Artist Renee Mak

Even though it's already August, my brightly colored  garden is still in full bloom!   The flowers just keep coming and coming... as do the bright colors. This time I've added pages from a vintage book and allowed some of the doodled flower shapes to show in the final piece. It measures 20" x 20" and can be viewed at Fuss It Up! Designs in Valley Junction. I've also completed 4 little mixed media flower canvases which is being made into a fun tutorial! Happy painting... xoxo

This past weekend I taught my  Fabulous Key Pendant Necklace with Vintage Jewelry! class at the studio.  I love teaching mixed media classes and always create right along with my students.  Here's the  pendant I created this weekend. I've been thinking a lot about dreams lately,  as in dreaming BIG, and so I chose the key that says "DREAMS" on it. Although vintage keys are great to use, I really like using the Tim Holtz keys from Archivers ! The keys have words engraved on them and come in a pack with several different shapes and sizes to choose from. I find my jewels at flea markets and thrift stores but you could also use vintage family jewelry and create fabulous keepsakes with sentimental value! The supplies for this  fabulous creation are simple... a key Mod Podge glitter E6000   vintage jewelry and a chain! And here's the simple skinny... (instructions) 1. Use the Mod Podge to adhere glitter to the key; allow to dry. 2.  Use E6000 to adhe...

Today I'm working on getting some more cards wrapped up and delivered to my stores! I love taking detailed photos of parts of my original mixed media artwork, getting prints made and making them into cards!  (Go here for a short tutorial!) This process is called "leveraging" your art!  I've been doing it for quite some time but several artists teach classes on all the different ways you can make money with your designs! Always sign and copyright each card... and include your contact information!  I have more  artwork on my business card so I stick one of those in the package as well. Because Valentine's Day is oh so close, I chose some  of my heart designs for this batch!   Cards are a big seller for me... what are some ways you leverage your artwork? I'd love to know!!! Have a creative day... xoxo

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...

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...

Doodles... Week Two! The second week of Traci Bautista 's Doodles Unleashed Workshop is called Spontaneous Watercolor Backgrounds ! I love this exercise! I got to randomly spread color around and then  "find the doodle" in the color! I made this simple foam stamp and added green to  my yellow and orange background. Next I used silk flowers as stencils and continued  to build up my layers. "Finding the doodle" is the most fun... Layer by layer... Color by color... And mark by mark! Now to add additional marks, letterforms and any final details until I think it's done! Stay tuned for the finished piece... and if you still haven't signed up for this FREE workshop... WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! It's just soooo much fun I want to share. xoxo

Hoola Hoop Rug! Fabulous Idea... I found this idea while on Pinterest today  and LOVE it!  Although I no longer have a  hoola hoop and already recycle  my t-shirts (with paint!)... I certainly want to make a cute little  t-shirt rug for Betty Boop!  I know she'd  like it! Hope you enjoy this... it's originally from                 Disney's FamilyFun.com. Hoola Hoop Rug by  Nicole Blasenak Shapiro           Rated by 137 members What does it take to transform a pile of old T-shirts into spectacular works of woven art? Just a spare hula hoop or embroidery hoop and the techniques we'll show you here. The oversize looms and easy-to-use loops of T-shirt fabric make these projects particularly appealing to beginning weavers. Learn the basic hoop weaving technique by crafting a colorful accent rug to brighten up a room. And if you want to take the weaving a little further, check...