Knitting - A Change of Pace

I've been taking a break from painting the last couple of weeks and have taken out the 'needles' & yarn.  I like to change up my routine every so often and work with other materials.  I am still creating - albeit in a different way, but it does keep the creative juices flowing and I can recharge my 'painting' side of the brain. I have made a couple dozen hemp dish/face clothes - I use these for dishes.  These are the best - can reuse again and again and you can throw them in the laundry - they wash up like a charm. Have also completed a couple of pairs of fingerless gloves. I usually carry a bag of knitting 'stuff' with me (and a small sketchbook too!) when heading to the city for appointments, etc. For me there is nothing worse than sitting somewhere and waiting with nothing to do. I love going to yarn stores and checking out the different yarns and colours. There are so many beautiful colour ways available.  I find them very inspirational. Some of my favourite yarn companies are Malabrigo, Manos del Uruguay, The Verdant Gryphon and Noro. And for the record....I am not a great knitter! My knitting repertoire consists of scarves, mittens, fingerless gloves, hats, cowls, the 'washcloths' of course and the occasional lace shawl. The shawls only happen once in a blue moon! I like to knit for family and friends and try to have extra knit goods on the shelf for gifting. Now...if I could only find someone to weave the ends in for me!

Hemp Washcloths (hemp for knitting designed by Lanaknits) and
Fingerless Gloves (Noro Nadeshiko yarn)

Monoprint Collage Workshop

I have just finished taking another online workshop with the great Jane Davies. The workshop was Jane's Monoprint Collage.  We used the GelliArts gel plate (8X10") with acrylic paint (heavy body and fluid), stencils, mark making tools and lots of paper!! The first 2 lessons had us making collage papers using a variety of techniques - masking , stencilling, layering colours - lots and lots of different techniques....you were only limited by your imagination!  I used a variety of paper weights; 20lb up to 80lb.  I wanted to see what paper worked the best for printing and collaging with later. I made over a 100 collage papers and there were times that I wished I had more!  I have shown a few examples of the papers made below.

As we progressed through the workshop we worked with collaging, printing and adding paint to our images.  (A progression of lessons that built on one another.)

These are the open grids created with collage and printing with the gelli plate - with some cleanup using white paint. (Middle image is 10"X10" and the left and right images are 8"X10")

These are images that used main shapes created with stencils and printing.  Once printed we worked on the ground and could add more shapes if we wanted using more print and collage and line as well. This is an example of the start and the 'finished' image of one.  Image is 8"X10"

For this lesson we could start with printed images or collage and then print over the collage.  The image below shows the collage start and then the finished image that was printed, painted and had some line work added. Image size is 8"X10"

And finally the last lesson....using print starts and then cleaning up edges, enhancing or changing colours and adding collage and line if wanted. The images below show the start on the left and the 'finished' image on the right.  

I have only shown a small sampling of images created in the workshop, but I think it will give you some idea of the work involved and how the lessons built on one another.  When I started the workshop I told myself I was going to step outside my box and go with the 'flow'. Hmmm... I think I need to work on this a lot more! I am really looking forward to experimenting more with these techniques and adding them to my art practice. Jane's online workshops are so well done.  Each lesson has a 'written' lesson and a video demo.  A blog is set up (that can only be accessed by class participants) where you post your work and comments regarding your images for the particular lesson.  You can see other participants work and comment if you like.  The real bonus is Jane looks at all the work that is posted and provides individual comments to each artist about their work. I really do encourage you to check out Jane's website, sign up for her blog and check out her UTube videos. You won't be disappointed! 

Dog Journal - The Image That Started It All

I meant to share this image earlier.  Guess the old adage 'better late than never' will work!  I did 'her' last year after taking a mixed media workshop.  I did a couple of sketches first and then drew her onto the watercolour paper. Not sure why I choose a corgi - have never had a corgi - but they sure are cute and have lots of personality! She started me on the path of the Dog Journal and all things 'doggish'! My son took a shine to the picture so I gave it to him...she has a very good home.  I did reproduce the image in a card format.  I used the company Moo and was really pleased with the quality of the image reproduction. And yes, I really do hope to paint some more dogs!

8"X10"
Mixed media on paper (Arches 140lb hot press watercolour paper)
Mounted on birch panel

On Line Workshops & the December Hare

I am falling behind!  Haven't spent anytime on the Dog Journal!  I had said I would try to do a page a week but it just isn't happening.  I am currently taking an online course - Monoprint Collage with Jane Davies.  This is a six week course and it is entirely up to you how much or how little you want to do.  Once a week we receive a written lesson plan and a video demonstration. You go through the weekly lesson and post your work and comment on it according to the guidelines Jane has set out. I have taken other online courses from other instructors and I would have to say that the online workshops I have taken from Jane (okay.....all that are currently offered on her website!) are heads and tails above anything else.  Jane comments on everything you post on the workshop blog (only open to participants of the workshop), offers constructive comments and answers any and all questions. Check out Jane Davies webpage for more info on her workshops and artwork - you won't be disappointed! Jane's videos' are also worth checking out, great demo's to get the creative juices going! And yes - I have learned so much from Jane and really do feel it has strengthened my art practice!

The Hare image is from a photo I took while on a week long workshop at Red Deer College (Red Deer, Alberta). She was enjoying a snack of some grass and wasn't too bothered by the clicking of the camera!  It is so nice to see them out and about, doing their thing. This is just a study. I had never used watercolour and acrylic paint together and I think it worked out okay. Not that keen on the background, so doing these smaller studies is extremely helpful. I am doing more 'studies' of images I would like to develop into larger work.  In the past I would have just gone straight to 'big'! And spent a lot of time struggling through the creative process!! Am enjoying the studies and taking the time to experiment with materials and techniques. Maybe in the New Year (hate to talk about that - seems a bit premature!) I will do a bigger picture. Want to exaggerate some of her features more - feet and ears - will have to do a few more drawings first though. 

9"X12"
Watercolour, Acrylic, stencils, white pencil
crayon, white gel pen and 6B graphite pencil
On Arches 140lb cold press watercolour paper

Painting

I am not much of a 'plein air' painter and even more so I do not like painting in a group! I enjoy my time in my studio alone. Workshops are a huge struggle for me - a large group of people is very stressful!! I am trying to do more painting outdoors and paint with a group.  I am very lucky to be part of a group of lovely, supportive and talented painters. This past year we have painted at each others homes and spent time this summer in K-Country painting.  I am still not that comfortable painting in a group or outdoors for that matter, but the more I do participate in these activities the more my comfort zone is starting to increase. I have posted a sampling of some of the watercolours I painted outdoors this summer. Landscapes are not my first choice of subject matter, but it is hard not to feel inspired by the area I live in.  I don't know if I would use these studies to attempt some larger finished pieces, but it certainly wasn't wasted time! My outdoor studies are not 'realistic' but I do think they capture the essence of the day and the scenery!

4"X51/4"

Elbow Falls looking west 

(was a smokey day so I wasn't able to see the mountains )

August, 2015

9 1/4"X6 1/4"
Looking east down the Elbow River valley
September, 2015

7"X7"
Mountains (Banded Peak) looking west from Highway 762
October, 2015

 7"X7"
Elbow River at the old Allen Bill pond area
(Couldn't see the mountains west  - heavy smoke)
August, 2015

Journal Project 2015

I mentioned in a previous post that I was participating in a journal exchange with 6 of my wonderful and talented 'muses'.  The journals have now returned to their respective owners.  Was a great project to be a part of.  I did a lot of experimenting with materials and techniques.  Was always exciting to receive the new journals, but also a challenge.  How would I interpret the individual themes that were chosen by my friends, what materials would/could be used?  So many choices!!  Some ideas came immediately, others longer!  Most journals took a couple of weeks to complete.  I incorporated lots of different elements - flaps, tags, mini books and pockets to name a few.  I have posted photos of the final 5 journals below.  Apologies for some of the picture quality.  A few pages were hard to scan with all  the elements on them! Hope you enjoy them.

'Inspiration Journal' (9"X9")
Scrapbooking paper, stamps, stencils, computer
generated text, chalk pastels, acrylic paint and mediums

'Fairy Journal' (9"X9")
Scrapbooking paper, die cuts, stencils, rubber stamps,
computer generated text, embossing powder, paper flowers,
acrylic paint and chalk pastels

'Gratitude Journal' (9"X9")
Dry wax deli paper stencilled and glazed, rubber stamps,
handmade tags, computer generated text,
paper flowers, hand drawn birds, acrylic paint,
pan pastels and Inktense pencils

'Origami Journal' (9"X9")
Scrap book paper, hand made paper, stencils, acrylic paint, pan pastels,
rubber stamps, paper punch elements, handmade tags, yarn, oriental coin

'Buddha Journal' (9"X9")
Handmade paper, handcut and commercial stencils,
Inktense pencils, acrylic paint, 2B pencil, white pigma pen

Dog Journal

Here is another page from the Dog Journal.  As I mentioned in a previous post, experimenting is very 'freeing'!  I would never have created a painting or print using this image in this way, but having done it in my journal I would like to do a larger one!  I am finding dog sketches in some of my older journals/sketchbooks, even on scrap pieces of paper - I guess it is a good thing that I don't tend to throw things out! (My husband might have a different opionion, but it is my studio!). The Dog Journal must have been waiting for its day!! With this image I photocopied it and cut it out and 'glued' into the journal. Then worked on it adding colour and stencilling, etc. The  more I do the more the ideas seem to come. Enjoy the day and happy creating!

10"X10"
Mixed media collage, art tissue (stamped and stencilled),
Inktense pencils, acrylic paint