Hello friends! Here’s a little update from my mixed media studio:
Personal Reflections & Life Updates
February has been a month of fresh starts in my creative practice. With winter still lingering (and lots of snow), I’ve found myself drawn to cozy studio days (and hot beverages). My five-year-old has been obsessed with using my “grown up paints” and his creativity is rubbing off on me. Watching him approach art with such enthusiasm reminds me of one of the reasons that I love mixed media—it’s all about exploration and discovery. For instance, he has no fear about mixing products. He’s only interested in which tools can get him where he wants to go!
In the Studio: Current Art Projects
I’ve been using a combination of acrylics, collage, and mark-making to create deeply layered pieces. One challenge I’ve been tackling is how to create depth without overworking a piece—a delicate balance! My solo art show (coming in May and tentatively titled Echoes of Growth) is also coming together. I’m working on a mixture of large and small works that reflect my walks along the Charles River with my son — a topic I keep returning to. I’ll be sharing lots of behind-the-scenes snippets of putting the exhibit together inside My Art Practice over the next few months!
What I’m Teaching or Releasing
I’m excited to share about a new self-paced online class, Art Parts: A Mixed Media Collage Framework! This course is designed to help you simplify the collage-making process by breaking it down into easy-to-follow steps. You’ll learn how to create and organize Art Parts—your own unique stash of painted papers, backgrounds, and embellishments—so that when it comes time to assemble a finished piece of art, you can do so with confidence and freedom. This class is designed to help you eliminate decision fatigue and tap into a more fun and relaxing creative flow. As always, members of My Art Practice will receive early access and a significant discount!
Creative Inspiration of the Month
This video (from 2019) all about gelatin printing on fabric remains one of my most popular YouTube videos of all time:
Gelatin printing on fabric is a fantastic way to create unique, hand-printed textiles, and using a large Gelli plate makes the process even easier. In this video, I experimented with a 12×16-inch gelatin plate, allowing for larger prints and seamless fabric coverage. A few notes:
- I used fabric paints—because they keep the fabric soft.
- I like to use a soft rubber brayer to ensure even distribution of the paint.
- I used simple tools like a palette knife, plastic fork, and Catalyst tool to create a variety of textures and patterns.
Whether you’re a seasoned Gelli printing enthusiast or new to gelatin printing on fabric, you might be interested in going deeper in my online class “A Year of Gelatin Printing and Bookbinding.”
What’s Coming Next?
March is looking exciting—more work on my solo show, a few special lessons inside My Art Practice, plus some new YouTube videos and podcasts! I’m also hard at work on new blog posts, so keep an eye out!
What’s been inspiring you lately? Drop a comment or connect with me on Instagram—I’d love to hear what’s sparking your creativity!
Quick Links & Resources:
Thanks for stopping by!
