mixed media

The Making of a Mixed Media Painting

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Today I am going to show you how I made an atmospheric background on which I would later use other art media on top.

Check out the video, it’s real time and quick so if you have a spare 15 minutes you can give it a try!

Supplies Affilate Links Used

After the paper was dry I took my Arrtx Alp grey tone marker pack (because it has a great selection of warm and cool greys that are all logically numbered) and defined the tops of the buildings. I also decided to play with the sky a bit and use some soft pastels. Then I added some fine liners and pastel pencils to the front row of buildings.

At this point I was kind of afraid of messing it up but I thought it needed more so I sketched on some birds with pastel pencil and then went over them with a waterbrush filled with ink to make them blacker and crisper.

So what do you think? Do you like how I finished it off or should I have quit while I was ahead? I’m happy with it and it was a lot of fun! If you are looking for something fun and artsy to do next month why not join me for Paintsgiving on Sktchy! *This link includes a $5 discount when you add the class to your cart but if you don’t see it use coupon code: WeirichPG Regular price is $39.99, with discount $34.99. Offer good on Paintsgiving class. Happy crafting!

Mixed Media Parrot! Let’s layer up lots of supplies!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Today we are going to put Hahnemulhe Bamboo Mixed Media paper through it’s paces!

You might remember this bird from a watercolor tutorial I did a few years ago, it’s a longer on in case you prefer a slower approach in real time.

Supplies (affiliate links used)

That’s all for now! Happy crafting!

Substituting products on Mixed Media Paper!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Have you ever seen a tutorial that you would like to try only to find out that you don’t have the supplies the artist is using? I think we have all been there. Today I will show yuo how to get a very similar look with 3 different media so hopefully you can find a product that will suit your style or give you ideas on how to make what you have work better!

I also want to mention that this painting took nearly 4 hours so please don’t expect similar results in 30 minutes. I didn’t want to time lapse this so I had Jason edit it down but keep it real time so you could get a feel for the techniques better but I realize that might make you think it was drawing quicker than it was and I like to keep it real:) Often when someone isn’t happy with their art (especially colored pencil or marker) it’s because it’s not done yet. I hope this video inspires you!

Supplies (Affiliate links used)

Here is a closer look at the artwork:

Colored pencil with touches of white pen

Adding a base media can save time and give great results!

Watercolor base with colored pencils & white pen.

And my favorite…

Alcohol marker base with colored pencils and white pen.

Which one did you like best? Happy crafting!

Trying to repaint a painting from my sketchbook (and struggling)

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends, I had a lot of requests to paint this bee eater bird after I shared a painting I did on one from World Watercolor Month.

So I got out a sheet of fancy watercolor paper and even fancier paint and thought, this will be a piece of cake. Spoiler alert, it wasn’t. I decided to post this video in it’s entirety because we all have struggles in our art and seeing how other’s deal with them can be helpful. I hope you enjoy it.

Supplies: (Affiliate links used)

  • The Art Whale Watercolors that I used on the original bird in the sketchbook are back in stock if you wanted to snag them
  • I used M Graham in the video because these were unavailable. M Graham is a higher quality paint but the granulation in the Art Whale really brought my original to like I think. (yellow ochre, English red, viridian, ultramarine, pthalo blue)
  • Gouache
  • Prismacolor Pencils
  • Reference photo


SALE! Looking for stand alone workshops on a specific topic? I have one on painting birds! Check out my other courses and save 40% with coupon code FUN40 through the end of the month. *Stand alone courses priced $39-$79 include lifetime access so you can buy now and watch whenever. **Click add coupon at checkout and type in FUN40 in the coupon box to receive your discount. Offer good through 8/31/21

Happy crafting!

Clearly this painting is fantasy because the bottle still stands!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I was worried that my bottle was too small in this painting and it made my cat look huge but then several viewers on YouTube said that the only weird thing was that there was a bottle there at all because any cat would have knocked it down (and the pumpkin too!)

So true! This painting was a lot of fun to do. If you would like a real time narrated video of this you can find it in Critique Club but if you are not interested in watching and listening to me paint for over 2 hours you can catch the time lapse below:

Supplies (affilate links used)

That’s al for today! Happy crafting!

Let’s Use Up some Crafty Crap: Chipboard

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Do you have a stash of chipboard shapes from back in the day? Or maybe a stach of cereal boxes you have saved to make your own DIY chopboard shapes? Well, todayis the day we dig them out and put them to good use!

I have also been hearing of many people who have recently purchased their first gel printing plates so we will give that a workout too and create some really fun cards. This is a longer video so grab your supplies and craft along, or you can put this on as you do other things for a bit of company.

Supplies: (affiliate links used) *I have lined up to what I can find but I like to use old stamps that may no longer be available. Have fun and substitute with what you have!

Now I did whip up a few more cards with leftovers while I was at it that did not use the chipboard shapes. I think it is fun to make use of these extra doo-dads at the end of a crafting session. They are fun to mail out for a quick hello for no particular occasion. I hope something in this video inspired you and til next time happy crafting!

Oil Pastel Fun! Let’s Paint a Lily!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I love this time of year when I start to see bulbs pop out of the ground on my walks. The flowers will be blooming before you know it and one of my favorites are lilys.

The real-time tutorial is up now in Critique Club if you want to see this in real time or you can watch the sped up version below.

Supplies (affiliate links used)

Also, because I am super into to pastels of all types right now I am offering 50% off my Soft Pastel for Beginners Course! *Use coupon code APRILSHOWERS if the discount doesn’t appear. Offer good through 5/1/21 on one-time payment and payment plans.

What’s your favorite spring flower? Let me know in the comments below and til next time happy crafting!

Struggling through a painting…

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Today I am sharing a painting I struggled with. I’d been out of sorts all week and I found it hard to focus or even decide what to paint. As I worked through this painting there were many times I just wanted to toss it in the garbage and I probably would have if I didn’t need it for work. This brings me to the thought that there are several ways we can deal with a problematic painting. You can pitch it in the trash, you can set it aside to return to at a later date when your might has had a chance to forget the struggle (probably the best option but you may risk losing interest in the project) or you can do what I usually do which is to fight through and finish it. How do you deal with this?

The real time version of this tutorial is up in Critique Club if you want to see the struggle in real time and see how I solved the many issues that came up in this painting. You can also watch the time lapse below.

Supplies:

If you want to learn more about soft pastels I have a course: Soft Pastels for Beginners you might like and you can save 40% on that class, or any other class in my Teachable school by using the coupon code LOVE40 now through 2/20/21. The pastel class link above should contain the discount but if you don’t see it click “add coupon” at checkout and type in LOVE40 to get the Valentines sale price! Happy crafting!

Crafting with my fake ancestors! 2pm ET free craft along cardmaking workshop!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Finally after a week of tech problems we will have our live chat and craft-along today at 2pm eastern time. If you want to chat with me and other crafty friends live from 2pm-4pm ET today be sure to watch this on the YouTube watch page.

You can also watch the live premiere (on or after 2pm today) or replay in the player below:

Gather your supplies!

Here are photos of the finished cards and tags for your inspiration!

I just love projects like this and I hope you do too! I look forward to seeing you today in the live chat on YouTube if you can make it but don’t worry if you can’t, you can always watch the video later and ask questions or say hello in the comment’s below. If you like projects like this please chare it with a friend or by using one of the sharing buttons below and til next time happy crafting!