Luminarte Blog— Vibrant and Brilliant

Take classes using Luminarte at CREATE California - May 30, 2012

Hurry,  time and space is filling up for the classes being offered by CREATE in California. So many artists with so many FABULOUS classes all using Luminarte products! 

The IrRESISTible Paper Engineering Mash-up (3-Hour)

Date: Wednesday, May 30
Time: 9:00am-12noon
Technique: Printmaking & Surface Design
Instructor: Jenn Mason
Price: $85.00
Materials Fee: N/A

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Fun and Nonsense (6-Hour)

Date: Wednesday, May 30
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Technique: Collage & Assemblage
Instructor: Sherrie Drummond
Price: $149.00
Materials Fee: $20.00

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Happy Harpies (6-Hour)

Date: Wednesday, May 30
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Technique: Collage & Assemblage
Instructor: Clarissa Callesen
Price: $149.00
Materials Fee: N/A

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Collage Monotypes (6-Hour)

Date: Wednesday, May 30
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Technique: Printmaking & Surface Design
Instructor: Helen Shafer Garcia
Price: $149.00
Materials Fee: $10.00  

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Mini Masterpiece Canvas Journal (6-Hour)

Date: Wednesday, May 30
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Technique: Bookmaking & Art Journaling
Instructor: Joanne Sharpe
Price: $149.00
Materials Fee: $20.00

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Stitch & Paint Pet or Animal Portraits (6-Hour)

Date: Wednesday, May 30
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Technique: Mixed Media Stitch
Instructor: Jeannie Palmer Moore
Price: $149.00

Materials Fee: $10.00

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The Archivist's Relic (6-Hour)

Date: Wednesday, May 30
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Technique: Bookmaking & Art Journaling
Instructor: Leighanna Light
Price: $149.00
Materials Fee: $15.00

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The Down-and-Dirty Paintless Journal (6-Hour)

Date: Wednesday, May 30
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Technique: Bookmaking & Art Journaling
Instructor: Dawn Sokol
Price: $149.00
Materials Fee: $5.00

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 Wednesday Evening

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Magical Markers Mystery Tour (3-Hour)
CURRENTLY FULL 

Date: Wednesday, May 30
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Technique: Collage & Assemblage
Instructor: Joanne Sharpe
Price: $85.00
Materials Fee: $20.00

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Doodle Soup: Jambalaya (3-Hour)

Date: Wednesday, May 30
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Technique: Collage & Assemblage
Instructor: Dawn Sokol
Price: $85.00
Materials Fee: N/A

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Whimsical Rings (3-Hour)

Date: Wednesday, May 30
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Technique: Mixed Media Jewelry
Instructor: Jen Cushman
Price: $85.00
Materials Fee: $12.00

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Junk Birds (3-Hour)

Date: Wednesday, May 30
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Technique: Collage & Assemblage
Instructor: Clarissa Callesen
Price: $85.00
Materials Fee: N/A

 

For more information on CREATE or a particular class go to CREATE Mix Media Retreat. To sign up go to CREATE Registration.

Thanks for visiting!

Take the on-line class "A Taste of Silks", by Dion Dior May 18, 2012

Today, I want to let everyone know that Dion Dior class A Taste of Silks begins on May 18, you can register by clicking here. There are 25 Silks colors in the regular collection and ten colors in the new release Silks. They are available through Luminarte by clicking here.

 

 

Silky Startfish

Dion here, my new class, A Taste of Silks begins on Friday, May 18th.  It is a class that explores the wonder and beauty of Silks Acrylic Glaze, a new product from Luminarte. I've been happily swimming in a silky pool of color as I put the finishing touches onto this class.  I am so excited as this class comes to you in two wonderfully full booklets with links to some terrific videos that will show you how versatile these little pots of wonder can be. In addition, there will be an exclusive online forum and Flickr group for participants to ask questions, share experience and display their silky work. Plus, I'll be showing you some wonderful techniques and projects to get lost in.  Registration is still open and don't forget, if you sign up for this inaugural run, you get a $40 coupon for the $10 material fee, which you can use on any of Luminarte's beautiful range of products.

I thought I'd give you a little morsel from this class in the form of a mini-tutorial.  I'm going to show you how I created this beautiful textured starfish using clear craft glue and Silks Acrylic Glaze.  I often create little icons such as this and then use them on greeting cards or journal covers.  You can alter the consistency and look of silks by adding mediums, but Silks have such a luscious texture straight out of the jar, that they are thick enough for all sorts of application.

Luminarte have just released 10 new colors of Silks Acrylic Glaze to celebrate this class, and I use several of them in this tutorial.  What you will need: A pencil, flat synthetic paint brush, clear craft glue, large skewer or stick with a flat end, Silks Acrylic Glaze in Honey Amber, Nutmeg, Black Ice, Rich Cobalt, Pomegranate, & Emperor's Gold.

Begin with a very simple pencil sketch of a starfish. 

 
Cover the pencil sketch with a thin layer of Honey Amber straight from the jar.

Using your clear craft glue, squeeze out glue over your pencil lines.  Let the glue dry completely before proceeding.

Using the end of your skewer, dip into your Silks pot and dot paint gently over the page.  Begin with Black Ice and dot it in the areas of shadow. 

Next, dot around a combination of Nutmeg and Honey Amber for the background sand.

Layer in more colors to create dimension. 

Cover the starfish with Rich Cobalt and Pomegranate.  Finish it off with a layer of Emperor's Gold for highlight.

Use your colors to crate the optical illusion of shadow and dimension by altering both the size
of the dots and the intensity of color. Don't be afraid to dot right over the glue, Silks will adhere to pretty much anything.

Dotting with Silks is a very simple, yet effective way to achieve some marvelous optical illusions. 
The shimmer of light against mica, combined with the texture created by the glue makes for some spectacular results.

Thanks for visiting.

 

 

Shimmering Wisdom by Marti Wills

Hope you all had a wonderful day yesterday! Marti stop by to share some of her pieces she has been creating in some on-line classes with our products.

 Hi! Marti here.  I have had the most wonderful experience taking Dion Dior's Wisdom Circles workshop as part of the 21 Secrets workshop.  Dion is magnificent with Luminarte Twinkling H2O's and the Silks Acrylic Glazed.

She is such an incredible teacher and has brought meaning to my perspective on my art that I didn't know was there.  This one was done using Twinkling H2O's shimmering watercolors.

This one uses Luminarte Silks Acrylic Glazed - Luminarte products makes my work glow like nothing I have ever used!

Thanks for visiting!

Enter today!! Giveaway for Dion Dior’s online class - A Taste of Silks

Sign up while you still can for Dion Dior A Taste of Silks! This is such a great learning opportunity for anyone who is curious about the Silks Acrylic Glaze. You will want to take this online class and right now, Dion is doing a giveaway for one FREE spot in the class and a $40 coupon card from Luminarte.

Dion here, I'm so excited to officially launch my new online workshop A Taste of Silks. This wonderful new 2-week class begins May 18th, 2012.

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Silks Acrylic Glaze are a new product from  Luminarte. They are beautiful, shimmering fluid acrylics that are so versatile they can be used on almost any surface. For a sneak peak into this class, take a look at my new video.
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To celebrate the official launch of this class, I am thrilled to announce a Silks giveaway--you could win a place in this fabulous class, along with a $40 coupon card from Luminarte. Simply leave a comment on my blog Dion Dior & More telling me what you love most about the video, and why you'd like to learn about acrylics.

For a second chance to win, simply share this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, then go to my blog, Dion Dior & More and leave a second comment with a link to your share. I'll be randomly drawing a winner next weekend, so don't forget to include your email address so I can contact you when you win.

Registration is now open. For more information, or to register, please click here.

Good luck and thanks for checking in. xx

The Wisdom of Life

Today, I had to share these gorgeous pictures of Dion Dior mandala! The pictures are absolutely stunning and if you ever get a chance of taking a class from her, jump at the opportunity!

 

 

Dion here, most of us engage in art, particularly art journaling, as a way to connect to a deep part of ourselves.  It gives us a channel to understanding ourselves, what we're made of, and what we are capable of.  Art, in and of itself, is therapy. Anyone who has ever engaged in a creative or artistic pursuit knows the therapeutic benefits first hand of doing so. And the reason art journaling, scrap-booking, sketch-book keeping, or any number of other artistic pursuits has gained so much momentum, is because more and more people are discovering that art is a powerful way to connect to their creative soul, explore their own possibilities, and demystify some of their issues.  In my mind, every single person on the planet is born with a creative soul, but for a plethora of reasons, very few ever get to embrace it.

 

 

 I have been actively engaged in delivering several of my online classes this week, and one in particular, Wisdom Circles, has given me lots of food for thought. This is where I made the connection.

 

There are over 500 people currently enrolled in 21 Secrets and although not all of them have found their way into Wisdom Circles yet, there are over 100 participants who have.  The circles they are producing and the experiences they are sharing is truly humbling and very very moving. I've had goosebumps on my skin and tears in my eyes every time I read their stories, considered their questions, and gazed upon their work. If you'd like to see some of their work, I encourage you to visit the Wisdom Circles Flickr Group., or the 21 Secrets Flickr Group.  If you'd like more information about Wisdom Circles and 21 Secrets, please click here.

 

 

 I discovered the art of making mandalas about ten years ago.  I was convinced that I was not an artist because I couldn't draw the perfect landscape, or capture the contours of a simple hand.  But when I saw a beautiful, simple meaningful mandala I knew I had found something that I could connect to.

Creating a circle is so powerful, so meditative, and so therapeutic.  I become a prolific creator of mandalas, and a hungry consumer of mandala history and theory.  So now, whenever I feel blocked, (which is often), I stop, breathe, and place a dot in the center of my page.  From there, I let the creative flow take over and just move gently around the circle, letting my creative energy and symbolism flow down my arm and onto the page.  It releases any blocks, along with any tension I am feeling in that moment, freeing me completely to create.

 

 

 

This page was done using Silks Acrylic Glaze over pen journaling, and under flat watercolor.

Thanks for checking in. xx

 

Please take the time to visit Dion Dior & More Blog and check out her online classes.

Thank you for visiting.

Ageless Play by Dion Dior

Let's welcome back Dion Dior with this exquisite journal page of beautiful color flowers! I love her take about laughing more in life. Enjoy.

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Dion Dior here, too few of us laugh out loud, too often we constrain our laughter in favor of chuckles or composure. We simply don't laugh as heartily as we should any more. What is worse, is more often than not, we fail to see the humorous side of our lives. We forget that the only true requirement of being alive is to live responsibly! At no time are we expected to live 'seriously', that is a burden I think we place upon ourselves.

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There are times when the world feels overly serious, devoid of humor.  But that is probably just my own perception, my own creation, my own reaction or projection.  Don't you think life would be easier if our responses to stressful situations were more light-hearted? Taking life less seriously doesn't mean living less responsibly, it simply means that much tension can be dissipated, that negativity can be...well...negated, and our responses, acceptances, and influence can be more effective.

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Humor frees us from negativity, and playfulness frees us from seriousness.  The inner critic feeds on seriousness, it feeds on perfection.  I recently saw a post of Facebook that said:

"The pursuit of excellence is gratifying and healthy.  The pursuit of perfection is frustrating, neurotic, and a terrible waste of time." 

~ Edwin Bliss

 

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Never, in my mind, is a statement more true than this.  Especially when put in the context of art.  I don't know about you, but I find perfect art rather boring.  Don't get me wrong.  I admire the skill and talent of the artist, their masterful grasp of technique and composition.  However, it does nothing for me.  I feel no stirring in my blood, no whizzing in my gut. 

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But to look at art that is bursting with color, energy, movement, more color, interpretation...these are the elements that excite me.  There is no fast track to finding our own artistic style.  It takes years of practice, experimentation, learning, inspiration, and most of all play.  Yes...I said play!! Something I don't do nearly enough of.

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In recent weeks I've been preparing my upcoming online class "A Taste of Silks".   Acrylics are an extraordinary medium that are sadly misunderstood or taken too seriously.  In order for me to show the versatility of these exquisite paints, I have had to get down and dirty, I have had to play.  I mean really play. I have splattered my studio with Silks, been up to my elbows in them, and felt at times like a mad-sceintist with shimmer all over her face. My fingernails have been like sparkling rainbows and my drawing table looks like it is covered in tiny little jewels.  And I'm happy to say that results of my labor is proving to be exciting.

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This sketchbook page is a small part of what I have been preparing.  I was very lucky to receive a yummy little box of goodies from Creative Imaginations.  They license several Luminarte products, in addition to the Twinkling H2O's, and were keen to let me try some of their other shimmering products.  For this page I used a combination of their Radiant Rain Shimmering Mists,  Radiant Rain Color Concentrates, and Radiant Rain Pourables, under a stunning layer of Silks Acrylic Glaze.  These products are iterations of Leslie Ohnstad's highly successful range of Twinkling H2O's and all I can say is WOW!!

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I was astounded at the intensity of the pigment, the versatility of the products, and the subtlety and beauty of the shimmer.  Yep, it sounds like a lot in one page, but if you let go and allow yourself to play, you'll be amazed at the results. I'll be sharing some of these amazing and wonderful techniques using Luminarte's new range of  Silks Acrylic Glaze, as well as other mixed media in my upcoming 2-lesson workshop.  If you'd like more information, please click here.

Thanks for checking in. xx

A Taste of Silks by artist Dion Dior

Well, it seems my world is an ocean of shimmer right now. Have you tried Luminarte's new line of Silks Acrylic Glaze yet?  Some of you may have seen me use them in my work before, and if you're doing 21 Secrets, you would have seen me use them in one of my videos in Wisdom Circles. 

Seriously, these stunning, silky acrylic paints have to be seen to be believed.  They are brand new on the market and are a translucent, acrylic glaze version of Twinkling H2O's.  Created by the ever talented Leslie Ohnstad, senior designer for Luminarte, who responded to a need in the market for a versatile, light-fast, waterproof iteration of her hugely successful line of twinkling watercolor paints.

No, I'm not on the payroll for Luminarte, and no I've never met Leslie face to face, but I've spoken to her on the phone, and I must say, she is one of the kindest, most positive people I have ever met.  I admire her talent, her generosity, and her passion, and when I came across her beautiful products by accident, I knew I had found my niche.  I simply LOVE these products, and more importantly, the feedback I get on my work when I use them is amazing. The colors are vibrant, the quality is excellent, and the shimmer and sparkle is breathtaking (even if they are not always easy to photograph).

I wrote Mastering Twinks as a kind of love letter to Luminarte, and because I would get asked ALL the time about how to use them. Now I'm following it up with a brand new class called A Taste of Silks.  So many artists don't know how to use acrylic glaze's, let alone how versatile they can be, so I wanted to share some of my Silky tricks and techniques.  In fact, as I wrote these classes, I learnt so many new tricks along the way, and I'm still discovering new ways to use them.
 

In A Taste of Silks, you'll learn about the basic principles of acrylic paints and glazes, I'll talk about the principles of luminescence and the dance of light and color, and I'll take you through some fabulous step-by-step projects that are simply gorgeous.  I use Silks mostly on paper and canvas, but the amazing thing about them is that they can be used on just about any surface.

This 2-week class comes to you in video and PDFs and starts on May 18th.  The cost is $30 for the class plus a $10 materials fee, and to celebrate the launch, Luminarte are giving every person who registers a $40 Luminarte Gift Card for the cost of the $10 material fee.  That is amazing value...in anybody's language.

So, as I said, right now I'm swimming in an ocean of shimmer, so I thought it would be fun to share this journal page I did in Australia recently.  These colorful tropical fish were done using Neocolor II water soluble crayons, Angora watercolor paints, and Silks Acrylic Glaze.  The detail was done in black ink and white get pen.

For more information on A Taste of Silks, or to register, please click here.

Thanks for checking in xx

Twinkling Class Giveaway! Enter today!

Hello everyone, I wanted to keep you posted on an online class from Dion Dior called Mastering Twinks. Her class is a must if you use our Twinks because she teaches so many things about color and not to mention all the tips, tricks, and techniques with them. Right now, Dion Dior is giving 2 FREE spots in her Mastering Twinks class and a set (6) of Twinkling H20's. Details below and Good Luck!

Mastering Twinks, an online class that takes you into the shimmering, dancing world of Twinkling H2O's begins its second run in less than two weeks.  Twinkling H2O's are shimmering, glistening watercolor paints, created by color extraordinaire Leslie Ohnstad from Luminarte. They are laced with mica minerals and have to be seen to be believed. There are over 200 incredible colors and they come in a variety of pot sizes and sets. 

 

In Mastering Twinks, I introduce you to the world of twinkling, luminescent watercolor paint, and take you on a shimmering journey through tricks, tips and techniques for getting the most from them. This three week class is pdf based with a private online forum for sharing and discussion. But beware, they are addictive!

Here's what some of the participants of the first run of Mastering Twinks had to say:

"Thanks Dion. I love the Twinks and love the abundance of information
you are sharing with us."

- MV 

"Thanks so much for a wonderful class and for the wonderful 'book' that you prepared. It is a
treasure. The only thing better would be to have you living next door to me or vice-versa."

-Sheila

"Dion, Thank you for the incredible information you have provided to each and every one of us. I
think you have a terrific book in the making. I also think there was a great deal of talent in this class."

-Pat

"I had so much fun playing with Twinks in this class! Normally, I'm not much of a stamper but the
lovely Twinks made it so much FUN!!"

-FFY

"Dion, I love this class. Especially when loaded onto an iPad so I can enlarge the
diagrams and not have to admit to needing reading glasses!"

-Jacqui

 

To celebrate this second run, I will be giving away two spots on Mastering Twinks along with a special collection of 6 mini pots of Twinkling H2O's.  To go into the drawing please leave a comment on my blog Dion Dior  telling me why you would like to take this class. For a second chance to win, post about this giveaway on your Facebook page, and/or blog and leave a second comment on my blog Dion Dior with your link.  I'll be randomly drawing two winners next week.

For more information on Mastering Twinks, or to register, click here.

Thanks for checking in xx

Twinkling Lotus Flowers by artist Dion Dior and our Winner from our Weekend Giveaway!

Thank you so much for all your comments over the weekend. Our Winner is just starting to express herself artistically. Congratulations to .......................Karen Borusiewicz!

We hope our product's will help you create a beautiful gift for your mother for mother's day and please share it with us on our Luminarte Fan page! If you could send an email to citonya@comcast.net with your shipping address so that I can get your goodies sent out to you, I would appreciate it. Thanks again for all the comments and we will be doing this again before the end of the month, SO STAY TUNED to our blog!

Speaking of Mother's Day Dion Dior is sharing a beautiful journal page that any mother would be proud to receive as a gift. Enjoy.

It really was a joyful trip down under, we took a little road trip to take in some of Australia's best views. We just found a lovely spot and stayed there for a few days enjoying the pool and beach fun.

We made our way back to Grandma's house and spent our final week in Australia here.  Autumn is slowly descending on the Southern Hemisphere and our beach days where numbered, but our wonderful vacation was not over till the fat lady sings...so to speak!

In the meantime, it's back to my sketchbook. I have so many pages to share, and this was one I did sitting in my mum's backyard. She's a wonderful gardener (something I did not inherit), I'm not really sure what they are, but they looked a bit like lotus flowers.  Either way, they called out for Twinkling H2O's. And given my "Mastering Twinks" class begins again on April 13 through LuminArte, I'm immersing myself once more in these exquisite, shimmering watercolor paints. It feels like home!!  Registration now, and you can click here for more information.

Thanks for checking in. xx

Mastering the Twinks class taught by artist Dion Dior

Mastering Twinks

Dion Dior here, I am so exited to announce that Luminarte, the makers of Twinkling H2O's will be offering a special run of my online class, "Mastering Twinks".   This class will commence on April 13 and registration is now open. As part of this special run, Luminarte will be offering a $25 gift certificate for $10 with your registration. You can use your gift certificate on any of their luscious products. 

Leslie Ohnstad, Senior Designer and Inventor of Twinkling H2O's and Silks has created over 200 stunning, shimmering, twinkling colors. You can check out the products at her website dreamingcolor.com. Aimed at all levels, this class will introduce you to the wonderful world of luminescent watercolor paints.  It is a unique opportunity to loose yourself in shimmering watercolor technique through a wide range of exercises and step by step projects. 

Click here for more information and to register.

Thanks for checking in xx