Thursday 29 March 2018

It's a strange feeling...

...to be between homes, having sold the one (and temporarily borrowing it from the new owner until the transaction is finalized in May) and purchased a condo about four blocks away.  We're neither truly in one place or another.  It's obvious to me that the situation has inspired my revitalized obsession for wonky houses.  Hence the latest painting:

Beach Huts (after Laura Harris) mixed media on paper  2018 © Win Dinn 

Let me tell you how this all came about...I've had this photo of Laura Harris' house on my inspiration screensaver for some time, and there's something about it that just makes my heart sing.  

'Coming Home to You My Loves' mixed media 48" x 48" © Laura Harris
Being the thief that I am, I used this lovely house as a jumping off point to create a couple of stencils in a much smaller size for my own mixed media.



I first printed a black and white image of the cropped painting, and then cut two versions of the house with my admittedly inexpert knife skills.  By the time I'd burned the images into the house wrap they'd taken on a life of their own.

I printed both stencils onto a piece of painted mulberry paper and then cut them out.


With the leftover paint pounced onto the photocopies, the copies look most interesting too.


 I auditioned the stencils and photocopies on a Gelli print,


 twice, and decided they have a feel of beach houses to me.  What do they remind you of?


Of course, now that I've done a couple of stencils, I just want to do more and more and more using my own designs for wonky houses.  The TAPS project demo I did a couple of years ago will be a good starting point, I think.






28 comments:

  1. You are definitely in HOUSES just now low! Absolutely great and you are such a clever crafter and artist! You never cease to amaze me and your inspiration , the painting of Laura Harris is a wowser!
    Hugs, Susi

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    1. I'm with you on Laura Harris' painting...it is beyond stunning in impact and colour. LOVE it. And thanks for the creativity kudos - it's such a blessing to be able to play in the studio (and not have to clean up immediately :D ). xo

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  2. You are going to have more fun with these houses than your real ones - lol - moving is always a challenge. Have fun Win!

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    1. I'm with you on that one, Val...although moving is not great fun, we've done enough purging that it should be 'relatively' painless, we hope. In the meantime, I think I'll just play with my paper (and house wrap) houses! :D

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  3. Fantastic, fun, beautiful wonky houses :) I know the unsettled feeling of changing homes. We lived in a temporary place for 3 months between last summer, that truly was different (but an adventure as it was in a different town). Take care, Shirleyx

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    1. It was great fun, Shirley, and I know you can relate to the crazy emotions one has at this time. A three-month move would have had me around the bend. Kudos to you for coming out of it sane! xo

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    2. Relatively sane :) ha ha... nahh we came out of it fine, but it is very unsettling and I had many nights where I did not sleep well. All is good now, except we have construction all around us... I have to be patient as we knew what we were getting into... we LOVE the community :)

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    3. All sanity is relative, right? :D I'm delighted to hear that your community is going to suit you so well - that is awesomeness to the max! xo

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  4. Quilter's like to sew wonky houses too. Imagination can run wild.

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    1. It's a great field of play for those who let the muse out - so very fun!

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  5. I love your houses, so wonky and whimsical and joyful. They look like dutch row houses, or sans the window and add a half moon on the door a great outhouse...crazy I know but I adore the look of old outhouses if not the smell and feel...eeew
    Will you have an art room in you new digs or at least an art nook or closet? I used to do art in a closet in my old house it was about 3'x6' I had my art desk in there and everything, it felt like hibernating.
    Well darlin I'm wishing you a wonderful, peaceful Easter weekend hope you get plenty of chocolate bunnies and jellybeans.

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    1. Many thanks, Deann - they were great fun to make, and now that you mention it, they do have that outhouse feel, too...hmmmmmmm. Percolating, percolating.

      I'm embarrassed to admit the downsize is actually an upsize. I was prepared to go much smaller in the house but the condo, AND studio, are both a wee bit bigger than our current place. Pronoia in action!

      Have a marvellous Easter weekend yourself, my friend - did I mention that I LOVE your new banner on your page. Glorious!!! xo

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  6. I like to think of them as happy, dancing houses rather than wonky :) Love them and their beachy feel.

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    1. Happy houses, indeed - and perhaps just a little bit wonky too! Thanks, Tracy!

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  7. These are just delightful Win! A wonderful tribute to your old and your new home.

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    1. Thanks, Laura...I can see a few more of these in my future!

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  8. I am so loving your house project and the gorgeous stencils, how clever are you my crafty friend. Hope you have a lovely Easter and the house move goes smoothly. Angela xXx

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    1. Thanks, Angela. Like your masterboards, I can see the ideas multiplying faster and faster. :D

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  9. I ADORE your wonky houses Win and what great stencils too. It is so neat that you can be so free to make them wonky. I really love art with crazy houses in it but when I try - I am not free enough - mine always have ugly structure. Of course, that's what I like best about your art... it's always so free and happy! Thinking of you as you work to make your changes. Xj.

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    1. Many thanks, Joi - I had a blast making the stencils and playing with Laura's house style. And truly, an ugly structure just adds to the wonky feeling, don't you think? The wonkier the better, I think...I love the Gelli prints for the collage construction, so I'll need to see if I can make some stencils that are just crazy enough! xo

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  10. Excellent stencils and wonky houses Win!! I see what you mean about that painting making your heart sing- there is something there...
    Hoping your life will be settled soon till then
    Happy Easter to you and your loved ones! May your time be filled with joy!
    lots of love,Jackie

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    1. It's a stunner, isn't it? Laura's work is so delicious...like a long cool drink of water after a crawl through the desert.

      We're looking forward to being in our new place and the seven weeks or so will give us time to enjoy spring in the old one, now that it's arrived.

      Happy Easter to you and yours - hope you've a ton of Easter love around you this weekend. xo

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  11. I LOVE wonky houses and yours look very inspiring, Win. Hope you can move into your new home soon - new beginnings are always so exciting and full of promise - though I know you're not moving that far. Wishing you a lovely Easter! xx

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    1. We're looking forward to the move, Zsuzsa - about seven weeks to go! And new beginnings are always so exciting; I'm in total agreement about that! Happy Easter, my far-flung friend! xo

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  12. Great houses! And the colours are beautiful. And I learned a new word: wonky! The houses give me a very welcoming and adventurous feeling.

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    1. Thanks, Marjolein - they were great fun to create, and truly, wonky is THE word to use in this case. :D

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  13. Wouaouh! I love your houses Win! Positive or negative, colourful or not, they are truly wonderful! Not so wonky anyway, everything is at the right place. Bravo!

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    1. Thanks, Sim - lots of fun to play with, and certainly in keeping with my present uproad vis a vis home!

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