"Sunny Day" mixed media tree collage landscape by Carol Nelson

"Sunny Day" 5x7 mixed media on panel

I did this tree demo for some students studying with me privately in my studio here in Colorado.  Students love doing these tree collages, and, happily, most are successful in creating a great painting.

The unusual thing about this one, is that I based it on a Hansa Yellow Medium under painting.  I hardly ever use Hansa Yellow by itself unless I'm painting daffodils - it's just SO BRIGHT.  It's also somewhat opaque.

My favorite yellow is made by thinning Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold.  (I'm referring to Golden Fluid Acrylics here.)  The Nickel Azo yellow is much warmer and just works better for me most of the time.

Being a primary yellow, it is very bright and cheerful, and who doesn't want bright and cheerful these days?

For more information about this painting, click here to go to my website.

"Billboard 1" mixed media abstract painting by Carol Nelson

"Billboard 1"

This started out with me trying to remove some collaged papers from a wood panel using a razor blade and sand paper.  The paper that remained stuck on the panel suddenly presented itself as an artsy possibility.  You always have to be on the lookout when you're deconstructing a collage for new unplanned accidents.

I decided to work with what I had. I did a little stamping, and a little painting, and voila!

For more information, click here to go to my website.

"Overview" textured abstract painting by Carol Nelson

"Overview"

This is a demo painting from my recent workshop at The Gallery at Midtown in Dallas, Texas.  Thanks to Teta Smith for taking care of my every need and making me feel like a Diva.

Thanks also to Dana Brown at Ampersand for donating 11x14 Gessobord panels for the class.  They make beautiful surfaces for this textured pour technique.

For more information, click here to go to my website.

Visual Language visits Carol Nelson's studio

 

Here I am in the uncontrolled chaos of my studio.  See the article in the latest issue of Visual Language about a visit to my studio.

The article is on pages 92 - 100.  There is also an ad for my upcoming Denver area workshop on page 136.  The first session filled up so quickly, we added a second session on Feb 8-9, at Kimberly Conrad's Boardinghouse Studio.

I look wistfully at the beautiful studios some artists have.  But they are not mixed media artists!  When you're into mixed media, you have to save every piece of crap you come across.  OK, that's a little harsh.  But it IS crap, until you turn it into a masterpiece (perhaps)!


Take this painting, for example, that I recently completed:

"Southern Relic"

There's a piece of old rusted metal in there that I found in the gutter in New Orleans recently when I was there for Golden Art Educator training.

Check out more 2014 workshops at my website.

"Introspection" gold leaf abstract by Carol Nelson

I like the gold leaf substrate.  It gives the painting a warm glow.
The photo does not do the painting justice - it's so hard to show metallic shine.
For more information, click here to go to my website.

"Blue Grove 2" mixed media tree landscape by Carol Nelson

"Blue Grove 2"

I included a couple angled shots of this painting because it's hard for the metallic background to show.  The foliage is made from crackle paste.  After painting it mostly shades of phthalo turquoise and paynes gray, I used Golden High Flow burnt sienna, and Com.Art transparent phthalo blue for airbrush to drop color into the cracks of the crackle paste.

I was given the package of High Flow paints at the Golden Art Educators program I recently attended in New Orleans, and the ComArt air brush paint was given to me at Jerry's Artarama when I taught a workshop there last April.  This is the first time I've gotten around to using either product.

The long pointed dispenser tip on the ComArt bottle really lets you pinpoint where you want the color to flow, which is a nice feature. These paints are very thin, with a consistency like ink.

I did this painting as a demo for my Mixed Media Trees workshop I will be teaching next week in Raleigh at Art of the Carolinas.  The workshop is only 6 hours, and I'm worried the class' crackle paste won't crackle soon enough for them to paint on it, so I need to have something to show them how it will look when it's done.

For more information about this 12 x 5 inch painting, click here to go to my website.

"London Vibe" contemporary collage by Carol Nelson

 

"London Vibe"

This is a tile and stone collage made from pieces from our recent bathroom remodel.  The name of the "bling" tile was London Sky. I just fell in love with the colors and design.  This is the second painting inspired by the colors in the tile.

I mounted the collage on one half inch thick board, so it is both sturdy and heavy.  The pewter easel is perfect with it.

For more information, click here to go to my website.

"Forest Wonders 4" mixed media tree landscape painting by Carol Nelson

Forest Wonders 4

I love including these mixed media tree paintings in my workshops.  The color combinations are endless, because in my world the trees are vibrant.

Students do very well with these.  This is one of the workshops I will be teaching at Art of the Carolinas on November 7, 2013, in Raleigh, NC.

For more information about this 6x6inch painting, click here to go to my website.

Art of the Carolinas

 

I can't believe that Art of the Carolinas is a little more than a month away.  Especially if you live on the East coast, you HAVE to check this out.  Click here for general information, and click here for information on the workshops I'll be teaching.

One of my workshops is sold out already, so don't miss out.  Imagine, 100's of workshops, and 1000's of artists all in one hotel in Raleigh, NC.

Think of the people you'll meet, the thrill of just hanging out with more like-minded artists than you've ever seen. If you only do one art event for the year, this is the one! It's going to be such a blast.