A simple approach to color blending with spectacular results

When I painted a number of Southwestern pieces for a hotel lobby in San Antonio several years ago, I developed these techniques to make striking work resembling traditional serapes (suh-ROPP-ays), or striped Southwestern and Mexican blankets.

By masking off areas with painters tape and blending within the narrow areas, even beginners can achieve a fantastic effect. Depending on the number of layers, a simple canvas square can end up looking like a priceless Pendleton trade blanket pattern with the addition of just two simple stencil shapes.

While I was planning this workshop, I realized that some of the techniques of Japanese Sumi-e painting work beautifully with serape stripes. You won’t believe how easy this technique is and what spectacular results you can get, especially when you add stamps, stencils and mark-making.

The great thing is that this technique can be used on two-and-three dimensional objects – wall pieces, floor cloths, boxes, even cow skulls. Because the stripes are blended in acrylic paint, the substrate can be paper, wood, or heavy fabric. I have even used old drop cloths to make wall hangings.

These beautiful serape stripe techniques will add a new Southwestern energy and magic to all your work!

Here are some of the special "stripey" subjects you'll explore in this Sunsets and Serapes workshop:


Canvas, wood, and paper substrates

Masking tape techniques

Working with complimentary and analogous colors

Painting ombre stripes in acrylic

Stencil techniques

Matching simple triangles to create complex repetitions

Dimensional stencil elements

East meets west – Sumi-e painting and serape stripes

Adding collage elements

Spattering and enhancing with metallic paint

Working on a dimensional surface

Mixed Media


You will learn how to use your stamps over blended bands of acrylic paint to create complex patterns of Southwestern stripes


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Watercolor and Asemic Writing


You'll start out with a beautiful series of stand-alone watercolor collages based on the Four Elements - Earth, Water, Fire, and Sky

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Dimensional Canvas


You'll paint and replicate the stunning designs of old Pendleton blankets on deep canvases to hang or stand - and you can use this technique on furniture, cowboy boots, even cow skulls!


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Wrap your creative self in enchanting Southwestern Stripes!


  Welcome to Sunsets and Serapes
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  Celebrating Southwestern Stripes
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