Mad for Micas

I'm so excited!  I just started a watercolor class (videos) on Udemy. https://www.udemy.com/course/watercolourswithconfidence/learn/lecture/19413472#overview  Every two weeks or so there's a sale on Udemy classes, around $13.  The teacher, Wendy Framst, in one of her lectures, on paint, explained that you can use gum arabic with pigments to make paint.  She used the liquid.  I did further research and found out you can use the gum arabic powder and water to make your own paints too.  Being the scientist I am I want to try this, making my own paints!

This is what I got, the stuff for food is the same as for watercolors.  It's a binder and thickener, and allows the pigment to stick to the paper.  $8 Ebay. https://www.ebay.com/

 

I already have a set of Pearl-Ex micas, set #1 (a set of 12, 3 gram jars)  They go for about $20 on Dick Blick, https://www.dickblick.com/ $30 retail. I've used it before on polymer clay jewelry.

Wendy Framst says in her videos to buy the best quality art supplies you can afford.  Not necessarily in large amounts or in every color.  This got me thinking.  Mad Micas has a excellent reputation for their micas.  So tonight I also ordered 3 samples of colors I really love and a Mad Grab Bag made up of 10 mica samples for $10.  They are a teaspoon each, which doesn't sound like much but should be fine for my purposes.  Here are the 3 I ordered, $1.50 each.  The shipping is kind of high though.

Quite a few of their micas are safe for soaps and makeup.  https://www.madmicas.com/

So... I was also looking at ordering plastic pans and half-pans for the future paints.  Something nagged at me.  I finally figured it out.  Why not use ice cube trays?!!  We might even have a white one in the kitchen somewhere that we're not using for ice.  

Wish me luck!

All for now.

AW

Dumb Blonde

I've been posting my photos on Facebook.  In the spirit of not holding back, not saving everything up for some mythical special day in the future.  In that vein, here are my Barbie pictures.  I originally planned some photos with Barbie and Sasquatch, but didn't get very far with them.

(In the Box)

 (Something in the Way)

(Threshold Guardian)

Breaking the Ice

                                             (Break the Ice, edit from a pixabay photo)

Sooooo... I've been away from blogworld for a long time.  Since 2012 for this blog.  A lot has happened since then.  I'm still creating, still stitching the wheel.  I'm a Maker.  

I took up cross-stitching again and now I'm obsessed.  I'm working through a Dimensions beginner kit right now.  I bought 3 patterns from an Etsy seller.  I can't wait to get started on them.  I call cross-stitching a "slow craft."  Embroidery is a "medium craft" and photography a "fast craft."  Your mileage may vary.

Here's where I am after 6 weeks:

I'm still editing photos.  None this year yet.  I did a lamp series last year that turned out nice. Here's one from 2020:

 

I started using Pixabay photos (free to modify and use commercially) for my photo editing.  I like the combination of perspectives, the original and my spin on that.

It's nice to be back.

All for now.

AW