Hi all,
This is part two of my interpretation of the Own Art challenge. I have included full photos and instructions so YOU can have a go too!

In part one I started with my chosen subject of Wisteria vines and worked it into a sketch in my journal. I decided that I then wanted to try it represented as a textural sculptural piece.

Here is my result!:


My goals for this piece were to

1. Produce a 3dimensional representation inspired by my sketch and photos.
2. Work in a textural medium
3. Maintain a color washed effect

As I have reached these goals I am labeling this piece as complete in my mind however I ideas for further working it. More likely though, I will explore those ideas in another project.


Process:

1. First up I wrapped a block of wood in a piece of white tissue and baby muslin, hot gluing it securely to the back of the wood.

2. I then hot glued chunks of Floracraft Styrofoam onto the base in the general shape of my subject. This gave my piece height and stability for the detail to come.


3. Once the main shape was in place I started to cut into the foam to create more defined areas.


4. Using my sketch as a guide I continued to cut into the Styrofoam base with a scalpel and started adding a surface of Paperclay. Paperclay is an airdry clay that is receptive to detail. It dries fairly quickly so ideally it is best to start and finish this step in one go. If you need to leave your project during this step be sure to cover securely with plastic wrap to slow down the drying.

5. This photo shows the sculpture now covered in Paperclay and I am just working up the detail in shapes. My main emphasis here is to maintain the fluid motion of the shapes. Cutting lines into the background helped me visually differentiate between the background and forground as well as adding texture.


6. Once the Paperclay was dry I individually added small squares of baby muslin to the surface with Gel Medium. Using a pushing/dabbing motion with my paintbrush I could push the muslin into the cracks and creases. The baby muslin adds interesting texture and dimension to the piece as well as making the overall sculpture stronger. (much like a plaster cast! - and yes it does look like an archeological discovery!)

7. Using an old French dictionary I tore tiny pieces and used the gel medium to apply to the surfaces that would appear to be in shadow.

8. I then applied a coat of white gesso to the entire surface (going very light over the text) and allowed to dry. This is to even out some of the tones where the wood showed through and also give a good surface for applying color.

9. To add color to the piece I used the Derwent Watercolor pencils I had previously worked with in my sketch. Applying the pencil to the areas I wanted the most intensity of color then using my water brush to lightly bring subtle color the the highlight areas.

This was continued over the whole piece using a neutral color in the background.



Thankyou for following my process! I welcome your questions or comments and would love to see your Own Art results!

take care
~Kathleen

Labels: Altered-Arts-Magazine, Art, Challenge, Inspiration, Instruction, Journal-Pages

Hi all!
Clara put up a great challenge inspiring us to use our own drawing, words and images. Right up my alley! I am dividing my my contribution into two parts to show how I decided to explore this challenge... here goes!

Selecting a subject
Sometimes I find this the hardest part. I find if I look too hard I get overwhelmed with the options. Inspiration is as close as your front door, kitchen, library, family... close your eyes and see what comes to mind and don't second guess!

Here in New Zealand it is Spring and I am always inspired by the Wisteria vines that come out into bloom. It astounds me how their beauty is here for such a short time. To me they represent the onset of Spring and the hope of Summer, elegance in their drapey shapes, life in bees and perfume, and vibrancy and sheer surprise of their purple colour. While away recently I took some photos of these beautiful flowers and they became the source of this project.


Starting the sketch
The first thing I wanted to capture is the elegant flow of the flower shape. Wisteria has a very distinctive curve so using a grey fine tip pen I drew the main lines in first.


Next step in my sketch was to start adding detail. This is a working sketch where my main focus is to explore the shapes and patterns within the flower that can later be interpreted into a textural piece. I also added some colour.


To emphasise form, highlights and shape try observing the negitive space - that is, defining the space around the subject.


Further exploring the subject
As this is a study piece rather than a finished composition I picked out pieces of the flower that I felt were characteristic shape and detailed them to assist me when I come to do my textural piece.


Testing colour balance
Finally for this sketch I added more colour using Derwent Watercolor Pencils. Here I was experimenting with where I wanted to add the most depth of colour without losing detail. Note the tiny colour swatches on the left side are colour tests and also to use as a colour dip rather than applying pencil to areas I wanted to be kept very light.



So that was my process for working with my chosen subject. Stay tuned for Part Two where I will share how my sketch was then interpretted into a dimensional piece.

I would love to see your sketches, or if you have any questions - feel free to post in the comments!
~Kathleen

Labels: Altered-Arts-Magazine, Challenge, Inspiration, Instruction, Journal-Pages

Heya all!
I just thought I would post a little heads up on my current series that kicked off in the current Altered Arts Magazine (Jan/Feb 08). It seems that design principles can be a topic that mystifies many - I would like to say that learning and using design principles just comes down to practice and observation.

This months article explores the topic of Pattern and if you love paper and stamps (don't we all?) this could well help you!

A note about my example featured in the article: Some of you will be familiar with one of my other passions in life - Bodybuilding! The affirmations are intended to be read prior to training to develop the champion mindset. Credit for those words go to Pete Siegel, USA's foremost sports and peak performance hypnotherapist which was accidentally omitted from the article. If you are interested in reading the full eight performance enhancing affirmations they can be found in this article The Peak Performance Mindset.

Have a great day!
Kathleen

Labels: Altered-Arts-Magazine

Heyas!
Some of you will know I am a bit of a crazy multi-art-tasker. I think it stems from hating to wait! I probably have somewhere in the vicinity of 15-20 CURRENT projects. Occasionally it gets overwhelming and I will have a full on finishing blast and complete a bunch before starting something new again. Its no wonder I have to have a major clean up session after that kind of carry on :)

So it felt good to finish a couple of projects this week and I started a long term project that I have been wanting to work on for weeks. I have been creating alot of goal cards and work featuring words and ideas to do with inner vision and motivation. Life's purpose and all that - you know - easy light subjects! heheh. This project is a box is intended to hold some of these cards and some daily ideas I want to keep at the forefront of my attention. In theory I should make a card a day but since I know life won't allow me to keep to that I'm just going to work on it as I can. The box however is my starting point.

I am always drawn to texture, at the moment I am really exploring how far I can take it and what kind or real depth I can create. I'm going for a very deep, embedded result so it will be interesting to see where I end up!

So far:




Next step: Not sure! hehe... well sort of, heading back into workroom to glue more goodies!

ttfn!

Labels: Altered-Arts-Magazine, Art, Instruction

~This is a repost from my Altered Arts Magazine Blog~


When these little chipboard albums came in I was immediately drawn to the long curved shape of the keyplate style. Combined with their Periphery Collection I just thought, YUM!

This little guy is going to be taught as a class in our store and I just love the techniques and they are deceptively easy! Those of you with a current copy of Altered Arts Magazine have a head start advantage since the embellishment on the surface involves using the Hot Glue technique in the latest issue.

I really enjoyed mixing the combinations of blues and silvers with a twinkling hint of green. Lots of textures and yes, texture paste! (one of my fav things!) The words are four of my favourite quotes that keep me semi-sane...

The Four Agreements (I try to remember these and avoid drama!)

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Have a great day!

Labels: Altered-Arts-Magazine, Inspiration, Instruction

~Repost from my Altered Arts Magazine blog ~


Don't you love quick projects??! I was given these two crystals this week and they have been rattling around in my pocket - which I kinda like, but then I had the thought that they might fit in some jewelery findings I have...lo and behold they do! Here is an in process pic... they are currently drying... so easy!



Process so far:

1. Jewelery findings + crystal sitting inside
2. Pour in Diamond Glaze (any other Dimensional Magic, clear accents type product would work just as well)
3. Sit inside small dish (the jewelery! not you personally!! ...heheh) and pour over micro beads.
4. Wonder to yourself if you are going to leave the sticky microbeads that lapped over the edge where they are or scrape them off later.....

Labels: Altered-Arts-Magazine, Inspiration, Instruction