One of my class samples for Reclaimed, An Altered Artist's Book

This is one of the sample books I started the other day in teaching. While I'm teaching, I always work along with the students so that I can demo techniques and ideas. I feel that students get a better idea of what you're talking about if they can see you do it! I don't spend the whole time working in my books, I am always watching and looking to see if anyone needs help or is stuck.

I remember years ago when teaching that a store owner told me that a student had said she would never take another one of my classes again because "She spent time working in her own book." I was annoyed and aggravated that the store owner didn't explain what I was doing (the store owner had taken my classes and knew my style of teaching very well) and that even worse, wouldn't tell me who the student was so that I could explain.

Nothing like this has happened recently, it just popped into my mind as I sat down to write the blog. Little things like that stick with me, for some reason.

I love teaching classes. I love art. I love giving someone an idea, showing them what I did with the idea and then giving them permission to PLAY with the technique and seeing what they can come up with on their own. I think that's the best thing about teaching: seeing how others translate your ideas and make them into their own.

So, here's a little painting prompt for the day:

Open your journal.

Take a deep breath, look at your acrylic paints and pick out 3 colors: a "light" color, a "medium" color and a "dark" color. Don't worry about it, just do it. My favorite colors are: Hansa yellow medium, Quinacridone Magenta and Phthalo Blue. Those are my 3 must haves. Also grab a white OR titan buff color.

Instead of using your bristle (or chip) brushes to paint. I want you to use something different. NOT a foam brush. Try using an old tooth brush (obviously one you're never ever going to use again).

Paint.

Layer the colors in different orders letting each one dry between layers. (Hint: to speed up drying times, take a paper towel or old rag and SCRUB). Try light to dark on one page, dark to light on another. On a third page try more of one color and less of another. See how you can make each page look *very* different using ONLY three colors??? Try this for several pages. Don't forget scrubbing the pages down *and* putting a piece of waxed paper between them so they'll dry!

Try taking a wee bit o' white or titan buff and scrubbing and scratching the white/buff color on top of these painted pages. See the neat results you can get? Try putting the white/buff down first randomly. Let the white/buff dry and layer colors on top. Voila ~! Different result.

The more you do stuff like this, the more it will start to "click". Acrylics are fun, easy and versatile. You do not need every color on the market to make this work. You need a handful of colors and play time: 10 to 15 minutes a day.

Another tidbit I tell my students is to go out and buy the biggest thing of Gloss OR Polymer medium you can find (this is FLUID and *not* gel). Mix it about 50/50 with your paint colors. Mixing like this will extend your paints and make them last longer (do NOT buy what they label extender, that extends the drying time and you will be very po'd with me! LOL).

What are you waiting for? Go play.

*****

Scottsdale, AZ: February 6-8th, I will be at Frenzy Stamper!! Woo hoo! Mark your dates NOW! Samples are IN the store.

Danville, CA March 20-22nd, I will be at Stampers Warehouse!! Woo hoo!! Mark your dates NOW! Class information to be released soon! Samples will be in the store in January!

Remember, art classes make great gifts for YOU or a friend!