Debasree Dey, Author at Debasree Dey Art

Homemade Texture Paste for Mixed Media Art: A Simple 2-Ingredient Recipe

I love texture.

It is one of the things I return to again and again in my mixed media artwork. I love the way texture creates depth, dimension, and a beautiful tactile quality—especially in my art journal pages.

That’s why texture paste is a staple in my art supplies.

And the best part?

I don’t need to buy a separate, expensive texture paste.

I make my own using just two simple ingredients: gesso and plaster of Paris.

Homemade Texture Paste for Mixed Media Art: A Simple 2-Ingredient Recipe Read More »

10 Creative Ways to Use Snippet Rolls in Junk Journals & Mixed Media Art

ALL BLOGS, Collage Fodders, Mixed Media

Ever since I published my Gathered Rolls class, my inbox, DMs and comments have been filled with one question: “But what do we actually do with a snippet roll?”

And I completely understand the question. When you spend time gathering tiny scraps of paper, fabric, lace, thread and other beautiful bits and turn them into one long, textured roll, it can almost feel too precious to cut into.

But that’s exactly where the fun begins.

A snippet roll isn’t meant to simply sit on your shelf looking beautiful. It is a collection of little pieces waiting to become something else—a journal cover, a tag, a pocket, a collage, a page edge, a small artwork and so much more.

So I thought I’d put together some of my favourite ways to use snippet rolls, especially if you have one sitting in your studio and are wondering “Now what?”

Here are some of my favourite ways to use snippet rolls in junk journals, art journals and mixed media projects.

10 Creative Ways to Use Snippet Rolls in Junk Journals & Mixed Media Art Read More »

13 Mixed Media Art Journals to Inspire Your Next Creative Project

ALL BLOGS, Art Journal, Art Prompts

There’s a moment many art journalers experience after creating the first layer of a page. The collage papers are down. The colors feel beautiful. There’s texture, movement, atmosphere…

…and then the question arrives: “Now what?”

What should the focal point be?
Should the page mean something?
Should you start with a prompt?
Or should you simply follow intuition and see where the page goes?
For a long time, I thought there must be one “correct” way to approach art journaling. But over time, I realized something important:

There are multiple valid ways to begin a spread. And understanding these approaches can completely change the way you create.

13 Mixed Media Art Journals to Inspire Your Next Creative Project Read More »

Repetitive Mark Making Ideas to Calm Your Nervous System

ALL BLOGS, Mark Making Play / featured

There’s a moment many art journalers experience after creating the first layer of a page. The collage papers are down. The colors feel beautiful. There’s texture, movement, atmosphere…

…and then the question arrives: “Now what?”

There are multiple valid ways to begin a spread. And understanding these approaches can completely change the way you create.

Repetitive Mark Making Ideas to Calm Your Nervous System Read More »

Three Approaches to Art Journaling

ALL BLOGS, Art Journal, Art Prompts

There’s a moment many art journalers experience after creating the first layer of a page. The collage papers are down. The colors feel beautiful. There’s texture, movement, atmosphere…

…and then the question arrives: “Now what?”

There are multiple valid ways to begin a spread. And understanding these approaches can completely change the way you create.

Three Approaches to Art Journaling Read More »

Mixed Media Zine Journal: Capture Your New Year Intentions with Collage & Paint

ALL BLOGS, Art Journal

There’s something magical about beginning a new year with creativity instead of pressure.

Instead of writing endless resolutions you may forget in a few weeks, why not create something meaningful with your hands?

This Mixed Media Zine Journal project is a playful and expressive way to capture your New Year intentions using collage, paint, fabrics, words, and layered mixed media techniques. It’s messy, intuitive, creative, and deeply personal.

Mixed Media Zine Journal: Capture Your New Year Intentions with Collage & Paint Read More »

How to Apply 60% Discount

ALL BLOGS / featured

Every month, I offer a Studio Special Sale where one selected class is available at 60% off for that particular month. Each month has a different class on sale, and the discount code also changes every month. If you are seeing only a 50% discount at checkout, don’t worry A default 50% coupon is automatically applied

How to Apply 60% Discount Read More »

Day 41–60 of My 100 Day Art Journal Challenge

ALL BLOGS, Art Journal

I’ve now crossed the halfway mark of this year’s 100-day art journal challenge, and these last 20 days have felt noticeably different.

There’s been more flow. More confidence. More freedom in the way I approach the pages.

During this time, I ended up creating a class inspired by this very mixed media accordion book — teaching how to build a similar accordion-style structure, but with a different approach. I created 10 signatures with 10 different themes & color palettes.

And I can clearly see how that exploration started influencing the pages inside this book too.

Day 41–60 of My 100 Day Art Journal Challenge Read More »

Letting Go of Emotional Triggers and Refocusing Your Energy

Creative mindset

Lately, I’ve been observing something in myself very carefully. Not just the emotions themselves — but how long I stay inside them.

A comment. A misunderstanding. Someone not responding.
A moment of feeling unseen, hurt, dismissed, criticized, or emotionally activated.

The trigger itself may last only a few seconds. But the mind? The mind can continue the story for hours, days, sometimes even longer. And I’ve started realizing something important:

The emotional trigger is often not the biggest problem.
The bigger problem is how much energy I continue giving it afterward. How much attention I feed it.

Letting Go of Emotional Triggers and Refocusing Your Energy Read More »

Excellence vs Perfectionism: Healing a Life of Comparison and Returning to Yourself

Creative mindset

Recently, I had a realization that felt too important not to write down.

I noticed that when I say a goal like ₹3 crore, my body reacts differently than when I say smaller numbers. My voice lowers. My energy contracts. Something inside me becomes cautious, almost as if I should not say it too loudly.

Excellence vs Perfectionism: Healing a Life of Comparison and Returning to Yourself Read More »