Artist Renee Mak

Here's to a very busy... colorful... productive week  in the studio.  Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!!! xoxo

Happy Paint Party Friday! and  Sneak Peak Friday! Painting by my daughter Monet! This week has been really busy but I'm thrilled to be taking part in the BLOOM TRUE workshop by artist Flora Bowley and would love to share my  progress with you! This week was all about letting go of all inhibitions and covering the canvas with paint! I learned two techniques... My first canvas is 36" x 36" and has warm colors mixed with water! I'm always amazed by how the paint flows... where is decides to go and where it avoids going! For the second technique I decided to tack primed canvas to the wall of my studio! I put on some music, a blind fold and painted with my hands . . . per Flora's instructions! Here's a short video clip (unedited!!!) This was really fun to do... like finger painting back in preschool!   I again chose to work with bright, warm colors and will probably have this canvas stretched before ...

Finished 6" x 6" Mixed Media Collage! Last Wednesday I taught my Mixed Media Collage workshop   for West Des Moines Community Education... I blogged about it here and promised to show you the final results ... Detail And here it is! I always begin a "sample" in each class but  rarely get to finish it there. I love this star! All of the pieces, including the star, are things I had  laying around the studio.  Things others may just through away in the trash! Heart detail This cute little heart is the back of a Starbucks coffee sleeve... of which I have an abundant supply! Textural edge One of  my favorite parts of mixed media is the process of building up the layers... especially when the texture shows up  afterwards like on this edge! Happy! When I look at this finished piece I feel all warm and fuzzy  inside because after it's done, I see the usual symbolism  that's almost alw...

Hooray... it's once again Friday and time to  meet up with happy painters from all over the world through Paint Party Friday ! Because I just finished up my sketchbook for The Sketchbook Project I'd like to share some of the bright pages I painted before I filled it in with my doodles! My theme was HOPE. I simply collaged works onto the dry pages. After that I added colored prints of my original artwork. I then doodles on the prints! I just let my mind go and doodled away! I like how it all came together... and will share more of the finished project soon! Have a fabulous day and happy painting!!! xoxo

Last night I had the opportunity to teach my  Trash to Treasure Mixed Media Collage class to some FABULOUS students! And while I didn't get many pictures, (because I'm still trying to figure out my new camera!!!) the pictures I got are great! A full class of mixed media "newbies" quickly understood the easy step by step process and when I asked them if they might create more at home, I got a unanimous "YES"! I was very excited to have a Starbucks fan in the crowd... she even brought her own Starbucks coffee sleeve to use in her piece!!! And several of the students brought really fabulous items to share, including Japanese wrapping paper and real scrabble tiles! Here's the sample I started for the class but have yet to finish... Class sample There will be a cute little house sitting in the valley under the star... with a Starbucks roof to top it off... I've posted the finished piece here ! Future c...

I'm please to announce that one more of my paintings has found a new home!   Detail This mixed media acrylic painting  measures 48" x 48" and now belongs to fellow artist Angela Meijer . Here are "detail shots" of some of my favorite parts! Below is a patch of heavy bodied acrylic... the red drips are fluid acrylics. I love to use stencils in my work, like the one below! This mark looks like it has wings... and sometimes there are hidden words! I know this painting has found a great home where it will be admired for years to come... thanks Angela, for helping me spread my artist wings and fly! xoxo

"Trash to Treasure Mixed Media Class" Here are some of the classes I'm currently teaching and where! Classes offered through West Des Moines Community Education:   LEARNwest Winter/Spring Catalog 2012 Trash to Treasure~ Mixed Media Canvas! Wednesday February 1, 2012 7:00-9:00pm Create a fabulous mixed media collage painting using acrylic  paint and recycled items like used gift wrap, bubble wrap,  and even a used coffee cup! This workshop includes  all the materials, easy step-by-step instructions, and you will leave with a finished piece of artwork ready to hang on the wall!  NEW!    Vintage Photo Pendant Necklace   Wednesday February 8, 2012 7:00-9:00pm Do you love the look of old photos and all things vintage?  Now you can learn how to turn vintage photos into fabulous pendant necklaces in this  easy to understand, step-by-step workshop...