mixed media

This turned out OK, but it had me worried for a while…

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Yesterday I wanted to paint a still life of the succulent my hubby bought me for mothers day, isn’t this plant lovely? Too bad its days are numbered. When you are an artist who struggles to keep plants alive you tend to paint them as soon as possible LOL!

Here is how the painting turned out. I put the original painting in my shop in case anyone is interested.

Now, sit back (or grab your paints!) and enjoy this longer-than-average tutorial! Do you like shorter or longer tutorials better?

Supplies (Affiliate links used)

Want more?

If you are interested in learning how to use watercolor crayons effectively on their own you might like my Watercolor Crayon Workshop. You will learn how to create eight beautiful paintings step by step while mastering watercolor crayons. Or, if you’d like more long-format mixed media tutorials like this as well as the opportunity to upload your work for feedback you will love Critique Club! for $5 a month you have access to over 80 real-time lessons in a variety of media (plus 2 new tutorials added every month!) as well as monthly creative prompts! Click the link above to learn more about either class! Thanks for painting with me today and til next time happy crafting!

I love artsy experimenting!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I was preparing some background samples for the Michaels online class I am teaching this Thursday and I decided to dry watercolor on black mat board that I primed with clear Liquitex Gesso. I didn’t know if the gesso would hold the watercolor but I was curious so I applied some Derwent pastel watercolors and Inktense pan paint to it and I loved the effect! You can use black watercolor paper as well but I know many of you have the black matboard and clear gesso from the plum project so I wanted to see if it would be compatible. I think it turned out great and the texture remains so adding colored pencil on top worked great!

I was so excited after making this background that I wanted to draw on it. I filmed the whole drawing process and narrated it in real-time so if you want you can draw with me!

Supplies & Resources (affiliate links used)

I think today’s tutorial is a great warm-up for the live online class on Thursday, May 19th at 8pm ET where we do a totally different technique to draw a different dragonfly and explore lots of time-saving background options. You can join me for this class by enrolling here. The cost is $20 and when you sign up you will be emailed a pattern to print on copy paper and have with you for class. Don’t transfer it before class because we are going to do something different but you want it printed and ready to go. You can see the supply list on the sign-up page but don’t worry if you do not have the exact products I am using, you can substitute for the pencils you like and the black paper you have. You will also be emailed a recording of the class so you can follow along again if you want. The focus of the class is ways to speed up your colored pencil process with special techniques and mixed media. If this sounds interesting I hope to see you there! Happy crafting!

Tripping over shoes…

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends, the other day I noted my daughter’s Converse in the middle of the floor. It’s not a rare sight in your house, sometimes we have more shoes than feet that live in the house on the living room floor. The way they were just sitting there, waiting for their owner gave me the “feels” and I thought it would make a good painting.

You can find a real-time version of this tutorial along with many others (80 in total) across a variety of media up now in Critique Club, as well as monthly creative prompts and the ability to upload your artwork for feedback from me. All this for $5 a month!

Supplies (Affiliate links used, feel free to substitute for what you have but I will list the exact things I used because I really like them)

The next time you see something unique to your season of life consider recording it in a painting. Happy crafting!

This was a hoot! (Bad pun but fun art!)

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I had an absolute blast painting this owl!

I hope you enjoy the real-time, edited tutorial and I hope you paint along!

Here’s what I used (affiliate links used)

If you liked this tutorial you might also enjoy my new Watercolor Crayon Workshop where we create 8 beautiful projects with Neocolor 2 (or similar) water-soluble crayons. You can save 50% on the class now through the end of April. *Use coupon code CRAYON50 if the discount doesn’t automatically appear **Regular price $79, with a discount $39.50 (before tax) ***Offer ends 5/1/22

That’s all for tonight! Happy crafting!

Magnificent Mixed Media Magnolias!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Today we are going to use up some of those papers in your scrap pile and make a fun mixed media painting! This project was created for Derwent as part of their educational lesson plans for middle and high school teachers. If you know someone, especially a young person, who loves art feel free to teach them these techniques. In case you don’t know I am always thrilled for you to teach others what I teach you here on the blog. Sharing is caring!

By the way, the 40% off sale in my Teachable school ends tomorrow. Use coupon code LUCKYYOU22 to save 40% on any stand-alone class. Stand-alone classes have lifetime access so you can buy now and paint later if you are busy now but want to grab the savings. *Click “add coupon code” and paste in LUCKYYOU22 during checkout to get your discount. Offer good through 3/22/22.

Now on to the show!

Materials: *Affiliate links used

  • Derwent Chromaflow Pencils set of 24 at Blick or Amazon
  • Thick watercolor paper or matboard at Blick or Amazon *I have not used this amazon brand but it looked like a convenient size and inexpensive pack to try. I use Crescent matboard scraps leftover from picture framing but I realize not everyone has those leftovers.
  • Black and white scrapbook paper or old book pages for collage
  • Derwent Inktense Blocks at Blick or Amazon
  • Derwent Waterbrushes Blick or Amazon
  • Plastic wrap or plastic bag
  • Heavy book
  • White Glue
  • Clear Gesso Blick or Amazon
  • Large brush for glue and gesso
  • Butterfly Ephemera (optional)
  • Derwent Metallic watercolor pan paints Blick or Amazon

Happy crafting!

Magical Mushrooms! Pan pastels and watercolor crayons

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I have been a bit obsessed lately with working on mat board scraps primed with clear gesso. It makes the most amazing surface for colored pencils, pastels, and even watercolor crayons! What’s more, is it is extremely cheap to make since I have lots of matboard scraps because I do my own custom framing. You can use the clear gesso over any art paper that is on the thick side if you don’t have mat board. You can even tone watercolor paper with watercolor or ink and add the clear gesso on top. It’s versatile!

If you would like a real-time version of this tutorial, along with 75 longer and more advanced tutorials than what I typically post to YouTube then you will love Critique Club! For $5 a month you get access to loads of art lessons (with 2 new ones added every month!) creative prompts and the ability to share your art for feedback from me. Click here to learn more or enroll today! Now, on to the timelapse!

Supplies (Affiliate links used)

I am a big fan of using what you have so if you don’t have PanPastels you can scribble the pastel on scrap paper and pick up the pigment with a sponge. You can use oil pastels or other gel crayons in place of the watercolor crayons I used. The results may be a bit different but you might as well try what you have first. Happy crafting!

Experimenting with new watersoluble media (and making mistakes and still going anyway!)

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I filmed this painting last week. I was going to post it while I was away in New York but realized it made more sense to post the project I was teaching in New York in case any of the people taking my class wanted more info on the project and to bring you in on the fun too. When I set out to paint I figured it would be a 20 minute, real-time one-take-wonder. Boy was I wrong! I decided to give myself a break and let the supplies show me what they could do instead of forcing them to obey the laws of traditional watercolor. When you try a new supply don’t expect perfection. Try not to expect anything and just let the media teach you!

I think we can get very precious with our supplies. Hey, nobody likes to waste. But the real waste is letting out precious supplies gather dust while preserved in pristine condition on the shelf. You bought them to use them right? Let’s do it!

Supplies (affiliate links used)

I hope this video helps you go easier on yourself when you are creating. Mistakes are how we learn. Go make some and til next time happy crafting!

From Blob to Bloom!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Today I am going to share a fun project that was experimental from start to finish!

I hope you embrace some artistic play today and try this! If you would like a real-time version of this lesson you can find it in Critique Club. Check out the player below for the timelapse full of tips!

Supplies (Affiliate links used)

I hope you have an inspired day and til next time happy crafting!

A NUtcracker in Mixed Media and a Giveaway!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I hope you are having a nice weekend. We just got back from my daughters’ holiday concert at their school. Since they are seniors it will be the last one and it was just wonderful to hear the kids sing and play. They are so talented and all of their hard work paid off! Before we get to today’s project I wanted to give you a heads up that I am teaming up with Derwent for their holiday giveaway over on Instagram. Check out my giveaway post with the picture of the amethyst in colored pencils and leave a comment on that Instagram post for a chance to win a Derwent Lightfast set of 72 pencils. I will pick a winner from Intagram comments on 12/14/21 at 6pm so you have till then to enter. Only comments left on that Instagram post will be entered in the drawing. Full rules are also on the giveaway post. Good luck to all that enter!

My video for today tho used another set of pencils by Derwent as well as markers and gouache. It was so much fun to create this artwork and I hope it inspires you to paint a favorite Christmas ornament or nick-knack you own. You can find a real-time version of this tutorial (along with 70 other in-depth art lessons) in Critique Club.

Supplies (affiliate links used)

That’s all for today! My mom took us all to dinner after the concert so I don’t even need to make supper so I am going to head down to my workshop and get some Christmas projects done! Enjoy the remainder of your Sunday and til next time happy crafting!