Patina Brush - Art Extravagance Patina Effect Paste Tutorial

Hi my dear ones,
as I promised - it is time to spread some mixed-media love!
I've been working in the last days on making a proper tutorial video on the application of Patina Effect Paste - to show you how really easy and fun it is and how spectacular effect can be achieved in no-time!
After making this video for Rust Effect Paste I had quite high expectations - I didn't want to be any less inspiring, so it took me a while to decide what kind of project I should do for you...
Ehmmm... so, here it is - Patina Brush!

I love Steampunk or even Industrial feel of it - and I hope you will like it too. You can have a look at the details - I've used tonnes of different elements to decorate it: chipboards, my Mechanicals, elements from IOD moulds, some wire - there is everything... and more!

You'd like to know what is Patina Effect Paste, really?

It is an inspiring set of three pastes which will help you achieve a patina-like effect on any project. Set contains two opaque, thick pastes with a matte, verdigris-like finish, and one copper metallic paste. Hard and permanent when dry. Perfect for creating texture and adding dimension, great for steampunk, grunge, and masculine projects. For best effects apply matte colours of the paste with a sponge, palette knife, texture tool, or paintbrush. Then add finishing touches with metallic paste.

So - how?
Here is how! Enjoy!

I've made a list of the art mediums I've used
- you can check them at Mixed Media Place Store, of course!

Please let me know what you think, or if you have any questions - I'm here to help!
Best wishes!

Homecoming - "Broken Wing" collage

Hi again :) I hope you are having a great week!
Do you know what is beautiful about creativity and making art in general?
One of the things I admire the most is you can do as little or as much as you want, that you can do projects which will be very different from each other - in style, in time consumption, in the colour palette - but you will get satisfying, eye and heart catching piece of art anyway!
There are no "right" or "wrong" ways of creating - you can go minimalistic or very rich and detailed. You can be bold with colours or go for a very subtle palette - and it all works as long as you put yourself in it. It's your voice, your moment, your emotions and decisions what and how to create. And it is all fine - no need to worry is it "me"? It has to be you :) You've made it!

Collage below is one of these ones which I made just for myself, my own pleasure, taking all the time I needed to design it, glue it and paint it. And believe me - it felt just great. It is one of these, which were waiting to be done, I had it on my mind for a long time - and it felt like coming home again.
I just dived into it and almost forgot to come back.

"Broken Wing"- 20x60 cm collage on canvas (8x24'')

For me, there were many important things happening during the process, a lot of new things and new feelings. There were new supplies used, new kind of print - but what was more important for me there was a learning curve. Things I wanted to try and practise for a long time... not all of them could fit into this one painting, but I'm optimistic and hoping there will be a chance to continue this journey.
At least I know what I want to explore and learn!

For a long time in my head there were inspirations which wanted to be used - and knowing how long I kept them waiting I could be sure they were shaped and processed enough by me to be my own voice - exciting and fresh for me, an experiment which waited to be done since the painting I've made on a wall years ago. I was so ready... and here it is. I'm pleased with the result and I didn't even use half of the ideas I would like to try!

(If you would like to listen a bit more about the "inspirations processing" - check this great TEDx video by Austin Kleon - summing up his concept which he presented in his book "Steal Like an Artist". very valuable 12 minutes, I think!)

As I explain to my students - it's easy to spot the project I've made at home, in my Studio. Selection of textures, elements assembled together, colour choices - all that should tell you that I took my time to create it. I can't tell how much time exactly - but it was spread over 3 or 4 days, working a bit here and there, enjoying my family and my Studio in the same time. I loved it and I should now make a promise to myself I will repeat that very soon.

There are many nuances and details I'm proud of  - and even though they may not be visible on the photos I have the satisfaction knowing they are there - and they ARE PERFECT. And I think it is the most important here, in this process:)

I wish you - and myself - many similar creative moments.

Give yourself time and permission to do all the things you'd like to do, finally.
Play, experiment, try and have fun. This is the only way I know to grow.

huge hugs

Explore. Dream. Discover. - mixed-media assemblage

Hi, good to see you all here again :)
Today I'm coming back to this blogpost - where together with Prima we were celebrating our creativity on International Scrapbooking Day. Each of my super talented Creative Team Member prepared a project inspired by a quote - and I even if my plan was to made a Periscope session I wanted to have a chance to create something too... so here it is, my assemblage in the tin, ready, proudly standing on the shelf in my studio.

I you would like to come back to my videos here and here you would be able to listen bit about my inspiration - quote by Mark Twain you can see below - and know a bit more about my creative path too. In fact, when I found this quote I felt it was saying out loud what I had in my heart for many years. I do believe it is true.

Explore. Dream. Discover.
3 important words which I have always somewhere in the back of my head. Those of you who know me a bit better will know how much of a dreamer I am and how much my sense of adventure is a drive that pushes me forward. I believe that changes are important in life, challenges and a bit of unknown are good for you and there is no need to be afraid of the new things coming... fear won't help, just paralyse you instead - so the best way to deal which changes is to adjust the sails and go through the storms...

This little assemblage in an old tin represents these 3 important words for me - there are brushes - to explore my creativity and new art paths, there are wings for dreaming and finally - an eye for discovering new, exciting things. I had the best time ever putting it together - it was a bit challenging to do something quite small  - but I had a real blast when I started painting. I put my Art Alchemy Metallique paints on my table and simply painted away...

As usual I used my Art Basics Heavy Body Gel for gluing all the elements together - seriously this stuff just does the job! There was also a layer on Heavy Black Gesso for depth and a bit of Heavy White Gesso - for highlights. I enjoyed the process very much so it is possible there will be more similar smaller - or bigger - projects coming in the future!

Here is the list of product I used - for your reference. 

All linked from our Mixed Media Place Store:

And now it is time for important announcement - we have a WINNER!

After Creative Team voting for the project inspired by a quote -
our  prize will go to Sari Hanninen!

Congratulations Sari, please contact me with your shipping address at: finnabair.contact@gmail.com!

Huge thanks to all of the participants - your projects were beautiful and inspirational - we had a very hard time picking just one!

Sending hugs to you all - see you again soon!

"The Oracle" - Collage on the Edge of Steampunk and Industrial

Hi again my loves.
Some of you know that from all the different projects I keep putting together collage and assemblage is the one I love the most. There are many reasons: the joy of finding, matching and transforming random objects - considered by most of people to be simply "rubbish" - is simply hard to compare with anything. Possibility to change them into something else, giving them "new life" is really inspiring idea, sparkling my creativity and giving me loads of energy to make art. It is great, almost never-ending fuel - the only ingredient which is really crucial in the process is time!

Speaking about time - this assemblage below was waiting to be completed for months.
I was really ecstatic when I found the porcelain doll on the flea market - it was perfect in size, it had a nice face and the price tag was really appealing. As soon as I got home I started to look for the proper background for the project that started to crystallize in my head... but it took me some time to find a right size piece of wooden board (I REALLY wanted to see the real wood structure in it!) and then some cool "industrial" elements to start with. In the end I decided to recycle one of the old motherboards I had in my stash...

"The Oracle" - collage/assemblage on wood (34x40 cm)

The process off assembling continued for days. I knew what I was going for - a marriage of cold, Industrial feeling with elements of more traditional Steampunk look. If possible  - all that in a nice, not too girly colour palette!

I added some old radio's parts, old lock, some  pieces of old belt, cogs an gears... in fact tons of these... there were some wires and some shells used together with buttons and metal embellishments but again it took me weeks until I found the last set of pieces matching in size to the composition. I wish I had access to some nice junkyard on the regular basis!

In the end, when I had all of my elements in place I could play with some art mediums. Of course my first choice were my products from Art Basics and Art Extravagance Line.
I used Art Basics 3D Gloss Gel for gluing elements together, my Art Extravagance White Crackle Paste to add some beautiful, weathered look and finally Art Basics Black Heavy Gesso to prime all the project before painting. It took me a longer moment to cover all the details, but it all turned out great!

Finally - the painting... this step was done after a very long break and I wasn't sure the effect I was going for will be possible to achieve, but in the end combination of Art Basics White Heavy Gesso, sprays, and metallic acrylic paints was a great choice. I am really happy with the colour palette: cold, industrial in feeling but warmed a bit with touches of gold and pink. Mission completed!

I know of course this kind of art won't be appealing to everybody - I know personally some lovely people who are seriously freaked out with just the idea of using dolls' parts for assemblage or collage and no matter how hard I will try they won't change their minds :)
I love them anyway and i understand their point of view - but my heart was telling me this is the time for something new and bold - so here it is.
I believe you have to listen to your inner self, even if sometimes it will speak to you with a bit creepy voice... ;) don't you think?

I hope you will have a wonderful creative week! don't forget to check the blog on Friday to see another amazing tutorial from my wonderful CT Members.
See you soon!