Post playshops...

is a time for unpacking boxes, sorting, storing and getting back to 'normal' - HA!

This week I've been in finishing mode too, with a painting done (another on the Dark Side),

'It's Time II' 6 x 6" mixed media on canvas  © Win Dinn

It's Time detail - create

It's Time - detail

an antique gold chalice,

'Libation' mixed media altered glass © Win Dinn

Libation Detail

Libation inside

 and a copper-toned bottle.

'Message on a Bottle' mixed media altered bottle  © Win Dinn

Message Detail

Message - more detail

Message - bottom detail

Message - a different full view

And with just over four weeks left until Christmas (did I say that out loud - OH NO), I can tell it's time to get in the creativity mode.  Do you make all your gifts?  Do you have a ton yet to do?  How's your holiday season shaping up?  Please let me know in your comments, and feel free to add your website and/or blog to let our readers know too!

Wandering on the dark side...

...seems to be my thing these days.

I've been playing with foil and embossing folders, using my gallon of black gesso to good effect.

 At the rate I'm using it, there will be none left by tomorrow.

I did manage to finish one glass this week - champagne never looked like this before.  It rather reminds me of a Queen's Coldstream Guardsman who's had a wee bit too much.  His tassle has gone askew and he's a wee bit green instead of his usual jaunty red.

 His top hat is still carrying the texture, though, so all is well.

I've finished the crackle lamp, and now I'm on a hunt for the perfect shade...suggestions or links anyone?

I also had to test run those embossed papers, so I used them on the ends of a small crate I was distressing.

I think this will make a terrific gift 'basket', don't you?

What's on your work table this week...have you gone over to the dark side?

Summer studio time...

in a heat wave certainly gets me working in cooler colour.  I've finished some pieces this week and I'm smiling at the distinct lack of heat in them.  That's very unusual for me, as you know.

I created a textured canvas background for a 7" x 5" piece that I'd made on a wood panel, and now I'll call this done.

'We Stand Together' 14 x 11" mixed media on gallery wrap canvas © Win Dinn

I've  also finished a commission for a local business here.  Photographing a work that is so metallic in composition is beyond challenging (never mind getting it square!), so I hope you can get a sense of the muted colour scheme - soft lilac, rust, brass, gold, and burnt orange. The business is Gold N Treasures, and they specialize in all sorts of wonderful things for gold panning, rock hounding and even beading.  It's no surprise the piece incorporates polished stones, gold nuggets and nuts and bolts.

'Gold N Treasures'  11 x 14" mixed media on cradled wood panel  © Win Dinn

This glass does have a touch of heat, with the red bouncing off the dark pewter background.

'A Toast in Red' 9.5" x 2" altered glass © Win Dinn

This piece is the first in The Summer of Colour challenge, with the palette of two blues and one green as the criteria this week.  Incorporating a host of Gelli prints on a background of paper-making texture netting, it's not done yet, but I'm enjoying the cooler tones already.

The other thing accomplished this week was a metallic board and a host of wine and beer bottle cap magnets.  Have you worked with epoxy?  This was my first  experience, and it has permanently glued all my fingers together.  You've no idea how difficult it was to key this post.

Add to all this the two visits to Legend Rock for concrete play (see previous post), and starting a new job it's been a busy one.  This means, naturally, that I deserve some time off, so we're heading to Alberta for a few days on Sunday.  When you look for my Tuesday post and can't find it, think of me visiting Alice Saltiel Marshall and wish me well.  I hope you're happy summering too!

Where did it go?

I missed Tuesday's post, and here it is Friday already.  It's been a week, apparently. I've been working on some pieces for the Fernie show, and actually managed to finish a couple of them this week.

This very masculine bottle became an instant favourite of my son, Barry, who loved the masculine feel and the hand-crafted chain made and gifted to me by Eileen Gidman (I have the best friends).

I think it has a deep sea feel to it, and named it 'Sunken Treasure'.

A companion piece in the same antique gold tones is this chalice, entitled 'Antique Goblet'.  It sports some of Eileen's gifts as well!

This lovely sherry glass piece is called 'Abundance', and it was Laura Leeder who donated the glass and many of the coins.  The first version of this can be found here, and now belongs to Laura and her husband Ivor.

The other glass that's been completed is 'Pot of Gold', and just feels so rich to me.

There are so many embellishments on this it's quite top heavy.

 It's chock-a-block full of Eileen's buttons, too,  What a gift that was!

On a sadder note, it's been a week of loss.  Our studio cat, Opal, has left us to go mousing around St. Peter's chair.  I'll miss her extraordinary presence in the midst of my creative chaos, and her assistance with everything I've ever done.  You can see her handiwork here and here.  

RIP, Opal, and happy mousing.

I just can't get enough...

... of texture these days.  I'm adding stuff to mediums like stuff will disappear, never to return.  Then I glop (note the technical term there) it on so thickly that it could be eaten with a spoon, were one so inclined.

Recently, I added to this wine glass and bottle to jazz it up a bit, since I found the original rather blah. 

 I'm loving the changes that additional colour and texture bring.

When I feel like I'd like to lick the results,

I know that I'm well on my way

to having it just right.

Each part of this pair just calls to me,

and I know I'll enjoy them for a long time to come.

In my eyes it's a great improvement over the original finish,

How about you?  What's calling to you in your creative life these days?  Colour, texture, hidden meaning, push/pull?  I love how we get hooked on things and can't let go until we're 'done'. Picasso in his blue period had nothing on mixed media artists!

No doubt...

...you're beginning to wonder whether I actually ever finish things in the studio, and some days I wonder the same thing.  I'm glad to report, however, that I can actually show you a finished piece.

'My Cup Runneth Over' altered wine glass © Win Dinn

I have two friends who, within the last couple of months, have acquired new homes in town. I'd hoped to get both house-warming gifts ready before the one couple left for their winter home in the US, but couldn't manage it.  This one, however, is a little more timely and was delivered today.

I think it's particularly appropriate that the coins in the cup were donated to my mixed media cause by the gentleman side of this couple, and they're getting a small percentage of the world-ranging treasure back in this form.

I'm loving the tactility of this piece so much that I have a yen (pun intended) to do it all over again.

Luckily, with a stash of coins and a surplus of metallic alcohol inks, that is actually possible.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether it will materialize or not!

And just a reminder, I do have a Gelli printing workshop this next weekend here in Creston. Are you coming to play?

Surprises...

don't you love them?

I got a fabulous and totally unexpected Christmas gift in the mail this week from an on-line friend over at Creating and Sharing Mixed Media Art on Google+.  It included these vintage lace and rick-rack pieces,

three wonderful bright red lace paper doilies (you know they'll get incorporated into Valentine cards or tags),

and a lovely little note.

Huge thanks, Jackie - you rock!

Some surprises come more under the heading of bloopers, and if you want to see a good one, you can check out this recent video I did when I was testing some new high flow acrylics (thanks Meg!).  I can tell you that fluorescent pink has incredible POW! factor when, in a Video Demo Brain Freeze, you take the top off the bottle by accident, and pour!

A more reasonable surprise this week was finishing another wine bottle and glass.  You can find out how I started with this obsession here.  These ones are in peacock colours, just for you Alice, although they're still not safe for dining room table use.

'My Fine Feathered Friend' mixed media goblet © Win Dinn

'My Fine Feathered Friend' reverse

'My Fine Feathered Friend' base

'Peacock Flash' mixed media bottle © Win Dinn

'Peacock Flash' reverse

'Peacock Flash' closeup

The other surprise in these is that each of the flowers are hand-crafted from bottle caps, wine bottle metal caps, paper, and buttons.  I love taking something mundane and upcycling it, don't you?

Just a reminder - I'm teaching next weekend in Kimberley - if you'd like to join us for a playful Gelli mono-print weekend, please contact Christine at Centre 64 to register.  Registrations close TODAY!