Mixed Media

How to Use Stencils in Mixed Media Art

December 21, 2020 By Mixed Media Art Newbie Leave a Comment

Stencils have always intimidated me, probably because the decor fad of the 80’s when I bought my first home was to stencil things on your walls, and they had to look perfect! I tried them a few times and they were always crooked or not filled in all the way, or the edges looked too smudgy, just not the look but in mixed media, smudgy, crooked, imperfect perfection is the goal.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mixed Media Artist (@christinefaithart)

I think I belong to a large club of art supply collectors who don’t necessarily USE all the lovely things we buy. I wanted to start using some of my pretties so have been watching the masters use their stencils in unique ways in art projects and journals.

my art supply stash with stencils, stamps and ink from scrapbook.com

Well, I have used a few of these at least! Good to look back at pictures of my pretties from Scrapbook.com.

Stenciling Techniques for Mixed Media Art

Tamara Laport goes through several different ways to use her whimsical stencil pack including spray inks, heavy body acrylics, liquid acrylics, modeling paste and more.

Tamara Laport Stencil Ideas Tips & Tricks

Another of my art journaling heroes is Dina Wakley. She taught me in her art journaling books that it’s OK to copy, it’s OK to trace, it’s OK to learn from your teachers. Yes, you should credit them with being your inspiration of course but if you’ve ever tried to copy what an art teacher does exactly I’m sure you’ve learned that yours looks like a sister or a cousin to the original example but it really never looks EXACTLY like the originals piece of art.

How to Monoprint with Stencils by Dina Wakley – Art Journaling Live

Dina is using a few of her stencils as well as heavy body paint in her demonstration.
Dina Wakley Heavy Body Acrylic Paint
Dina Wakley Mixed Media Stencils
Dina Wakley Art Supplies on Amazon

You can also take art classes from Dina Wakley here.

Tim Holtz Stencil Layering Ideas at CHA

Tim demonstrates how to layer random stencils and stamps with inks to get lots of different effects The goal is always perfectly imperfect. Love that quote from Tim. Stenciling first with acrylic paint and then adding ink on top creates a resist of the original layer.

click here to join or for more information

Jessica Sporn demonstrates stenciling on Tissue Paper Techniques starts at about 4:20 and it’s pretty brilliant.

Dry Stencil Techniques from Stencil Girl

She uses pan pastels and sand paper in ways I’ve never seen before in this video tutorial.

I hope these tutorials from some mixed media artists will help you get some of your lovely art supply collection a little dirty instead of staying in their pristine condition in the box. As Dina says. Done is better than perfect!

Tamara Laporte of Willowing and Life Book Fame

November 4, 2020 By Mixed Media Art Newbie Leave a Comment

I found Tamara Laporte through a couple artist friends when I was asking for a recommendation for a multi-teacher class, she and Lifebook came highly recommended. I am not exaggerating when I say that following along with Tam as she teaches you to draw and paint adorable whimsical girls has so changed my life in magical ways.

tamara laporte lifebook the book — Life Book – The Book by Tamara Laporte

Tamara Laporte Online Mixed Media Art Classes

The most famous of Tam’s classes and now the subject of her first-ever book, “Lifebook” runs annually with an early bird pricing showing up in December through January and then for full price the remainder of the year. You really could join in at any time because for your art class purchase you are allowed do download ALL of the hundreds of video’s so you could go back at any time. The thing you would miss however is the amazingly supportive community that Tamara and her teamwork to create in the Facebook and Ning groups that comprise all the other artists and artists in training. You’ll find brand new mixed-media people like me, to professional artists, side by side going through the weekly lessons together. At first, it IS a bit intimidating, I won’t lie, but the support you are given when you share just a bit is a bit humbling and has brought me to tears a few times, not only for the support and help that I have received but when I’ve seen it with other’s in the class.

You can still sign up for Lifebook 2018 and don’t worry about catching up, I’d probably do the first two lessons that Tam runs to get the idea of how Lifebook works and then join in with where the rest of the folks are and look through the previous lessons to see which ones appeal to you. But that’s the whole Hippie Artist part of me, you don’t have to go in a straight line or follow any rules to achieve a great result in art or in life.

You can also go back and do just Tam’s lessons from past years of Life Book. I think I’ve bought almost all of these when she’s had them on sale. You won’t be working along with the class with these but you can always post on the Willowing and Friends Facebook page.

and a bunch more! you can click here to view more details!

Tamara has also created a couple of stencils for mixed media artists that I simply adore and use all the time in my art journal but I’m not sure where you can purchase them now.

Ever After: Create Fairy Tale-Inspired Mixed-Media Art Projects to Develop Your Personal Artistic Style

Click to Order Ever After Art Book Here

Each summer Tamara brings even more whimsy and magic to your life. This new book explores a bit of what you will discover when you sign up for the classes here.

Click to join Ever After Class

Tam’s Whimsy Stencils

Tamara also has all of the lessons she’s taught during her Life Book sessions for sale on Etsy.

Life Book – Tam’s Online Art Lessons

Life Book 2012

Life Book 2013 Tam Edition

Tam’s Life Book 2014

Tam’s Life Book 2015

Life Book 2016

Tamara Laporte’s Artwork for Sale

If you feel the need to see Tam’s happy world every day in your home, she has lots of options for you on both Society6 and Etsy.

Society 6 has the largest variety because you can turn Tam’s gorgeous art into items you’ll use every day. I’m having such a hard time deciding what I want first!

Foxy by Tamara Laporte - Canvas Art Print on Society6 — Foxy by Tamara Laporte – Canvas Art Print Society6

Art Prints
Framed Art Prints
Canvas Prints
iPhone & iPod cases with 3 styles (slim, tough, adventure)
Stationery Cards
iPhone & iPod Skins – if you already love your phone case but just want to prettify it.
Laptop and iPad Skins
Tank tops
Throw pillows – Rectangular pillows
Art Supplies on the go pouches
Tote bags in 3 sizes
Wall Clocks
Mugs in 2 sizes
Shower Curtains
Throw Rugs
Duvet Covers by Willowing
Laptop Sleeves
Travel Mugs
Throw Blankets – if you click on the video you’ll see these are the uber soft kind with the sherpa on the backside. YUMMY for winter.
Comforters by Willowing – (Twin, Twin XL, Double, Queen & King)
Pillow Shams

It’s really so hard to decide which Tam thing you want where but I think I’m going to start with a couple of iPhone skins!

Thank you for all your happy positive vibes you are sending out into the universe, I see so many whose lives have been touched in wonderful ways by your art, your classes and your genuine caring for others.

Life Book Art Journaling Mixed Media Course 2021

October 6, 2020 By Mixed Media Art Newbie Leave a Comment

Getting back into art as an adult is all due to the adult coloring book trend for me. I had given it all up and had been concentrating on the serious things in life. Getting back to my creative side has, however, made all the parts of my life better. The more art supplies I bought to color with, the more I wanted to play with my other art supplies that I’d tucked away. The more I played with color, the more I wanted to create and grow and learn and be able to call myself an artist too. Enter Life Book!

Join Life Book 2021 now to take advantage of Tam’s early bird 20% off code!

Tam is joined by 30 incredible artists, crafters and healers who are all gearing up to share their art, crafting and personal growth techniques with YOU! With a holistic approach to creativity, self-development, and healing, you’ll be creating several loose mixed media art journal pages per month which by the end of the year you will bind into a glorious journal (a Life Book)! This year you will also be able to try out other art crafts like art doll making & basket weaving and we will also provide you with nurturing and nourishing personal development activities (like yoga and NVC) to support any personal development you’re undertaking. Your final book with your artwork in it will function as a wonderful keepsake that you can treasure for the rest of your life!

Life Book is a year-long mixed media art class focused on creativity & wellbeing, organized by Tamara Laporte from Willowing Arts.

Over 80+ mixed media art & wellbeing classes
Learn from 30 expert artists
Includes a virtual gift bag with lots of goodies
Learn to use your creativity to support your wellbeing
Lifetime access to all class videos
All content downloadable
Just £115 GBP (or $149 USD) for the whole course
Save 20% right now with discount code: FEELHAPPY20

You can sign up at any time! There is now lifetime access so you are never behind!

I looked for art classes in my area in watercolor and painting and drawing and couldn’t really find much but to improve the look of my Facebook newsfeed I’d started following artists in all areas that appealed to me. I tend to love looking at bright happy colors and beautiful whimsical characters, mermaids, and fairies, hand-lettered pages, and bits of ephemera adding to the artisticness of the piece. That opened me up to all of the artists across the world that give art classes online. What’s cool is that these classes in many ways are even better than going to a class locally because I don’t have to pack up all my supplies and I can stop the teacher and rewind everything they say whenever I need to. Many of the classes are lifetime access and some even allow you to download the videos of the classes for your own use.

Since 2018 Life Book has become more inclusive and holistic by opening the course up to other art forms (like clay work, photography, and writing) + Tamara is also bringing in some more wellness experts that will support people on their wellness/ personal development journey!!

I really can’t explain how much I am enjoying this art journaling -art therapy – get messy and happy experience led by Tamara Laporte from Willowing Arts. She heads up a team of a whole bunch of wonderful artists who share new lessons with our big group of loving and lovable beginning to expert artists to learn and enjoy.

Click here to view more details

Life Book 2017 opened up my art world improved in Life Book 2018 but then I took a break in 2019. 2020 has been a bust but Now 2021 is calling me again.

It doesn’t matter that this class has already started, you have access to all the lessons for LIFE now AND you can download them to use offline whenever you’d like as well.

Over 80+ mixed media art lessons/ sessions

I’m just LOVING Lifebook! So fun, empowering and helping me SO much with my art skills!

Tam is joined by 30 incredible artists, crafters, and healers who are all gearing up to share their art, crafting and personal growth techniques with YOU! With a holistic approach to creativity, self-development, and healing, you’ll be creating several loose mixed media art journal pages per month which by the end of the year you will bind into a glorious journal (a Life Book)! This year you will also be able to try out other art crafts like art doll making & basket weaving and we will also provide you with nurturing and nourishing personal development activities (like yoga and NVC) to support any personal development you’re undertaking. Your final book with your artwork in it will function as a wonderful keepsake that you can treasure for the rest of your life.

What exactly do you get in LIFEBOOK 2021?

In a nutshell, this is the Incredible Life Book offer:

◙ A minimum of 6-8 in-depth Mixed Media Art Lessons + a Minimum of 4 Bonus Sessions by me: Tam (it usually ends up being more than that though because I get excited about all the new things I learn and find it difficult not to share haha!)
◙ 21 In-depth Mixed Media Art Lessons by Spectacular Guest Teachers (see below who the 2020 guest teachers are)
◙ Between 12 – 18 additional arts & craft and wellness sessions with experts in this field (check the teacher profile doc to see what each expert has to offer)
◙ 21 (Smaller) Bonus Activities like: extra PDF prompts & step by steps/ artist interviews/ ATC swaps/ giveaways/ audio meditations/ writing prompts etc by Tam & Guest Teachers
◙ 3 Facebook Live Sessions with me, Tam (1 per term)
◙ Access to all summit content
◙ The Life Book Gift Bag with lots of goodies/ free classes and discounts!

In other words: you get over 80+ inspiring, creative, uplifting and life enriching sessions this year with creative and wellness experts that will blow your mind!

I have been checking out other resources to help me with drawing whimsical faces and have found a few that I LOVE and have been amazed at my results after only a bit of practice. Still not quite ready for prime time but enjoyable to me in my art journaling and that’s really the point of it all.

Ready to sign up? Excited?! 🙂 Click here!

Use the code FEELHAPPY20 to get that 20% off Early Bird Pricing!

Oh and just so you know; if you can’t wait until Jan 1st to get art-making, we’ve made some of our ‘premium packages’ EXTRA affordable this year! If you sign up to one of the premium packages, you get access to the self-study courses you’ve chosen IMMEDIATELY! YAY! So you can get your creative juices flowing in prep for Life Book 2020! Yay! You won’t have to wait until Jan 1st to access to your extra courses. Cool huh?!

Click here to sign up for Life Book 2021 and get started on your Art Journey!

Lifebook Basic Art Supplies

Buy One Get One 50% Off on Strathmore® Artist Paper Pads & Pigma Micron® Pen Sets

Talk about Diversity! Check out the amazing artists who will be sharing lessons in 2021. All races, nationalities, religions and gender. I love that!

Create your Life Book by Tamara Laporte

Want to learn more about Life Book? Tamara has written a book about her art journaling baby. Available now on Amazon or Book Depository

Tamera has a new book out that explores her love of fairy tale characters.