Strathmore online class

One of the reasons I took the Strathmore online class was to learn new techniques and try different painting supplies.  The next step will be to incorporate what I have learned back into my painting method.

New techniques I have learned about:
1) using wax paper for resists (this turned out to be the answer to a problem I was having with another project!).
2) using plastic wrap and wax paper for textures.  This makes really interesting backgrounds as well as being a nice look for larger areas of color in the main painting.
3) using gouache instead of white pigment.

Things I knew how to do but seem to forget:
1) washes (instead of dabs and layers).
2) water color pencils to do an initial sketch.
3) colored inks (I haven't used them in so many years)
4) mixing up what I use and do (it makes the finished product more interesting)

Different supplies:
1) 90 lb paper (I like the 140 lb better, maybe because it holds up better to my sometimes rough brush work).
2) colored pencils
3) gouache
4) masking fluids

Artwork featured on Strathmore's Facebook page

Wow!  My peeps, visualizing three techniques done as part of the Strathmore online class is being featured on the Strathmore Art Papers Facebook site ad one of the pieces created by the members of the online workshop!

It was a wonderful workshop, and I am so pleased that Strathmore offered it.  If your at all interested, the workshop will be open until August.  Once you register you will have access to all the instructional videos and files as well as access to see students artwork and discussions.

ATC swap

Several of the artists from the Strathmore on-line workshop participated in an ATC swap.  ATC stands for 'Artist Trading Card'.  Each participantin sent 6 ATC cards to the swap host, who sent us each back 6 cards from 6 other artists.  There wasn't a theme for this swap, so the artists could choose the media and subject matter for each card.  For my cards I made watercolor miniatures similar to some of the journal entries I had done for the class, which you can see in the below photo.

I followed the directions on how to make an inexpensive paper holder to mail the ATC card in on this Utube video.  Packed the cards up and mailed them off, crossing my fingers they would survive the postal system.  Then waited expectantly for my envelope of ATC swap cards.

Since I sent my cards in so late it was only a little more then a week before an envelope with six ATC cards from other Artists arrived in my mail box.  The cards are lovely, and I enjoyed talking with the artists who made the cards.  It was great fun participating in the ATC swap.