Playing, testing, experimenting...

is always my favourite thing to do.  I realise that for me, it's all about the process (which means making deadlines for shows is very stressful).  I'm happiest trying new things, creating new techniques, pushing old ones and going nuts with upcycling.  I thought I'd show you some of them this week.

This particular piece is made from painted dryer sheets .

I started with a stack of them, a bottle of Golden GAC-400 (a fabric stiffener), and a toilet paper roll wrapped in plastic and coated with Vaseline.

Soaking each of the painted sheets in the GAC-400, I placed them around the roll, and secured them with elastics.

Once dried, the gauzy stiffened fabric stands up well - all it needs is a small glass insert to make a gorgeous vase (yes, I know - I should have built around one, rather than the toilet roll cardboard, but it was an experiment after all).  Live and learn, right?

I've been playing in one of my journals (I have several on the go), and as I was feeling grateful for the small town in which we live, I got thinking about how challenging it may be for those who are obliged to live in the city. Hence this spread, Sleeping Tight,was born.

The other page completed was one I started some time ago, playing with patterns.

It's so dense with them it really needs a dozen close-ups.

Tell me, what have you been up to in the studio recently?  Are you a process lover, or a product artist? If the latter, will you send me some of your energy?  With another show to work towards in February, the push is on!

Experiments....

starts, finishes and bloopers are a regular part of my studio life.

This past week I've been playing with the videos from Creative Jumpstart 2015, and having a ton of fun.

I've tested the background technique inspired by the Nathalie Kalback video on journalling on this piece of matboard.  You can see the technique I used in this video - it is similar in many ways to Nathalie's method.

Background using paper towel lift

I've covered it with a wash of quinacridone sienna, and sprinkled drops of water onto it.

Pressing a cloth on to the background lifts the splashes of water and some of the paint as well for another great effect.

Last post I showed you this collage inspired by Jimmy Leslie's video,

and I did my first ever face plant - sorry, make that face stencil, by following Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's fabulous video instructions.  For someone who is spatially challenged, this was a great success.  I used a portion of it in this journal spread.

And for some reason, this tiny painting had been sitting in the studio for weeks (read months), unfinished, and it's now a done deed and sitting in our living room where it was intended to live.

'In Bloom' 4" x 3" mixed media
on cradled wood panel ©Win Dinn

I hope you're having as much fun with your creative life.

And if you're in Creston, why not stop into the Chamber and check out the show there?  It's a great way to heat up your creativity!

Oh, you want to know about the bloopers?  Not gonna happen in this post, but watch for a good one in an upcoming video!