Artist Renee Mak

As a mixed media artist, I LOVE stencils! I also love dots... you know, circles! Yesterday in the studio I decided to use some stencils I hadn't used in a while in building up my layers.  It started out pretty innocently... but ended up with a wild,  out of control, dots on everything party! A few dots here... a few dots there... pretty soon dots were everywhere! I loved my dot party!  And will definitely keep my  oldie but goodie dot stencil handy! I hope you get to paint today, and if you do... be inspired and add some dots! Happy painting! xoxo

I love to paint on rainy days... Something about a rainy day makes me want to paint.  I love how quiet the world seems as the rain falls... as if there's nothing to do but stay in and create on canvas. To communicate through color... and try new things with paint, crayon and stencils. To let thoughts and ideas flow out onto the canvas while hiding in plain sight. Using fabulous found objects, like a vintage doily, to create interest and  draw the viewer to look closer. And create small paintings within larger paintings... These are some of the reasons I love to paint, on rainy days or any days! What do you like most about painting... or rainy days... or both! {All photos above are taken from original, in progress mixed media paintings by artist Renee Mak and are protected by copyright 2011}

Upcycled Mailing Package How To: Who on your mailing list wouldn't want to get such a fabulously fussed up package?!? This how to is quick , easy and fun to do! Supplies: 1 used shipping box 1 fabulous stamp or stencil White paint or gesso Favorite color paint Matching glitter Paint brush First, paint the box/package white.  You can do one or two coats.  I only use one so that the former life of the  box shows just a little. Sometimes, while the white paint is still wet, I draw into it with the end of my brush.  I create hearts, flowers, swirls or anything else I feel like drawing.  You can see a little of that  in the top photo. After that dries, I take one of my favorite paint colors and stamp or stencil away! In this case I used Cobalt Teal and a stencil.  I don't worry about how neat it looks... as you can see by the paint bottle, I'm a messy painter! After I lift off the stencil, I lay a paper towel down over the work and then lift it up ag...