"Paint" like Van Gogh with Oil Pastels

Have you heard about the Van Gogh immersive experience that's been a huge hit around the world? So far over 2 million people have enjoyed it.  I haven't been yet, but I'm excited to go!  To celebrate this event I created a Van Gogh inspired mirror using Van Gogh Oil Pastels from Royal Talens.  It was so easy to get that impasto feel using pastels by simply painting the base of my wood mirror in a dark blue.  I call it the impostor impasto technique! It was a relaxing way to study Starry night which was my inspiration for this mirror.  Even though I didn't interpret it literally, I was able to get the look of it with these amazing highly pigmented oil pastels!  Make sure to check out the beautiful Royal Talens craft supplies!  Now get out there and Make Your Mark!

Of course you photograph anything Van Gogh with sunflowers!

Small strokes in bold colors make the perfect imposter impasto!

Everything I used for this project here:

Royal Talens Oil Pastels Set of 12: https://bit.ly/3xVEcKn Royal Talens Oil Pastels Set of 24: https://amzn.to/3dlPVtF Royal Talens Oil Pastels Set of 60: https://amzn.to/2U8l50O Royal Talens Pastel Varnish: https://bit.ly/3haZbSG Fish Tank Glass: https://amzn.to/35TLeTQ E6000 Glue: https://amzn.to/2VfF248 Dark Blue Matte Chalky Finish: https://bit.ly/3jjCa2x

Watch how to make this mirror here OR watch

how to make it on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/ehgUHam07Fk

Love the crushed fish tank glass!  It gives the mirror more dimension and softened the 

edges of the mirror

Paint like a master!

Scrap Wood & Scrap Fabric Fridas

Waterslide decals and iron-on tshirt transfers are my jam!  Growing up I used to make elaborate stencils with contact paper and spray paint the shapes on my t-shirts because there was just no way to make an at-home transfer.  Now, with a home computer and inkjet printer you can transfer ANY image onto almost any substrate.  I used waterslide decals on raw wood and tshirt transfer paper for these funky Frida Art Dolls.  Holiday gifts are already being made my sweet friends!  Watch how I made these and perhaps they'll inspire you to create some of your own.  Heck, use photos of your kids with fun paper doll bodies.  If you can make it on a computer you can print it out and transfer it.  Have fun and Make Your Mark! 

The fabulous Fridas!

I used scrap wood for the paddle dolls.

Everything I used for this project:

Hiipoo Inkjet T-shirt Transfer for Dark Fabrics: https://amzn.to/2W68BrM

Hiipoo Inkjet Waterslide Decal transfers: https://amzn.to/3eJRS41

MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to make them here OR

Watch how I made these on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/6AJWeanvm30

Make these smaller for ornaments and hang them on your holiday tree!

Take part in ART!

Beautiful Happy Mail Ideas

You might know by now that I love happy mail.  I love making it, sending it and getting it!  These Gustav Klimt inspired pieces are from my latest batch.  I even went faux wax seal crazy with hot glue and foliage from my backyard.  I used the bottom of a flat drinking glass and some good, clear hot glue from Surebonder!  It's a great way to seal a letter and it looks just beautiful!  Why not make someone's day and send them a little hello with a stamp on it?  I'll bet you'll get one in return!

My stack of Klimt inspired stationery

Hot glue "wax" seals using the bottom of a glass

Why not add a seal on the card inside, too!

Love the look of this little daisy!

Everything I used for this project:

Awesome Gel Press Products: https://amzn.to/364hn95 DecoArt Gold Paint: https://bit.ly/3dQbqmA & https://bit.ly/36kH8UY Surebonder Glue Guns & Products: https://amzn.to/3bOpfiZ Stencils I used: https://amzn.to/3jWwoUP ART SPRAYS...Put these in a spray bottle: https://amzn.to/3jWNBNV MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to make this Klimt inspired happy mail here!

Surebonder makes colorful glue stiks in every color you can think of!

Make someone's day and send out some happy mail!

Desk Makeover with RE-DESIGN WITH PRIMA!

As much as I love Ikea for a shelf or quick, functional fix, I'm not a huge fan of their fabric or color choices. Can we say BORING?! This Ikea desk was plain white, nicked in a few places and truly in need of a new look.  The best part is that I scored it for $15, so basically it was a canvas for me to experiment on.  Lately I've been working with RE-DESIGN WITH PRIMA products and they've changed the way I look at furniture makeovers, so I decided to try their Decor Transfers on the face of the drawers & cabinet. WOW do they pack a punch!  I'll leave a list of what I used below, but definitely check out RE-DESIGN WITH PRIMA and paint up some of your Ikea furniture!  

Now get out there and Make Your Mark!

Caravan Decor Transfer and brass handles really spruced this up!

A nice desk makes you want to sit at it and even pay your bills!

Everything I used for this project:

Re-Design with Prima Caravans Decor Transfer: https://bit.ly/3dSrAMB Bohemian Florals Clearly Aligned Decor Stamps: https://bit.ly/36yoLfD White Decor Ink Pad: https://bit.ly/3wmmvCr Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint: https://bit.ly/3jjCa2x MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to make this here!

or watch how to make it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/lXDidLSX_zU

Generally I'm not a huge fan of red white & blue in decor, but the light blues and different shades really made this pattern sing to me!

Time to sit down and start writing another book, right?!

News to share!

 Hey friends! I've been absent for a while, but I have the BEST excuse.  I've been filming a new craft show! It's been a very hectic/exciting/wonderful time and as soon as I'm done with the season I'll be back here on the regular, I promise! In the meantime I wanted to share this press release just put out by Discover Plus! 

Earth Day Tree & 6 Earth Day Ornaments

April 22nd is Earth Day!  It's a day to raise awareness about pollution and to celebrate the environment of our blue planet!  Personally, I try to celebrate the earth EVERY day and more importantly I try my darndest to use upcycled and recycled materials in my art.  I know it's hard, but truly every little bit helps.  Did you know that 8 million tons of plastic go into the ocean every year?  Our oceans are so important and we're just destroying them.  In honor of Earth Day 2021 I'm making an Earth Day Tree using upcycled materials and things that fall off of my tree in the backyard!  Use what you have sweet friends and always Make Your Mark!I used a tomato cage as the base and it worked perfectly!  The plaster ornaments are my favorite!

Everything I used for this project:

Royal Talens Amsterdam Acrylic Markers: https://bit.ly/3sgqFtw

Royal Talens Amsterdam Acrylic Inks: https://bit.ly/3wSLCy7 AND https://bit.ly/2QgiqAyMY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Watch how to make my Earth Day Tree here or watch how to make it on Youtube here:  https://youtu.be/HNa0LiDRgMc

A close-up of my earth day ornaments using plastic lids and salad clams, twigs and seashells

Don't have a sketch pad to doodle in?  Try colorizing some fallen leaves!

Dripping ink on plastic lids is mesmerizing AND they make beautiful ornaments!

This project reminds me of mycelia which impact 90% of the growing plants on our planet.

I love seashells and have always thought they are the true jewels of the sea!

Happy Earth Day!

Paper Lanterns with Gel Press

Summer is almost here and you're going to want to make your outdoor space as magical as possible.  I used my favorite Gel Press printed works of art for this lantern project!  If you have a favorite piece, photocopy it several times OR use all different patterns and colors!  Just a little glue and some long coffee stirrers is all you'll need!  Check out the video below.  Now get out there and Make Your Mark sweet friends!

Glowing and gorgeous!

All along the pathway in my backyard!

Working on my Gel Press

Everything I used for this project:

Awesome Gel Press Products: https://amzn.to/364hn95 Americana Acrylics: https://amzn.to/2UFQwgQ MY AMAZON STORE: https://www.amazon.com/shop/markmontano

Long coffee stirrers: https://amzn.to/31sKByw

Watch how to make them here OR

Watch how to make them on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/C37Ph_ABkRU

I love the geometry!

Happy Summer, possums!