Tutorial: Acrylic Relief and Watercolor Painting on Canvas

Welcome to today's tutorial, where I'm excited to show you how I've crafted my latest art pieces using Sennelier Abstract Liners and watercolors on canvas.

This method adds a tactile element to your canvas by creating a raised surface that securely holds the watercolors until they dry. The result is a captivating stained glass effect, paired with a touch of traditional painting charm.

During this process, I decided to blend metallic watercolors with traditional ones. The metallic hues dry with a splendid sparkle, adding a sense of depth to your artwork that's truly captivating.

For the finishing touches, I rely on Micron Waterproof pens. These pens are like a hidden gem, allowing you to infuse your art with intricate details that breathe life into your creation.

I must say, this technique has been incredibly fulfilling. I developed a deep appreciation for the final outcome, and I'm genuinely hopeful that you'll feel the same way about your own pieces.

Now, let's talk about the supplies you'll need for this tutorial:

This journey has truly been an enriching one for me, and I'm excited to see where it takes you. The process of creating art with a tactile quality is truly rewarding, and I encourage you to explore this technique. So, gather your materials, and let's embark on a creative adventure that's as distinctive as your artistic spirit!

Video Tutorial:

Super Quick Procreate Seamless Pattern Tutorial

Welcome to this super-quick Procreate tutorial video (at bottom of post), where I'm going to show you how I create a seamless repeat pattern for fabric and products on Spoonflower and Redbubble.

To get started, you'll need an iPad or a tablet with Procreate installed. Let's break down the steps:

Step one:
Design the image or graphic that you want to seamlessly repeat. Get creative and let your imagination run wild!

Step two:
Turn on snapping in the direct selection tool menu. You'll find it tucked away at the bottom left of the direct selection menu when you choose that tool. Snapping makes things easier and more precise.

Step three:
Duplicate your object or the group layers that contain your object and place them strategically. Pop them into all four corners, both sides and the top and bottom. We want that pattern to flow seamlessly!

Step four:
Time to fill in those white areas and bring your design to life. I personally like to resize, rotate, and flip my main image until I've covered most of the white spaces. But here's the fun part—sometimes, I get creative and draw new small graphics to fill in the remaining white areas. It adds a touch of randomness to the seamless pattern. Check out the video to see how it's done!

Step five:
Now that your masterpiece is ready, it's time to upload it as a PNG file to either Spoonflower or Redbubble. Make any adjustments you need to perfect your end product.

I hope you found this video helpful and got some great insights! There's plenty more to come, so stay tuned for more exciting tutorials. Oh, and don't forget to swing by my Spoonflower shop or my Redbubble shop when you have a moment. You'll find loads of amazing designs waiting for you there!

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

A Guide to A Quick Quilt

From Spoonflower’s Fill-A-Yard Option

Hey there, quilting enthusiasts! Today, I want to share with you a fantastic way to create a quick quilt using Spoonflower's Fill-a-Yard fabric option. This tutorial is complete with step by step instructions and a video at the end. Spoonflower is an amazing online platform that not only offers a wide range of fabric designs but also supports independent artists and small businesses. So, by diving into this project, you're not only crafting a beautiful quilt but also contributing to a thriving creative community. Let's get started!

Step 1: Create or Choose a Collection (Use the Collection from Video)

To begin, you have two options. You can either create your own collection of designs or explore the profiles of indie artists on Spoonflower and select a collection that catches your eye. Take your time to browse through the stunning array of patterns and illustrations until you find the one that speaks to you and complements your vision for the quilt.

Step 2: Select the Fill-a-Yard Option

Once you've discovered your desired collection, it's time to bring your quilt to life. Spoonflower offers a Fill-a-Yard option, which allows you to choose the fabric designs you want to include in your yard. This feature enables you to mix and match patterns, creating a unique and personalized quilt that truly reflects your style.

Step 3: Choose the Layout

The next step involves selecting the layout for your fabric. Spoonflower provides various layout options, allowing you to arrange the designs in a way that suits your quilt design. Whether you prefer long and skinny strips or neat squares, there's a layout option that will perfectly complement your project. Take some time to experiment and visualize how the patterns will interact with each other.

Step 4: Decide on the Quantity

After finalizing the layout, it's time to order your predesigned quilt. The design you have chosen predetermines, how many yards of fabric you’ll be receiving.

Step 5: Shop for backing fabric and filler

You can purchase your backing fabric on Spoonflower or proceed to another website or craft store to purchase the required supplies. You will need the same amount of yards and the same width the fabric to easily complete your quick quilt.

Step 6: Place Your Order and Get Creative!

Once you've made all the necessary decisions, it's time to place your order and let the magic happen. Spoonflower will print your chosen fabric designs onto high-quality fabric, ensuring excellent color vibrancy and durability. Once your fabric arrives, all you have to do is attach the filler and backing fabric, and then stitch around the squares to create a quick quilt.

So there you have it, a step-by-step guide to creating a quick quilt using Spoonflower's Fill-a-Yard fabric option. Remember, by utilizing this service, you're not only embarking on a fun and creative project but also supporting independent artists and small businesses. Happy quilting!

Visit Beth Erickson Designs Spoonflower shop for more beautiful fabric designs. Want a custom piece of fabric designed, contact me.

Party Planning: Charcuterie Boards

Charcuterie boards have become a popular trend recently, especially for entertaining guests or enjoying a cozy night in. These boards are essentially a selection of meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and crackers arranged beautifully on a serving platter, providing a variety of flavors and textures to enjoy. Here, we’ll discuss some of the most popular ingredients to include on a charcuterie board, as well as tips on how to arrange them.

Mini Charcuterie board
Mini Charcuterie board painted with acrylic paint in the pouring style of painting.

Meats:
When it comes to meats, there are many options to choose from. Some popular choices include prosciutto, salami, pepperoni, and ham. These meats can be sliced thin and arranged in a fan-like pattern or rolled up for easy grabbing. Consider mixing up different types of meat to provide a variety of flavors and textures.

Cheeses:
Cheeses are an essential component of a charcuterie board. Soft cheeses like brie, goat cheese, and camembert are great options, as well as hard cheeses like cheddar, gouda, and parmesan. Be sure to provide cheese knives so guests can easily cut and enjoy the cheese.

A resin-enhanced charcuterie board that is 20.5 in tall x 7.5 wide.

Fruits:
Adding fresh fruits to a charcuterie board adds a pop of color and sweetness. Grapes, berries, sliced apples, and pears are popular options, but feel free to get creative and add any of your favorite fruits.

Nuts:
Nuts add a crunch to the charcuterie board and complement the other flavors well. Almonds, walnuts, and pecans are great options, but you can also include some trail mix or mixed nuts for a more varied selection.

Crackers and Bread:
To complete the board, include a selection of crackers and bread. Baguette slices, whole wheat crackers, and flatbreads are great options to provide guests with something to put their meats and cheeses on.

Once your ingredients are selected, the next step is to arrange them on a platter. A good tip is to start with the larger items like cheeses and meats, then fill the empty spaces with smaller items like nuts and fruits. You can also arrange them in different sections of the board or in a circular pattern.

Here’s a sample ingredient list for a charcuterie board:

In conclusion, charcuterie boards are a great way to provide a variety of flavors and textures for guests to enjoy. By selecting a variety of meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and crackers, you can create a beautiful and delicious display that’s perfect for any occasion.

How I create a watercolor mixed media piece

In this video, you will learn how I created my Watercolor Sunset Mixed media piece with a watercolor painting, torn paper, and my sewing machine.

Supplies needed:
Watercolor paper
Painting Tape
Mounting Surface of Choice
Watercolors
Scrapbook paper with a white core
Elmers Glue
Hot Glue
colored ink pens

Enjoy!

Video:

Tutorial: Watercolor and Ink

In this video, you can watch my process of creating a piece of art using watercolors and ink. The video is captioned with each step in the process.

Supplies needed:

Enjoy!

Video:

Tutorial: Sunrise Puddle Pour with a Swipe

This painting tutorial is the second in my acrylic puddle pouring with a swipe series. I hope this video inspires you to experiment with your acrylic pouring and realize that there is so much you can do with this painting style.

Paint Colors:
Abstract Sennelier Lemon Yellow
Abstract Sennelier Lemon Yellow mixed with white
Liquitex Basics Fluid Acyclic Magenta
Liquitex Basics Fluid Acyclic Light Blue
Amsterdam Gold Light
Arteza Pearl Blue
Arteza Pearl Pink
Golden Fluid Acrylic Bronze

The colors are all mixed with a homemade pouring medium of American Floetrol mixed with Gloss Varnish and GAC 800 and a cell activator of Aussie Floetrol mixed with JoSonja Gloss Varnish.

To finish this painting you tilt until the paint spreads across the entire surface and you are happy with the composition, but keep in mind you want the paint to be thin enough to dry smoothly and not crack.

Enjoy!

Video:

How To: Puddle Pour with a Swipe

In this instructional how-to-video we explore a puddle pour painting mixed with a swipe. I first saw this technique on Molly’s Artistry YouTube channel, in which she poured blue puddles of paint on her canvas. Then used a pallet knife to mix the paints. Then with a pallet knife she swiped with cell activator. After doing all of this she then tilted to stretch the paint across the canvas creating a abstract water like painting that reminds me a lot of a deconstructed bloom.

In this video I will attempt to create a water with a sunset, using this same technique. I will tell you now that my first attempt was not what I expected and that I had to re-pour the painting to achieve the look that I was going for. But in fluid art most paintings are an experiment and a lot of times you have to redo them. You need to be prepared for this fact when approaching fluid art. Always be willing to experiment, always be willing to paint over the top of a painting you don’t like, always be willing to explore new techniques and ideas this will make your fluid art journey so much more enjoyable.

Here is my list of supplies with the instructional video to follow!

Blue Paints:

SUNSET COLORS:

CELL ACTIVATOR

Video:

Experiment! Acrylic Bloom on a Canvas Sketch Book

Experiment! Acrylic Bloom on a Canvas Sketch Book

Today, we see success, mistakes, and fails in this experimental bloom on a sketchbook. The painting process went beautifully, it is in the finishing of the sketchbook where I made a misstep and so the project is half success and half fail.

Acrylic Bloom paint pouring is a learned technique of mixing a unique blend of paints to get beautiful cells in your painting. If you want to learn this technique and all the recipes for mixing your paint, you need to visit the Sheleeart Website to take their course.

In this video, you will see the step-by-step process that I go through to get the end result. It’s not until I decide to tape off areas before applying Varnish that I run into any problems. Otherwise, the sketchbook would have turned out beautiful. But what is art if it’s not a process to learn from?

Here is my list of supplies with the instructional video to follow!
- Canvas Covered Sketch Book (Michaels)
- Amsterdam Pearl White (Cell Activator)
- Pearlx Blue Russet
- Pearlx Misty Lavender
- Pearlx Aztec Gold
- Arteza Pearl Royal Purple
- Colorplace Satin White (Walmart)


Until you take the Sheleeart Course you won’t be able to follow along with this video, but hopefully, it will give you some creative ideas for your next pour painting project.

Video:

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