close-up of a mixed media art piece
shawn petite
Summer Concertina and a time to rest 7-14-24
Posted Jul 14, 2024
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edToday I’m starting my summer concertina, inspired by all the wonderful things about summer.

I’m also inspired by Mary Oliver’s poem – “Who made the world? Who made the swan, and black bear?

This grasshopper, I mean, the one who has flung herself out of the grass, the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down, who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes. Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face. Now she snaps her wings open and floats away. I don’t know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day.

Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Being present is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves. And some idle time to just be… just rest… to walk slowly and take in the beauty around us, can be the best thing for our soul and our creativity.

This is just the first part of the concertina. All the steps, sections, supply list, and stencils I used will be in the Subscriber library. The library is free if you haven’t already sign up for it.

I hope you enjoy this video and all the parts of the concertina, and it gives you permission to rest and observe. And always know that you are loved.

 

Supplies used:

  1. 11×17 copy paper gessoed on both sides to make my concertina
  2. Masking tape
  3. Old file folder for cover
  4. Liquitex matte medium and Liquitex matte gel
  5. Liquitex gesso black and white
  6. Collage paper for background (available in the library)
  7. Acrylic paint – Cobalt teal, quin magenta, olive green, green gold, cad yellow, cad orange, prism violet, burnt sienna, cobalt blue, titan buff, unbleached titanium, cad red
  8. Grumbacher raw umber
  9. Small round brush ( Round brush in different sizes), 1″ angle brush 1/4″ angle brush (Angle brush set)
  10. Hole punch, Arhival ink stamp pad, hole reinforcements, ribbon
  11. Charcoal pencil (General’s charcoal pencil set), Soft pastel sticks (Soho urban artist soft pastels)

Stencils used:

  1. Rambling flowers 8×10 (NEW)
  2. Fun dots 8×10 (NEW)
  3. Simple background 7 8×10 (NEW)
  4. simple background 6 5×8 (on sale this week)

These collage papers were added to the subscriber library and membership

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Posted Jul 14, 2024
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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!

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