I'm supposed to be...

...working, right?  But I get into the studio, and can't help following all those questions I have about whether this technique would work with that material.

As addicted to Gelli printing as I am, I was watching a video about faux marbling by Birgit Koopsen who achieved a fabulous effect using frayed hemp.  Now John may have hemp rope in the garage, but in the current state of flooding, that building was temporarily off limits, so I pulled out some cobweb to try instead.

While the first two prints look a little gloppy,

I finally remembered to pull the cobweb material much finer, and this first print, with four layers of paint, looks pretty delicious.

The ghost print from the same series, is yummy too,

and the haunt print has picked up some lovely undertones of blue from the first couple of prints.  I LOVE it when that happens!

Naturally, I'll save the painted cobweb for something interesting too - maybe a journal page, or added to the crazy bathroom curtains I have on the go, or what if I saved it for the original intention, and created a really unique Halloween display?

Stay tuned - you know it's going to go SOMEWHERE!  Where are you going with your artwork? What's got your creative juices flowing?  Do post a link in your comments so we can check it out!

Rockin' the fun...

was this groups' motto, I think.  And as I mentioned in my last post, rebellion was the order of the day - both days.

I'd say do this - and invariably they'd do the opposite.  After our painted papers dried,

Painted paper,  waiting to dry overnight

I mentioned they could be wrapped around a canvas, in stages, by first securing the paper with medium to the front of the canvas, waiting for it to dry, and then doing the same on the sides, around to the back.  No more than ten minutes later, I saw one of the brattiest ladies (you know who you are) covering the WHOLE of the canvas, front and sides with the papers, and managing it without any issues at all.  Don't you just hate it when students prove you wrong?  And don't these look amazing?  They don't need anything else to make a wall shine.

I thought I'd show you a few more 'in progress shots', which I suspect were taken the morning of day two.

 

Don't these just get the creative juices flowing?

It's wonderful to see so many pieces so well on their way to completion.  The hope was that each participant would take home a completed painting, and by the looks of their drying areas, most of them would be carting home their own gallery-full!

A lovely cobweb piece

Using a foam roller wrapped with elastics (or maybe string)

  

A clear tar gel drop & resist technique

A gesso drop technique

Utilizing self-leveling clear tar gel, tinted with paint

Drywall compound, over-painted with washes of colour.

 

Paint, stamps and more stamps

Paint, string wrapped brayer, and over-stamping

Love those layers of paint, splatter and elastic-wrapped foam

Paint, elastic-wrapped foam roller, gesso drops, fabric and goodness knows what else! - YUM!

The participant who created this luxurious background was not too fond of it, until she had a happy accident with a broken skin, which just made it sing.  Unfortunately I didn't manage to get a photo of that stage, but I love this one without it too!

Here I am, elegantly attired and perfectly composed, pontificating, while nobody pays any attention - typical for the weekend!

Did I say we had fun?  More than you can imagine!  Check out the playshop page for one coming to your area, or email me to discuss the possibility.