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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Book Giveaway


Hey, don't you love a blog giveaway? I know I do. This time the yummy prize is Mary Beth Shaw's new book (which I am featured in) titled, Flavor for Mixed Media. I sat down a few days ago and read the book from cover to cover and the instructions and recipes really got me inspired.


One of my favorite recipes was submitted by Misty Mawn. Vegetarian Reuben Sandwiches - wow. She made them for us last year and they are incredibly delicious. The book includes step by step instructions for many great mixed media projects, recipes from all the artists and features some new products that I am itching to try.


One of the products is wood icing which is shown above. Here I'm comparing it to joint compound. I don't have a definitive decision on which product I like better as there are so many different joint compound formulations on the market and so far I've only tried this one. But I do know I love wood icing. Stay tuned for more experiments.


To enter this giveaway all you have to do is leave a comment saying what your favorite flavor of mixed media is. For example, I love the painting part. And the glueing part. And the looking at it later part. Just a simple sentence or two. The drawing closes at 8pm Pacific Standard Time on Sunday so that will give everyone time to comment.

Mary Beth is preparing a sister post to this on her blog today so be sure to stop in over there as well. She will be mailing out the book to you so you can thank her while you're there. :-D


Meanwhile a lot is going on over here. Sometimes I get confused with so many choices.


I've been writing and pasting of course. Slopping the paint around and thinking noble thoughts.


I've started a new plaster book using a lace tablecloth as the page substrate. I leave the lace between the pages unplastered so the signatures will bend for stitching.


Here are some of the pages laid out to harden.


Back to the studio now. There are messes to be made and things to stare at. 

And talk to me. Tell me what you love that's waiting for you in your studio. And then go and make something!

PS. Eek! I forgot 2 things. First off, sister Mary Beth is giving away a beautiful piece of her art on her blog too so you have a chance to win that along with the book. Holy cow, how did I miss that when I wrote this post? It is a gorgeous piece; go look and see!

Secondly, we'll be drawing the winning name on April 4th when we get together. So wow, what fun. Big happy smiles over here. xo

131 comments:

Lelainia N. Lloyd said...

My favourite part is the sifting through paper part to choose the bits that amuse me in that moment. And also the part where I hit the sweet spot and the whole thing comes together perfect and effortlessly.

(My artistic magic power lies in collage.)

Unknown said...

I love it all. Just being creative, putting everything together.

Rita A. said...

I think I would have to saw the foraging. Looking around for the inspiration, the papers, the colors, the paints, the pencils, and then bringing them all together in a "finished" page.

Deb's Artful Journey said...

My favorite part is making a mess part! :D Painting and tearing apart pieces and putting it all together again but not knowing where it will lead.

Nolwenn said...

Hello !

This book looks awesome. I discovered Maru-Beth a few days ago and fell in love ;)

My favourite flavour in Mixed Media is the painting part. And when the WOW moment happens, when I realize where the piece is going and how I like it.

Thanks for the giveaway

Desert Mermaid said...

I love the GETTING TO THE JOURNALING (writing) part ... total pen/word addict, me. Second to that, I love finding just the right image for a background ...

Margriet said...

The book looks wonderful!!!
I love the feel of paint on my hands.....letting my feelings guide me in what to do..the feeling of creating something..no matter if it is beautiful or not!

druga szesnaście said...

I love the moment when I lose the track of time and stop noticing the reality around me. there's just me & my collage.

and also having my hands dirty with paint. :)
wow, such a great question to ponder.

druga szesnaście said...

I'm sorry, I forgot my url. nobody likes anonymous strangers. ;)

Dale Anne Potter said...

WOW! Looks like a FABULOUS book.
I LOVE all parts of ART, the sketching, the foraging thru papers, the painting, the sewing, the stitching.....I LOVE it all!

Ruth Armitage said...

ooooh.... tough question! My favorite part of mixed media is the freedom part.... freedom from rules. I get to experiment, use anything that comes to mind, play!

Waiting in my studio is a huge door that I need to get finished painting on. I love working so large!

Anonymous said...

Well, from what i spend the most time doing .. .it is gathering inspiration from blog land! LOL, but playing with my new airbrush system ranks pretty high on my list right now! and making my own stencils

Jo Reimer said...

How could I begin to choose my favorite part when I love it all... painting papers, tearing, building, gesso, drawing? It's all good.

Sharon Lovejoy said...

My dear Judy,

I love layers of paint and gorgeous paper collaged on. I love the feel of all my art work, the tools and paints touch my heart–and the comfort I feel when creating puts life into perspective.

All joys,

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

A'n'G Johnson said...

I love ripping and tearing images out of magazines. when I'm stressed with school/internship/life it is my favorite destressing activity. Then when I'm calmer I get to look at everything I tore out and put images together. It feels so healing!

Lynn Cohen said...

My latest works are full of hand sewn and hand embroidered parts and glued beads, both of which I enjoyed emenencely! It just feels good to sew by hand. Would love to win a book with your wonderful work in it Judy!!! Thanks for the chance!!

I love love love seeing your delicious journal pages here too. Always do.

Clare Wassermann said...

My two favourite parts are that there is no right or wrong way there is just the way, the pilgrimage, no intention of the destination, the journey for the journey's sake. Then there is the looking back and feeling of gratitude towards my existance.

Dawn E. Shepherd Nguyen said...

Hi Judy,
Thank you and Mary Beth for the give-away :)
My favorite flavor of mixed-media is definitely laying down color - paint, ink, walnut inks, stains - you name it - I love it.
You know what I love that is waiting for me in my studio? my inner artist-my true self...my studio is a place where I feel no limitations and the slump of everyday life is left on the other side of my studio door. Bliss.

Thank you darling Judy!
Dawn

chick-er-doodles said...

my fave part in mixed media is: You don't have to be precise, or "correct" and you can mix in the terrible along with the good.

Teddi said...

i love painting! however i have a red riding hood ATC i need to make like 5 hrs. ok 5 days ago. ;)

shelley in big sky said...

hmmm...my fravorite flavor is...putting found objects together to look like something...sometimes in the form of jewelry, wall piece or wait and see what it turns out to be...but what i really love is learning new ways of mix media that i haven't tried yet...oh yeh...i really like the looking part too...happy trails

Unknown said...

Gesso...with layers of color on top. Gesso dry brushed! Gesso stenciled... Some people like cheese, I like gesso :)
Marissa

con-tain-it said...

So hard to choose which part I like the best...but I must so it would be the collage part where you find the bits of paper and text and from there I'm inspired to find the colors and shapes for the rest. THANKS for a fantastic giveaway and can't wait to see this new book. Fondly, Roberta
rlphilbr13@aol.com

Unknown said...

Ooh, this book looks FAB!! TODAY... my favorite part of mixed media is when I have the collage glued down then painting all over it and revealing sweet serendipitous spots throughout! THEN, drawing my dreams just in the right place. TOMORROW...who knows.

Anita said...

I love to paste...

iHanna said...

It looks like a very inspiring book indeed! My favorite ingredient is the paper scraps, little little bits floating around on my desk that sometimes when combined feels like magic.

Take care Judy!

Regina said...

My favorite part is definitely the painting and bringing a piece to life.

:)

lilotte said...

I like it when it's just started : a nice background and just a drawing.

Ro Bruhn said...

Thanks Judy for giving us the chance to win what looks like a fabulous book. I love the whole process of creating and try to make each step a challenge.

Sharyn said...

My very favorite part or art making is rumaging around in all my art "stuff" to get the right bits and pieces to stick on the page. Oh yes, and the perfect picture/image that is exactly what the art piece needs.

Geri Lynn said...

My favorite flavor is the color, color, color!! Nothing gets me going like color - LOL Mixed media painting for me is like therapy...a necessity for my mental health.

Thanks for the give away...and very glad I found your blog through Mary Beth. I pre-ordered your book already on Amazon. Geri Lynn

Ali said...

I love the anticipation of getting to create, the playing with all different media, colours and texture, the zen like state of the creative process and then running my hands over the finished product when I return for a visit at a later date. Thank you for the opportunity to win the book.

Cheryl said...

My favourite part of all is writing about my day, on top of the paint and collaged paper bits on the page.

Trace Willans said...

I love seeing new techniques and figuring out how I can adapt them to a completely natural material.

Dreamcicle Journeys said...

Muchas gracias, Judy, for the book giveaway. It's hard for me to choose which media I like best. My favorites are drawing, collage and paint with some sewing thrown into the mix.

Anonymous said...

NO RULES!!!!...that is my fav part.thanks for the giveaway!
kindest regards,Missy from the bayou

Dotti said...

I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite...if truth be told, I can't consider a project finished until my hands and fingernails are stained or sploched with something!

Anonymous said...

My favority part is gluing bits down, the colloging part. Jane

Emma said...

I love the smell of my studio & that everything in it is collected by me & that gives me the freedom to be creative.

Kim Mailhot said...

My favorite part is the painting, and then putting the black india ink linework on top of the paint with my dip pen. And then adding white linework too.
My favorite part is also how everything goes. Play time is fine time. Even better when it can be with you, Judy.
I am working small right now - making postcards for IHanna's postcard swap and loving the kind of instant gratification that comes from sitting down with a 4X6 piece of watercolor paper and in an hour or so, having a little complete work of art to send off to someone with love.
So loving that Mary Beth will be going to help you with your camp ! Enjoy, Lovely Ones !
Big Love !

Mary C. Nasser said...

My favorite has been learning to use wood icing and stencils, carving and layering! I've also loved incorporating text into my work...and of course, wax! Woo-hoo!

~Mary

Martha said...

I love the painting part as well. I've always enjoyed having a paint brush in my hand and paint all over me.

Debbie said...

I love painting and stamping the most. Thanks for a chance at a great giveaway!

Unknown said...

Oh this book looks fabulous! I love seeing the progression of a piece and taking photos all along the way of how it changes from start to finish. I love it all!
Hugs to you,
Jenny :)

Janine said...

I love all of it! Can't say I have a favorite but maybe watercolors. I have been playing with watercolors. Oh and oil pastels, pencil. I love gesso! I am looking forward to yours and Stephanies' book this June so by then I might have another favorite!

Kimber said...

My fav part is the colors - the paints and papers for the background on a journal page and how they all come together for a wonderful page.
Thanks for hosting the giveaway!

Cheryl Connell said...

Hey Judy - hope all is well. My best part is all the gathering and hunting.

Thanks for the chance!

Cheryl

Karen said...

oooh i love this. thank you for the opportunity Judy!!!

Catherine Denton said...

Sign me up!!! My favorite thing in my studio right now is a child's spiral doodle-y thing. I'm a bit mesmerized by it.
My Blog

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Carla (Color Heals Me) said...

My favorite part is painting. I love color. I like choosing which colors I want to use and putting them down on the paper.

Patricia said...

My favorite part is the collection of found paper. It keeps the planning and experimenting alive in my mind. I like ruminating the options, mulling over the visuals... it's all good!

Judi D. said...

OMG, LOVE the lace tablecloth! What a great idea!

My favorite moment is when I look at a page and KNOW it is "done". It just all comes together in such a satisfying way. Of course, a lot of pages never get to that point :-(

AnnaB said...

I totally love the painting and adding texture part! I would love to win this book! Thank you!

Šolanje na domu-Waldorf said...

This is so exciting! Thanks for the giveaway. :) My favorite part is collaging and painting the faces. It's something to do with giving my girls personality, i guess. :)

sam brightwell said...

I love the building up part - using molding paste, and getting it into something that starts to resemble 3D. Then the painting part. So much fun.

Anonymous said...

I am really loving paints and inks right now! I need to reorganize my workspace! The book looks amaizng!!!

tami said...

Judy - so hard to pick a favorite part! The sorting to find items, the painting, definitely! The glueing? Not so much!

Tita Mama said...

I love mixed media--all of it. But my favorite is the ecstatic moment something clicks, ignites, and sends me off to "that" place--I don't know where it is--but it's like flying or floating. I'm unable to put it to words, but perhaps you can understand what I mean.

Anonymous said...

I love the texture of mixed media, the depth of the story.

mary said...

I love collecting ephemeras and just looking at it.

Jonna said...

The painting part. always my fav.

C. Robin Janning said...

This looks like a fabulously inspiring book.

Donna Heart said...

Serendipity! - I love happy mistakes, I love surprises that appear that were unplanned and I love the feel of texture as I run my hands over a finished product - it always grounds me :)

Amanda St.Clair said...

I love having a large selection to choose from when i sit down to create because choosing what items to add is my favorite!

Lee Ann said...

I am just getting into mixed media arts. I have loved it for years and have decided to give it a try! So I am a newbie. I am up for trying many flavors!

Gigi said...

I love to randomly grab and cut out some images/clip art/photos,etc. and paste them in my art journal. Then see what else emerges spontaneously.

Anonymous said...

I love the colors part. The paint, pencils, crayons part.
It seems its always a bit of a suprise!
Hugs,
Dee

Unknown said...

very nice post, love the writting

Chris said...

My favorite part of creating is when I start working and then an idea takes over..."what if I do this", "what if I add that". I love it when what your working on takes on a life of its own. Thanks for hosting!

AJ said...

It sounds silly but my favorite medium is pen and ink. Symbols and metaphors are wonderful, but the writing is all important.

Lindart said...

What do I love in my studio? Everything!! Stamps, paper, paint, ink, new things, old things, I love it all! It's my favorite place on the planet!These days I'm loving my journal. Every page I make I fall in love with. Then the next one happens and I fall in love again!

susan in seattle said...

I love the layering up with papers, stains, paints etc and then taking layers away in places to make the whole thing look ancient. The book looks really fun! Thanks for the chance!

somepinkflowers said...

oh my goodness
i am trying to type here
with soft gel (matte)fingers...


and
you have 73 comment already!

well who can say
where luck will land
BUT
i did pop over to sign up
for your on-line workshop

so yes
yes
yes
i am already a winner.

:-)

now--> my fav part
of mixed-up media
would be when 2 or 3 things are Done
and then i sit back
and let the Bit tell me
what it wants next...


yes
you know THAT part!

""tell me what U want 2 B,
my little canvas*baby,
when you grow up...""

:-)

and then
i lean in
to
listen...

Vegan Chubosaurus said...

I love the gluing, too! I once joked to my family that my artistic profile would consist solely of "I like to glue things to other things." :) I love stamping & stencilling too.

Lorelei said...

I love it all. I try to prep alot of pages in one sitting so I can move on to the journaling and embellishing. Once I start my journals, I seem to get ideas through my dreams. Does that happen to you?

marilyn said...

My favorite part of mixed media is soaking it all in. And getting messy. And learning new techniques from fabulous artists, and.....thanks for asking AND for the offering.

Cindy H said...

My favorite part has to be the painting and stamping and stenciling and inking and spraying! I guess that's more than one! I like all the parts that have to do with laying down colors.

Marit said...

My favourite part is the writing. My work can't do without alphas somewhere... I just love to draw/stamp/glue letters. The shape of them, mmmm!!!! Thanks for the opportunity to win the book, I've never heard of 'wood icing' and I'm sure there's more yummie new techniques in it!

LizzieLynn said...

I would have to say my favorite is the gathering--I come from a long line of pack rats, so sometimes all it takes is a trip to my mother's attic. My other favorite is the oops/wow moments when you think you've ruined a piece, only to discover you've created something different and wonderful.

doreen said...

It's hard to pick a favorite part...it's all so much fun! I guess if I had to pick I'd say painting...I love all the colors! Speaking of loving colors...the blue on your pallet is heart shaped!

Anonymous said...

I'm just beginning in the mixed media art. My fav part right now is the painting, especially using different tools like credit cards! Even gessoing is fun :)

Carin said...

My favorite part is using a regular old pencil and eraser. I love the planing and revising and moving things around till I find that magic combination.

Michele R. Unger said...

Being messy....that's always my favorite part! Always!

Lorrie Grainger Abdo said...

This book is a winner as I've already looked through it (but don't have it in my library yet.

I'm a handmade paper artist and love when the heavily textured paper is covered with lots of paint and the colors bring out the texture even more. Playing with paint and paper is a recipe for fun!

Lorrie Abdo

Patt Scrivener said...

I love the experimenting and the happy accidents, the sense of adventure and the process of getting from here to there without a map.

Vicki Miller said...

My favourite part is experimenting and exploring

Editor said...

Starting with just a layer of gesso can be so peaceful. But the best part is when the page is coming together and I only need to add the last touches. A very precious moment!

J said...

I just love the part of adding & changing, the end result usually is very different from what I started out to do at the beginning. :)

Jan's Art and Musings said...

Judy, the recipe for happiness is paper ... paint ... fabric ... glitter ... getting hands messy ... a messy work space ... not knowing where i'm going ... but being happy to be on the journey. BTW, I love how the "Picasso" page turned out.

amber heagerty said...

My favorite part is not having to pick a favorite part...that's what I love about mixed media...I get to work in so many different art mediums :)
BTW Judy I love your idea of working with a lace tablecloth substrate..!

Melinda in Seattle said...

I left a comment on facebook...but will repeat it here...just to be official. I love mixed media - the discovery and fun and taking a little bit of this and a little bit of that and making something wonderful. And I love that cat hair in the glue looks purposeful!

Looking forward to the online workshop - I've ordered a huge new kitchen window so I will have proper ventilation!

Karen said...

My favorite part is finding the time to be alone with my muse and letting her run wild!

Anonymous said...

My favorite thing about mixed-media is the mess and all the different media I get to play with to make that mess! Messy fingers, weeee!

AnnK said...

My favorite flavor is COLOR. And my favorite way of achieving the magic of color is through oozy, smeary, luscious paint. Layers of it, scrapings of it, drips of it. Good enough to eat...

Francesca Di Leo said...

love the hunting and gathering of things i'll be using, and then the glueing and then the painting, and oohh the waiting for all to dry and add the details.. basically, every single little part is my favorite! lol..

Parabolic Muse said...

Okay, how much would I love to win this? A million gazillion times, that's how much.

WHAT a substrate!!

Anyway, my favorite media are paints and gel medium. I like glopping that gel medium on and sitting around waiting for it to dry and while I'm waiting I eat pizza. Then, when it's dry, I paint all over it and feel sad to see it go. It's all bumpy, then.

I could go into more excrutiating detail, but the pizza's here.

that journal page spread is too wonderful.

Peggy said...

My favorite flavor is half paper half fabric

Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith said...

My favorite part of working in a mixed media format is when you have that magic "aha!" moment of finding new things that go together. Materials, colors, what have you.

Christina Carnoy said...

My favorite part is painting backgrounds

Christine Merritt said...

I love mixing the mixed media... finding a scrap of fabric from one project, grabbing some little ceramic pieces in a similar hue, oh there is some old sheet music in the bottom drawer... oh wait where did these tags come from.... then my stomach growls and oh my it's been six hours and look at what a lovely piece I've created...

the answer all of it beginning to end..

huntla1 said...

I love to compose the collage. Picking the pieces and then laying them out different ways until it is pleasing to my eye. Thanks for the opportunity, the book looks really interesting.

Dianne said...

The AHA moment is my favourite. You know, the times when nothing is going right, the page looks like it should be torn out and then the next thing you do just makes it turn into a favourite piece. But darn, I forget how I got it to THAT moment.

tgarrett said...

My favorite part is looking the old family photographs and related ephemera- thinking about what their lives were like.

Irene said...

I love the excitement of trying a new technique with new supplies or using materials in a new way. I cannot wait to see the results and then adding my own version of the process.

Laura said...

Perfect pairing of expressions. I see food I want to photograph and paint and I find myself describing art and techniques as yummy! Don't worry, if I don't win I am so buying this book.

Michelle Remy said...

My favorite things waiting for me in my studio are my journals...I never have enough time to spend with them! Thank you for the opportunity to win this book...it looks delicious!

Jacky said...

Ooops...forgot to put what my favourite part is.
I love sploshing around paint, gesso and then finding images or drawings that reflect how I feel that day.

Jacky xox

tess stieben said...

Flavour, mmm, lessening of pain, diversion from it is a definitely a flavourful moment or two for me when I create. Big Hugs!

Kym said...

I think my favorite part is being surprised how the page turns out. Just how it evolves into something I had not planned on in the first place.

Carol Sloan said...

I love researching a new topic that interests me. Then it would be the crazy mess that I make in my studio when I really hit my stride while collaging...pages flying, scraps flinging, maps soaring...you get the picture, don't cha?

Emma said...

cardboard is my favorite thing to play with. It's free and it let's me transform it in so many lovely ways. Cardboard is my friend.

Aimeslee Winans said...

Hi. Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win your book. My favorite part of the process is if/when I'm lucky enough to no longer be in charge when the magic happens. No over-analyzing, no worries, no stress, just making art. Love it! xoxo, aimeslee

aimeslee at gmail dot com

Tara Finlay said...

My favorite part is when I look at the finished product with awe and wonder and say, "I MADE this? Yeah! I made this. Wow."

Risa said...

Thank you for the "get to the studio and do what you love" prompt. Needed that today. I love painting, thinking about and creating images that inspire me. And seeing it all come together.

Kathryn Zbrzezny said...

I love getting my fingers all messy, playing in layers of paint and gel and gesso and discovering that a mistake, taught me the most. I would absolutely love to win this book. I must have it, one way or another! Thanks so much for this and for the inspiration. ~kath

Minnie said...

Photos are my favorite starting point, always inspired by iPhone apps that have brought about 100 cameras into my life on a little phone. Then translating to a painting photo transfer, photo paint over, or etching into metal. Endless possibilities.

Deb Léger said...

My favourite part is using my hands to create. It doesn't matter what, just as long as I'm using my hands and creating. It gives me a feeling of all's right in the world. I also love the feeling of not having a plan, just thinking - what if I add this here? That book looks awesome!

femminismo said...

Gluing things down - bits of this and that - and then seeing the one part that was the whole reason of the piece and bringing it out. I adore the painting too. Stamping. Incorporating bits of trash. It's all good.

little wren said...

my favourite part of mixed media is whenever i can encorporate beeswax. it makes any piece really feel alive. the smell of the wax, the texture, the glow...the way you can almost hear the bees dancing among the flowers while you create. to me, it's magic!

you're an inspiration judy! thank you!

shauna said...

I love the deep connection to Spirit when I'm in the "creative zone". No matter what media I'm using when that connection is there everything comes together in just the perfect way.

Hollie Haradon said...

I love the painting part. I love watching how colors mix and meld together. So organic and beautiful. It's magic to me.

Anonymous said...

Just knowing that there really isn't any right or wrong way to create mixed media. Its just about me jumping in and having a great time with paint,paper,ink,fabric,etc!

Denise
ernestsmart@hotmail.com

Pamela Jane said...

Definitely love the painting part, and then the layering and gluing and ... well, whatever part may come next! And then I love it when it's beautiful and I can start again.

Suzanne said...

I think I love the not-knowing what the finished piece will be... how you start with nothing adn from somewhere an idea comes, an inspiration... and when it all comes together in something you really like, I never fail to be suprised by that. hmm... didn't really know that until just now. Would love to own this book! Hope I get picked!

celeste said...

My favourite part is collecting and drawing.

Midwestie Lady - Linda said...

My favorite part is finding the exact piece of paper or lace or little piece of metal that fits perfectly and livens up the entire piece! Thanks for such a wonderful giveaway!

apinkdreamer said...

great givaway! please count me in!!!

Carol said...

What I love about my studio is that it is MY space. A place where I can go and create and just set and stare if I want to.

pulverschwein said...

OH! Heck! I was out of town! So bummed I missed out on this!
If I won I was going to gift it to my dear neighbor who introduced me to encaustic.....and hope she would share!

My favorite part is finding items and plotting how they will enhance one another along with the other things I have gathered, but I really LOVE cutting too, with scissors, with knives, withtable edges.....

lynda Howells said...

Wow what a giveaway. I have seen bits of this book and it looks amazing and l would love to read it. i really enjoy learning new tecquines and seeing other people's work. As usual love your blog Judyxxlynda