Mixed Media Art Journal Technique-Shading and Highlighting Using Floating Acrylic Technique

[@pilarguerrero3405]

What a great art class! I had seen you do this technique so many times before, from now on I will appreciate it a bit more!

[@KarenBurchill]

It is a super great technique that you will use and use and use. K

[@HeiderosesPhotograph]

THIS IS A NICE ALMOST 3-D EFFECT....YOU WANT TO PICK OFF THIS "STRING". THANK YOU FOR THIS TUTORIAL :)

[@KarenBurchill]

Yes....it does give the 3D effect....hope you give this a try. K

[@lionunderthestars7019]

Hi, Karen I have seen so many videos whose purpose is just to get you enthused enough to paint. Just pick up a paint brush or mark making tool, slap it on and have a good time. Nothing wrong with those, but after a while you forget there are techniques to be learned that would add to your experience. I can't express how much I learned with this video. With over 1300 videos I will never catch up on all you have posted, but I am going to try to catch up on the tutorial ones. Thank you for your great detailed instruction. Nancy

[@KarenBurchill]

Thanks so much. Yes techniques can bump up your art

[@gosch18]

...... and a comment from Germany ..... Thank you very much for this tutorial🤩 I finally learnt something useful about painting and I love it! I also like the idea of getting 'homework' to practice. I look forward to getting some more homework / practice ideas from your videos which I'll be binge watching this weekend 😃

[@KarenBurchill]

LOL this is a great technique to add to your repetoire as you will get soooo soo much use out of it. Happy binge watching. K

[@kathleenmckinnon8315]

Hi Karen, I've been watching your videos and really enjoying them, especially this floating technique! Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing your ideas and strategies. Hey, I'm really impressed with your camera! I hope that you will be willing to share what kind it is. It seems to zoom in and out so easily! I love that! Thanks again, and Seek Peace, Kathleen

[@KarenBurchill]

Thanks...So glad you like what I put out. My camera is an ordinary Canon Power Shot...nothing fancy....or specific for video. I have it on a tripod. K

[@robbieslater1951]

Lovely technique. Thank You so much for sharing this, Keep on creating and inspiring Us God Bless and Have a great day. A big hello from Australia 🎨🙏📝🌈🌻💜

[@KarenBurchill]

This technique is used on every page. When I learned it doing folk art painting I never knew it would come in so handy down the road. K

[@debbieekes5718]

I came here from a tutorial you did in 2021. I am so glad I did. This is SO helpful!

[@KarenBurchill]

Glad it was helpful! It's a very usable technique that you will find you use on every project once you master it. K

[@jessiehollaway1186]

Thank you Karen. I'm going to give this a try. The video is very helpful. I love how you use this technique.

[@KarenBurchill]

Keep practicing....this technique is worth the effort. K

[@PaulWalesArt]

Thank you so so much Jane for pointing me to this tutorial. Can’t wait to give it a try! It’s obvious that this detailing can make a huge difference in the outcome of a journal page or a canvas. Love it!

[@KarenBurchill]

It's a great technique .One you will get lots of use from . K

[@marionbecker4698]

Thank you for this video demonstrating this technique! It reminds me a lot of a watercolour technique to bring out shapes with negative painting where you wash away with a separate brush containing just fresh water. I guess the aim is to generate a gradient of colour from dark to light as you go away from the object. I think it is really really useful for objects in the middle of the page. For edging a page it is easier to use archival acrylic ink pads and the finger sponge or bristle daubers but you cant do this easily on objects elsewhere on the page so this is perfect! I need to practise this on different types of papers as the paper tooth has a great effect on hoe well this works. On rough paper I find it works better to pre-wet the area.

[@KarenBurchill]

Yes....this is particularily useful in the middle of the page.....there are other options to doing the edge....I like this as it's all permanent and you don't have to worry about any of it reactivating. Happy creating K

[@BarbaraRademacher]

Hurray! I am so glad you have a shopify link now that we (your followers) can use at TCW!!!!!!!!! Stencils, here I come.

[@KarenBurchill]

LOL yes and you can get the newest stencils ASAP . Karen

[@debbieekes5718]

Playing with this technique today. SO very helpful. Thank you!

[@KarenBurchill]

You are so welcome! Happy practicing. K

[@chriszar2173]

Thank you Karen! I have admired this technique in so many of your projects - I appreciate the full tutorial! Will definitely be practicing!

[@KarenBurchill]

Thanks Chris. I am hoping that everyone does just that and makes some practice sheets and practices. This technique is usable on every page and canvas so it's well worth the time to practice. Karen

[@lucybanta7311]

Excellent how-to instructions, thank you!

[@KarenBurchill]

Glad you found it useful...this is a super technique that you will use so much. K

[@SaltLifeGypsy68]

Hello, someone recommended You and this technique on a different video. Glad I hopped over to check ya out. This is very cool. Will be adding this to my list of Amazing things. 🤣 Also, I subscribed.

[@KarenBurchill]

Thanks. And so glad you found me. I hope you find lots of my videos useful.

[@christinehermann4929]

You are the best teacher!

[@KarenBurchill]

Wow, thank you!

[@stealthfuldodger]

Ooo yes I needed to watch this!

[@KarenBurchill]

It's easy when you know how....and after you practice. Karen

[@BarbaraRademacher]

Bing-bang-boom. This is what we have all been waiting for. I am slowly beginning to be able to use your technique. I need lots more practice.

[@KarenBurchill]

Thanks Barbara....keep practicing and it will come.....and it's soooo worth it as you can use this in everything you do. Karen

[@missvickie1975]

Same here. I've been practicing and getting a lil better each time. Ive also started experimenting with using matte gel medium or other clear-drying pouring mediums in place of some of the water. Couldn't of done it without this tutorial... wouldn't even of thought to try if it weren't for these videos.

[@beverlygreeson1426]

Great video. Thanks for sharing your technique.

[@KarenBurchill]

This video was a long time coming. I am pleased with how it turned out and hoping that it gives people the step by step to do the technique. Karen

[@theresawatamaniuk6930]

love your techniques...thank you for sharing!

[@KarenBurchill]

You are most welcome K

[@kathyn3978]

Thanks so much, Karen. This is the best tutorial for floating acrylics I have ever seen...and I’ve watched MANY. I struggled to make it look right for years. Will be grabbing one of my painted papers to practice!

[@KarenBurchill]

Thank you Kathy , that is so sweet of you to say. I hope something I showed/said clicked and makes this doable for you. Happy practicing. Karen

[@beatricecolpin8234]

hello not only usefull but beautiful !! thank you so much for sharing the technique !! friendly béatrice

[@KarenBurchill]

Thank you. It's really amazing what you can do using this technqiue. Karen

[@beatricecolpin8234]

@@KarenBurchill yes for sure !!

[@missvickie1975]

Thank u so very much for this tutorial!!

[@KarenBurchill]

So glad you found this useful. Karen

[@mariamegusquiza2954]

Great technique!

[@KarenBurchill]

Thanks....it's one you can use on every project once you master it...time well spent. K

[@dreamsunltd]

Thanks so much for explaining this technique in such detail. I needed this!

[@KarenBurchill]

So glad to be able to provide something people want/need. Karen

[@jackieroberts6440]

Awesome job teaching this technique. Can't wait to try

[@KarenBurchill]

thank you so much. Good luck K

[@leahduncan6982]

Great tutorial Karen. I tried a practice page quickly and will definitely be doing some more. Can’t wait to use this technique.

[@KarenBurchill]

Thank you...so glad you gave this a try and found the exercise useful. Karen

[@sherryliberto6749]

I'm really beginning to truly understand the lingo. Thank you for sharing 💜💜💜✌✌ Sherry

[@KarenBurchill]

Starting a new hobby comes with a new language. I remember well feeling so overwhelmed by the products and all when I started. Karen

[@lillis2943]

Thank you so much

[@KarenBurchill]

You are most welcome. Karen

[@gaellegrassin6815]

Thank you very much for this technique !

[@KarenBurchill]

Glad it was helpful! It's a super technique to know. K

[@mytherapyroom]

Fantastic tutorial and very well explained!

[@KarenBurchill]

Thank you....Karen

[@jeleco8426]

Love This Video Karen ! And learned something I have been wanting to do since the first video I seen you do this in ! ! Thank You so much for sharing ! ! ( Hugs)

[@KarenBurchill]

So glad I made this video...it's been on the to do list for quite some time. Good luck with the technique. Karen

[@deborahdominy5976]

Very clear tutorial, helpful indeed!

[@KarenBurchill]

Thank you....that was my goal...Hoping that the video gives people what they need to do this. Karen

[@lesleyritchie5085]

This is so amazing tysm for sharing 😊

[@KarenBurchill]

This shading technique is a great tool to have....good luck. K

[@ourzbaby]

Thank you! I tried this today.

[@KarenBurchill]

So thrilled that you tried...I hope it worked for you. Karen

[@wonderwend]

Superb video! Thanks for sharing

[@KarenBurchill]

You are very welcome....hope you give this technique a try. Karen

[@christinehermann4929]

How do you know if you should shade on the inside or outside of a circle or other image?

[@KarenBurchill]

Sometimes I do one , sometimes the other...and sometimes I do both....I try and see if it's giving me the effect I like.

[@janelleespinoza1433]

Hi Karen. Thank you for this technique video! I practiced on the weekend and had some issues. My questions are: 1. When you press the brush to the painted surface, are you pressing all the end of the brush down or just the tip of the brush? 2. Also, after re-watching this video I noticed that you don't go back to the same area/black paint that you first put down on the palette/mat. You begin a new "streak" of black. Is that correct?

[@KarenBurchill]

I am pressing the whole brush down , but I believe more pressure at tip if that makes sense....No..I typically pick a new area so as to keep the brush clearer longer. You have probably noticed that after a while the brush gets "muddy" and you need to rinse it off and start fresh. Karen

[@janelleespinoza1433]

@@KarenBurchill thank you for the quick reply. Back to practicing tonight.

[@waukonstandard]

Fabulous tutorial! Do you have a video of bringing up the starfish from the background?

[@KarenBurchill]

Thanks Laurie. I don't have that exact video but here's one that is very close kzbin.info/www/bejne/hV6ml4aAj5WBa7c Karen

[@vonaldautterback8831]

Thank you, Karen! Have you ever used Sennelier abstract acrylic 3D liners? I know it wouldn't have the same shading effect, but just wondering if you might have used these for outlining.

[@KarenBurchill]

I have not tried them at all but will check into them and see what they are all about. Karen

[@janelleespinoza1433]

Great technique and tips! Thank you for the video! Is the craft mat you are using plastic coated? Is it something you made or bought? Just wondered as I don't have anything like that (nor palette paper).

[@KarenBurchill]

Thanks so much. I am working on Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat...you could make one using tempered glass I would think. Try wax paper....the key for this technique is that the water needs to float on the surface NOT soak in. Karen

[@janelleespinoza1433]

@@KarenBurchill Thank you. Wax paper is a great idea! I have a glass media mat for polymer clay, but it's a different work area from Mixed Media.

[@sandralewis5395]

Karen, Thanks for this tutorial, you make it look easy. What is flow medium and how/why is it used? I saw it with the acrylic paints at the craft store.

[@KarenBurchill]

Flow medium is used by artists to thin down thick bodied paint. Floating Medium is what you can use to help the floating acrylic method. I've used this...but I don't find it necessary. Water works ...It is rather inexpensive so may work for you should you want to try. Karen

[@sandralewis5395]

Karen Burchill Thank you. I prefer to save my money so ordinary water will do just fine. 😉

[@memalagene]

It looks like you are adding the white highlights on the same side yo did the dark floating on the wavy lines, but on opposite side of the floated dark paint when you did the circles. Am I mistaken?

[@KarenBurchill]

I’m not sure what you mean.