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Mixed Media Large Canvas Experience at the Blended Monkey Studios - August 2026

  • Writer: siloutaggart
    siloutaggart
  • 23 hours ago
  • 2 min read

Yesterday afternoon's mixed media large canvas experience taught by our talented guest tutor Zakiya - bookbinder & junk journal artist from Fanoggins - was a real success!

The group were provided with a HUGE array of media - including paints, washi tape, distress sprays, crackle pastes, chalk, fabric, 3D elements (buttons and the like), threads, stencils, junk journal media and lots more.


Some of our group had been to us before for canvas work or junk journalling workshops with Zakiya; some were completely new to the Blended Monkey Studios & Gardens and the concept of being faced with a blank canvas and embarking on an afternoon of discovery and creativity.

It was lovely to hear that Ben and Corrina had booked this experience to celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary!


This was such a creative and informative workshop where you could really let your imagination run wild - no experience required and perfect for beginners.


Zakiya started the workshop by explaining all the different media on display and putting everyone at ease; suggesting they start by applying an undiluted paint base of any colour to their canvas.


We kept the refreshments flowing in the form of a range of drinks, home-baked coconut cookies, and some sugar-free cookies.


Zakiya provided lots of useful tips and tricks to help the group use the media to good effect.


We hosted this experience in our covered outdoor workspace, surrounded by gardens and the sound of birdsong. The weather was warm but there was a nice comfortable breeze.


The photos and videos taken of yesterday's workshop tell more of a story than I can. I really enjoyed taking shots of the work and seeing each canvas evolve. It's great to see the different directions each student has taken - some more pictorial and others very abstract. It was a really creative and relaxing afternoon.


Well done everyone and a big thank you to Zakiya for being so generous with her wealth of media and expertise.

If you missed out on this fabulously freeing workshop we're holding a full-day large canvas mixed media workshop in September - (2 canvases & lunch included). Check out this and all the other workshops taught by Zakiya below:



BOOKBINDING & JOURNAL MAKING - Full Day Including Lunch - Blended Monkey Studios

- Saturday 12 September - £85.00


JOURNAL MAKING & JUNK JOURNALLING - Full Day Including Lunch - Blended Monkey Studios

- Sunday 31 October - £75.00


COPTIC BOOKBINDING & BOOK MAKING - Full Day Including Lunch - Blended Monkey Studios

- Sunday 7 February 2027 - £110.00


All our experiences make lovely crafty GIFTS & you can also purchase open certificates so the lucky recipient can choose their own experience.

Here's the link for our gift certificates:

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We can also provide private journal making experiences for parties or friend groups. We can come to you, host in the Blended Monkey studios, or at a venue of your choice!

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  • Fabulous results - each student has created something completely different and unique
  • Just some of the media provided by Zakiya
  • Ana opting for a green wash background
  • Yvonne adding a pastel background to her canvas
  • Corrina starting her canvas with a green background
  • Audrey experimenting with different greens for her background
  • Sarah starting her canvas
  • Ben starting his canvas with a swathe of fluorescent red
  • Adding some junk journal media to the canvas
  • The beginnings of a canvas, with a green background
  • Brushes and even fir cones can be used as methods to apply media
  • Ben and Corrina celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary today!
  • Ana's vertical swathes of green provide height to this canvas
  • Ana adding her green background
  • Audrey opted for a teal green background and some junk journal elements
  • Yvonne choosing a pinks and greens pastel background
  • Sarah starting with some junk journal media
  • Corrina's canvas taking shape
  • Corrina chose a forest green background
  • Ben went for a more fluorescent, abstract vibe
  • Audrey's canvas taking shape
  • Beautiful soft pastel colours and embellishments used on this canvas
  • Interesting global themes used on this canvas
  • Ana adding buttons and 3D elements to her mixed media canvas
  • Ana opted for a more ethereal theme with a lovely vertical canvas background
  • Ben created a fabulous abstract canvas using a variety of mixed media
  • Corrina's gorgeous greens and golds
  • Sarah - a keen junk journal artist - used a lovely autumnal palette
  • Yvonne created a pretty botanical canvas in pastel colours
  • Audrey went for a gorgeous teal background and chose a variety of journal elements and mixed media

Such a creative group!







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