Jean Pederson Combo Set

Mixed Media Portraits: Beyond Realism

Here’s a quick glimpse of what’s included for you:

• Think in layers — Jean shows you how
• The ONE big risk with mixed media and how to overcome it!
• Let go of the formality of realism (lighten up while still creating quality portraits!)
• Know when your project is done (when more becomes too much!)
• Do THIS and you’ll be limiting yourself — and you don’t want that
• Interpret rather than copy — you’ll LOVE the results!
• Create a little mystery for your viewers!
• Why working with portraits and figures can be very satisfying!
• Portraits are so much more than painting eyes, a nose, and a mouth (let Jean show you how to bring in some creativity!)
• Shed those traditional beliefs and expectations and have fun with portraits!
• The number one question you should ask yourself during every mixed media project (this will really open your mind!)
• Want the wow factor Jean has? Try THIS!
• The BEST way to find your ideal subject (never struggle with this again!)
• It’s okay to exaggerate!
• So much more!

If your portraits can’t be described as exciting, unique, and authentic, but you would like them to be, this is for you!

You’re about to feel how liberating it will be when you begin to interpret your subject rather than stick with a traditional, realistic approach.

You’ll no longer be painting exactly what and who you see … you’ll be conveying the inner soul of your subject … who they are outside of just their physicality.

You’ll hear Jean Pederson ask, “How much information do you have to give your audience to communicate the idea of a portrait?” With that question as a foundation, she’ll show you what you need to include and what’s best to leave up to your viewer’s imagination. This concept alone will help you to stop focusing on the tiny details that can be frustrating in portrait painting. You’ll now be enjoying the freedom that comes with creating your own interpretation of the person you’re painting.

As Jean says, “Let the viewer fill in the blanks.”

This is exactly what you need so that your portraits will have the exciting, unique, and authentic characteristics you’re looking for.

Learning Is Fun

You will delight in Jean’s fun and uplifting teaching style. She is an excellent instructor who thoroughly explains each step as she demonstrates a full start-to-finish mixed media painting, titled Abeyance.

Her love for mixed media and her expertise in capturing the essence of a person shine through as she delivers over two hours of instruction for you. Jean also shares her personal insights on why she loves mixed media art and how you can avoid its biggest risk — you definitely want to know this before you start your next project!

Jean says that including collage in your portraits is an extra surprise — like a cherry on top! She even shows you how to make collage papers in a bonus segment of the video.

From showing you the various tools she uses and through each phase of the painting, you’ll experience it all. Be sure to watch until the very end, when Jean adds a surprising final touch to her painting — now you’ll know one of her special techniques that makes her art stand out!

Mixed Media Portraits: Beyond Realism with Jean Pederson is one video every artist who is interested in painting portraits should own. You’ll want to refer to it again and again as you get a feel for how using mixed media can help you tell the story of your subject in a way that is both personal and flattering.

You’ll be sharing your own artistic flair through your portraits, creating just enough mystery to captivate your viewers, giving them the opportunity to use their own imagination to fill in the blanks you’ve left for them.

Your portraits will attract attention and create curiosity. They’ll spark conversation as people ask “How did you do that?” And then it will be up to you whether to share your newfound secrets!

Mixed media will bring a new level of fun and freedom to your work because you’ll want to try so many new tools and techniques — now you’ll have the skills you need to do that!

Mixed Media: People

Here’s some of what you’ll experience in Mixed Media: People

• You won’t be bound by the rules of traditional figure painting
• You’ll discover how to find your own voice and express your personal style in your artwork
• You’ll see how to maintain excellent quality while having a ton of fun using mixed media
• How to really grab the viewer’s eye (no matter what your subject!)
• The ONE thing that is most important in your paintings (you may not know this!)
• How to achieve high quality in mixed media work
• Get that smooth, workable surface the first time! (Jean shows you how!)
• Choose the BEST colors to express your desired mood!
• Which wash to use where...
• The best way to keep things simple while getting great results — every artist needs this!
• Don’t EVER do THIS with acrylic paint!
• The ONE color that is scientifically proven to be more effective than any other!
• Think in FLAT shapes, and just see what that gets you!
• Don’t leave out the final adjustments…
• Collage makes all the difference (Jean walks you through it all!)
• And so much more…

If you want your artwork to reflect your own style, you might need to step off the traditional path and go with artist Jean Pederson on a fun adventure to discover how to mix things up while maintaining high quality!

For Jean, combining paint with other mediums makes working with portraits and figures very exciting! By incorporating mixed media, Jean is able to develop interesting details and surface qualities that aren’t normally found in more traditional paintings.

You now have the opportunity to learn from Jean so you can feel the satisfaction that comes when you create a visual dialogue that invites questions and even challenges viewers to shift their expectations of what figures should look like.

And even if figures aren’t your thing … you’ll see that what Jean demonstrates for you can be applied to any other subject and style. 

Take a look at this quick preview to see a bit of what Jean has for you in Mixed Media: People.

Find Your Own Voice

You’ll be surprised at how simplifying a figure by using mixed media techniques will help you discover your own special blend of technical skill and creative expression. This is what will allow your artwork to begin reflecting who you are as a person and as an artist.

Imagine yourself tapping into the energy and fun of employing a reference simply as a catalyst for design, bringing in flat shapes and letting go of worrying about the local color, pattern, or value found in traditional methods.

Jean shows you how to interpret your subject matter so your artwork is your own and not just a duplication of what you see. 

“Abstract” Doesn’t Mean Weird!

Somewhere in your art training, you may have been told that “abstract” is a code word for “weird” — and that if you wanted to be taken seriously as an artist, you shouldn’t do anything that could be considered abstract.

For her entire career, Jean Pederson has proven this to be FALSE!

As you begin to understand the beauty found in mixed media, Jean will help you shift into using the subject only as a catalyst to interpret your imagery … this “Reference Without Rules” method gives you the freedom to have fun and be much less predictable in your paintings.

Along the way, you might find a new inner creative that not only surprises you, but also delights your fans and followers!

Simpler Ways to See

With a formal degree in physical education and years of experience as a professional artist, Jean is just the right instructor to share her keen sense of the human figure. She offers deep insights into how our eyes perceive what we see — and this lets you create art in your own voice and in your own style without ever compromising quality.

Jean’s teaching style is friendly and encouraging. She knows the value of intertwining instruction with immediate practical application and, throughout the video, will encourage you to try what she just did so you get a feel for why she does things a certain way.

This is how you will build new knowledge and skill — because the WHY helps you make sense of the HOW!

Jean openly shares her thought processes and the deeper meaning of her decisions, making it much easier for you to achieve success by seeing the benefit of the WHY and not just repeating the HOW.

Practice right along with Jean and, in no time, you’ll be hooked on mixed media!

In addition, you’ll see:

• An exhibit of the artist’s work
• Insights from the artist
• A high-speed view of Jean’s demonstration
• BONUS: A printable version of Jean’s drawing so you can practice
• BONUS: Making collage papers

DEMO CHAPTER OUTLINE 

1. Introduction
2. Project Materials —basic overview of materials to have on hand
3. The Value of Good Design —The TWO THINGS you need to know to grab the viewer's eye and make a great painting (no matter what your subject)
4. Compose Your Collage —repetition with variety is a really good rule! Keep it simple.
5. Prepare Your Surface — how to prepare a collaged surface in preparation for painting--what you need to know to get a smooth, workable surface that stays put!
6. Choose & Place Your Subject — simple lines no detail needed. 
7. Choose Your Color Palette — ideas on what colors might best express the mood you want in your painting.
8. Dark Background Wash — mix and paint a dark transparent wash to identify the figure within the composition. Learn What NOT to do with acrylic paint.
9. Light Neutral Background Wash — complete the background of the painting with a light neutral. 
10. First Wash on the Figure — think FLAT shapes, Color and Temperature can help things appear to recede in space or come forward.
11. Develop the Painting — still thinking flat and simple, glaze additional layers to get a good variety of darks vs lights and warms vs cools.
12. Add More Collage — weave it in and out of the figure.
13. Final Adjustments — adjust the painting so that nothing takes away from the figure. Add final flourishes.

DVD Includes:

Painting Demonstration - 105 min.
Interview - 5 min.
Exhibit of Works - 3 min.
High Speed View - 1 min.
Making Collage Papers - 13 min.
Other Creative Catalyst Videos - 18 min.