Get Ready to Master Color!

Earlier this week we talked about surfaces to use for your mixed-media art, but what happens after you’ve chosen the best substrate for your project? Color happens! Dina Wakley is here with her premiere Art Lesson: “Like-Minded Hues,” which is all about using analogous colors. This kicks off Dina’s four tutorials for our 2015 Art Lessons series, Color Explorations. Arm yourself with Dina’s color advice and techniques for using a mask, and watch out, world!

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Art by Dina Wakley

Three Ways to Use a Mask on One Piece of Art by Dina Wakley

One of my favorite things to do is to use a mask three ways on the same piece of art. Here’s how:

Regular masking. Start by laying the mask on your work and painting around it. Use several colors and make sure your shapes overlap. If you don’t overlap your shapes, they’ll look like they’re floating and won’t relate to each other in the composition.

Reverse masking. Rub some paint on your piece and place your mask over the paint. Then use a baby wipe to rub away any paint that’s extending beyond the mask. This is reverse masking, and it will give you an interesting positive shape from your mask.

Mask prints. Coat the mask with a thin layer of paint (my heavy body paint works really well for this and won’t bead up on the plastic). Add a spray of water, and then press the mask onto your work. This gives you a print of the mask.

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I think it’s smart to repeat a mask or stencil shape in your art. Repetition creates unity and makes your piece look interesting and dynamic. Can you see how I’ve used the seed pod mask on this piece in three different ways?

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This is so helpful, as we’re all looking for ways to unify our designs. If mastering color is also on your radar, then start here with Dina’s Art Lesson. Download it for less than the cost of a large latte, and then refer to the exercises within it again and again.

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Learn about how Dina uses analogous colors on an
art journal page in her new Art Lesson


Until next time,
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Categories

Art Journaling and Lettering, Blog, Mixed-Media Techniques

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