches on the Central Coast of NSW, as well as pat their first kangaroo at the Reptile Park. I hope they can return Downunder annually or perhaps ARTS Inc. can host them in Shanghai one day! Yay!

    Reply
  • Such a great workshop with Julie and Nathalie creating these beautiful layered painterly pages. I especially loved the technique of binding of all our signatures to make this fantastic juicy, textured volume, and can’t wait to put my personal spin on all the pages! I am so glad Julie and Nathalie got to see Terrigal and some of our beautiful beaches on the Central Coast of NSW, as well as pat their first kangaroo at the Reptile Park. I hope they can return Downunder annually or perhaps ARTS Inc. can host them in Shanghai one day! Yay!

    Reply
  • Such a great workshop with Julie and Nathalie creating these beautiful layered painterly pages. I especially loved the technique of binding of all our signatures to make this fantastic juicy, textured volume, and can’t wait to put my personal spin on all the pages! I am so glad Julie and Nathalie got to see Terrigal and some of our beautiful beaches on the Central Coast of NSW, as well as pat their first kangaroo at the Reptile Park. I hope they can return Downunder annually or perhaps ARTS Inc. can host them in Shanghai one day! Yay!

    Reply
  • Such a great workshop with Julie and Nathalie creating these beautiful layered painterly pages. I especially loved the technique of binding of all our signatures to make this fantastic juicy, textured volume, and can’t wait to put my personal spin on all the pages! I am so glad Julie and Nathalie got to see Terrigal and some of our beautiful beaches on the Central Coast of NSW, as well as pat their first kangaroo at the Reptile Park. I hope they can return Downunder annually or perhaps ARTS Inc. can host them in Shanghai one day! Yay!

    Reply
  • Such a great workshop with Julie and Nathalie creating these beautiful layered painterly pages. I especially loved the technique of binding of all our signatures to make this fantastic juicy, textured volume, and can’t wait to put my personal spin on all the pages! I am so glad Julie and Nathalie got to see Terrigal and some of our beautiful beaches on the Central Coast of NSW, as well as pat their first kangaroo at the Reptile Park. I hope they can return Downunder annually or perhaps ARTS Inc. can host them in Shanghai one day! Yay!

    Reply
  • Such a great workshop with Julie and Nathalie creating these beautiful layered painterly pages. I especially loved the technique of binding of all our signatures to make this fantastic juicy, textured volume, and can’t wait to put my personal spin on all the pages! I am so glad Julie and Nathalie got to see Terrigal and some of our beautiful beaches on the Central Coast of NSW, as well as pat their first kangaroo at the Reptile Park. I hope they can return Downunder annually or perhaps ARTS Inc. can host them in Shanghai one day! Yay!

    Reply
  • Yummy, please keep posting lots of pics–I can’t be there in person, but I sure can feel the energy and the creativity and they fuel me in my own work!

    Reply
  • Yummy, please keep posting lots of pics–I can’t be there in person, but I sure can feel the energy and the creativity and they fuel me in my own work!

    Reply
  • Yummy, please keep posting lots of pics–I can’t be there in person, but I sure can feel the energy and the creativity and they fuel me in my own work!

    Reply
  • Yummy, please keep posting lots of pics–I can’t be there in person, but I sure can feel the energy and the creativity and they fuel me in my own work!

    Reply
  • Yummy, please keep posting lots of pics–I can’t be there in person, but I sure can feel the energy and the creativity and they fuel me in my own work!

    Reply
  • Yummy, please keep posting lots of pics–I can’t be there in person, but I sure can feel the energy and the creativity and they fuel me in my own work!

    Reply
  • Awwww,looks like sooo much fun,wish I could have been there.All the ladies look so happy to be there!….thank you ladies for inspiring me today to stop long enough to lay down some color and play today!..
    Looks you had some really fun bits and pieces to work with,all those stamps,stencils and what not,I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven.
    As a Young active 63 year old,who just spent the morning cleaning up fallen trees in my yard (by myself and mytrusty chain saw,I might add!)…from a storm,I am loving seeing mature women,getting out and enjoying life,(my well meaning niece recently said,”how sad it must be, to be ” your age and have your “real life” over with!”…!I just said…”girl you have no idea what it is like,not to have to worry about kids,”being right” and all those young adult “obligations”….and if the good lord allows you good health and attitude this will become one of the best parts of your life!!!!!
    …You go “”older ladies”!!!

    Reply
  • Awwww,looks like sooo much fun,wish I could have been there.All the ladies look so happy to be there!….thank you ladies for inspiring me today to stop long enough to lay down some color and play today!..
    Looks you had some really fun bits and pieces to work with,all those stamps,stencils and what not,I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven.
    As a Young active 63 year old,who just spent the morning cleaning up fallen trees in my yard (by myself and mytrusty chain saw,I might add!)…from a storm,I am loving seeing mature women,getting out and enjoying life,(my well meaning niece recently said,”how sad it must be, to be ” your age and have your “real life” over with!”…!I just said…”girl you have no idea what it is like,not to have to worry about kids,”being right” and all those young adult “obligations”….and if the good lord allows you good health and attitude this will become one of the best parts of your life!!!!!
    …You go “”older ladies”!!!

    Reply
  • Awwww,looks like sooo much fun,wish I could have been there.All the ladies look so happy to be there!….thank you ladies for inspiring me today to stop long enough to lay down some color and play today!..
    Looks you had some really fun bits and pieces to work with,all those stamps,stencils and what not,I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven.
    As a Young active 63 year old,who just spent the morning cleaning up fallen trees in my yard (by myself and mytrusty chain saw,I might add!)…from a storm,I am loving seeing mature women,getting out and enjoying life,(my well meaning niece recently said,”how sad it must be, to be ” your age and have your “real life” over with!”…!I just said…”girl you have no idea what it is like,not to have to worry about kids,”being right” and all those young adult “obligations”….and if the good lord allows you good health and attitude this will become one of the best parts of your life!!!!!
    …You go “”older ladies”!!!

    Reply
  • Awwww,looks like sooo much fun,wish I could have been there.All the ladies look so happy to be there!….thank you ladies for inspiring me today to stop long enough to lay down some color and play today!..
    Looks you had some really fun bits and pieces to work with,all those stamps,stencils and what not,I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven.
    As a Young active 63 year old,who just spent the morning cleaning up fallen trees in my yard (by myself and mytrusty chain saw,I might add!)…from a storm,I am loving seeing mature women,getting out and enjoying life,(my well meaning niece recently said,”how sad it must be, to be ” your age and have your “real life” over with!”…!I just said…”girl you have no idea what it is like,not to have to worry about kids,”being right” and all those young adult “obligations”….and if the good lord allows you good health and attitude this will become one of the best parts of your life!!!!!
    …You go “”older ladies”!!!

    Reply
  • Awwww,looks like sooo much fun,wish I could have been there.All the ladies look so happy to be there!….thank you ladies for inspiring me today to stop long enough to lay down some color and play today!..
    Looks you had some really fun bits and pieces to work with,all those stamps,stencils and what not,I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven.
    As a Young active 63 year old,who just spent the morning cleaning up fallen trees in my yard (by myself and mytrusty chain saw,I might add!)…from a storm,I am loving seeing mature women,getting out and enjoying life,(my well meaning niece recently said,”how sad it must be, to be ” your age and have your “real life” over with!”…!I just said…”girl you have no idea what it is like,not to have to worry about kids,”being right” and all those young adult “obligations”….and if the good lord allows you good health and attitude this will become one of the best parts of your life!!!!!
    …You go “”older ladies”!!!

    Reply
  • Awwww,looks like sooo much fun,wish I could have been there.All the ladies look so happy to be there!….thank you ladies for inspiring me today to stop long enough to lay down some color and play today!..
    Looks you had some really fun bits and pieces to work with,all those stamps,stencils and what not,I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven.
    As a Young active 63 year old,who just spent the morning cleaning up fallen trees in my yard (by myself and mytrusty chain saw,I might add!)…from a storm,I am loving seeing mature women,getting out and enjoying life,(my well meaning niece recently said,”how sad it must be, to be ” your age and have your “real life” over with!”…!I just said…”girl you have no idea what it is like,not to have to worry about kids,”being right” and all those young adult “obligations”….and if the good lord allows you good health and attitude this will become one of the best parts of your life!!!!!
    …You go “”older ladies”!!!

    Reply

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