So many ideas perculating…. I'm on a roll! Last week I proposed a handful of new classes for Create NJ. Reveals later, after I hear if they were accepted. It was so much fun inventing fresh material. I've been enjoying some playtime, pushing my current crush on *cardboard* in new ways. Can't wait to show you what it's all about….and to tell you about some other things that will debut in January. Hope you're feeling the same enthusiasm for making cool stuff in 2014.
I am such a lucky girl – CREATE Mixed Media Art Retreats hosts one of its events practically in my back yard. For four days I got to teach an amazing collection of women just down the road, then had dinner with my family and slept in my own bed each night. The students were awesome – some were in more than one class, and a handful took three. Some were repeat students, and some were new-to-me, and some totally new to this kind of venue. It was so rewarding to see how each artist interpreted the assignments and projects, bringing their own personal flair to the table. I thoroughly understand that it can be difficult to create-on-demand and often a student may experience performance anxiety but while we may be there to learn technique or make a specific project, I think the most important thing is to come away with the momentum to keep going. I've said this before, sharing your enthusiasm for creativity is more important than what you create. I hope I did that last weekend. The other beautiful thing that happens at these events is we get to widen our circle of friends – making connections with fellow artists through a shared experience can be life-long. I know because I've done it.
Here are most of the students I was privileged to spend time with – some got away before we took pictures.
I will never forget this event and some of the very cool things that happened in the workshops. I witnessed big break-throughs and many subtle a-ha's. Lots of eager girls who tried lots of new things and shared freely their discoveries so that we all could learn even more. That's what happens when you are in the classroom – the energy is so positive, so thick, it's nearly as visible as the hanging humidity outside. I always depart feeling motivated to do it all over again, with a notebook of scribbled ideas for next year. In one class I presented a little start-up assignment that became its own thing, took on a life of its own, and we ran with it because it was constructive, productive, and a really useful tool to review and remark on the results as a group. I think that assignment could become a whole class and I can't wait to start planning it.
A special thanks to all my students, the event planners, and the entire community of artists who were present to make this such a remarkable retreat. There was an Artist's Faire Friday night and it was a great success for my little GPP table. Fallon was a terrific helper – thank you to our customers for your patience as we got you through the line. Here are some more of my displays – these were spray painted with all the stencils I sell, in the extreme heat we suffered through recently. A few of the shots of paint never made it to the surface as it actually dried mid-air. Crazy.
Doesn't it look like the stencil sheets are hanging there? I love how the edges show so you can see exactly what the sheet looks like.
Next big teaching gig for me is Art-Is-You in Connecticut on October. Hope to see some of you there! For details on my classes click on the WORKSHOPS button in the toolbar on top.
I am such a lucky girl – CREATE Mixed Media Art Retreats hosts one of its events practically in my back yard. For four days I got to teach an amazing collection of women just down the road, then had dinner with my family and slept in my own bed each night. The students were awesome – some were in more than one class, and a handful took three. Some were repeat students, and some were new-to-me, and some totally new to this kind of venue. It was so rewarding to see how each artist interpreted the assignments and projects, bringing their own personal flair to the table. I thoroughly understand that it can be difficult to create-on-demand and often a student may experience performance anxiety but while we may be there to learn technique or make a specific project, I think the most important thing is to come away with the momentum to keep going. I've said this before, sharing your enthusiasm for creativity is more important than what you create. I hope I did that last weekend. The other beautiful thing that happens at these events is we get to widen our circle of friends – making connections with fellow artists through a shared experience can be life-long. I know because I've done it.
Here are most of the students I was privileged to spend time with – some got away before we took pictures.
I will never forget this event and some of the very cool things that happened in the workshops. I witnessed big break-throughs and many subtle a-ha's. Lots of eager girls who tried lots of new things and shared freely their discoveries so that we all could learn even more. That's what happens when you are in the classroom – the energy is so positive, so thick, it's nearly as visible as the hanging humidity outside. I always depart feeling motivated to do it all over again, with a notebook of scribbled ideas for next year. In one class I presented a little start-up assignment that became its own thing, took on a life of its own, and we ran with it because it was constructive, productive, and a really useful tool to review and remark on the results as a group. I think that assignment could become a whole class and I can't wait to start planning it.
A special thanks to all my students, the event planners, and the entire community of artists who were present to make this such a remarkable retreat. There was an Artist's Faire Friday night and it was a great success for my little GPP table. Fallon was a terrific helper – thank you to our customers for your patience as we got you through the line. Here are some more of my displays – these were spray painted with all the stencils I sell, in the extreme heat we suffered through recently. A few of the shots of paint never made it to the surface as it actually dried mid-air. Crazy.
Doesn't it look like the stencil sheets are hanging there? I love how the edges show so you can see exactly what the sheet looks like.
Next big teaching gig for me is Art-Is-You in Connecticut on October. Hope to see some of you there! For details on my classes click on the WORKSHOPS button in the toolbar on top.
I will be introducing one new stencil at the Artist Faire during the CREATE NJ event next week. This is the first in a series where the design was driven by my current interest of cutting into cardboard. This one is called Duets because there is a square and circle that can be painted or drawn in first, then a second image can be layered over. Available in my online shop soon – current inventory is intended for the show next week.
It's been too hot to be spray painting this summer. I tried it a few times and the paint was nearly dry before hitting the surface. The last few days were cooler so I finally had a chance to make some displays for the event next week. Loved using the new Gothic Collection! I have some large panels I will show you later – here are a handful of clipboards:
Couldn't you just lick them? Oh, it's makes me happy to be spraying again!
I will be introducing one new stencil at the Artist Faire during the CREATE NJ event next week. This is the first in a series where the design was driven by my current interest of cutting into cardboard. This one is called Duets because there is a square and circle that can be painted or drawn in first, then a second image can be layered over. Available in my online shop soon – current inventory is intended for the show next week.
It's been too hot to be spray painting this summer. I tried it a few times and the paint was nearly dry before hitting the surface. The last few days were cooler so I finally had a chance to make some displays for the event next week. Loved using the new Gothic Collection! I have some large panels I will show you later – here are a handful of clipboards:
Couldn't you just lick them? Oh, it's makes me happy to be spraying again!
I'm pre-programming this post because this week we have family visiting and tonight is Fallon's graduation. I will be back with photographic evidence of that in a few days, but for now here is more cardboard manipulation. If you are in Jersey, or nearby, you might be interested to come take my Debris Journal workshop at CREATE – NJ either Thursday, July 18th or Saturday, July 20th. That's one month away – can't wait!! I will be teaching four days plus vending on the Friday night. Hope you'll join us.
I'm pre-programming this post because this week we have family visiting and tonight is Fallon's graduation. I will be back with photographic evidence of that in a few days, but for now here is more cardboard manipulation. If you are in Jersey, or nearby, you might be interested to come take my Debris Journal workshop at CREATE – NJ either Thursday, July 18th or Saturday, July 20th. That's one month away – can't wait!! I will be teaching four days plus vending on the Friday night. Hope you'll join us.
I'm still playing with cardboard. Here's something I tried this weekend. I traced the stencil onto the cardboard panel, then cut and lifted out the negative. I was so excited by the concept that I wasn't so careful about the cuts and used a chunky blade. I may have done better with a finer knife but who has time to look for one when you're ready to try something? Don't forget that stencils aren't just for paint and spackle – they are cool with pencils and knives too.
As I've mentioned, when I'm behaving, I store my stencils in page protectors in 3-ring binders. When I'm not behaving I toss them all into a large clear rubber bin. But as John Shaw once said, some of my stencil designs do not play well with others (lots of parts that can get tangled) so I do try to separate. At Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago I found this presentation portfolio. Couldn't be more perfect for my new Gothic Collections stencils and masks! Come on, HCIT?
Speaking of the new collection, I've had new customers who are asking what to do with unmounted rubber sheets. There are lots of ways to use them – temporarily mount on acrylic blocks, or if you are a grab-and-go girl, then you might like my method. I use thick foam as a mount as it provides the cushion necessary for a good impression, and it is grab-able, similar to a wood mount. Just pay attention when you are cutting the foam so you have a nice straight line where the rubber ends for aligning on your stamped surface. Here's a quick tutorial:
Gothic Collection stencils, masks, stencil/mask sets, and rubber stamps available at GreenPepperPress.com
I'm still playing with cardboard. Here's something I tried this weekend. I traced the stencil onto the cardboard panel, then cut and lifted out the negative. I was so excited by the concept that I wasn't so careful about the cuts and used a chunky blade. I may have done better with a finer knife but who has time to look for one when you're ready to try something? Don't forget that stencils aren't just for paint and spackle – they are cool with pencils and knives too.
As I've mentioned, when I'm behaving, I store my stencils in page protectors in 3-ring binders. When I'm not behaving I toss them all into a large clear rubber bin. But as John Shaw once said, some of my stencil designs do not play well with others (lots of parts that can get tangled) so I do try to separate. At Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago I found this presentation portfolio. Couldn't be more perfect for my new Gothic Collections stencils and masks! Come on, HCIT?
Speaking of the new collection, I've had new customers who are asking what to do with unmounted rubber sheets. There are lots of ways to use them – temporarily mount on acrylic blocks, or if you are a grab-and-go girl, then you might like my method. I use thick foam as a mount as it provides the cushion necessary for a good impression, and it is grab-able, similar to a wood mount. Just pay attention when you are cutting the foam so you have a nice straight line where the rubber ends for aligning on your stamped surface. Here's a quick tutorial:
Gothic Collection stencils, masks, stencil/mask sets, and rubber stamps available at GreenPepperPress.com
I've been enjoying the slow collection of vintage tools. So many of our devices are plastic, that it's really nice to come across an old once-loved and well-used tool for my studio. The tracing wheels are terrific for rolling in paint and then frolic up a page, or better yet, poking through a corrugated cardboard surface. The newer ones aren't as pokey, with much smoother edges on the wheel. The old ones may not be safe but they can assist you to do cool stuff. The awls are so nice to hold, and they force nice holes. I am so happy to have a toolbox that is filling up with these treasures.
Inspired by Louise Nevelson's monochromatic assemblages with emphasis on shadows, I have been manipulating surfaces in cardboard as part of demo sample for the Debris Journal workshop in July. Similar to working in altered books, where I believe it is much more interesting to alter the text and minimally modify the page with subtle markings versus full-on coverage with paint and collage material, I think that starting a cardboard journal should be all about how to respect the material and then determine methods of achieving interest with clever cuts, folds, and punctures. Below you can see some examples I'm preparing – the die-cut circles and the bull-nose corners were part of a cardboard package. I can never resist unusual findings when it comes to cardboard as they make for great pages in the journal.
Below is another vintage tool – a man-made protractor for determining angles. Some person scored in these lines with precision. Amazing, don't you think? Found on ebay about ten years ago!
I love that these tools belonged to someone. I love that there must be stories about how they were used. I really wish I could rub the wood and learn the history. Since I can't do that I will just carry the artisan in my heart when I'm working with their tools.