DecoArt Media: My Top 5 Favorite Products

Mixed media is something that I have been really interested in since doing my sculpting course in University. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, we didn't have kilns or the ability to torch or fire anything, so we had to resort to using unconventional sculpting materials such as styrofoam, concrete and even cardboard.

Decoart recently came out with an artist grade Mixed Media line, so when the opportunity came up for me to test out some of the products, I jumped at the chance. Here are my top 5 favorite products from the Mixed Media line.

Texture Sand Paste and Modelling Paste

What I love most about these products is that they are buildable, yet really lightweight.

In the past when I have painted with plaster on wood, I loved being able to build out the texture and make a truly three dimensional piece of art. However, plaster breaks and the piece becomes incredibly fragile. With the Mixed Media products, I can get that same effect with both the modelling paste and the texture sand paste.

The Texture Sand Paste gives a really great fine sand effect to your piece. If you are working on adding any beach themed home decor pieces, this product would be a great addition to give dimension, depth and texture. I really liked pairing it with the Liquid Glass, for an unexpected texture pairing to give balance and also to ensure that the focus is on the gritty sand texture.

The Modelling Paste is really amazing. By using a palette knife, I was able to layer it on smooth in some areas, and thick in others to play with the different textures. While the Texture Sand Paste is gritty, the Modelling Paste is really smooth.

Crackle Paste

Similar to the texture sand and modelling pastes, the Crackle Paste goes on with a palette knife and provides thin or deep cracks, depending on how thick you put in on over your surface. I was curious as to what it would do over a medium like the Modelling Paste and was really pleased with the results. Sometimes mediums will resist one another, but that was not the case here!

Misters

I really wasn't expecting to like the misters as much as I do. With vibrant, yet transparent, color options, you can spray as little or as much as you would like. I chose to add carbon black over top of my crackle paste, to give a bit more dimension into the foreground of my abstract pieces.

Liquid Glass

I was so excited to test out the Liquid Glass. This product comes in a squeezable bottle with a very fine tip, so you can make the perfect little glass bubbles on your piece. What's even better is that those tiny glass bubbles dry three dimensionally, which makes for yet another layer of texture!

 
The results on all three pieces were fantastic, and I really love the black and white pairings, along with the layers of  texture. I definitely will be adding more one of a kind textured pieces like these to my Etsy shop, and think that they would look fantastic mounted on glass.

Disclaimer: I was provided the Mixed Media line by DecoArt for the purposes of this post. All opinions expressed are my own!

My First Piece of Art...

I put it out there to the twitterverse a few weeks ago that I would be happy to answer any and all questions from you about me, or my art.

@apnuttmama wrote "What was the first piece of art you ever created."

Oh gosh...that would probably go back to grade 3 to a drawing of a dolphin underwater in the days that I wanted to be a marine biologist.

Since I don't have a photo of that masterpiece, I thought that I would post the first piece that I created that has a whole lot of meaning behind it - my Dad's favourite.

The Gates - 2004

It was the first piece {in a series of four} that I painted on wood, using drywall plaster first to build up the surface to make it three dimensional. I absolutely loved the technique, and when my Dad saw it for the first time, he said that he saw fireworks.

It made me really proud, and it's continued to be a piece that I hang on my wall with pride...only now we don't seem to have a wall for it anymore. I'd love for it to find a new home...but it's pretty big {about 24"x30"} so I'm not sure what the future holds for this red blazing beauty.

Mompreneur Monday: Baily Belle

I had the pleasure a few weeks ago connecting with Vanessa from BailyBelle on Twitter. The lovely Daisy from Pixel&Hank connected us, as we were gushing about crying over Pampers commercials, silly mommy moments and wondering if our hormones would ever be the same again (quick answer: no).

Well!! Vanessa and I quickly started chatting, I looked up her Etsy shop and I'm now the proud owner of this beauty.

Have you ever seen something so unique and beautiful?? I haven't, which is why I snatched it up and got it for my Christmas stocking!!

I wanted Vanessa to be my first Mompreneur featured in 2012 because her vision and creativity just shines in everything that she touches. Truly and simply, she is an artist.

What do you do?

I design and create handmade accessories ranging in materials from fabric, paper, metal and leather. I work in an eclectic manner producing sophisticated and playful pieces for you to enjoy! I run 3 Etsy shops (bailybelle, SoMichelle vintage and The Train Case supplies) with the main shop being bailybelle all while raising my 2 wonderful kids with my amazing husband Lucas.

How do you maximize your time as a busy mom running a business?

Ah the question worth a million dollars! Thankfully I have a great support system of family who help me out a ton, without them I'd be lost. I tend to create when the kids are sleeping or busy playing (my studio is situated so I face our living room and can keep an eye on them).

What do you see as your greatest challenge being a MOMpreneur?

My greatest challenge would have to be balancing my kids education and my work on a daily basis. My kids are small now but my son will be starting kindergarten next fall and as a homeschooling mother things will get tricky! I plan on making a lot of schedules and disciplining myself to stay on task to get everything done.

What advice do you have for other moms looking to start a business?

Take it slow! In the past I had a tendency to jump into things and then realize I was over my head. It's best to take baby steps and learn as much as you can as you grow so you create a balanced business.

Is there anything additional you'd like to share with my readers?

I do have an announcement to make! Yippee!! One of my pieces (my chalkboard necklace) is featured in the January issue of Sacramento Parent magazine! How fun is that and appropriate for your blog?! I will be receiving a copy of the magazine when it's out so I hope to be able to share photos on twitter/facebook and my blog!

I would like to offer a 10% off code to your readers as well so have them enter code SWEETNESS at checkout for 10% off any purchase in January!

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