C. Dianne Zweig Announces May 2016 Workshops on Contemporary Mixed Media-Collage at Dick Blick Art Materials, Plainville, CT

Let Loose With Collage and Mixed Media Classes This Spring: Four Exciting Workshops at Dick Blick in Plainville, Connecticut

Letting all my readers know that I will be giving a series of Workshops on Contemporary Mixed Media and Collage this May, 2016 at Dick Blick in Plainville, CT. Since I spend a good deal of time at Dick Blick buying the mother lode of art supplies,  I decided to share my process with others in the form of four Wednesday afternoon sessions:

Let Loose With Collage & Mixed Media Workshops: 

Leave your inner critic home and join others in the art of creating Mixed Media artwork and collages using painted papers, print making techniques, textures, mark making, dry and wet media. Emphasis on helping students "loosen up" and work more spontaneously with a variety of materials and products. All levels of students welcomed. Day/Time: 4 sessions on Wednesdays 1:00-3:00, May 4, 11, 18, 25. Fee $120.00  For more information visit http://www.cdiannezweig.com/workshops/



C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Discarded Ceramic Cut-Outs In Litchfield Connecticut Shop Inspiration For Mixed Media Art

Contemporary Art Is Found Everywhere: Mixed Media Artist C.Dianne Zweig Explores The Art of Possibility 
Why do Mixed Media artists always get excited about leftovers and unusual gargage. To be   totally accurate, sometimes discarded materials aren't really garbage as is the case with this pile of cut out clay which will actually be recycled and used to make new objects. But for the moment this growing pile of hardened clay cut outs sits in the back of a gorgeous custom made tile store in Litchfield, CT. I strolled into the store lured by a fabulous window display of glazed functional pottery and custom tiles. However, I was equally excited to explore this heap of broken and left over pieces in the back corner of the shop.  To a Mixed Media Artist who lives in possibility, the art is everywhere. So what would you do with these pieces?  Stencils, Assemblage art, jewelry ? Feel free to post your ideas please.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Creative Savers Can Get Overwhelmed In Their Mixed Media Art Studios Which Can Be Packed With Artsy Treasures Waiting To Be Re-Purposed Or Used As Art Tools

Downsizing Your Art Studio

I'm about to "downsize" my art studio which has become packed with really fabulous STUFF but is starting to cramp my style. I just know that so many of you who are reading this post understand the mind of the creative saver. I can remember thinking about the concept of re-purposing useful items way before the phrase got catchy. Let's be honest, it is hard for some of us to simply let go of potential art and craft treasures. We look at the world differently that other people. I can fondly remember strolling through Provincetown and seeing broken ceramic tiles being used as the ground cover in a trendly grocery store. I picked up a handful of these very interesting tileswith textured backs to stamp or print with in my Mixed Media work. Who am I kidding. I know that after I thin our some of my collections of artsy treasures, I will just replace them with new ones!  Feel free to comment on this post and share our experiences.

Visit my art website  http://www.cdiannezweig.com/     

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Wetting Colored Tissue Papers In Mixed Media Art

Mixed Media Art With "Bleeding" Wet Tissue Papers

Mixed Media artists who like to come up with new ideas for  making papers to use in collages will like this idea. Colored tissue paper is cut into strips and layered and then spritzed with a water bottle. You guessed it, the papers bleed and the random color saturation makes for great papers.

This idea was demonstrated by my friend Lynn Gall who conducted a Mixed Media Boot Camp recently at The Farmington Valley Arts Center.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Rescuing Treasured Pieces In Mixed Media Collages

 Adding Mixed Media Collage Remnants To Notecards

 What do you do when a Mixed Media collage you are working on just isn't hanging together, yet you fall in love with some of the sections in that same collage?
Let's say you have added several lalyers to the collage but still you just are not satisfied with the total picture?

When I am at my wits ends, I tear the collage up into pieces and save the pieces that I adore to use in a new way. Recently I started added these treasured torn remnants to note cards or to other collages that need some embellishment.

 I like the way you get rough and ragged edges to torn pieces that have had several layers before.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Marbling Paper Is An Art, Not A Science

Tips When Marbling Paper With Oil Paints 

I have been experimenting with marbling paper in my art studio. My first attempt at using the oil paint method to marble papers was a messy, hilarious yet creative afternoon. I had a lot of fun despite the fact that everything did NOT go according to plan. The morning of my oil paint marble day, I  started off watching tutorials online on You Tube. I also did some reading.

Many Different Methods To Marble Paper

There are many different methods of marbling paper. I  settled on the oil paint strategy after watching a science teacher's demo on You Tube. He said he likes to use fun projects to engage his students. While the teacher acknowledged that marbling paper  is ...."art" he said he gets to "the science" behind the "art" afterwards. (Next time I'll listen to an art teacher).

Using oil Paint To Marble Paper

I chose the oil paint method over many different marbling technique options because the science teacher came up with a method with fewer steps then others. His plan was pretty similar to a version I had tried years ago in a mixed media collage class, so I thought I was in the right ballpark.


Marbling Paper Calls For Practice And Experimentation

Looking back on the pictures  that I took after the afternoon of marbling, I can only say that ART is ART and not science. Marbling papers is indeed something that you have to practice and be patient with. The instructions called for mixing oil paint with Turpenoid (thinner) in small empty plastic (pill) containers. That sounded simple.

Beware, it isn't so simple to blend Turpenoid with oil paint in tiny containers.  You will need several long mixing sticks such as coffer stirrers or wood skewers. Forget tooth picks, they are too small to mix the paint in the plastic (pill) containters. I would use plastic squeeze bottles the next time.

Mastering The Oil Paint-Turpenoid Consistency

Essentially, you prepare a shallow pan with water and drop colors of paint on the surrface of the water and then gently place the paper on the water surface to pick up the designs of paint. This is of course in theory. Getting the paint at the right consisitency so that the oil paint doesn't sink to the bottom of the pan or create globs of paint is not so easy. (The good news is that the pan cleans up easy at the end of yur session with a little more Turpenoid on a rag).

Trial And Error

I discovered that you need more pigment than I started with, but indeed you need to have a very good blend of  the thinner ad the paint. The science teacher offered no precise measurements. He urged studentsw to experiemnt. Experiment is what I did. I made a big mess, but I learned plenty.

Now I am off to Dick Blick to look into suppliles for another method of marbling called method called  Suminagashi http://www.dickblick.com/lesson-plans/simple-suminagashi-monoprints/. An  ancient Japanese method, this marbling process is said to be meditating. After the oil paint method,
I'm ready for a more relaxing and cleaner method!

Postscript
By the way after I finsihed marbling there was a lot of extra oil paint in the bottom of the pan. I used it paint papers for future mixed media projects.

Readers have you marbled paper?  Please share your stories and tips.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Creating Painted Papers For Mixed Media Collage Using Cheap Brushes And Old Coated Postcards

Funky Ways To Apply Paint When Making Painted Papers For Mixed Media Collage

On on a roll, making painted papers for my Mixed media collages. Recently I moved around the supplies and materials in my art studio to bring my tools and paints in closer range when I'm have a delightful art frenzy.

Painting Papers

I thought it might be useful to describe more about how I work, sharing some of  my art making process with you. What follows is a discussion about some ways to apply paint when you are creating your own painted papers.

Vary Your Brush Stokes When Painting Mixed Media Papers For Collage



When you are making painted papers, you will want to vary your brush strokes and mark making strategies to  allow your painted papers to show depth, interest and layers of paint. To begin with I am very lazy, and do not like washing brushes.

More Freedom With Cheap Paint Brushes

I do however keep on hand some cheap brushes that I buy in Job Lot (discount store) for adding dry brush strokes onto the paper. The nastier the brushes get, the better they work because they  create funky and unpredicatble strokes. If I do want more of a wash look on the papers, I simply wet these same brushes and apply the paint causually, sometimes placing a dry piece of paper on top of the wet painted paper. I'm not concerned about caring for these brushes in the same way as I would pamper my brushes that can cost  $25.00  or more.

Applying Paint With Folded Coated Postcards

_
 .
Back to the way I like to work. When I get coated postcards in the mail anouncing an art show or exhibit, I save these cards to use at a later time when I am painting papers.   I fold the postcard  several times and dip into paint and  swipe the card across the paper. I also work on several different painted papers at the same time. Sometimes I add marks first to the paper and cover portions with paint and other times I scribble over dried paint with a Sharpie pen.
I may use paint brushes, swiped cards or a putty knife to apply paint. I let the paint mingle from one sheet of paper to another and encourage strange color combinations at times.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Mixed Media Collage: Building On Layers To Create A Successful Well Composed Piece

The Joy Of Tearing Up Painted Papers In Mixed Media Collage

In the mixed media collage world, many of us paint our own papers and then tear those papers up  to create our collaged work. Yesterday while in my art studio, I was thinking about how much fun it is to paint the papers and how grueling it can be to form those papers into a cohesive, exciting and well composed  piece of artwork. Of course the beauty in this method of working is that you add layer upon layer onto your support, essentially starting over again and again.

In Mixed Media Collage: Don't Fall In Love With Your First Layer

During my first layer yesterday I was in soft cream colors, only to leave the studio with an incomplete piece that ended with shades of aquamarine and dark blues.  When I return today to rework my collage, I maybe in an entirely different palette. One thing is for sure, never fall in love with your first layer. And if there are papers that you really are keen on, don't use them in the early phases of your piece, because if you work like most of us, these pieces will eventually become buried with newer layers.

Loosening Up To The Creative Frenzy Phase Of Mixed Media Collages

I also have noticed  that I work in predictble  phases when collaging mixed media pieces. I start off careful and deliberate and by the late afternoon, my frustration level is converted into a wonderful "I don't care about this piece anymore" so whatever happens can happen. This realization that I may have just "ruined" the piece is followed by a wonderful creative frenzy which is loose, experimental and daring. At this stage, surprises appear, color combination I wasn't planning emerge and the mixed media collage starts saying "look at me, I'm developing into something engaging".

Readers are welcome toleave a comment and tell us about your experiences.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Using A Vintage Putty Knife In Mixed Media Artwork

Applying Acrylic Paint With An Old Putty Knife

Mixed media collage artists like to paint papers with acrylic paint and then tear up the papers to reassemble them in other works of art.  One way to apply the paint is to use a palette knife or putty knife instead of  multiple  brushes.My dream tool is the putty knife.  An old putty knife is cheap, very easy to use and much easier than brushes to clean.  Even artists who do not work in a collage style, enjoy using a putty knife or palette knife directly onto a canvas.  

 I especially like the way you can smear on paint in layers with a putty knife wiping the older color with a new color and getting all kinds of terrific patterns. As you fool around with the putty knife you will see that you form  ridges with each application. You can of course smooth out these ridges or keep them in your work for added interest and texture. 

So the next time you are at a tag sale or flea market keep your eye open for old putty knifes. And be sure to keep on hand a collection of different sizes.  

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists