Reader Beware

Seriously, anyone reading the next post or two, needs to know that I am experimenting!!  Like really experimenting.

You see, we are going to visit our son and family in Singapore. Yes, totally excited, Yes, totally appreciative of this opportunity.

There will be so much to share, especially photos......so the beware part.......I am trying to figure out how to post a blog from an iPad!!!  Found this (right now very frustrating app) called Blogsy.  

Spent the afternoon trying to make it work, writing blog after blog...well I lost the drafts, then posted something that was totally blank, finally i Pad ran out of battery.  Hair was flying. 

Tomorrow is a new day. I will try again.  You see I am allergic to reading too many directions.  So I know it will help somewhat, if I take an "allergy" pill and settle down.

As a "peace offering" for letting me rant, here are a few goodies to share:

PAINT SAVERS  these are pretty cool plastic caps to cover your acrylic or oil paint between painting sessions.  I have already saved a ton of paint using these. (click on name)

CATHY JOHNSON is a writer/naturalist/artist. She is a prolific artist in watercolor, pen and ink, sketching.  If you love to sketch, beginner to advanced, visit her website (click on her name). She has tips, techniques and so many FREE tutorials it will keep you busy for a long long time.  She is a world renown artist.....so much to learn

You can find her books on Amazon.  
 (I am not an affiliate)


JUDY WISE is a multi-talented artist who excels in many mediums: plaster, encaustics, acrylic and mixed media. She has published one book on plaster, and several e-books.  As a bonus, Judy is an avid---since childhood---journalist.  Prolific is an understatement.  Loads of inspiration on her blog site: enjoy her beautiful works of art, journals and unbelievable garden.  You can order her e-books on her site.  (click on her name)

Lucky Ducky me...this weekend I will be taking a two day journaling workshop with Judy in Wilmington, NC, almost in my back yard. I will be sure to post what I accomplish. 

 Two unfinished paintings are on my easel as I write, waiting patiently for me to complete them. ( If I share them, maybe they will get finished!!!!!)  I started both paintings in acrylic with freehand designs, stencils, paper collage, slowly adding depth and texture.  The fun details will be completed with oil.  That is for tomorrow. 
(Maybe I won't fuss with Blogsy, the computer is SO MUCH EASIER!!!!)

Heart Thought:  ah all the angst is gone.....it surely is easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of technology!  Lesson Learned.

Favorite Plaster Project: Journal

Some who keep art journals enjoy doing the covers FIRST.

They plan, dream and do.

Me, well, I PROCRASTINATE.

How do you bind 40 or so individual

pages with no apparent theme, 

together?

Part of the plaster course I participated in with Judy Wise and Stephanie Lee, was finding the many ways to apply plaster. The one I favored was working plaster into  rough burlap.

1. plaster on burlap, paint applied when dry. 2. burlap with sufficient plaster to make stiff, then deliberately cracked the surface by bending.

3. piece of painted burlap cut and being adjusted for book cover.

  

Burlap is adhered with yellow Elmer's Glue. Book weighted to

  avoid warping and thoroughly adhere/dry. 

(If you enlarge the photo you can see the cracked texture of the burlap, which is desirable.) I worked over this layer with multiple colors, sanding away color...and applying a wash of BU acrylic.

A piece of prepared burlap painted blue and cut into heart shape, plus odd Chinese coins were glued to the journal surface. Again weighted down with books and dried.

 

Finishing touches: acrylic and gouache painted face, small pieces of collage, and old brush were added to complete the cover. Acrylic finish over the top. 

This journal is nearly full. Yay! And for once there is a lovely cover to wrap it all up!

A few pages from the interior.

  This was a great experience and totally creative. I plan on covering other journals.....just don't hold your breath!!!

Have a great Friday...and for those in the path of the impending hurricane, I wish 

ALL  SAFETY and SECURITY. 

My BIGGEST WISH is for this hand of devastation to stay away from the coastline, and where it belongs in the OCEAN.

Plaster a New Medium

WE HAVE GOT TO GO UNDERGROUND, LIKE A SEED, SO THAT SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING DIFFERENT, MAY COME FORTH.  TTWILLIAMS

I am pretty curious about any new art medium.

Then I read about a class working with plaster.

Yes, as in Plaster of Paris and Joint Compound.

The intensive course was taught by Judy Wise and Stephanie Lee, two very talented artists.  This course was the most professional, sharing, ground breaking class  I have ever taken. It is chock full of videos, specific information, short cuts and materials!

This was a A++ class with a very active on going forum.
 Judy and Stephanie first co-published a book

Plaster Studio: Mixed-Media Techniques for Painting, Casting and Carving

Like all new mediums there was definitely a learning curve for me. 
A bit like going underground and taking root. Those moments when one is taught humility!

A friend asked if I would post my first attempts at this medium.
 

There are interesting tools to use when working with plaster. The bowls I formed over old plastic bowls. 

On this small bowl I used gouache for the design. It soaks quickly into the soft plaster.
My next bowls will be more detailed.

My second piece was formed on cradle board. I excavated the design lines with the carving tools. Painted in acrylic, sanded then antiqued.

Similar technique on this piece created to give the impression of tiles.

The Pink Chicken is named after the little art studio I created for our grandchildren. The Pink Chicken Studio.

This technique is my favorite so far. I have used plaster over muslin and burlap. I then excavated (carved) into the plaster, did the design painting with oil sticks.


I am saving my favorite piece for another posting. It is the same technique. I adhered the burlap to a large journal creating a really fun cover.


I will show you the journal later this week.
You might enjoy looking at Judy and Stephanie's book. And more good news. They are in the process of producing an e-book that will cover everything that we did in class. Check their websites for further details.
Judy Wise    Stephanie Lee

When the weather cools down a bit, and I can once again work in the garage...(did I mention that this is messy stuff?)

I will keep on working at this new surface. 

It is way cool to do and fantastically creative.