RESISTANCE AND READINESS

 I'm not sure at all why I am so resistant to writing this blog of late, but there you have it...I AM! "Write blog post" appears on each day's to-do list, but just never gets checked off, sadly. Sure, I have a few excuses like seeing double for most of a month and then struggling with reading with new lenses, but.... There should have been a way around it. I just couldn't find it.

There is also the very real fact that it is just a bit over a month until the Winter Fantasy and I had only ideas that needed work and hopefully to come to fruition. Thankfully, a few have done so and I continue moving forward on many of them. 

Then, there's a large capacity (for me and my space) workshop coming up in a week and a half. Thrilled to be able to create with a wonderful group of new and former students, there is still a lot to get done to make sure that I have all the materials needed for this great five hours of creative time.

OKAY. I guess that's all of my excuses and they have managed to make up a blog post 😜 Here's to next time.

LAYER AWAY!

 

Layering is definitely a springtime thing here in California as the days go from 40s to 70s and even 80s often. So layering is on my mind.

But the kind of layering I mention here is more what is used in mixed media art projects. And there are myriad ways one can utilize the effects of layering for sure.

Mixed media artists all have different ways of utilizing layering, but here I will choose to expand a bit on what we do in my monthly workshops. A good amount of time is spent creating backgrounds and to do that we use a lot of layering of paint and collage elements. The layers help to create a level of interest and attention that might not otherwise exist.

First, we apply paint using a variety of techniques like stippling, scumbling, sponging and/or scraping. Then, mark making happens using a variety of purchased, found, or handmade items: stencils, masks, stamping, and more.

Next, tissue paper, tea bag paper, deli paper, napkins, etc. can be written or stamped on or used plain to further create interest.

All of this happens before the focal points are added to a piece. Often, we even become so infatuated with the created backgrounds that it is difficult to go for the focal point. But, once it is added, voila! We have an intriguing piece of mixed media art. 

SO BLUE

 So not feeling blue as in down and depressed, but nevertheless this piece IS so blue.

Once monthly workshops continue with one tomorrow, March 10th. With a full house, I am looking forward to see what will come from the creative time together.

We have been starting off with making at least one piece using prompts. This month the prompts will be the color blue, a number, text, stripes, and one circle.  I had some time to create while watching the State of the Union speech so went ahead and made mine ahead of time. Actually, this will give me more time to spend with students so not a bad idea.

These workshops really fill my soul and I cannot imagine not doing them. Wonderful friendships have arisen from these times together and some folks return many times. It is a great way to gather together....I think. And the words "far beyond the ordinary lies the unforgettable" is oh, so apt.

SOMETIMES SERENDIPITY...

 So much fun at this past weekend's mixed media workshop. Five hours of creative energy, laughter, good food, shared stories and more. These workshops sure do feed my soul. Guess I'll have to just keep doing them.

The pieces pictured here are not both from the workshop. I was digging around in a box of 'fodder' and discovered the piece shown on the bottom that I had done about four years ago. I had completely forgotten about the process to do this, but as we played and explored on Sunday the techniques came back bit by bit. I was able to pull off the one shown at top and a couple of others. Think I'll have to keep playing and exploring the ways to go with this as it's a whole lot of fun.

ROUND AND ROUND WE GO

 

Have you ever taken part in a Round Robin Journal? If not, I highly recommend it. 

Some years back a former student--Cindy-- invited me to join a group in which she was participating. What a treat! You start with creating a book using watercolor paper. You need half as many 8 x 11 sheets as there are participants. Fold each sheet in half, poke some holes in the fold, insert binding thread and off you go. 

Using a variety of mixed media techniques each person creates cover art before sending on to the next person on the list. Once a month you get a journal to create and experiment in and at the end of the time you have a journal to keep with a variety of art techniques to enjoy.

Sound like fun? Give it a try!

PLAYING AROUND GETS RESULTS

After experiencing beginner's luck with subsequent failures at the last mixed media playtime, I decided to take some time, study, and research to see if consistency might be achieved. And so I began. And went on. And tried again. And went on.

Finally, I met with some successes again--some better than others, I will admit. Still....I think if I keep at this.... Meanwhile, I am having some fun with the results (adding ephemera and more.) So stay tuned to see the final result.

For sure we will be doing more of this experimentation at the workshop on September 18th!!

POOHLOSOPHY...ALWAYS THE BEST

 

There's just something about the character of Pooh Bear and his words that somehow always seems to ring true in the very moment of reading.

I can only hope that I never take for granted the birdsong and the ability to listen to it. Such a gift! I remember several years ago having a young lady who was a client who thought that the nearby birdsong at her home was neighbors chatter and it thoroughly annoyed her. Once I had told her it was merely the birds in the bushes and trees she had a completely different take and began to enjoy the sound. I have wondered many times since what exactly it was about neighbors chatter that she found annoying. At the time she was unable to articulate. I hope that to this day she is finding the good in the sound and is grateful for it.

Sunday during the Mixed Media Workshop here several times someone would mention the birdsong in the nearby trees. It is such a gift! As are these workshops for me. To join with a group of convivial creatives for several hours of uninterrupted creative adventure is wonderful. And these talented folks always pull out the stops to make some delightful pieces of artwork.

Oh, yes, I AM grateful!!!!

LOVE MONTH AND MORE....

 February is traditionally all about love and I LOVE teaching workshops. I could not be happier than I am to have the mixed media playtime workshops happening again on a regular basis...and with some really wonderful folks, returning and new alike. 

So much creative play exists in these five hours. We do wonderful potlucks and just graze as we go amidst the the wonderful and joyful conversations that arise. Life stories and travels and art discoveries and much more are shared as we go about the play of creating.

February's workshop on the 27th has only one spot remaining open at this writing. All are vaccinated and we vote on mask wearing at the very start. If you have an interest in joining a fun group there's that one spot or March and May dates are set as well.

So...play on, MacDuff!

WHIMSICAL PLAY

Sometimes it's all about whimsy in these Mixed Media Playtime work(?)shops. From Picasso to Emerson to Maslow and beyond runs the recognition that play is a necessary attribute of creativity...and life. I adhere to this wholeheartedly and hope you do too.

Play on, MacDuff...and everyone else 😃

EARLY THANKS CUZ WHY NOT?

 This angel of thanksgiving has arrived just a little bit early. Grateful for rain however light or heavy, she just decided to arrive as a treat before the ghouls show up for Halloween.

Other gratitudes that I share with her are for the joys of living here on this beautiful coast, getting to the booster of Covid vaccines, time with family and friends, GREAT groups for mixed media workshops, the blessing of pre-sales even before the Sawdust's Winter Fantasy begins,  the opportunities to give back through the Sawdust Art Enrichment Fund, and soooo much more. 

Life is good!

PLAYTIME

I wake happy. 

Starting out happy just seems to set things up for the rest of the day to me.

So this is all by way of a small explanation for why I call my workshops "playtime." One of our greatest gifts is the ability to play and while art like so much else can be pretty serious stuff, to play at art opens up exploration and experiments galore.

 

So playtime it is and there is another mixed media playtime workshop on the calendar for October 24th that is filled with some new and old playmates. I am really looking forward to the fun.

 

SOME FUN

 

Friend Catharine has been doing a lot of paint pour lately. So, as I finally got myself to the drive-thru carwash yesterday, I was struck by the similarity of the soap on the window to some paint pour techniques.

Do you suppose there's any future for using soap pour techniques?😜

I'm excited to be hosting another mixed media workshop this month, though I think we will probably skip the soap pour technique. Still, there will be plenty to do and I look forward to having a group of vaccinated creatives at play here.

THEN... AND NOW

then

now

Way back in the dark ages--2008 to be exact--Suzette Rosenthal and I were co-teaching for the Sawdust Art Festival spring and autumn workshops. These were long days--two of them--that required a day of setting up and tearing down at each end. 

At some point we looked at each other and asked if there was perhaps an easier way. Thus was born the Mixed Media Playtime Sunday Studio Workshop plan. We moved the whole operation (and that includes a multitude of fodder and tools) to my home studio. It  worked well for us and was sooo much easier physically. And when Suzette moved to Broomfield, Colorado I just went on with the program.

Over the years so many wonderful folks have attended these workshops. Always the camaraderie is delightful and the "play" yields a multitude of artwork, friendships, and so much more.

I have to thank Sherry Mitchell for the picture from the past and for reminding me of all the joys that have followed me through these years.

Blessings galore!!

TAKING TIME TO PLAY

 

Taking the time to play, maybe especially after the events of the past year or so, seems part of a therapeutic caring for self regimen to me. I hope all of you reading this are doing the same.

I found I have an abundance of scraps--using alcohol inks, acrylics, deli paper clean up sheets, and so much more. So the invitation to play was right there ...and I grabbed hold.

Since opting to participate in the summer's Sawdust Art Festival once again this year, I could also use some new greeting card stock. Perfect combo!

Not having a booth per se this year will seem strange, but my brain is busy seeking fun ways to utilize the 11 foot Gallery Wall. Stay tuned to see all the new and different from so many artists who have been creating during the long hiatus.

And, meanwhile, take the time to play yourself. So worth it.

WORKING AWAY

 

Just to catch you all up: I am working away on (at last) a newsletter. Since things are beginning to happen in our vaccinated milieu, it seemed about time to get that up and running again. 

Way back when, I cancelled the newsletter system I was using and asked all who were receiving it to get back to me if they wanted to continue to be on my list of sendees. The response was not exactly overwhelming, but that seemed a good thing because there's no point in sending to folks who won't open it, right?

At any rate, I now have contacts uploaded and will work on getting out all the news updates this week so please watch for the newsletter in your e-mailbox.

Things are looking up so stay safe and stay happy.

AH, SPRINGTIME...ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

 

Having a lot of fun with these bleeding tissue papers. Different sizes and shapes and vast amounts of possible play. The fun playtime got me thinking of missed workshops, missed camaraderie of friends together creating....and so...a possibility was born and the first workshop of 2021 is scheduled and full with safety in mind throughout all the planning. It does the heart good for sure!!

In the meantime, I will continue keeping the post office in business by creating and sending cards. 

There are so many lovely days of springtime ahead...what are your endless possibilities??

A CROW BY ANY OTHER NAME...

 

Anybody familiar with my work knows I do love crows and ravens (along with other corvids and so many birds really.) Just recently as work called to me to get serious about it again, this guy called out to be shown in a new scene. So here you have the work in progress--Snow Crow. It's just cold enough lately to seem appropriate, even here in sunny southern California.

Playing in the studio pushes back on the covid-19 bad news and the domestic terrorism launched on our Capitol Wednesday. Where are we going? Not sure. Just know that choosing the joyful work helps me personally to move forward.

Stay safe. Stay well. Choose some joy.

WHAT A MESS!!

Wandered down to the studio this morning. Gads! What a mess! For months now most of the work has been small pieces that I can do in my office so things have really piled up here.

It's anyone's guess when things will return to normalcy enough to host even socially distanced workshops safely so, in the meantime, my goal is to keep the space "ready." Guess I should get to it.

I've been daydreaming possibilities and hope you all are too. Soon. Soon. Soon. Please.

TEXTURAL TALK

 

Something always enjoyable to create with is adding textural play as the underneath layer...start with it as the first layer and just build from there.

For this sunflower piece, the texture began with medium texture paste spread on the substrate. Then, after swishing the paste around to create a bit of texture, briefly press a stencil into the paste.

Now, once dry, there is some great textural relief to build upon.

Here, it was followed with some fun paint and paper play. What would you do?

Have some fun with texture!

SOMETHING TO LOVE

 

Faye

There seems always to be such a great deal to love about Sunday Studio Workshops...even in these difficult times. Women coming together to create in a playful, joy-filled way warms my heart. And this group on the past Sunday was all that and more.

Pre-covid we added potluck into the mix and I have to admit that was even better as recipes were exchanged and exclamations were pronounced over certain flavors. Grazing would go on throughout the five hours and, often, a bottle of wine would be shared at some point.

Still, even without the potluck, the camaraderie was present and art play was plentiful as postcards were created by all. (We strive to do our very best to save the postal service.)

Not sure when another Sunday Studio Workshop will be possible even with the careful social distancing, but I am ever-hopeful it can be soon. Meantime, take care of yourselves and wear those masks.

Rhonda

Joelle

Camillia

Jen

Great work, all of you!!