simply me

dear santa, PanPastels please...

i thought it would be fun for the month of december to feature some of my favorite products and tutorials/demos/ect.

if you are like me the visuals really bring home the value of a product.

these are my 2 mixed-media kits with PanPastel and were designed so that when you purchased them you not only got all the supplies needed to create the artwork featured on the front but also a free video workshop on how to create that piece, start to finish.

MIXED-MEDIA kit 1

click on the video to watch the video highlight

 

 

MIXED-MEDIA kit 2

click on the video to watch the video highlight

feel free to ask any questions in the comments if you have any about these 2 products.

available in the shop online

PanPastel + GOLDEN = FUN!

saw this really great post over on the PanPastel blog about using their beautiful colors with some favorite GOLDEN mediums.

this info is too good to let pass by so i thought i would share it here.

some things i never even thought of trying...like PanPastel over MICACEOUS IRON OXIDE.

who knew!!!

this goes on the to do list for an inspiration wednesday for sure!

check out the entire blog post and all the fun new things to try!

so many ways to be inspired...

 Internationally INSPIRED  online event

a self paced, technique packed video course that takes you on a process driven journey through 5 international artists building of a mixed media album.

it is an AMAZING artistic journey!

birgit's book & bright colors just make me happy! you will learn how to make her complete book, as well as 4 other artists'

5 complete workshops for the price of 1

only $65

register and begin your workshop now

Inspired PanPastel Artist  studio event

immerse yourself in the art of PanPastel in this 4 day workshop with donna downey. donna will share her unique product knowledge and practical and "outside of the box" techniques for using PanPastel through demonstration and hands-on application of this exciting new media. each day you will be introduced to new surfaces, tools, substrates, and textures building a working repertoire of techniques as you create you create several beautiful finished pieces PanPastel artwork.

4 creative and pampered days

ALL food & supplies included

$625

registration now open

 

{august preview - each months canvas is launched on the 15th of every month}

CANVAS CREATE monthly video series

self paced video how to every month with start to finish detail that takes you step-by-step through creating a finished canvas piece. Artwork and techniques change very month, so try one, try a few or try them all...they never expire!

each instructional video only

$25

tap into the creative mojo and create a canvas with me today!

 

PanPastel video series

build a basic understanding and working knowledge of this new exciting medium. this self-paced series is structured so that you can build your skill level, color palette and technique as you progress through each video.

5 videos in the series - videos never expire

each video only

$25

get started using PanPastels today!

NEW workshops at the studio

from intro to drawing, acrylics, color theory and more!!

check out the new workshops starting this month!

 

Easel Card Tutorial

Hi, it’s Maria and today I have an easel card for you showcasing some of Donna’s new products from Prima and Unity along with some PanPastel work.

Using PanPastel, I blended colors together to fill a 12” x 12” piece of Bazzill Smoothie cardstock. Colors listed below.

I love Donna’s new 2-step Unity stamps, but today I just used one part—the outline. I randomly stamped over the background I had just made with PanPastel until the page was filled.

After I was done I sprayed the card with Krylon Matte Finish to seal the PanPastel. You will need (1) 4.75” x 6.75” piece and (1) 4.75 “ x 3.5” piece of the paper for your project. Save the rest! It makes beautiful backgrounds in your Art Journal or to add to other projects. You will also need a 10” x 5” piece of black cardstock for the base scored at 2.5” and 5”.

I roughed up the edges of the paper and also added some texture stitching with the sewing machine around the edges of the PanPastel pieces. I stamped the sentiment on the smaller piece.

Using Donna’s new ATC Canvas pieces I used a masking technique using the same stamp that I used on the small piece of paper. This time I only wanted the word Inspire so I masked over the rest of the sentiment and the “d” in Inspired. This was stamped onto the canvas. I also edged the canvas with PanPastel.

One of Donna’s new Sculpture Poppies was added to the canvas with a ribbon behind it. I used Helmar 3D Zap Dots to attach the bottom piece with the sentiment to the card. It needs to be elevated to enable the card to become a easel.

Stickles were added to the centers of the flowers for a little extra bling.

Side view of the card

ENJOY!
 
Supplies used:

• PanPastels colors: Permanent Red, Orange, Yellow Ochre and Diarylide Yellow
• PanPastel Sofft Covers
• Ranger Archival Ink in Black
• Krylon Matte Finish
• Donna Downey for Unity--Create to Breathe Stamp
• Donna Downey for Unity—Peony Stamp
• Donna Downey for Unity—Insightful Meadow Stamp
• Donna Downey ATC Canvas with Grommets
• Donna Downey Sculpture Flowers Poppies
• Helmar Zap Dots
• Stickles: Orange Peel, X-mas Red, Yellow

 

DEAL of the day FRIDAY!

DONT MISS OUT ON TODAYS DEAL!

15% off

all PanPastels

and start learning a new techniques for adding color, texture and pattern

get your favorite colors and get started or take my workshops to show you how

no excuses...get your PanPastel mojo going today!

today only while supplies last!

shop now!

{no coupon needed}

PanPastel 202 is ready for download!

NEW ONLINE WORKSHOP!
PanPastel 202: a study in poppies

in this video workshop you will learn how to draw, stylize, shape, color and texturize using PanPastels.

working in a journal, i will walk you step by step through 4 basic practice sessions

• session 1:
  • introducing the new colors to your palette 
  • stylizing abstract poppies
  • exploring surface texture
  • GOLDEN: acrylic ground for pastels
• session 2:
  
  • basic poppy shape
  • inspiration from life
  • choosing color to define shape
  • layering color and blending
• session 3:
  
  • creating perspective
  • focal point
  • layering in color to create depth
• session 4:
  • drawing full frame large scale poppies
  • filling the page with color
  • layering in color
  • contrast between light and dark

final project:

the workshop will wrap up with a final project that synthesizes the ideas presented and practiced in the earlier sessions. i encourage you to create a project unique to your own style while walking you through each step of creating an 18 x 18 canvas art piece.

discover the simplicity and beauty of PanPastels

download video workshop NOW!

PanPastel 202: "a study in poppies" is the 4th video is my Pan Pastel video series. check out ALL the videos in the series.

PanPastel 101: introduces you to PanPastels by teaching you, how to apply and blend your color, using stencils, as well as why they are the perfect compliment to your current product stash. included is basic product knowledge explaining what makes PanPastels different from other color mediums.

PanPastel 102: takes your basic knowledge of PanPastels and explores surface texture. introduces different mediums textures working to build a practice reference in our journal. also included is sample demonstrations and guided instruction for using PanPastel in mixed-media artwork.

PanPastel 201: "creative heart" walks you through several building block sessions using PanPastels in image transfers, building textural and dimensional mixed media art and resist. the focus on a basic heart shape allows you to build on design and will create a visual reference working towards building ideas for our final project.

inspiration wednesday + video

yesterday i had a really exciting call with bernie the owner of PanPastel...got my mind spinner and i realized as we were talking i never actually tried the pan pastels on canvas? what was i thinking?

so really quickly i started applying the color to one of the canvas album filler pages i had lying around and it works great, but because it is so textured it is almost too textured for my personal preference...but it works.

so then i wondered if you can stamp with them? hmmmm...interesting prospect?

so i used the large sofft sponge and began applying pan pastels to the 2 stamps i had sitting out. i spritzed the stamp with water and then pressed them to the canvas page.

OMG!!! i was not expecting them to stamp at all let alone look this awesome!

really, like i needed any more reasons to be PanPastel obsessed...LOVE the look!

so i decided if it looks that good on canvas, lets see what they can do on paper?

let the stamping begin!

Untitled from donna downey on Vimeo.

supplies:

• inspiration journal
• pan pastels
• hand carved stamp
• Golden cobalt teal fluid acrylic paint
• Golden titanium white airbrush paint
• dr martins black india ink
• nib + pen
• precission tip applicator bottles
• crushed olive distress ink pad
• foam blending tool
• mini shipping tag
• tiny attacher
• black gaffer tape (7gypsies)
• date stamp
• black stazon

PanPastel play...

still playing with PanPastels...i just love how this medium blends and the end result always looks soft and romantic-ish.

i wanted to try my hand at working with yellows and translucency, as if the light was passing through the poppy. the pan pastels really make it easier to capture light in this way.

light and shadow,

layering,

removing color with the eraser,

reapplying color,

makes me happy!

even more PanPastel play...

over the weekend i continued to play with PanPastel ideas for a new workshop.

this piece was created on an 9 x 12" canvas board...it has lots of layering of texture and color blending and i really wanted to see if modeling paste would dry in a reasonable time...it doesn't!

however, that said, i love the result and the tiny addition of the seed beads just emphasizes the pops of color in the flower.

it has been really a fun journey developing a workshop where the students will create a piece of art and really get a feel for the PanPastels in a 2 hour time frame. after 3 weeks of play, trial and error and discovery i think this little beauty is the way to go.

the piece is created on an 11 x 14 canvas board and has tons of texture, lots of layering of color and a really bold color palette which i LOVE.

keeping the design simple will also allow for each students personality to really show through. i'm totally excited to add this to my upcoming workshop line up!!!!

now to name the workshop...i am always so bad at that part. feel free to suggest names!

more PanPastel play...

ok i feel like i am in the PanPastel zone...

still trying out more substrates and surfaces for applying the pan pastels that would work with the time constraints in a class format.

i created these on tissue paper textured backgrounds and the results i think are uber-cool!

the poppy one is done on a 11 x 14 canvas board.

and this heart is on an 18 x 18 stretched canvas. i think this one makes me the happiest, feels like the heart is bursting right out of the page.

i am getting really close to the perfect workshop project...HAPPY PLACE!