Sometimes I like a continuing program of classes rather than a one shot deal, and Everything Arts’ Wanderlust lessons in mixed media and art journaling are delivering weekly doses of something new. Since I started exploring mixed media in 2020 I have learned much about paper and fabric collage, monoprinting, and even painting. But I don’t have a broad exposure to all the materials and techniques possible in mixed media.
From the video lessons so far I’ve learned about clear and black gesso (who knew there was more than white?), compressed charcoal pencils, and modeling paste, to name a few materials. As lessons are given by different teachers, most new to me, I am seeing diverse ways to approach the same materials and techniques.
Confession time: I don’t really follow the lessons, but I do try out the materials and techniques. The broad idea of the class is to create your work in an art journal. At the end of the course you have a consolidated arrangement of all you’ve created. I grab whatever’s on hand and work on that. So far I’ve used wallpaper samples, old pre-stretched canvases, children’s board books, and watercolor paper. I do indeed have nice unblemished paper, but somehow I feel constrained to reuse stuff. It must be the result of a childhood of saving the “good” dishes for company.
None of what I’ve made is finished work, but messing around is lots of fun.
The next lessons will delve more into modeling paste, so who knows what I’ll make. If I don’t like this week’s lesson there always will be a new one next week for the next few months.
I am linking to Off The Wall Fridays.
The Snarky Quilter 
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Even though these may not be finished pieces per se, your eye for good composition comes through. It is exciting just seeing these because I understand how much fun the exploration to getting there must have been..
The “what if I…” Stage is so freeing, and with experiments you can just abandon them or return another time to do something different to them.
Art journals are so freeing. Experiments don’t have to be anything other than experiments.
I know what you mean, but then I look at the artfully presented journals on Instagram and figure some folks can’t resist prettying up their work. I wish they’d show the flops.