Peacock Feathers

I’m not really one for pastels, but I started off with a spread I had cleaned off a brayer on, and then some strips of torn paper towel, also used to finish up the remains of some paint, The colours lent themselves to using some paler or fainter colours.

Once again, it took some time to work out how to finish the spread.  I came up with the peacock feathers, and I guess they aren’t too bad for my first attempts. I just wish I could find a white correction or gel pen with an even flow, that would go scratchy on a textured surface. Traci did recommend one but I haven’t found it in Australia. Any suggestions from Aussies would be very welcome.

Playing with photos

A few years ago I took this photo of the moon through clouds.

In this one I put it behind a photograph I took of forest that bushfire had been through. I desaturated the coloured photo to make it black and white.

            

In another I added some other digital trickery. I have forgotten where the brushes came from. I have referenced then in an earlier post.

          

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More Art Journaling

 

 

 

 

This page started with some unsuccessful printing using a felt table mat. I liked the blotchy green effect though, and over printed it with a foam printing block traced from another table mat.  Then I added the orange stamp made from a matt board shape. Then it sat for weeks because I couldn’t figure out what to do next. I resisted text because my text is underwhelming, to say the least, Finally, I decided to try to draw a pomegranite, one of my favourite shapes, and then the flowers. I googled for images to copy as I totally lack confidence in my drawing. I used both cheap water colour paints and the fabulous Derwent Inktense pencils in the colouring.

 

A very similar process used here.

Another of my favourite shapes. The printing on this started as navy and red. I hated it! Out came my new best friend, gesso! The lime sparked it up a bit. I really like using the water colours and the Intense pencils as  the background really shows through, and here it adds texture to the poppies.

Maybe one day, if I have anything worth saying, I will add text to these, but for the moment, I am happy to leave them as is.

Traci’s Online class

I recently joined a Traci Bautista online class on Art Journaling. I really enjoyed the lessons, though I was always behind because of various family things. I combined what I learned in her classes with some of the printing techniques from Ro Bruhn’s workshops and here are a couple of pieces I came up with.

            

 

I am discovering my style at last. It appears to be a combo of grunge and fairly stylised flora, but who knows where it will end up. I have more stuff in an actual journal which I will gradually add.

Back on Board

I haven’t blogged for around two years. Life got in the way and, when I wanted to be creative, I felt I needed to spend more time doing, and less time reading and writing on the web. Having found my muse, got my studio up and running again, and attended a few workshops, I feel I have something to contribute again.

The first thing I would like to share are the pics of my beautiful repurposed coat made in the workshop held by Ro Bruhn and Patsy Worledge. I highly recommend this workshop.  Ro and Patsy  take two students at a time, help with the design elements, and Patsy does all the sewing on her industrial overlocker.How good is that! Not only that, but I have a one-off garment I would happily spend a considerable amount of money on, if I found it in a boutique.

My fellow student, Maha, also made a beautiful coat totally different from mine. So if you would like to get an idea of the types of things you could make, check out the page on Ro's blog and then, if you live in Melb., do yourself a favour and contact Ro re organising a class. No I don’t get a commission, I’m just a very happy customer!

KK necklace

Lucy has  received and opened the necklace I made as her Kris Kringle present, so I can now show everyone else. The beads were made from Primo polymer clay. I think it is called Blue Pearl. I was surprised that the colour wasn’t even throughout each bead. I’m not sure if it’s meant to happen or if I somehow messed up but I actually like the effect.

I haven’t got my muse back as far as paper or digital art is concerned, but I am really enjoying the jewelry side of things.

Back on Air

I haven’t posted for  a  couple of months for a variety of reasons. Lost muse, lost internet connection, computer crashes etc. But I think had I anything really creative going on, I would have worked quicker to get all the problems fixed.

Anyway, a visit to Lisa’s fantastic boutique style shop in Upwey, Voski Von Muller, inspired  me so much with the funky clothes and accessories, that I came home full of ideas.

I started off by making some fused plastic and making a little pouch for my phone, plus another purse.

I then started another project which I won’t talk about yet because it involves my Kris Kringle gift for my Arty Oz partner. I also tried the “fried marble” technique which was incredibly easy and has stunning results-see below.

Then last Saturday, I attended a class with Ro Bruhn, and made a rather funky necklace. Ro has a lovely house with a great classroom, she’s a terrific teacher, and her  husband Steve fed us very, very well. If you get a chance to do a class with her, I can thoroughly recommend it.

Then, for the past couple of days, I have been working on a way of incorporating my fried marbles into a necklace. It took a while for me to figure out the wire wrapping but  it was worth the effort. Unfortunately the photo doesn’t really show the crystalline effect of the marbles.

Yesterday I attended the Walk against Warming in Melbourne. I was tempted not to go because I had slept very poorly, but I believe the issue is the most important one confronting our poor planet, and think that the politicians need to see how many of us are concerned and watching them. It was comforting to be in the company of 40,000 others (accordng to the Age), young and old, who feel the same way I do- that we would love to be wrong, but if we are wrong, not nearly as much will be lost, as will be if the sceptics are wrong.

Sceptics used to deny climate change, however they have really lost that battle. Now their argument has slid to denying that humans beings are responsible for that change – an excuse to do  nothing or virtually nothing-(very reminiscent of the tobacco companies and their apologist scientists).  Imagine the fate of future generations if they are wrong- innundated Pacific Islands, far greater famine in Africa, severe droughts in Australia and massive loss of food production, plus the possibility of more catastrophic bush fires in many countries. I believe we are running out of time to act. We need a Fair, Ambitious and Binding treaty now.

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