Free Mixed Media Art Lessons
Connect to Your Piece
Ever struggle with a painting and not feel a connection with it? That is what happened to me when I created this painting. I show the whole process including how I work through this challenge.
Raven and Crow Series
In this time lapse video, I share the making of a mixed media Raven and Crow series. I used wood cradle boards in various sizes and created 7 pieces at one time. Each piece has its own inspirational saying.
Full Art Lessons for Newsletter Subscribers:
Tree Woman Lesson
Moon Woman: Full Lesson
Mini Medicines:
Transformations: Paint Over an Old Canvas
Do you re-use your canvasses? Paint over an existing painting? How does it feel? It is a big transformation and very different energies on the two pieces. One is not better than the other, just different moods, different times and different techniques. I find clearing out paintings that are laying around in my studio that I don't feel a connection with, gives space for new energy and creativity to emerge. It was scary to put the gesso over the old portrait! Grab an old painting and join along.
Sticks and Ink: Demo
Join me for some fun and paint a portrait with some sticks and some India ink and a small brush.
Portrait Layers: Demo
Do you struggle with feeling stuck with your creativity at times? I recently went through this. It is a horrible feeling!!
Below, I am sharing a time-lapse video of painting of the third layer of a female face. Why the third layer? This is usually the layer where I find her face comes alive. Painting her brought me some healing and joy.
Blue Face: Demo
A time lapse videos (10-15 min) of me painting. Meant to inspire you to create in short, doable art sessions. In this one, I painted a front facing face and used a simple palette. I had fun using my brayer to roll over the face towards the end.
Painting a Face with Gesso: Demo
In this short video, I demo using black, white, and clear gesso to paint a face. I also use a stabillo all black pencil.
Pink Butterfly:DEMO
In this free demo video, I use a water-soluble graphite pencil and Jane Davenport’s mermaid marker to create this butterfly woman.
Sketch ON Wood: Demo
In this free demo video, I use a 4B pencil to sketch on a wood canvas.
Watercolours: Demo
I use a small handmade set of earth and plant watercolours.
Ground with Paint Replays
Solstice Light
Create a solstice inspired expressive portrait with me!
From December 16th in Melanie Rivers Art FaceBook Group, 2021
p.s I had some technical difficulties so the lesson starts around the 15 min mark.
Reference Photos and Inspiration
Royalty Free Photos
I've curated some royalty free photographs of female portraits in unsplash.com. These make great reference photos. You can click link below to view the collection I curated.
Pinterest Inspiration
Share Your Creations
FaceBook Group
Join my community group where we share our struggles and successes, latest artworks and encourage each other along the way. Imagination, story and play help us connect with ourselves.
If you are interested in an art class with me, check out my course page: