#mixed media process

[brianbritigan]

Finishing touches 👨‍🎨

WOW² (Volume IV) from @wowxwow opens tomorrow!

[mauihonuhoni]

A Painting Predicament

I need help, suggestions really. I use foam brushes to apply my sealants. Unfortunately, they seem only to be good for one, maybe two, pieces before I have to dispose of them. Yes, I know that the foam brushes are clearly marked not to be used for shellac or lacquers but I do it anyway - I definitely don't want brush hairs left behind on a piece from using a paint brush to apply a sealant.

Besides, having to go to the kitchen every time I've used a brush just to wash it so it will be usable later feels like such a chore. Of course, I occasionally finger paint the sealant on - not the best answer to my dilemma - and I have to go wash it off my fingers, which also feels like a chore.

I need suggestions for other ways to apply the sealer in a nice even coat.

What tools do you use? How do you apply your sealant?

[mauihonuhoni]

A Sticky Situation

Gluing things on my canvases - like seashells, for example - originally caused me grief. I tried numerous different methods for getting objects to stick and stay stuck.

First, I tried the precision point hot glue gun I own. While I had read that it was great, it failed to work all that well. Sure, it gets hot, but the glue doesn't flow well enough to make it useful.

I tried things like E6000 and Gorilla Glue but found both lacking. I found them too difficult to work with when dealing with tiny objects.

I finally tried my old faithful, Aleene's Original Tacky Glue. Sticks and stays stuck - this stuff holds! Not only does it hold seashells in place, but it works for buttons, flowers, chipboard, gems, veneers and everything else I think of adding to a canvas.

I doubt I look a a replacement or alternative any time soon. Love this stuff!

[mauihonuhoni]

Getting Dirty

I find it very rare that I choose a paintbrush as a tool to transfer paint to my canvases. No, I tend to lean towards a very different tool almost every time I need to apply paint...

My hands.

I love the natural organic hands--on feeling I get painting this way. The effects also please me more than the effects I get using brushes. Of course, brushes still find their way into use around my studio - perfect for something like creating a detailed palm tree!

Do you finger paint, too?

[mauihonuhoni]

Paint for the Planet

Most of my acrylic paints I bought from Amazon. The brand I own the most of seems to be Martha Stewart Crafts, but I phase those out whenever I need to replace a color or add a new color.

My favorite acrylic these days, comes from Plaid Delta - Delta Soy Paint. Not only does this new paint give me great results, it's an eco-friendly soy-based paint that is better for our planet. Better results for me, better for the planet? Win-win!

Do you have a favorite paint?

[mauihonuhoni]

Layering

This canvas started by getting misted with a bit of water. I next rubbed a few of my Faber Castel Gelato Paints over it to capture the evening light we see over the ocean almost daily here in Maui.

I love the Gelato Paints, They blend well and are very versatile. Keep in mind that they are water-colors so if you go back over them with other layers, you must take caution. I sealed the layer of gelatos with Americana Decoupage to prevent it from being altered by anything additional I might do.

After using the blow-dryer to speed the drying of the sealer, I grabbed a bristle brush and a bit of gesso to create the streaking clouds. A charcoal gray acrylic formed the palm trees and birds before another coat of sealer. Inkssentials Glossy Accents gave the water the appearance of ripples in a calm sea.

Finally, so that the palm tree didn't appear to simply arise from nowhere, I wadded up some dressmaker pattern paper and fashioned it into an island beach. I touched it up and added a bit of dimension with some finger-painting over that in a similar color acrylic.

Lastly, of course, came a final layer of sealer.