The Alchemy of Mixed Media

I taught my first workshop after graduate school at The Sitka Center for Art and Ecology on the coast of Oregon in 1998. It was called Squash the Critic: Praise the Process. Gradually, over the years, it evolved into the Alchemy of Mixed Media Workshop. 

I am a process artist. I learn as I go. I allow so-called mistakes to lead the way.

We all have an individual voice. Some techniques stick, while others are abandoned along the way as we hone in on our individual styles.

My toolbox has always included handmade gesso, encaustic, cold wax, joint compounds,  collage materials, and the use of dry pigments; pastels, combined with paints.

A balance is created between technique and letting go as we wait for paintings to reveal their content and meaning. We discern which techniques have meaning for us and which do not along the way.

For instance, I use wax to obscure certain parts of a painting. I tend to work it into certain sections of a painting. And, I always start with dry medium acrylic paint so I can rapidly work on my gestures and ideas. As I make progress on a painting, I allow it to inform me what to do next. I develop a relationship with the painting.

Toward the end, my momentum slows down and I wait for the final layer of oil paint to dry.

I will be in my 25th year of teaching the Alchemy of Mixed Media. Over the years, I have developed my intuitive approach to guiding other painters on their journey. 

For those who are ready, I invite you to start by picking out the materials you will work with and trust that we will end up in the evolution of your highest potential.

Come join us for one of my Santa Fe Abstract Art Workshops.