Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhonda Criss.
Hi Rhonda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started researching fluid art after seeing a couple of videos online. I thought to myself “Oh, I think I can do that!”. I had no idea until I got into it how much of a science it truly is. I purchased some necessary supplies and started my journey by finally just trying my first painting. It still hangs in my office today! Once I started, I just kept researching different fluid art techniques, which paints and pouring mediums to try, and looking for anything I could “pour” on: canvases, ceramic tiles, ceramic figurines, vases, cradleboards, wood rounds, other wood cut-outs, even Christmas ornaments. I work full-time and work remotely, so my painting usually happens in the evenings after work just to wind down from the day. And oftentimes most of my weekends are spent painting or varnishing or resining. I find it truly relaxing to choose colors, mix paints, and think of which technique to try next. You get a vision in your head of what you *think* something should look like when you’re done, but it hardly ever turns out exactly how you envision in your mind. Which is even better, I think! Being able to look at what you’ve created on your own and how it brings you or someone else joy, peace, happiness, or even if it conjures up other feelings – it’s all about feeling something, and I feel art is able to do that for a lot of people – including myself. I find it relaxing and rejuvenating, and I can now admit that I’m somewhat of a fluid art ‘addict.’ I have opened an Etsy shop and have sold a few things, but I’m still really learning and hoping to get my art out there for others to see and enjoy!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think in the grand scheme of life, it’s been a smooth-ish road. Of course, there are days that I’ll pour or have a vision and get everything set up and actually do the painting only to realize that it really didn’t turn out even remotely how I wanted and end up scraping the canvas or tile and starting over. So, there can be those days that nothing really turns out that looks “good” to you and you end up putting it aside and either waiting for it to dry where you then re-evaluate or you just escape it and move on. But as I mentioned, there are far greater things to stress over than being creative, so I use it to relax and not stress myself out if something doesn’t turn out as planned!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m just a beginner in this fluid art journey, and I have tried a lot of different techniques and pouring surfaces. I’m not sure I can choose a favorite, but I do love using highly pigmented pigments or paints that just shimmer when they’re varnished or resined. I love the finished pieces and how they sparkle and oftentimes, color shift with the light (or lack of). Lately, I’ve been doing more of the 6×6 ceramic tiles using the Shelee Art technique called blooming. Even though they sometimes do not turn out as I expect, they’re still all so beautiful once they’re complete, and I attach them to a 10×10 frame. I have a lot of those in my shop that are for sale. I joke (not really) with my husband that I want to do an entire wall in our house with them because they’re just beautiful! I also really enjoy pouring and creating art on old vinyl records. We have tons of vinyls because we are music lovers; but if we have more than 1 of a particular album, or if it’s scratched beyond repair, or if it’s just an old record that someone is throwing out, I will create art from those and also frame them or turn them into a clock. I love repurposing things and bringing life back to them, such as a vinyl record.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Honestly, what has worked for me is doing my research and watching a LOT of other very talented artists in this area. Their videos, reels, tutorials, and even posting in social media groups to clarify and learn a lot about a certain technique has really helped me along my journey. Also, a lot of trial and error!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HighTideCreations407
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/hightidecreations407
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/hightidecreations407
- Other: linktr.ee//hightidecreations407
Image Credits
Rhonda Criss
