365/2013 - Day 134

feeling better...errands and a new collage

Now that all of the Nasonex has worn off I am feeling better than yesterday...I must be sensitive to some ingredient in that medication...man!  Today I grabbed Juana and we went to LIFT to check up on Greeny and leave the new Customer Loyalty cards and the box of randomized artpacks.  From now on whenever you purchase an artpack from Greeny (my Art-o-mat machine) you get your card punched.  When you have collected 5 punches, you get 1 free totally random artpack.  Each artpack has been wrapped in green paper and ribbon and has one of my business cards on it.  The image on the card has nothing whatsoever to do with the artpack -- it is just a way for people to check out my blog or contact me if they have any questions about Greeny or Art-o-mat.

Then Juana and I went out to lunch but we had to order and eat quickly because the restaurant we went to closes between lunch and dinner and we only had 15 minutes...LOL.  It was fun.  We usually bring half of our meal home anyway.

Juana also gave me her artwork for "West of Center" in case she is not in town for the drop off day at the Northville Art House.  I was thinking about it tonight and I feel really honored for her to trust that nothing will happen to her piece while I have it...it is an incredible assemblage piece that looks like it is pretty delicate but it is also very powerful.  GREAT work -- I can't wait for this show!!!

Okay -- I decided tonight to collage over a little exercise painting we did in an acrylic class at the Northville Art House with Julie Woodard.  I had a good time in the class (Carla and Ruth and Sue took it, too) and we both got acquainted with acrylic paint and techniques...it was a lot of fun...but I am tired of looking at this particular piece.  (I am keeping my other two.)

my painting

the papers I snatched pieces of for this collage -- (no polka dots this time)

this wonderful wood patterned paper came in the box that my painting by Claudia Roulier was shipped in

the first piece of paper goes on...lots of matte medium

several pieces of paper later -- I love how you can see through the papers and glimpse other ones and parts of the painting

I'm not sure what this paper is made of, but when it becomes wet with matte medium it looks like horsehair and strands of straw or weeds or something -- I've had it a long time but never used it before

and here it is...very very wet

I wonder what images/creatures will emerge when it is dry

2012/365 - Day 296

wow -- it has been three weeks already!

I can't believe that today was the third class of the three-week session of Monday afternoon acrylic painting class at the Northville Art House.  The time blew by so quickly!

Today Julie Woodard showed us about painting with a palette knife, painting with texture and several other methods for adding color to the "tile" we made at the end of session one but didn't have time to work on in session two.

The "tile" was made on a canvas board with modeling paste and stencils.  You applied the modeling paste as if it were frosting on a cake and covered over the stencil and then pulled the stencil off, leaving a 3D image or pattern on the canvas board.

After we finished our tile (because they kind of look like a ceramic tile...sort of) we could choose from either another canvas board or a sheet of watercolor paper to paint and experiment on...using a palette knife or any/all of the various things we were shown today (dry brushing, brayer, gold flakes, iridescent medium, palette knife, charcoal, etc.) -- and we were also free to incorporate any of the techniques and methods from the previous weeks.

I am very pleased with today's colors and canvas boards.  I even like the very last thing to use up the paint on our palette...just plopping a piece of watercolor paper around on the leftover paint and working with it.

Julie is a really wonderful teacher -- she is very confident and knowledgeable and is also very patient.  She is able to give suggestions and lead you without getting you frustrated or without losing your original vision of your piece.  The class was really fun and I know I will use a lot of the things I learned about acrylics...I have a long way to go before I will feel "good" about painting, but Julie certainly brought me a few steps closer to it in a very short time.

My sister Sue and I are going to sit out the upcoming three-week session on pastels, but we will most likely come back for the last one which is watercolor.  I know I am looking forward to that!

2012/365 - Day 289

quick stop at Canton Fine Arts exhibition then onto acrylics class

This morning my sister Sue and I made a quick run to Canton so she could see my collage in the exhibition there.  What a wonderful space and theater.

Then a really quick lunch (we called in our order while we were driving back to Northville and it was just coming to the counter when we arrived) at Tuscan Cafe and dessert/coffee to-go...then we made it just in time for the start of the second in a series of three classes with Julie Woodard at the Nothville Art House.

Today Julie showed complimentary colors and had us paint with our choice of three combinations.

The subject was fall gourds/vegetables but I really wasn't feeling them and since I am basically taking this class to get a bit of an understanding of the workings of acrylics (rather than specific painting a painting techniques) I decided to do three guys.  So I was still doing the lesson, just not that subject.

Julie is explaining about making a blue pumpkin instead of an orange one.

After coloring the canvas sheet a beige color just to fill in all the spaces, Julie shows us another way to sketch in our shapes by using very watery white paint.

I really like Julie's Indian corn.

Okay...here I go.  (Turns out my paint was a little too watered down, but it was okay.)

My basic shapes -- a red square (which will end up green), a purple cat guy (that will end up yellow) and a blue stacked guy (that will end up orange).

Adding the complimentary colors.

The end result.  Normally I would want to just make the guys a solid flat color but I will leave them like this to remind myself how we blended the paints and also used gel medium to extend the paint and blend easier than with water.

I sgraffito'd the faces on.

And there it is on my 'fridge...LOL.

We used a piece of canvas that came from a canvas pad.  I've never heard of that before (but why would I -- I am not a painter).  I thought that was pretty cool canvas comes that way.

Now I am thinking up ways to use a canvas pad.



Even with my dislike for painting, I am enjoying this class.  Julie is a super teacher and I really like everyone in the class.  Two hours flies by so quickly!

2012/365 - Day 282

acrylic painting class 

Ruth and Carla and my sister Sue and I are all taking Julie Woodard's 3-week acrylic painting session at the Northville Art House on Monday(s).  I am so thrilled my sister is able to join us -- it has been a very long time since she set aside some time for herself and for art.

Julie is a really great communicator and teacher.  You know how much I dislike painting...well, Julie made it fun.  As a matter of fact -- I was so absorbed in what she was showing us that I even forgot to take photos during the process!

So here are some shots from after the class...while we were still hanging around and working on another project for next week.

Downstairs in the classroom area at the Northville Art House.

Julie Woodard showing what she showed us.

(Re-enactment)

Sue and Ruth

Sue and Carla

My painting -- not too bad for a first try.

After the paint had dried a bit more I found an inexpensive frame in the basement and popped my painting into it.  I switched another piece of art out for it -- in the guest bathroom.

I am happy with it for what it is...my first exercise in making an acrylic painting.

I am looking forward to next week's class!