Abstracts & Mixed Media The Innovative Artist Helen Haminsky

AA0391

Explore abstract art with a mix of media and methods, under the guidance of expert artist Helen Kaminsky.

Size: 216x280 mm

Illustrations: 450

Pages: 176

The Innovative Artist series provides a unique insight into the methods and materials used by leading contemporary artists who are pushing the boundaries of their art. Through numerous examples of the author’s work alongside practical demonstrations, each book provides a fascinating exploration of the artist’s creative process that will inspire the reader to move forward on their own artistic journey.

Abstracts and Mixed Media is aimed at artists who wish to explore the possibilities offered by mixed media in new and impressive ways. Helen's love of colour and experimentation is carried through layers of imagery and texture with a gloriously vibrant mix of traditional and imaginative new techniques. It is the experimental combination of these methods that gives each painting its unique glowing quality.

Artists will discover different ways of mixing and blending paint with unusual materials, collage techniques, fun printing methods, mark-making with found objects, and original ways to incorporate homemade stencils and stamps into their work. Helen leads the reader through her exciting range of techniques using charcoal, gesso, oil pastels, wet and dry media, printing and mark-making materials, and collage.

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

Inspiration 10

Demonstration: The Toolmaker 12

The art of the abstract 18

Colour 20

Demonstration: Rock Strata 28

Demonstration: The Meeting of the Waters 30

Composition 36

Demonstration: Playtime with Matisse 40

Design 42

Demonstration: Rocky Road 42

Interpretation 46

Demonstration: Pollen for the Bees 46

My working process 52

Demonstration: Cottage on a Hillside 57

Materials and tools 60

Mixing the media 72

Creating backgrounds 74

Demonstration: New Directions 80

Demonstration: An Artist’s Garden 87

Demonstration: A Different Perspective 95

Collage 100

Demonstration: Retro City 114

Veiling and lifting 120

Demonstration: Watermelon Woman 122

Transparency 130

Printing 134

Mark-making 144

Demonstration: Red Lilies 168

Varnishing and completing 174

Index 176

Acknowledgements

About Helen Kaminsky -

Art has always been a passion for popular mixed media artist Helen Kaminsky and her work has evolved through her love of experimenting with different techniques. She is predominantly self-taught, working intuitively and energetically over a diverse range of subjects. Since attending a mixed media course at Central Saint Martins School of Art, London, Helen has gathered together an astonishing range of versatile effects, loving the challenges offered by using different and unusual materials. The synergies of the techniques used combine to establish an intuitive, original and diverse portfolio that has attracted the attention of many art collectors internationally. She is a member of the SAA and recent awards include their Artist of the Year Award for Across the Bay (Highly Commended) and Red Angel (Commended). Helen has also had work selected for the Society of Women Artists exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London.

Helen has written for The New Artist Magazine and has also produced various articles and demos for the SAA's Paint Magazine.

Helen lives in Cheshire, UK.