My Experiments with the Mastering Mixed Media Expo 2025

 On May 1st, I decided to participate in a wonderful free 2 week art experience with a whole bunch of awesome artists teaching their techniques and ideas. It was called Mastering Mixed Media Expo 2025 hosted by the awesome Tamara Laporte @willowing.org.

Even though there were over 35 sessions, I was only able to complete 3! Life certainly has a way of foiling your plans. But I really enjoyed the ones I did. While my art is normally representative and somewhat realistic, I enjoy experimenting with more abstract ideas in my sketchbook. Those were the sessions I was drawn to this time.

The first session I watched was by Laura Horn. I forgot to write down the name of the lesson, but it included using watercolour, pencils, acrylic markers and other types of media making simple shapes and marks. It was very calming and meditative. Here's what I came up with:

The next one I watched was called Layers of Light by the fun Jackie Bernardi. Here is a link to her YouTube channel. Jackie has been experimenting with creating painted collage paper and using water and gloss medium to make them translucent or transparent. Her favourite paper is medical exam paper (the kind you lay on at at the doctor's office!) She lays down a layer of acrylic gloss medium on the page she is working on, then sprays the examination paper with water. The paper turns transparent, leaving anything you have painted on it showing. She then puts the collage paper onto her page, putting another layer of gloss medium on top to seal it. 

I didn't have exam table paper, but I have a roll of tracing paper and a few other random types that I thought might work. The tracing paper worked great! Here is what I created with ideas from Jackie. She had put acrylic paint over some of her piece, but I just used all collage paper.

Finally, the last one I watched was from another Jackie, Jackie Schomburg. She is a friend of the other Jackie, and I've sinced watched a couple of YouTube videos they've done together. Jackie S. also uses collage and paint and other mediums to make abstract art. I can't remember the name of her session, but I think it was something like Opposites Attract. My favourite parts of her video were the designs on tracing paper using white paint. You can see the effects on my attempt with the circular shapes letting the colours underneath come through. 

Another great thing about her video is some of the tools that she used that I just had to get!! The first was a Silicone Colour Shaper Brush that she used for applying collage pieces. I have ruined so many brushes when I forgot to clean them or put them in water after using. With these, if I forget, the paint or acrylic medium will just peel off, or wash off with soap and water! Game Changer!! She also used a Catalyst Wedge to move paint around with. I've wanted one for a while, so I ordered one of these too. So fun to push and scrape paint with!

All-in-all, I had a lot of fun with the sessions I was able to do. Now I'm looking forward to the Sketchbook Revivial 2025 Bingefest, a free event hosted by Karen Abend. This time there will be 130+ creative sessions from 100 accomplished artists, originally created between 2018-2022. Looking forward to seeing sessions from the years I didn't attend!