Mastering Mixed Media Challenge 2026 Classes-Part 2

 As I said before, I only chose six of the 38+ free classes in this challenge, so these are the last three I completed. All were challenging, but fun, and though they may not be exactly like I wanted them to turn out, I learned a lot and gained in confidence. The first two are in my 7 x 10" Winsor Newton 135 lb mixed media sketchbook. The dog was painted on a sheet of drawing paper, then glued to a page in the same book. The paper is relatively smooth. I do these classes as small samples to learn from in my sketchbook. I can't wait to try these with my own ideas on different paper, canvas, or board!

Kitty was inspired by a class with Nadyia Duff, called "Stick, Stack, Create", and involved sketching and painting the cat (I used her reference) onto one piece of paper, and while it was drying, cutting out tree shapes, and ground shapes, then gluing them to a separate paper for the background. It also involved sketching a house in ink onto the background, leaving it unpainted, then filling in the rest with whimsical foliage in different markers, Posca pens,  pencils, etc. I also used a bit of stenciling. The cat was glued onto the background, and I added a few more marks and things, such as the gull on his head. The house is actually my gr-grandparents old home place, which I have lived on my whole life, although in a different house. I'm not used to coloring with markers, so Kitty was a challenge, but I'm ok with it! It was a good experience and something different...

This mini double spread was inspired by Tiffany Goff Smith in her class, "The Layered Playground". I turned my sketchbook sideways and folded it in the middle to get the double page effect, and I pretty much followed her ideas for layering. I used a copied page from my Senior school annual, which happened to be my cousin's class that year, for the school pictures, a copied sample of one of my best friend's handwriting torn and glued/stapled down in a couple of places, the fabric from one of my old jackets, and a piece of silk ribbon. The ribbon and ruffle are hand stitched, then I used hot pink staples to staple them to a piece of denim from one of my shirts and the page. The pictures and handwriting are also stapled together (above). The layers are made up of a variety of ephemera and mark making with different media.

The same pages with the fabric flap lifted up on the right. Another great learning experience! I loved it! I have been following this teacher for a long time on Instagram as Southern Gals Design, but didn't know her name, until I took this class. I'm so glad I did it!

The last one is from Tamara Laporte's class, "Let's Play!", and I used her reference to sketch the dog face. It's also done in layers of watercolor, acrylic, markers, etc. Also a challenge, and I didn't quite get the perspective right for the nose to be the focal point. I also didn't get enough pinkish colors on it, and what I did get isn't showing up in the photo, but I'm proud of myself for trying, and I learned some things that might be helpful about finishing the oil portrait of my little dog that I started years ago and didn't know how to finish. We'll see!

As usual with these classes I learned and experienced a lot, both with the teachers and the other students. It's also a lot of fun to learn to be able to just let go and do what I do!

I was planning to not do any more classes right now, except the ones I bought and have waiting from a couple of years ago, but another batch of free lessons (with the option to buy and keep forever) has presented itself for nine days in July, and I couldn't resist signing up, mainly because Toni Burt is one of the teachers. I have taken a few classes with her in these sessions and love her work. These sessions are called "Make, Create, Express 2026-Art is Magic Online", also with 35+ classes/teachers. 

So, I have a month to create what I want on my own! I've already done a collage piece and I have a page where I cleaned off my acrylic paint palette, on which at least three horse heads have appeared. Going to see what I can do with that! Fun stuff! Never mind that the house has been let go until it's a disaster! 

Take care! Thank you for visiting!