I went by Ann’s shop today and saw some of the new work she’s done with the faces – she just keeps getting better and better. Here are a few of the new ones – they look spectacular “in person.”
Ann Pearce Just Keeps On Creating
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Author Archives: lynbelisle
Open Studio at Jan’s
This should be fun and different – I’ve never had an open studio somewhere else, but I’m looking forward to it. I’m planning to offer a free gift! Stay tuned.
Transplendent Collage
That’s the name and theme I’ve decided on for a workshop I’m giving to a group of teachers in August – we will uses transparent media and discuss transcendent ideas take the ordinary object to the extraordinary by juxtaposing it with the creative and unexpected.
Included in this would be
- Transparency and layers
- Time travel combinations
- Juxtaposed metaphors
- Transformations
- Morphs
I think that’s what I tried to do with this series in the La Vida show.
“I feel transcendant and splendid. I feel transplendant.”
from the akaruihito blog, 2006
Summer Workshop Videos –
These workshop have been so much fun – yesterday was the last one until August 19th when I’ll offer a two-part workshop with Ann Pearce – I’ll post the brochure here in a few days, but other classes will include Collage on Canvas and and Card and Votive workshop – stay tuned!
From Sunday, June 24th
From Sunday, June 17th
Adornments and Such
I was making some face shards for Ann Pearce’s jewelry designs yesterday and decided to try some little flat clay pendants. They remind me of game tiles or little ancient book covers. Here are three of them, just out of the kiln this morning – I’m still experimenting, but so far I like them and can also see them as part of my mixed media paper and earthenware collages. The one on the far right has gold leaf added. The others are finished with walnut ink and iridescent mica powder.
Coals to Newcastle?
I stopped by Ann Pearce’s jewelry shop to deliver some little shard faces and I was wowed by what she had done with the shard face in this necklace. I didn’t have the iridescent leather, the beads or any of the other things that (besides the face I had made) gave it such special appeal. So I bought it! Actually, I traded it for more faces. When I wear it, I get tons of compliments and questions. Malcolm, the trainer at the gym next door to Ann’s, saw it and said “That brother has a lot on his soul.” Ann gets the credit for the design, but the face with the soul started out in my studio. Thanks, Ann, for elevating these little guys to such a fine status!
Second Summer Sunday Workshop
Yesterday’s votive candle card workshop was so much fun – many creative ideas and many different (but perfect) answers to the design project. Thanks to everyone for coming to play in the studio. Here’s a short video:
Art Pix
Here are a few shots from galleries I visit on my trip to DC/Rehoboth. I photographed the works for various reasons, not to emulate but to swipe one or two ideas that I liked a lot. Can you guess what I liked about each one? Can you guess which one is food? The most amazing show I saw was called Ghost Factories by JS Adams at the WardEllinger Gallery.
Here are the pics – none of Adams’ work cause I was just to entranced looking at the work itself – inkjet prints on shellacked manilla paper.
So much to steal, so little time
After five days in DC and Rehoboth Beach, my swag bag of ideas is full, and I can’t wait to get back to the studio. Some of the stash:
Raku bugs on clay rattles
Frameless framing
Shellacked manilla paper with inkjet prints
Multi minicanvas construction ….and doubtless many more from today’s National Building Museum visit.
I’ve read two amazing books on this trip – Steal Like an Artist and I’d Rather Be in the Studio.
The first is about making ideas your own by building on the timeless collaborative community of artists everywhere, and the second is on getting the word out about your art for the best reasons.
Stay tuned for the results of my insipratons – I’m ready to get back home and get to work.
Masterful Marbling
I was looking for some new paper ideas for my Votive Workshop on June 17 when I came across Galen Berry’s site. He is a master of the art of marbled paper. When I look at his results, it makes me wish for time to learn how to do everything! I used to do marbling with my students until we got in trouble with the district police chief whose office was next door to my classroom in an old instructional building. He didn’t like the way the turpentine smelled. We were closed down by the law! But Galen Berry doesn’t use turpentine – here are his general instructions and the results, seen in the amazing video, below.
1. Some alum is dissolved in water. This is sponged onto each paper to be marbled, and the paper is allowed to dry. The alum is what will bond the color to the paper.
2. A thick liquid, referred to as the size, is made by blending a type of gelatin (carrageenan) with water.
3. The size is poured into a shallow tray.
4. Several colors of ink or paint are sprinkled onto the surface of the size. They float on the surface because they are lighter than the thickened water.
5. A stick is used to stir the floating colors if desired. Various combs and rakes may also be run through the colors to make more intricate patterns.
6. A sheet of the alum-treated paper is gently laid onto the surface of the size, and it absorbs the floating colors. Only one print can be made.
7. The paper is lifted off, rinsed, and hung up to dry. Fabric marbling is done the same way, except for step #1: Instead of sponging the alum onto the cloth, it is soaked in the alum water, then hung up to dry, then ironed flat. After that, it can be marbled just like a sheet of paper.