Sunday, September 30, 2007

When you think you are done - maybe you aren't!






Several of my painting friends came over yesterday for a watercolor batik class. Little did they know, they were in for a more challenging painting session than they expected! We did not stop at the batik process. After the wax was removed, the real fun began. Everyone worked on a different design so the embellishment process sort of evolved as we went along.


This is Margot's painting at the end of the session. She has a bit more refining to do but it is looking gorgeous! Margot normally paints very soft so this much color was certainly brave of her. Once it is matted & framed I will get a photo posted.


More photos of the other pieces will be coming up soon!


And do I have the iris from the previous post completed? Of course not!! The embellishment process takes awhile but should be worth the wait. Until then....

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

New techniques & directions


Normally I paint in acrylics but was reintroduced to watercolor batik this summer. I signed up for a Kathie George seminar at the annual SDP convention and thoroughly enjoyed the class. It was so inspirational, I came home and started using my own designs with this technique. The technique is fairly easy and the application of wax layers means the finished design is a bit of a surprise. I am taking the process a bit further by incorporating metallic acrylics, Prismacolor pencils and/or chalk pastels along with stamping, etc. This photo shows my current piece with the wax ironed off and no further embellishment. I will post the finished piece for comparison in a day or so.


What new techniques have you recently tried?

Sunday, September 23, 2007

regifting with a twist


Today is a special birthday for my friend, Penny. She is a very creative and special "sister of the art" and her generosity knows no bounds. Penny's talents extend into fine dressmaker quality sewing and her love and appreciation of vintage sewing & lace, which we have both incorporated into our work at times. Over the years, she has shared many of her creative treasures with me and is always on the lookout for new junque that I can use in my artistic creations. Last year she gave me two wonderful teak trays. They were a bit worn and scratched in places but were very well made, and I knew they would be transformed and repurposed at some point in time. I brought them home and found a place to store them which was not an easy thing to do at all - my storage ability reached critical mass some time ago - but that is a post for another day.


While searching around the studio for a gift, I came across one of those trays and realized it would be perfect for my needs. What made it even better was I had already started the painting process. I used a lace pattern from one of Arlene Linton's wonderful books and painted the lace runner on a dark green background. The rose came from my garden and creates a bit of a trompe l'oeil effect.


The finished tray turned out great! Penny is sure to love it. And the best part for me? It is one more piece out of my studio!!


Happy Birthday Penny!!!