A new version of strong mixed media portrait 12-12-21

Posted Dec 12, 2021

4 Comments

My journal time lately has been so enriching… so soulful…. so reflective, and today’s page was no exception.

I laid down my background super fast with scraps laying on my table and they couldn’t have been more perfect. They were so perfect that I didn’t cover them up.

The stencils that I grabbed…. were again perfect!

I got lost in the process of this lovely lady’s face…. it felt like I’d lost track of time… my mind was going over so many things… one thing in particular. The word strong.

Strong can look so different to each of us.

Strong can be taking care of an aging parent when no one knows how much time you are there.

Strong can be being vulnerable and sharing how you’re feeling.

Strong can be taking time to take care of yourself.

Strong can be seeing a therapist.

Strong can be working 16 hours a day to hold a dream and business together.

Strong can be taking time to create.

All of these requir us to show up…. messy, raw, in our pajamas, grumpy… real. We show up and that’s the strongest thing we can do. Show up for us, for our lives. Strong looks sooo very different to everyone… but we show up.

I share more about it in the video and I hope that you find strength in this project.

You are loved!

Supplies used:

Handmade journal
Utrecht gesso
Liquitex matte gel
Pebeo mat pub acrylic (ruby magenta, beige, raw umber)
Lukas cryl acrylic olive green
Blick matte acrylic blue red light
Winsor & Newton (raw umber, pale terracotta, paynes gray, pale pink, opera rose)
Grumbacher Academy acrylic alizarin crimson
Soho urban artist acrylic magenta
Golden acrylic prussian blue and burnt sienna
Brushes – angle, filbert round
Generals charcoal pencil in white and black, Stabilo all pencil
Soft pastels
Scraps of collage paper
Liquitex black spray paint

Stencils used: THESE WILL BE ON SALE THIS WEEK

Bright butterfly collage pack (printed version) or (instant download) – THIS WILL BE ON SALE THIS WEEK

This post contains affiliate links from Amazon and Blick at no cost to you.

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Posted Dec 12, 2021

shawn petite in her studio in front of an easel

Hello there! I’m Shawn Petite

I’ve been teaching and creating for well over 30 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.

Join me on this journey of art and inspiration!