If you love creating mixed media art, then I know you’ll be excited to watch the newest season of The Mixed-Media Workshop, starring Jenn Mason and Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. This season includes episodes on collage art, journaling techniques, and more. For example, in episode 210, “You Turn Me Right Round,” Jenn and Julie explain how to use a brayer; Jane LaFazio presents a “stitch in circles” lesson, and Paige Martin demonstrates how to bind a dos-à-dos book. I’ve asked Paige a few questions about this particular episode, including (forgive my naivete), what is a dos-à-dos book? Let’s get started!
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| This dos-à-dos book was made by community member booksmithstudio. |
CH: Not all of us have heard of a dos-à-dos book. Tell us about it.
PM: Dos-à-dos means back-to-back in French. Dos-à-dos is a way of binding a book. When books are bound this way, it means they share a back cover and form a zig-zag pattern when viewed from above. It’s a very unique way to bind two books in one. Dos-à-dos is referred to as a historical binding because there are examples of books being bound this way in the 16th century.
CH: What’s one way that a person who’s new to mixed media can use a brayer?
PM: Brayers are commonly used as printmaking tools because you can use them to spread ink, and then roll the inked brayer over a stamp, linoleum cut, etc. When using Gelli® plates, for example, a brayer will help you coat the surface evenly by spreading the paint on the plate. Aside from printmaking, brayers are fun to use with paint any time. You can roll the brayer into wet paint to create different textures and it will mix colors in surprising ways.
CH: What’s your favorite tip from this video?
PM: I think my favorite tip is from Julie, who shows how to use a stencil as a stamp with the brayer.
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| Learn to "stitch in circles" with Jane LaFazio |
CH: How do you incorporate circles in your art?
PM: I love to add circles by hand with paint. The wonky look of some "circles" makes artwork more playful and fun.
I love circles, too—not only are they a fun geometric shape that you can get wild with, but they’re also symbolic of infinity, which I find fascinating. To learn more about this episode of The Mixed-Media Workshop and get season 200, visit the Interweave store today.
Always learning something new,
