I'm happy to share with you here on my blog, the newest addition to my mixed media library, Flavor for Mixed Media by Mary Beth Shaw. This book is full of innovative mixed media techniques and projects, as well as a scrumptuous collection of recipes. I am honored to be one of the several featured artists in this rich and colorful book that include Misty Mawn, Judy Wise, and Susan Tuttle to mention a few.
Using each featured artist's artwork as her inspiration, MaryBeth explores various techniques using color and texture to create her own unique art.
Now for the giveaway part, really 2 giveaways - one here and another on Mary Beth's Blog , so make sure you go check that out when you leave here.
drumroll, please...
An original 8" x 8" encaustic painting by Mary Beth Shaw
Isn't is gorgeous?! And it can be yours. All you have to do is leave a comment in this post telling me one of your favorite tools/supplies and how you use it in your work. Easy peasy. The comment section will stay open for one week and on Wednesday April 21st at 8:00 pm PST, I'll do a random drawing and one of you will be the winner. Make sure and leave your email address in the comment so we know how to reach you. Good Luck!!
I know i've been a bad blogger lately, but really, I think I may be reforming. I've got some news that I'll be posting here in the next couple days, so stay tuned.
As simple as it sounds, a damp rag to either rug off paint or distress a picture.
Posted by: Jennifer White | April 14, 2011 at 12:03 PM
What a beautiful piece. Mine is a black sharpie marker. I don't know what it is I just love doodling, drawingand writing with them!
Posted by: Adrienne Berry | April 14, 2011 at 12:26 PM
Currently mine is a credit card (no, not to buy more supplies, though that's fun!). I love using it to spread and scrape paint around for backgrounds.
Posted by: Jackie | April 14, 2011 at 03:05 PM
Hmmm, lately I've been using Peerless watercolors for journal background pages. I spritz an area, tear a bit of the sheet, and just smear it around; tearing, spritzing, smearing--love the mindless activity!
Posted by: Cindy O'Leary | April 14, 2011 at 03:59 PM
ooh what a lovely encaustic piece! lately i've been into using a needle and thread to stitch some texture into my work.
Posted by: Katie LaClair | April 14, 2011 at 04:00 PM
I'm enjoying a dip pen and black ink these days. The imperfectness and unpredictability is so lovely.
Posted by: Tina | April 14, 2011 at 08:29 PM
I just love the blow torch.
Posted by: TE Willans | April 15, 2011 at 12:54 AM
Wow! What another gorgeous painting by Mary Beth!
Since taking Mary Beth's workshops, my new favorite has been Mica...specifically lapis mica!!
And, Katie, I absolutely love your work in Mary Beth's book, too!!
Best,
Mary
http://www.marycnasser.com/
Posted by: Mary C. Nasser | April 15, 2011 at 04:31 AM
I am addicted to using a credit card too - I love scraping and smooshing paint around! I'm going to look for this book today! :-)
Posted by: Joyce | April 15, 2011 at 05:32 AM
love this woman's work and love her book, so I'm hoping to be very lucky and win this wonderful piece of art.
Posted by: Brenda Thebeau | April 15, 2011 at 05:58 AM
Big PS! I forgot to tell you that one of the fun things I'm using now to create designs on my canvases is Gorilla Glue, the one that expands when spritzed with water. What fun
Posted by: Brenda Thebeau | April 15, 2011 at 06:02 AM
Oh wow, I sure love this encaustic. AND, can't wait to get the book. That Mary Beth is quite the gal.
Posted by: Paula S In New Mexico | April 15, 2011 at 08:07 AM
Latest favorite tool - sandpaper. I love the instant aging and vintage look it gives - and a sheet lasts forever. What a beautiful piece by Mary Beth.
Erin
Posted by: Erin Perry | April 15, 2011 at 10:03 AM
I just ordered this book yesterday without knowing anything about it and then stumbled upon your blog today as a happy accident! I can't wait to actually hold it in my hands! One of my favorite tools/supplies right now are stamps of every flavor and variety! Textured ones, hand carved ones, ones bought at a local boutique, anything that CAN be a stamp--has become a stamp in my studio these days!
Posted by: Tangie | April 15, 2011 at 10:36 AM
I love MB's book and her work. I love any texture.. Molding paste (wood icing, too) spread through an old plastic doily, dried then antiqued. Fantastic.
thank you for a great opportunity.
[email protected]
www.theykeytomyart.wordpress.com
Posted by: Judy Shea | April 15, 2011 at 01:10 PM
What a wonderful & generous give-a-way! My favorite thing to use right now is a stabilio marks all pencil....it's great! I use it to draw as well as in addition to paints, pastels, etc.
Posted by: doreen | April 15, 2011 at 04:36 PM
I love this piece by Mary Beth! All that texture makes me swoon. I'm currently loving rubbing alcohol thanks to a couple of your videos I found in just the last couple of weeks! I even had to buy three different strengths to experiment with - who knew??? (obviously you did; thanks for sharing!)
Posted by: Suzanne | April 15, 2011 at 06:56 PM
Hello fellow Tahuya & Dewatto Bay resident! (Yes, it's Maria here.) ArtFest'11 was good where I saw someone with MBS's book in her hands. So, needless to say, I ordered, AND wonderful that you're in there! Yay! More tricks of the trade to learn.
Will it ever warm up! Peace, love, & justice. Maria
Posted by: Maria C. Little | April 15, 2011 at 09:45 PM
The book looks fabulous! I can't wait to get it in the mail. The two things I can't seem to live without right now are my 1 1/2 inch brayer and my molding paste with stencils. I know my brayer is important to me because I work with a lot of kids and I get a little anxious when they want to use it.....Thank you for the generous offer. The art is beautiful.
Posted by: Sheri Weistaner | April 16, 2011 at 09:15 AM
beautiful encaustic piece. The supply i seem to use the most these days is joint compound. I use it to create my backgrounds for my mixed media pieces. paint would me my 2nd. love to just play with it~
Posted by: donna | April 16, 2011 at 01:17 PM
Cool encaustic art work. I've been putzing around with plaster-making bowls....having a blast!!
Posted by: Chris Meissner | April 16, 2011 at 08:54 PM
Love your blog BTW. I love using Sketch and Wash Graphite Pencils to render my image. Then I spray it lightly with water and rub some of the shadowed areas. After this I spray it with fixative or add collage elements. These pencils are almost holy to me.
Posted by: Marge Fulton | April 17, 2011 at 05:09 AM
I love using my water spritzer and also these really old doilies that I found at a farmer's market.
Posted by: lorrie spotts | April 17, 2011 at 08:37 AM
hummmm...only one favorite? well, i'll have to say i've been using the heck out of wood icing, after meeting marybeth at an encaustic workshop in san antonio... its like an adventure to see how many different pieces i can use it with..
Posted by: beth fedigan | April 17, 2011 at 09:09 AM
My favourite lately? My pelikan opaque watercolors. They make such bright delicious saturated pages!
Posted by: Shelley | April 17, 2011 at 03:57 PM
I was recently introduced to Mary Beth's work and am fascinated by it. My trusty paint brushes and paints are my favorite tools and supplies - the surface can be almost anything!
Posted by: Chris Aiton | April 18, 2011 at 09:13 AM
a pencil. It's cheap and almost always available ;-)
edie
purpleone at gmail.com
Posted by: edie | April 19, 2011 at 08:27 AM
I found those plastic tablecloths with all the raised intricate patterns. The ones I used to scour garage sales and goodwill for... they were at the local KMart. I bought one of every pattern they had...
I use them for layering in collage and getting all that great texture.. so fun
Posted by: Christine Merritt | April 19, 2011 at 09:06 AM
I love india ink and the dip pen I inherited from my dad with all kinds of different tips. The black is just so black.
Thanks so much for the chance to enter this awesome giveaway ! You ladies rocks !!!
Posted by: Kim Mailhot | April 19, 2011 at 02:49 PM
I love all my water soluble art supplies...from graphite pencils to color pencils and oil pastels. All very yummy marks being made here! Also couldn't live without my water brushes. Oh..can't forget my sponges!
Posted by: Susan in Seattle | April 19, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Love the encaustic piece and looking forward to checking out the book!
One of my favorite tools to use is a black china marker. I use it to outline edges and add texture and color to paper.
Posted by: ekoenig | April 20, 2011 at 08:12 AM
Really hard to decide but right now I rarely create a work without using soft gel,Golden, for something-collaging papers, making texture, mixing with paint,etc. And glazing liquid is a close runner up.
Posted by: Carol Weiler | April 20, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Credit card and baby wipes! My husband bought the book for me for Mother's Day (I haven't peeked except to have Mary Beth sign it at Artfest).
Posted by: Donna Knadle | April 20, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Baby wipes & stamps.
My all time favorite supplies when creating backgrounds!
Two more weeks Katie girl..... I am so excited!
Posted by: lorraine lewis | April 20, 2011 at 08:30 PM