Melange Team May Challenge

Every month the Melange Team on Etsy hosts a mixed media challenge on their blog.  Anyone can participate.  The prompt for May's challenge is "Royal".  You can interpret it any way you wish as long as it is mixed media.  Post a comment on the blog with a hot link to your piece.  We look forward to your entries!

If you would like to learn more about the team, check out the Melange Team page on Etsy.

Sun Worshiper (Encaustic)

Once again, the road in my journey was twisting and winding so I got a bit lost but then found myself somewhere I liked better than my originally planned destination.

Sun Worshiper - Mixed Media Encaustic -12x12 on cradled board

 This is a mixed media piece using both encaustic and oil stick.  It was a challenge to both let go and keep control.  I think in my next painting I'm going to drop the control part and see what happens.

Melange Team on You Tube

Melange Team member Indira, from Dharma Karma Arts, puts together a monthly You Tube video of members' work.  Lots of diversity in this little group!

Altered Art Upcycled Glass Jar by Whyte

If you have a spare minute, we'd be thrilled if you would check it out and leave a comment.

Melange Team Monthly Challenge (Rain)

This month's challenge prompt on the Melange Team blog is "Rain."  My ideas for this one were as dried up as our forests right now but while creating a different piece yesterday, this one evolved.

MacArthur Park - Encaustic Mixed Media - 8x8 cradled board

This is my favourite encaustic painting so far.  I want to sing MacArthur Park every time I look at it but hopefully I get that out of my system before I show it anywhere!

Playing with Fire

I am learning very quickly that encaustic is not an easy medium to master.  But it sure is exciting!  These two very different pieces each started out as sunsets.  They each changed direction dramatically after about 5 minutes.

Encaustic Collage ACEO - 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" - Dousing the Flame

Encaustic collage 8x10 on cradled board - Dream

Melange 'Antique' Challenge

The prompt for this month's Melange Team mixed media challenge is 'Antique.'  The monthly challenges are open to everyone so please feel free to join us any time!

My friend, Donna, surprised me with a few antique store finds this spring...some great old books to use in my mixed media.  Inside one of the books we found a wonderful bonus;

this old negative of a steam locomotive

So I scanned it into my computer and used it to create this mixed media piece.

STEAM LOCOMOTIVE :  Mixed media on cradled board, 6x6"

I cut a map of Canada out of a 1950's Canadian atlas, mounted it on card stock, and washed it with titanium buff fluid acrylic paint.  Then using a two step crackle compound and a gel stain, I created the antiqued finish.  When this was all dry, I applied digital grounds for a non-porous surface.  After drying the grounds overnight, I printed the locomotive onto the antiqued map.  I used my handmade stamps to embellish the surface and added black ink around the edges for a smokey, aged look.  I painted the cradled board black before mounting the piece with heavy matte gel.  A satin varnish was sprayed over the surface.

I debated about adding other elements but I didn't want to detract from the locomotive itself.

Here's a Little Giveaway!

To help kick off the new Melange Team Giveaways here is my giveaway.  On Monday, May 31st after 5:00 pm PST, I will choose (by random number generator) one individual to receive this gift.  To enter, please leave a comment after this post.

Handmade paper assortment:  This set of 5 sheets of 5x7" handmade paper is made from plant fibres and recycled paper.  (Pure corn husk, cattail and recycled paper, stinging nettle and recycled paper, iris leaf and recycled paper, and swamp grass and recycled paper).  Use these wonderful papers in collage, in encaustic, to make notecards, or to paint on with acrylics.

This is a 'no obligation' giveaway but I would love it if you became a follower on my blog.  I have just started my free tutorials and I won't stop until I've taught every single art and craft I have learned to do well enough to share.  Check here for samples of upcoming workshops.

Melange Interview

I am so pleased to be featured on the Melange Team Blog in an interview by Bren from Peace of Mind Studio.  Thanks, Bren, for making this so easy.  Great questions!

The Melange Team Blog features mixed media artists, techniques, challenges and more.  You don't have to be a member of the team to participate in the challenges.

 This little candle lantern was the result of the altered jar challenge on the Melange Team Blog.  I first covered a baby food jar in yellow vellum.  Using a dragonfly punch, I created the shaped cutout in handmade iris leaf paper and, using gloss medium, glued this sheet over the vellum.  The jar is embellished with wire, a dragonfly pendant and a large amber bead.  These would make a lovely addition to an outdoor party.  More wire could be added for hanging.

Sunshine Challenge

This is my piece for the Mix it Up with Melange "Sunshine" challenge.  You don't have to be a member of the Melange team to participate.

IT'S SPRING! 

This mixed media collage ACEO (2.5 x 3.5") is made using a clear tar gel photo transfer over a piece of a music sheet and then painted with chromacolour paints.  Black pigment ink is brushed around the edges and a final coat of clear tar gel covers the piece.

New Beginnings

I feel like I am on a learning curve that goes straight up! So far I have tackled Etsy, Facebook, a fan page, and Twitter. And now I'm starting a blog. Two months ago I was only thinking about opening a shop on Etsy.


So I opened my shop just before Christmas, http://lizannasonthelake.etsy.com/, and thought, like in Field of Dreams, I would list and 'they' would come. Apparently not. So here I am in a whole new world. I love the blogs and getting to know some of the wonderfully creative people behind the art in this intriguing on-line world.

And now that I've done all of this work to bring people into my studio, I guess I should get busy or 'they' will come and I won't have anything to sell.