alexakarabin

[alexakarabin]

WGVU's Kalamazoo Lively Arts - New Episode: Paper Dreams & Golden Schemes

Reflecting on a Decade of Creativity: My Journey as a Mixed-Media Artist

I’m thrilled to share that I was recently featured in a segment of Lively Arts by WGVU! It’s hard to believe that nearly ten years ago, I sat down for an interview with Lively Arts, and now I have the opportunity to reflect on how my work has evolved since then.

This recent interview allowed me to look back on my artistic journey while also looking forward to what lies ahead. The changes in my work over the past decade have been nothing short of transformative. From exploring new techniques to incorporating innovative materials, each step has added depth and meaning to my creative expression.

In the WGVU segment, I showcase the process of making paper—something I’ve become quite passionate about. There’s something incredibly satisfying about transforming raw materials into something beautiful and unique. One of the highlights of my work is my use of my grandmother's crushed jewelry, which I’ve turned into paint. This personal touch not only honors her memory but also adds a rich, textured element to my pieces.

I’m excited to share the video with you all, as it captures the essence of my artistic process and the stories behind my work. I’ll also be looking for a way to post my old interview from a decade ago, so you can see the evolution firsthand!

[alexakarabin]

My Black Friday Sale is live now- November 30th!

Find sales all over my site and use coupon code HAPPYHOLIDAYS for an ADDITIONAL 25% off orders $150 or more.

[alexakarabin]

My Final Two Shows are Coming Up...

You will find my work at these two events!

December 2nd 9:00am-4:00pm at the Kalamazoo Nature Center

My favorite place to holiday shop is the Buy Local Art and Gift Center at the Kalamazoo Nature Center! They have every special thing you could want to gift. I always have so much fun and it is fun seeing so many of your lovely faces (this is a popular event). I can’t wait to see you there.

Opening December 1st

The Starlite Collective Art Mart in the Park Trades Center (see dates below)! Studio 209 (the Saniwax Gallery) is hosting the Starlite Collective for their yearly Art Mart! You will find a variety of crafts and art. I will bring some Watercolor Paints, Prints, and small originals! It should be a fun event!

[alexakarabin]

November 16th-18th at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

One of my favorite places to holiday shop is the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Holiday Art Sale! Come check it out, the details are as follows…

[alexakarabin]

Fall Collection of Watercolor now Live!

[alexakarabin]

Best in Category at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Fair

Wow, was not expecting that! Thank you to the KIA and to all of my collectors who visited during the show!

[alexakarabin]

May 4th - 6th in Kalamazoo - Spring Nights Art Mart - 326 W Kalamazoo Ave #209

I am going to be back at the Park Trades Center after an almost 10 year hiatus! I will have a table of work (prints, paintings, and art supplies for you). Check it out in the Saniwax Gallery, #209 on the second floor. They will also be open for Art Hop on Friday 5:00-8:00. See the full details below!

[alexakarabin]

1954 / Silver Gem Pot Watercolor

This gem pot is made out of a variety of premium pigments, crushed glass, and a myriad of real crushed gems. It was inspired by the moon, and it reminds me of photographs from the 1950’s!

About These Watercolors

First of all, thank you for purchasing these handmade watercolors! This has been a passion project for me. They are special because they are made of a variety of texture, using a myriad of pigments that I have collected over the last 20 years. From hand-crushed stone from when I was 16 years old, to pigments from the Rembrandt Museum, to garage sale glitters, to my grandmothers crushed jewels, these paints represent my life in so many ways. I was asked countless times to sell them, and I hesitated at first because they are personal to me…until I remembered that collaboration between artists is a time-honored thing, and it should be embraced. We are making something together, now, and I can’t wait to see how you transform this material!

I’m not going to lie, these watercolors aren’t for the faint of heart! If you are looking for a smooth, even texture, turn back now! But have you ever used salt to texturize standard watercolors? And you rub away the salt and some sticks there, and it seems to recreate that aspect of nature that seems chaotic, but actually creates a series of fractals that are repeated over and over again in nature…….. maybe that’s just me, haha. Well, that’s what gave me the idea to make these. Also, I love painting insects and I was trying to represent them in a unique visual way that went beyond photo realism (aka, they sparkle, so I made sparkly paint). I inherited a large collection of my grandmother’s costume jewelry and jewelry making supplies, and I always knew I would use them in my art in some way. They became the source of inspiration for the watercolor. I would find a bead that looked like a beetle, and make a paint that emphasized the insect’s attributes using the pigments in my collection, finishing off with crushing the bead and mixing it in.

How to Use

Load the pan with water (aka fill the pot with a few drops of water), let sit for a few minutes and the surface of the paint will reconstitute. Load the area you are painting with clean water, and then introduce the reconstituted watercolor to the area. Add more or less depending on what you are trying to achieve. You can also use it as a glaze over dried areas of watercolor.

Large pieces of pigment should be secured with tiny bits of acrylic medium. I use a tiny brush and place small dots around the pigment. I always err on the side of caution if a piece is essential to the composition, secure it. You can paint on panel using a watercolor ground or an absorbent ground. In this case, you would want to seal the piece. Works on paper should be framed behind glass with a double mat or frame spacer.

Tips and Tricks

Watercolor can be used in so many ways, and experimentation is always the best way to learn! I suggest making a swatch test before using on final work. Try combining them with other watercolors and ink to create more depth and different color variations.

Things in nature that sparkle: water, wet stones, tree sap, dirt after first rain, snow, rain, insects, wet turtle shells, fish, birds… can you think of more things? Then paint that thing!

Warnings

Do not consume or use on skin due to abrasive pigments. Keep away from pets and children.

null

[alexakarabin]

Black Cat Gem Pot

This is less of a gem pot, and more of a high quality pigment paint. I carefully crafted this paint with the thought of the night sky in mind. There are different size and weights of glass included to give it some dimension and refraction. It has a slightly gold tinge because I wanted to give the effect of gold stars. This is a smooth paint.

This is going to be my personal go-to black paint FOREVER. I am very pleased with it.

About These Watercolors

First of all, thank you for purchasing these handmade watercolors! This has been a passion project for me. They are special because they are made of a variety of texture, using a myriad of pigments that I have collected over the last 20 years. From hand-crushed stone from when I was 16 years old, to pigments from the Rembrandt Museum, to garage sale glitters, to my grandmothers crushed jewels, these paints represent my life in so many ways. I was asked countless times to sell them, and I hesitated at first because they are personal to me…until I remembered that collaboration between artists is a time-honored thing, and it should be embraced. We are making something together, now, and I can’t wait to see how you transform this material!

I’m not going to lie, these watercolors aren’t for the faint of heart! If you are looking for a smooth, even texture, turn back now! But have you ever used salt to texturize standard watercolors? And you rub away the salt and some sticks there, and it seems to recreate that aspect of nature that seems chaotic, but actually creates a series of fractals that are repeated over and over again in nature…….. maybe that’s just me, haha. Well, that’s what gave me the idea to make these. Also, I love painting insects and I was trying to represent them in a unique visual way that went beyond photo realism (aka, they sparkle, so I made sparkly paint). I inherited a large collection of my grandmother’s costume jewelry and jewelry making supplies, and I always knew I would use them in my art in some way. They became the source of inspiration for the watercolor. I would find a bead that looked like a beetle, and make a paint that emphasized the insect’s attributes using the pigments in my collection, finishing off with crushing the bead and mixing it in.

How to Use

Load the pan with water (aka fill the pot with a few drops of water), let sit for a few minutes and the surface of the paint will reconstitute. Load the area you are painting with clean water, and then introduce the reconstituted watercolor to the area. Add more or less depending on what you are trying to achieve. You can also use it as a glaze over dried areas of watercolor.

Large pieces of pigment should be secured with tiny bits of acrylic medium. I use a tiny brush and place small dots around the pigment. I always err on the side of caution if a piece is essential to the composition, secure it. You can paint on panel using a watercolor ground or an absorbent ground. In this case, you would want to seal the piece. Works on paper should be framed behind glass with a double mat or frame spacer.

Tips and Tricks

Watercolor can be used in so many ways, and experimentation is always the best way to learn! I suggest making a swatch test before using on final work. Try combining them with other watercolors and ink to create more depth and different color variations.

Things in nature that sparkle: water, wet stones, tree sap, dirt after first rain, snow, rain, insects, wet turtle shells, fish, birds… can you think of more things? Then paint that thing!

Warnings

Do not consume or use on skin due to abrasive pigments. Keep away from pets and children.

[alexakarabin]

Purple Moon Gem Pot

This gem pot is made out of a variety of premium pigments, crushed glass, and a myriad of real crushed gems. The texture is inspired by the moon. This purple is a vibrant purple! For some reason my photos of this purple are color corrected, but I would like to mention how much more vibrant this purple is than in the photos.

About These Watercolors

First of all, thank you for purchasing these handmade watercolors! This has been a passion project for me. They are special because they are made of a variety of texture, using a myriad of pigments that I have collected over the last 20 years. From hand-crushed stone from when I was 16 years old, to pigments from the Rembrandt Museum, to garage sale glitters, to my grandmothers crushed jewels, these paints represent my life in so many ways. I was asked countless times to sell them, and I hesitated at first because they are personal to me…until I remembered that collaboration between artists is a time-honored thing, and it should be embraced. We are making something together, now, and I can’t wait to see how you transform this material!

I’m not going to lie, these watercolors aren’t for the faint of heart! If you are looking for a smooth, even texture, turn back now! But have you ever used salt to texturize standard watercolors? And you rub away the salt and some sticks there, and it seems to recreate that aspect of nature that seems chaotic, but actually creates a series of fractals that are repeated over and over again in nature…….. maybe that’s just me, haha. Well, that’s what gave me the idea to make these. Also, I love painting insects and I was trying to represent them in a unique visual way that went beyond photo realism (aka, they sparkle, so I made sparkly paint). I inherited a large collection of my grandmother’s costume jewelry and jewelry making supplies, and I always knew I would use them in my art in some way. They became the source of inspiration for the watercolor. I would find a bead that looked like a beetle, and make a paint that emphasized the insect’s attributes using the pigments in my collection, finishing off with crushing the bead and mixing it in.

How to Use

Load the pan with water (aka fill the pot with a few drops of water), let sit for a few minutes and the surface of the paint will reconstitute. Load the area you are painting with clean water, and then introduce the reconstituted watercolor to the area. Add more or less depending on what you are trying to achieve. You can also use it as a glaze over dried areas of watercolor.

Large pieces of pigment should be secured with tiny bits of acrylic medium. I use a tiny brush and place small dots around the pigment. I always err on the side of caution if a piece is essential to the composition, secure it. You can paint on panel using a watercolor ground or an absorbent ground. In this case, you would want to seal the piece. Works on paper should be framed behind glass with a double mat or frame spacer.

Tips and Tricks

Watercolor can be used in so many ways, and experimentation is always the best way to learn! I suggest making a swatch test before using on final work. Try combining them with other watercolors and ink to create more depth and different color variations.

Things in nature that sparkle: water, wet stones, tree sap, dirt after first rain, snow, rain, insects, wet turtle shells, fish, birds… can you think of more things? Then paint that thing!

Warnings

Do not consume or use on skin due to abrasive pigments. Keep away from pets and children.

[alexakarabin]

Blue Quartz Glaze

This paint is made of crushed blue quartz and a high quality interference blue. It works well as a glaze, over a darker color or on black paper. Use this paint to create texture with layers!

About These Watercolors

First of all, thank you for purchasing these handmade watercolors! This has been a passion project for me. They are special because they are made of a variety of texture, using a myriad of pigments that I have collected over the last 20 years. From hand-crushed stone from when I was 16 years old, to pigments from the Rembrandt Museum, to garage sale glitters, to my grandmothers crushed jewels, these paints represent my life in so many ways. I was asked countless times to sell them, and I hesitated at first because they are personal to me…until I remembered that collaboration between artists is a time-honored thing, and it should be embraced. We are making something together, now, and I can’t wait to see how you transform this material!

I’m not going to lie, these watercolors aren’t for the faint of heart! If you are looking for a smooth, even texture, turn back now! But have you ever used salt to texturize standard watercolors? And you rub away the salt and some sticks there, and it seems to recreate that aspect of nature that seems chaotic, but actually creates a series of fractals that are repeated over and over again in nature…….. maybe that’s just me, haha. Well, that’s what gave me the idea to make these. Also, I love painting insects and I was trying to represent them in a unique visual way that went beyond photo realism (aka, they sparkle, so I made sparkly paint). I inherited a large collection of my grandmother’s costume jewelry and jewelry making supplies, and I always knew I would use them in my art in some way. They became the source of inspiration for the watercolor. I would find a bead that looked like a beetle, and make a paint that emphasized the insect’s attributes using the pigments in my collection, finishing off with crushing the bead and mixing it in.

How to Use

Load the pan with water (aka fill the pot with a few drops of water), let sit for a few minutes and the surface of the paint will reconstitute. Load the area you are painting with clean water, and then introduce the reconstituted watercolor to the area. Add more or less depending on what you are trying to achieve. You can also use it as a glaze over dried areas of watercolor.

Large pieces of pigment should be secured with tiny bits of acrylic medium. I use a tiny brush and place small dots around the pigment. I always err on the side of caution if a piece is essential to the composition, secure it. You can paint on panel using a watercolor ground or an absorbent ground. In this case, you would want to seal the piece. Works on paper should be framed behind glass with a double mat or frame spacer.

Tips and Tricks

Watercolor can be used in so many ways, and experimentation is always the best way to learn! I suggest making a swatch test before using on final work. Try combining them with other watercolors and ink to create more depth and different color variations.

Things in nature that sparkle: water, wet stones, tree sap, dirt after first rain, snow, rain, insects, wet turtle shells, fish, birds… can you think of more things? Then paint that thing!

Warnings

Do not consume or use on skin due to abrasive pigments. Keep away from pets and children.

[alexakarabin]

Pearl Gem Pot

This paint is made of a myriad of gems, premium pigments, glass, and crushed pearls! This one is extremely hard to photograph! It is a really clear, transparent white.

About These Watercolors

First of all, thank you for purchasing these handmade watercolors! This has been a passion project for me. They are special because they are made of a variety of texture, using a myriad of pigments that I have collected over the last 20 years. From hand-crushed stone from when I was 16 years old, to pigments from the Rembrandt Museum, to garage sale glitters, to my grandmothers crushed jewels, these paints represent my life in so many ways. I was asked countless times to sell them, and I hesitated at first because they are personal to me…until I remembered that collaboration between artists is a time-honored thing, and it should be embraced. We are making something together, now, and I can’t wait to see how you transform this material!

I’m not going to lie, these watercolors aren’t for the faint of heart! If you are looking for a smooth, even texture, turn back now! But have you ever used salt to texturize standard watercolors? And you rub away the salt and some sticks there, and it seems to recreate that aspect of nature that seems chaotic, but actually creates a series of fractals that are repeated over and over again in nature…….. maybe that’s just me, haha. Well, that’s what gave me the idea to make these. Also, I love painting insects and I was trying to represent them in a unique visual way that went beyond photo realism (aka, they sparkle, so I made sparkly paint). I inherited a large collection of my grandmother’s costume jewelry and jewelry making supplies, and I always knew I would use them in my art in some way. They became the source of inspiration for the watercolor. I would find a bead that looked like a beetle, and make a paint that emphasized the insect’s attributes using the pigments in my collection, finishing off with crushing the bead and mixing it in.

How to Use

Load the pan with water (aka fill the pot with a few drops of water), let sit for a few minutes and the surface of the paint will reconstitute. Load the area you are painting with clean water, and then introduce the reconstituted watercolor to the area. Add more or less depending on what you are trying to achieve. You can also use it as a glaze over dried areas of watercolor.

Large pieces of pigment should be secured with tiny bits of acrylic medium. I use a tiny brush and place small dots around the pigment. I always err on the side of caution if a piece is essential to the composition, secure it. You can paint on panel using a watercolor ground or an absorbent ground. In this case, you would want to seal the piece. Works on paper should be framed behind glass with a double mat or frame spacer.

Tips and Tricks

Watercolor can be used in so many ways, and experimentation is always the best way to learn! I suggest making a swatch test before using on final work. Try combining them with other watercolors and ink to create more depth and different color variations.

Things in nature that sparkle: water, wet stones, tree sap, dirt after first rain, snow, rain, insects, wet turtle shells, fish, birds… can you think of more things? Then paint that thing!

Warnings

Do not consume or use on skin due to abrasive pigments. Keep away from pets and children.

[alexakarabin]

Grenade Grenade / Pigment Print on Handmade Sparkle Paper

This sparkle print is on handmade paper that I make myself in my studio. Each one is slightly unique, so expect some variation. You can add a mat for easy framing!

About this piece:

As a child I would break open a pomegranate and eat it with my grandmother. It was a tradition for us. My grandmother taught me about the Armenians, her people, who thought of the pomegranate as a symbol of survival. There were stories of Armenians, starved during the Armenian Genocide, who survived on a single pomegranate seed a day for a year. This leads into the story of the pomegranate and Persephone and how there is thought to be 365 seeds in one fruit (this isn’t true, but part of the myth). The pomegranate means life, vitality, and birth for a lot of cultures. But it also inspired the grenade— which acquired the name from the French word for pomegranate (grenade). A grenade is similar in form and anatomy to the pomegranate, with death shards instead of seeds inside of it. I have contemplated this merging of life and death for many years. How the same thing can mean survival and also be the cause of death.

I have been making this image for almost 15 years.

[alexakarabin]

Two Monarchs / Pigment Print on Handmade Sparkle Paper with 24k hand adornment

This sparkle print is on handmade paper that I make myself in my studio. Each one is slightly unique, so expect some variation. This piece is also adorned with 24k Gold Leaf. You can add a mat for easy framing!

[alexakarabin]

Large Blue Morpho Blue in a Hand Painted Pot

This is a large amount of watercolor. This is not a basic mica paint. It is a carefully constructed pigment paint that is made of a variety of stable materials, inspired by the Blue Morpho Butterfly! It consists of pigments, glass, and crushed gems. Blue must be your favorite color (just kidding!), but this is a special paint that will most likely last you for years! The container it is in is an antique, hand painted and hand constructed ceramic dish.

Only three of these were made.

[alexakarabin]

Rose Quartz and Amethyst Gem Pot in a Metal and Crystals Butterfly Box / One of a Kind

These are two of my signature colors that I use in almost all of my paintings. The pink for highlight and the purple in my shadows. The pink includes and is inspired by Rose Quartz. And the Purple includes and is inspired by Amethyst. This is a very special box of paint.

First of all, thank you for purchasing these handmade watercolors! This has been a passion project for me. They are special because they are made of a variety of texture, using a myriad of pigments that I have collected over the last 20 years. From hand-crushed stone from when I was 16 years old, to pigments from the Rembrandt Museum, to garage sale glitters, to my grandmothers crushed jewels, these paints represent my life in so many ways. I was asked countless times to sell them, and I hesitated at first because they are personal to me…until I remembered that collaboration between artists is a time-honored thing, and it should be embraced. We are making something together, now, and I can’t wait to see how you transform this material!

I’m not going to lie, these watercolors aren’t for the faint of heart! If you are looking for a smooth, even texture, turn back now! But have you ever used salt to texturize standard watercolors? And you rub away the salt and some sticks there, and it seems to recreate that aspect of nature that seems chaotic, but actually creates a series of fractals that are repeated over and over again in nature…….. maybe that’s just me, haha. Well, that’s what gave me the idea to make these. Also, I love painting insects and I was trying to represent them in a unique visual way that went beyond photo realism (aka, they sparkle, so I made sparkly paint). I inherited a large collection of my grandmother’s costume jewelry and jewelry making supplies, and I always knew I would use them in my art in some way. They became the source of inspiration for the watercolor. I would find a bead that looked like a beetle, and make a paint that emphasized the insect’s attributes using the pigments in my collection, finishing off with crushing the bead and mixing it in.

How to Use

Load the pan with water (aka fill the pot with a few drops of water), let sit for a few minutes and the surface of the paint will reconstitute. Load the area you are painting with clean water, and then introduce the reconstituted watercolor to the area. Add more or less depending on what you are trying to achieve. You can also use it as a glaze over dried areas of watercolor.

Large pieces of pigment should be secured with tiny bits of acrylic medium. I use a tiny brush and place small dots around the pigment. I always err on the side of caution if a piece is essential to the composition, secure it. You can paint on panel using a watercolor ground or an absorbent ground. In this case, you would want to seal the piece. Works on paper should be framed behind glass with a double mat or frame spacer.

Tips and Tricks

Watercolor can be used in so many ways, and experimentation is always the best way to learn! I suggest making a swatch test before using on final work. Try combining them with other watercolors and ink to create more depth and different color variations.

Things in nature that sparkle: water, wet stones, tree sap, dirt after first rain, snow, rain, insects, wet turtle shells, fish, birds… can you think of more things? Then paint that thing!

Warnings

Do not consume or use on skin due to abrasive pigments. Keep away from pets and children.

[alexakarabin]

Large Moon Painting on Embossed Paper / 28''x24'' in Silver Leaf Frame

I know a lot of people have been waiting for another large moon! This one is painted with watercolor and glass on paper that is embossed with leaf shapes. When I look at this piece I imagine looking up through the forest wall at the moon! A perfect piece for a bedroom wall or above the bed! Although, it would look lovely anywhere in the home!

This piece is framed behind non-glare plexiglass. It is ready to ship!