Tuesday 31 January 2012

Horsefeathers

Horsefeathers:  long hair on lower legs (over hoof), common in heavier breeds.
               also:  slang for nonsense, balderdash
             
She's been some time cooking (even once in the oven), but she's finally arrived,  just in time for Art Trot!  She's bright, colourful, strong and fanciful and she can be yours if you attend and bid at the Silent Auction happening February 10 & 11, 2012 in the Sunshine Room, Rec Centre, Creston, BC, Canada (official opening is Friday,  February 10 from 5 to 7 pm).

You can see what changes have been made from the initial posts (here) and (here), and including the very first coat of paint below.

Horsefeathers     The REALLY ugly stage
This initial coat of quinacridone pink gave me such a fright I nearly went into cardiac arrest.  It actually stopped me in my tracks for a few days.  It's one thing to visualize a hot pink horse, and another thing to see it in the flesh!  I'm pretty sure that at this point, John was ready to send me off to a rest farm somewhere...

Horsefeathers        Paper Mache by John & Win Dinn
Another four or five coats of paint in three more quinacridones helped a great deal and the final result just makes me grin (I know, I'm a little bit nuts!).

As with most well-bred horses, she comes with a pedigree detailing her salient points:
Please join us at the Art Trot 2012 Silent Auction  - you'll find an amazing array of artwork and all funds are in support of the Therapeutic Riding Program here in Creston.  Horsefeathers is looking for a new home, and she'd be a perfect Valentine's gift for that special person in your life!

Sunday 29 January 2012

Good News!

When I walk through the downtown area, I notice the number of businesses who have music and news piped through their speaker systems;  I see televisions and computers in store windows showing 'the latest' on screen.  And I am aware of the vast amount of disaster, difficulty, damage and downright chaos with which we are constantly bombarded.

I wondered what our world would be like if we started to give time and exposure to the more positive things in life:
Good News Network Blaring     Mixed Media by Win Dinn      8 x 10 on board
It may take some time to get the message across so it could be heard and seen clearly, but wouldn't it eventually make a difference?  I'm grateful to my Facebook friends who uplift my spirits daily with their positive / funny / beautiful postings!

If you're wanting to share some optimistic and encouraging parts of your life, please comment here, and/or send me a friend request on Facebook - I'm all for exposing the best things in life!

Friday 27 January 2012

Art Trot

 I've mentioned the Art Trot fundraiser for the Therapeutic Riding Program here in Creston, BC before, and it's coming up soon.  I thought you'd like to see a piece that will be part of the silent auction -
The Huddle, Limited Edition Print by Owen Garrett
Isn't it evocative of the riding life?  This particular framed print is available online at $450+...

Art Trot Poster

I'll be posting additional pieces over the next couple of weeks, but in the meantime, please put it in your calendar!

Friday 20 January 2012

Red...

As a child, I was obsessed with red - it was rare for me to wear or use any other colour;  I recall many disagreements with Mom over this obsession.  I had to have red shoes, red coats, red pencils, red shirts, and so on, to the point where the ubiquitous mid-August shopping trip for school clothes and supplies became a nightmare for us both.

My passion for red continues to this day, and I am always immediately drawn to the colour, although I have learned to curb it in my wardrobe (somewhat).  I repeatedly find myself painting with  it, though, and just finished a small mixed media piece.

Playing with Fire     5 x 7   Gallery Wrap Canvas
I know if Mom is watching over me she's shaking her head with bemusement, and no doubt wondering if I'll ever be cured!

On another note, I'm still looking forward to all your renditions of the 'Artist's Flag' See here for details!.

Monday 16 January 2012

Crystal Clear

I thought I'd share one of my favourite of Nita Leland's techniques with you.  (It's also extremely popular with students in the mixed media workshop.)  Crystalline paper is one of the prettiest  imagineable, because of the see-through quality that captures the light of the under-support.

This paper is created by painting artist-quality tissue paper with acrylic medium on one side, letting it dry completely and repeating the process on the reverse side of the paper.  Once both sides are thoroughly dry, you can drop wet paint onto one side, spray with water, and wait for beautifully clear colours and patterns to develop as the paint dries. 

Crystalling paper over white background
I've used these papers in my mixed media work as well as incorporating them into various paper projects - they can be reminiscent of stained glass windows they are so light-filled!

Crystalline paper over yellow/orange bond

You can view Nita Leland's crystalling paper demo  here.   I encourage you to try this - it's as much fun as paper painting can be!

Friday 13 January 2012

A Challenge!

John and I were chatting the other day about the preponderance of flags flying from car aerials - some sports-related,

some nationalistic,


and otherwise!




Our discussion  centered around the whole concept of pinpointing loyalties on car, house or business, and we were frankly bemused. 

Laughingly, I indicated the only flag I'd ever consider showing would be an Artist's Flag, and of course got to wondering what that might look like from an artist's point of view.

So herein lies a challenge for you artists (and your students, if you have them) - create your version of an Artist's Flag, email it to me at windinn@shaw.ca , and I'll post any received prior to February 15, 2012.  From the entries, a blind draw will give the winner a free pass to 'Collage - Playtime for Adults' (see right sidebar under Workshops) which starts on February 25/12.

When you fly your flag, how will it look?

Friday 6 January 2012

Planet Introspection...

Philosophy and humanities are not my strong suit (I try not to overtax my brain TOO much), but I've been doing a great deal of thinking recently about  the state of the planet.  And of course, when I 'think', I do so with my hands.

Humanity, Hanging     8 x 8 canvas
During 2011, the financial meltdown worsened, population hit the 7 billion mark, concerns over the environment have increased, 'Occupy' has boiled up across the earth, food shortages have grown, new technologies have multiplied at an amazing rate and the supply of water is seriously in question,

I am encouraged by the Mayan calendar, which indicates that 2012 is a pivotal year.  I would like to think that this is the year we turn the human experience around and create a stronger thread upon which to rebuild. 

Monday 2 January 2012

A New Year start...

and finish.  Having spent most of the first day of 2012 in the studio yesterday, I've finished (all but the final archival sprays) a 12 x 12 painting that has been in the works for some time.

Elderberry Mandala
The elderberry shrub is common in our area .  Fully ripe elderberries make wonderful wine, jelly and syrup and are great with blackberries in a pie.  John picks them when the berries have had the first frost for that last fact alone.  However, I save the picked stems and press them for their delightful filigree lace effect .  They make beautiful miniature trees, and I've previously done a series of paintings using them.

Red Hot Pair  (Sold)
The Elderberry Mandala is a painted paper-wrapped canvas (see workshop sidebar on the right) with stems affixed using heavy mat gel.  I admit I pre-finished the paper prior to fixing the stems, as I thought I'd likely drive myself crazy coating inside all those delicate lines.  I did, however, coat the stems after adding them to the painting.  It's a time-consuming, but necessary task, and I credit this type of work with making me the addled artist that you know!
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