The Innovative Artist: Abstracts and Mixed Media

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

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.

Book 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