Dr. Carolyn Albracht, Artist Instructor
Artist, Educator, Blue Cat Gallery & Studio Owner
Dr. Carolyn Albracht is an artist, educator, and owner of Blue Cat Gallery & Studio. She is an art professor at Wayne State College and holds a Ph.D. in Education Studies from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Her academic and creative work centers on art integration, place-based education, and the experiences of emerging educators.
Carolyn’s mixed-media practice combines watercolor and Prismacolor markers, often layered with embroidery thread, acrylic, and collage. Her work grows from intuitive doodling—an exploratory process she describes as a form of creative “temperature-taking”—and reflects her interest in pattern, texture, balance, and interconnectedness. Through both her teaching and her art, she invites learners to engage deeply, experiment freely, and find meaning through the act of making.
Workshop Description:
Learn a variety of mixed media techniques to create 2D and dimensional artworks. Techniques will include watercolor and acrylic painting techniques, gelli plate printing, and others for surface preparation and the creation of collage materials to be used in final compositions. Participants will also learn about basic composition techniques to create stronger and more effective final artworks. Participants will periodically share their artwork with the rest of the class for the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the creative and compositional techniques being learned and practiced. Some of the activities for learning about creating mixed media artwork may include collaborating with others in the class.
Participants will:
- Be introduced to and practice surface alteration techniques (such as gelli plate printing, acrylic and watercolor painting techniques, etc.)
- Be introduced to and practice composition techniques to make choices for stronger and more effective overall compositions
- Be introduced to and employ a variety of additional media (drawing, collage, found objects/ephemera, embroidery thread, beads, etc.) to create mixed media work
- Be encouraged to talk about their own work and others’ work to gain a deeper understanding of the mixed media techniques and compositional choices they are learning and using
