close-up of a mixed media art piece
Creating joy… literally! Sunday inspiration 3-1-20
Posted Mar 1, 2020
3 Comments

This was so easy to make… it was pure play time. I love the contrast between the grungy background and the bright fun flowers.

The collage papers used in this piece are just gorgeous and the perfect start to this piece.

I was inspired to create this by a conversation I had this week with someone that was struggling with joy.

I got to share my take on joy and how I think it’s not this rah rah happy thing,….. but it’s peace and a place of gratitude. And that it doesn’t just happen. It takes practice. I share in the video, my number one thing that helps me be in a place of joy.

Have fun watching!

This original is available HERE and the Print on wood or Print to be framed HERE

Supplies used: 12 x12 mdf board, gesso Liquitex matte medium, a variety of acrylic paints, Lukas (cadmium yellow, cadmium orange, permanent rose, teal, olive green permanent violet, raw umber) Windsor & Newton hookers green, Sennelier bright yellow green, Amsterdam carbon black, Various pens in black and white (sharpie water-based pen, gel pen, Liquitex paint pen fine tip, posca pen) fine line paintbrush, charcoal pencil, soft pastel in black to age the edge

stencils used: spring wreath, spring leaves, cherry blossom, tulips, lavender, modern pattern 5 THESE WILL BE ON SALE THIS WEEK!

Collage pak used:

New collage pak used in todays projects: Printed version: get it HERE

downloadable version get it HERE

ALL COLLAGE PAKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A PRINTED AND DOWNLOADABLE VERSION. You can check out all the collage paks HERE

Be inspired, create and know that you are loved!

Looking to get some more inspiration?

check out some workshops!

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Posted Mar 1, 2020
Headshot photo of artist

Hello there! I’m Shawn Petite

I’ve been teaching and creating for well over 25 years. About 15 years ago I found my art soul mate in mixed media, and it changed my life! I love the story that can be told by combining paint, texture, ink, paper and—really anything that you can imagine.

But what I’m truly passionate about is being your guide, walking with you step by step and helping you become your own hero in your creative journey.

Along my path, I’ve learned that the creating art also creates a healing space. Life can be messy and complicated and painful, but something about a paint brush can help heal your soul. I believe—no, I know—you are worthy of love, and I want to teach you to know that about yourself. Join me on this journey of art and inspiration!

3 Comments

  1. Marguerite

    This is beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us. I have a relatively quick question. Paint-wise, I have craft quality acrylic paints, some spray inks, and some quality fluid acrylics (these are a challenge for me to control sometimes & I’m frustrated at my inability to get bright pops of color I love in my otherwise muted backgrounds). The craft paints lack the pigment load I want and when I add the fluid acrylics, they always seem to overpower my piece and I end up wiping them almost completely back. I want desperately to upgrade my acrylics, but every time I try to do so I get completely overwhelmed by all the choices. I know your top 10 Video recommended Liquitex Basics, but in your Sunday Inspirations you link to other brands like Amsterdam and Lukas. However, when I shop those brands, I don’t know whether I should look at the tubes or the “squirt containers” or even what is the difference between these two Lukas paints? And if I do purchase a Liquitex Basic set, how many colors and which ones would best serve me? I know your workshop recommended a Basic set of 6 tubes, but what about burnt umber, hooker green or quinacridone magenta? Would a 48 tube set be more practical in that I wouldn’t be trying to mix my own colors or mixing in the craft paints in these colors? I swear, at least once a week over the past month or so I’ve spent a bunch of time online looking at the choices only to come away with nothing. Because, totally overwhelmed. So my question is: having decided to invest in higher quality acrylic paints up, and wanting to get the most bang for my buck so to speak, which brand is the next logical step up for a relative newbie to mixed media? I think maybe the Liquitex Basics, but I keep getting distracted by the Lukas and Amsterdam paints. Your opinion on this would be so, so appreciated. 😘

    Reply
    • shawn

      Hi Marguerite,

      I definitely think that the Liquitex basics are a great starter paint. Because I’ve been painting for so long I have many brands and I also work with companies that give me their products to try.. so I have little of everything.
      I would get the Liquitex and play with those, then… at any time buy one or two tubes or bottle of the other paints in your favorite colors and try them. Every artist has their favorites. I have my favorite colors in all the different brands.
      I also don’t think that you need the starter set. I would buy them individually. It might be a tad bit more exspensive but you can get just the colors that you love.
      Here’s what I use if it’s helpful. Carbon black, Titanium white, Quinacridone magenta, raw umber, teal, prussian blue, sap green, yellow ochre, then mix in your craft paints. And don’t be afraid to mix in white or raw umber in these paints to change the hue.
      I still use certain colors in my favorite craft paint (Americana) so there’s nothing wrong with using those as well.
      Then when your ready you can add to your color choices or try another brand.
      Make it as simple as possible so that you don’t get overwhelmed and you don’t feel like your locked into any certain product.
      Hope this helps! Please don’t hesitate to ask questions I want to help you any way I can.

      Reply
      • Marguerite

        Thank you. That helps a lot, actually. 😍

        Reply

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