What could you repeat in your current body of work to create stronger unity and cohesion?
In this Monday Marks Vlog, I demonstrate how to use repetition as a design principle to unify a series of mixed media collage artworks. Using abandoned backgrounds, contrasting Golden acrylic paint, a Brother Scan and Cut, and gloss medium, I show how adding one repeated element — while varying placement and scale — creates cohesion without sacrificing individuality.
Materials: Golden Acrylic (Titanium White, Titan Green Pale, Turquois Phthalo, Quinn Magenta, Nickel Azo Gold) , Golden Gloss Medium, Paintbrushes, 12x12” drawing paper, Brother Scan and Cut, Book pages, Old Artworks
What does it look like to love your art without needing to like it first?
In this Monday Marks Vlog, I explores how to continue working on an abandoned mixed media surface by committing to process over emotion. Through symbolic collage, limited color, and repetition, this video offers artists a practical and thoughtful approach to navigating doubt in your creative practice.
Materials: Hand Painted Papers, , Abandoned painted substrate, Acrylic paint (reds, magenta, deep purples) Sargent Metallic gold paint, Black ink, White drawing paper, Hand-painted collage papers, Brother Scan and Cut, Gloss medium, Scissors / cutting tools
What if cutting up your artwork is the very thing that helps you move forward?
In this Monday Marks Vlog, I explore Cut and Assemble as both a collage technique and a creative mindset. Working with four abandoned mixed media pieces, I cut out the sections that still felt alive and assembled them onto a smaller surface. This shift allowed me to continue marks and colors intuitively, respond to negative space, and integrate newly made collage papers that reflect my current artistic voice.
This process is about editing with intention, letting go of what isn’t working, and rebuilding artwork through response rather than force. It’s an approach that gives artists permission to release the original plan and trust what wants to emerge next.
Materials: Abandoned mixed media artworks on paper, Scissors / cutting tools, Smaller paper substrate, Hand-painted collage papers, Golden Acrylic paint, Brushes, Mark-making tools (pencil, paint pens, or similar) Adhesive (glue stick or matte medium)
What abandoned artwork could you bring back to life with just a few waxy layers and a fresh point of view?
In this week’s Monday Marks Vlog, I revisit an artwork I abandoned years ago and give it new life using Wax Effects acrylic paint. I demonstrate how to build transparent waxy glazes and textures over both opaque and translucent collage layers using hand-painted wet strength tissue paper and matte medium. This faux encaustic technique is perfect for artists who love layered mixed media surfaces and want to unify older work without starting over.
Materials: Deco Arts Wax Effects, Stencils, Pouring Medium, Painters Tape
What abandoned artwork could you bring back to life with just a few waxy layers and a fresh point of view?
In this week’s Monday Marks Vlog, I revisit an artwork I abandoned years ago and give it new life using Wax Effects acrylic paint. I demonstrate how to build transparent waxy glazes and textures over both opaque and translucent collage layers using hand-painted wet strength tissue paper and matte medium. This faux encaustic technique is perfect for artists who love layered mixed media surfaces and want to unify older work without starting over.
Abandoned mixed media artwork, Hand-painted wet strength tissue papers, Opaque Papers, Wax Effects acrylic paint by Deco Arts, Matte Medium, Silicone Brush, Matte medium, Paintbrushes
What transforms an acrylic skin collage from a stack of layered experiments into a finished piece?
This week’s Monday Marks Vlog builds on last week’s large acrylic skin pull from the Gelli plate. Now that the skins have been collaged onto the background, we’re moving into the part every artist wants to understand: how to actually finish the piece. Today’s focus is on refining the collage with intentional paint layers, expressive mark-making, and finally leveling and unifying the surface with pouring medium. This is where all those earlier experimental layers come together and become a cohesive, resolved artwork.
Have you ever wanted to try acrylic skins?
In this week’s Monday Marks Vlog, I’m making acrylic skins for collage using High Flow Acrylics, Gloss Medium, and simple tools like a silicone mat and fine liner bottle. In this video, I’ll show you how to create transparent patterned skins that you can peel, cut, and collage into your mixed media artwork.
Have you ever had unfinished artwork stacked in your studio, waiting for your attention?
In this week’s Monday Marks Vlog, I’m revisiting nine forgotten cradled panels and transforming them into a single unified composition. You’ll learn how to renew your creative energy and refresh your process through two strategies: Layer Time – keeping traces of the old while building something new Combine the Forgotten – uniting multiple unfinished works to discover surprising connections Watch as I demonstrate how to layer, connect, and reimagine past pieces—turning procrastination into playful possibility. In this episode you’ll learn: How to revisit old work with curiosity instead of judgment Ways to layer transparently and preserve previous marks How to combine multiple surfaces into one cohesive composition Reflection prompts to help renew your artistic vision
Is there a medium that you have always wanted to try?
In this week’s Monday Marks Vlog, I’m diving into something totally new — cold wax medium! Join me as I explore how it interacts with transparent collage, tar gel, pan pastel, and R&F pigment sticks. This mixed media experiment is all about play, curiosity, and discovering new surfaces that transform how light, texture, and color behave. If you’ve been thinking about trying cold wax or mixing new materials into your art, this video will show you what happens when you combine transparency, texture, and matte depth..