Helpful Ideas When Creating Altered Books

Creation of altered books through altered text is an exercise filled with fun. “Altered text” is achieved by putting together certain words or phrases chosen and highlighted while being connected by dark lines connecting the words on the page and in the order you want to read them.

When you intend to start a new altered book page, it is advisable to first flip through the pages lightly to seek words or phrases that may catch your attention while writing them on a rough paper. Over and over the frequent page flips you will be able to pick many more words and phrases that can constitute a sentence and make a meaning out of it.

The sequence should bring out the complexity in the phrases giving a larger meaning than just the mere read of the text. You can highlight what you have picked so that they can show well up on the page and by this you are set to start the artwork of creating altered books. You begin with the use of watercolors, acrylics, collage elements, permanent inks, markers and colored pencils. You may chose to use a couple of pictures but make sure not cover up the words you have chosen. With this idea you can create a whole storyline within a story with what you have collected.

Using Cereal Boxes for your Mixed Media Art Projects

There are different ways that you can use cereal boxes and plastic sheets for your mixed media art projects. One excellent way to use the plastic sheet inside the cereal box is to use it as a protective covering for your altered book project to avoid the paint from getting around the edges of your book when painting or creating a layout. You can also use it as an alternative for plastic covers which can be bought in department stores. So instead of spending money for plastic covers, you can certainly use the plastic sheet inside the cereal box as the cover for your mixed media art projects.

And for the cereal box, you can actually cut the edges evenly and by doing that, you already have a cardboard that you can use as a book cover out from a cereal box or you can as well use if for paintings.

Creating mixed media art projects is really fun! While creating, you can actually discover things that you can reuse. Recycling things is a good practice since recycled materials are free, it can save you lots of cash and by recycling materials for your artworks, you are helping the environment.

Start creating and recycling now!

Stuart Morris, a Successful Artist

Becoming successful in anything is really not that easy. You will definitely need lots of patience and perseverance to reach your goals in life. Like with arts, there are some artists who prosper and there are also some who fail.

Let me introduce you to one of the most triumphant artist in the world today. His name is Stuart Morris. Stuart is a British artist based in East Anglia. Being an artist, Stuart loves using natural materials such as wood, rock and sand, whilst his bold use of color is a nod to the Post-Impressionists that captured his young imagination.

Stuart has an entrenched textile printing business and is the top charity fund raising in the UK. His company – “Stuart Morris” flourished through the years with different clients from home and abroad including heritage and charity organizations.

If you want to be successful like Stuart, here are Stuarts’s top 5 tips for aspiring artists

Be single-minded and set your sights on what you want to achieve,

Be determined and don’t let anything stand in your way,

Work hard at your craft,

Release your inhibitions and let your personality come out in your artwork,

Be expressive – the best paintings are not necessarily ‘life-like’, but tell a story

Different Ways in Designing an Altered Book Layout

Designing an altered book layout is really fun and exciting since it brings out the artist in you. You can create a wide range of designs using the different supplies that you have to make your layout really beautiful.

When we talk about designing an altered book layout, there are lots of style that you can apply. You can add some borders to enclose the text in your altered book, you can also highlight the words you want to stress, and adding colors to your altered book layout by drawing anything relevant for your layout and many other things that will fit your layout. You are actually free to design the layout as long as you don’t over design it.

With that being said, I know that you’ll be able to create a fantastic altered book layout that you’ll be proud to share with your family and friends.

So what are you waiting for ? Start creating and designing your altered book layout now!

Get that Gloves Off while Painting

Painting is among the famous art work today. There are lots of people expressing their artistry through painting using different techniques that will boost up the appearance of their work. When painting, there are different tools that you can use to paint. You can use a paintbrush, your hands with gloves and some other tools. These tools can help the artist to make his/her painting look good and beautiful.

However, There are painters who use their bare hands when painting. This is actually among the most exciting technique when painting since you can feel the paint in your finger tips and will make you more careful since you don’t want your painting to be messy. Using your bare hands when painting is like going back to your childhood days where you just grab a paint, dip your fingers and stroke it anywhere – remembering the good old days which is really fun and exciting.

It is really nice to experiment sometimes. Painting with that gloves off will certainly make you feel free while painting making your artwork more expressive and personalized. Letting go of your inner child to express your thoughts and feelings can be an outlet to create that masterpiece!

What are you waiting for? Take that gloves off and start painting now!

Using Beeswax for Mixed Media Art Collage

Beeswax are naturally produced wax from bee hives of honey bees. It’s a great medium that can be used in arts. You can use it as a decoupage medium for sticking papers and objects to different surfaces.  Not only that, It can also be embossed to add surface to your art and polish using an oil pastel to put in color.

For beeswax collage, there are several substrate options available that you can use. You can certainly use Wood, Masonite, Paper, Canvas (small gallery wrapped or canvas panel), Encaustic board, Clay board and Metal.

When painting the wax to your chosen substrate, it is advisable to use natural bristle brush because synthetic brushes will melt. And once you use the brush in the wax, you will not be able to use it again for any other purposes since the wax will harden.

You can buy beeswax over the internet or at craft and hobby stores. When purchasing for beeswax, it can be is sold in one or two pound blocks or in bags that contain small pellets.  It can be colored yellow which is natural or it can be white in color- meaning, it’s filtered. You can find beeswax online or at a number of craft and hobby stores.  Prices will vary but I usually pay around $11.00 for a 1lb block.

Try using this medium now for your mixed media art collage!

 

Finding your creativity through Mixed Media Art

There are many people who are told they are not artistic; that they “can’t draw”. Sometimes our own worst critic is ourselves. But regardless of our artistic abilities, many of us have an inner need to create. We want to turn paints and cardboard and canvases into works or artistic expression. We gather nice papers, shiny object that appeal to us and interesting bits and pieces, thinking that, maybe, one day, we will turn in into something interesting.

(c) Can Stock Photo

Mixed media art is a perfect way to begin to develop your artistic skills and start gathering supplies that will help you to express your creativity. With a few simple tools and materials, many of which you may already have around the house, you can begin to set aside time to paint and collage and draw, even art journal or use a variety of different mediums and techniques to nurture that inner creativity. For some, it is setting aside the time that is the hard part with getting started; for others it is well-meaning loved ones telling them they are “wasting” their time. The best way to begin discovering your inner artist is to set aside the criticism and just get started.

There are many places online where you can get tips on getting started in mixed media art. Here are a few to get you started:

• What is Mixed Media Art?
• How to make Mixed Media Art
• Finding your creativity through Mixed Media Art

So, walk away from the computer, gather up your supplies, set aside the time (even 20 minutes will be enough) and get messy!

Happy creating!

What Drives you Creating Wonderful Artworks?

We usually find fantastic works of art almost everywhere.  Some of them are with extraordinary styles with vivid colors and some are with dark tone or shade. Many of the artworks we see display beautiful places, spectacular concepts, and a beautifully created crafts. But what really drives these artists in making their masterpieces?

If you are going to look deeply in their creations, most of the artists designs portray or describes their daily experiences. Just like in painting, you will find a lot of painting showcasing scenery they have personally seen, a painting of lovely women they saw that they can’ t forget.

Another element artists use in creating fantastic creations is their inspirations. Some of them are inspired by their family; others are inspired by their friends. They create wonderful crafts because of their inspiration. If they are inspired they are more likely to create magnificent designs that turns on the attention of every individual who spots their work.

So with all the facts mentioned above, what drives an individual in creating wonderful arts and crafts are their experiences and their inspirations.

How about you, what drives you in creating your works of art?

Using Mod Podge for your Artworks

One of the many important materials you will need when creating your artwork is glue. Glues were patented during 1750, and the very first glue patent was issued in Great Britain. It was created from fish and during those times, patents were quickly issued for adhesives making use of animal bones, fish, milk protein or casein, starch and rubber.

Glues are really helpful when sticking things most especially for artworks since glue can stick different materials you have in completing your projects.

As time goes by, crafters have discovered a type of glue, not just a regular glue but an all-in-one glue. It can be used as a sealer or for finishing touches. It is called “Mod Podge”. Nowadays, most crafters use mod podge for their artworks since mod podge can be easily used and is less messy as compared to the regular glue that we use.

This type of glue is non-toxic and are water base making the mess easy to clean. This glue are famous when creating collage since it’s a good sealant and a varnish as well providing your artwork with a “shiny texture” that’s why they call it an all-in-one glue.

So if you want a clean finish for your crafts and an all-in-one glue, try using mod podge now!

Happy Crafting!

Mixed Media Art Using Rub-ons

Mixed media art is one of many art techniques which require the use of paint, surface, oil colours, board and stickers. A piece of mixed media art is always beautiful to look at as it describes a range of human activities.

A creation through imaginative and technical skills, mixed media art has a large number of followers all over the world. When the final creation is stylish, craft and trendy, the buyer will pay any price for it.

It may take the artist years to perfect his technique before he can start to make a name for himself. The profession demands dedication, devotion, love and concentration and the beginners may find it somewhat difficult.

There are several things a new artist can do to learn tricks of the trade. Visiting useful links online can equip an artist with the desired skills set. Watching mixed media arts tutorials is also another way of familiarising with the latest trends and techniques. For an artist, it is extremely important to ensure his idea is fresh as that is what the viewers will be attracted to.

Using rub-ons is also an excellent method to give a new look to a mixed media art product. Most of us have our drawers full of Rub-on as we are unsure of how and where to use them. These rub-ons can be bought online with ease and they are great for layering images.

What separates mixed media art from other techniques are the unexpected results you get from it. The best way to learn and perfect this art is by playing around with the tools and materials.

To be able to succeed in this work, the artist must think as a child or a mad scientist. If he can surprise himself in a good way, his finale creation is bound to be a good one.