Tomorrow night is another night of batik for the ladies in my class. I hope they'll be as happy with their creations as I am with mine!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
February's project
I finally had some time to stitch into my Inukshuk batik. As a matter of fact, I had the entire day today to devote to it and managed to quilt the entire thing -- with time for a walk and another trip out of the house, as well! It was a good, relaxing day and I haven't had a stitch-full day in a long time.
Tomorrow night is another night of batik for the ladies in my class. I hope they'll be as happy with their creations as I am with mine!
Tomorrow night is another night of batik for the ladies in my class. I hope they'll be as happy with their creations as I am with mine!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
New Year's Resolutions
Yes, I did make some, despite what everyone said. I enjoy making a yearly resolution or three (or ten) and then seeing at the end of the year what I managed to accomplish. I don't ever beat myself up about missing out on some of them, though, as I know I set myself far too much to do in a year!
My artistic goal was somewhat simple this year -- produce one artistic piece per month. So far, I have managed to paint the nutcracker (see previous post) and am working on another project via the art class I am teaching on Monday evenings.
The class is called "Picasso's Playgroup for Adults" and mimics my daytime Picasso's Playgroup (designed for 2-4 year olds and their caregivers) by offering a variety of art activities each week. It is a chance for adults to get out and play without the pressure of creating masterpieces. So far, we've splashed around a lot of food colouring and paint, done a faux stained glass picture on paper, used an Itajime dyeing technique on paper and made some wonderful placemats. A larger project, started just last week, is batik and I am basically one step ahead of everybody else! Rather than go for the traditional batik, which asks for dye baths and a variety of safety equipment and chemicals, I decided to try painted batik, using fabric paints, which all clean up with water and soap. The wax we are using is soy wax, which is biodegradable and washes out in hot water. I like to iron out as much as I can first, so as not to send too much down the drain (even though it is not supposed to clog the pipes, according to everything I've read). After that, I can wash out the little bit of residual wax in hot soapy water. The advantage to this method is that ironing out the wax also serves to heat-set the paints!
Here is the piece I batiked last week -- it is still a work in progress and is asking to be stitched into, once I've shown this stage to my students, who saw it as a wax-encrusted piece of "something" last Monday night:
My artistic goal was somewhat simple this year -- produce one artistic piece per month. So far, I have managed to paint the nutcracker (see previous post) and am working on another project via the art class I am teaching on Monday evenings.
The class is called "Picasso's Playgroup for Adults" and mimics my daytime Picasso's Playgroup (designed for 2-4 year olds and their caregivers) by offering a variety of art activities each week. It is a chance for adults to get out and play without the pressure of creating masterpieces. So far, we've splashed around a lot of food colouring and paint, done a faux stained glass picture on paper, used an Itajime dyeing technique on paper and made some wonderful placemats. A larger project, started just last week, is batik and I am basically one step ahead of everybody else! Rather than go for the traditional batik, which asks for dye baths and a variety of safety equipment and chemicals, I decided to try painted batik, using fabric paints, which all clean up with water and soap. The wax we are using is soy wax, which is biodegradable and washes out in hot water. I like to iron out as much as I can first, so as not to send too much down the drain (even though it is not supposed to clog the pipes, according to everything I've read). After that, I can wash out the little bit of residual wax in hot soapy water. The advantage to this method is that ironing out the wax also serves to heat-set the paints!
Here is the piece I batiked last week -- it is still a work in progress and is asking to be stitched into, once I've shown this stage to my students, who saw it as a wax-encrusted piece of "something" last Monday night:
Back again
Time flies when you are having fun, resting, relaxing and catching up on projects! I spent the Fall working on a doll for a friend and a quilt for a daughter, both of which were fun, time-consuming and allowed me to take a good break from the demands of school, not to mention the self-imposed expectations of "getting on with it", now that I'm done with school (whatever "it" might be).
At Christmas, I was given a lovely nutcracker to paint by my son (who made it himself from blocks of wood), and that took most of January to do, as I was by then teaching classes again at the Gallery and putting in more hours in preparation for a turnover of employees. The painting went well, though, and was a nice break from the routine of work and chores. The nutcracker will be on display at home until after next Christmas, when it can be stored away with all the rest of our Christmas decorations:
Now that I have had my break, though, it is time to figure out the definition of "it" and "get on with it"!
At Christmas, I was given a lovely nutcracker to paint by my son (who made it himself from blocks of wood), and that took most of January to do, as I was by then teaching classes again at the Gallery and putting in more hours in preparation for a turnover of employees. The painting went well, though, and was a nice break from the routine of work and chores. The nutcracker will be on display at home until after next Christmas, when it can be stored away with all the rest of our Christmas decorations:
Now that I have had my break, though, it is time to figure out the definition of "it" and "get on with it"!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
School's Out for Summer and Whistler Arts Council Fundraiser!
Actually, school's out for good -- for now. I've completed my Master's Degree and managed a GPA higher than my undergrad degree (by 0.01 units, but who's counting?). My husband says I should go for my PhD, but I'll have to save a bit of money before I undertake that particular adventure. Besides, I want some time to do some art!
It was a busy early summer as I prepared for the final push of school and I took a desperately needed week off at the end of July, once the comprehensive exam was over. Now it seems like I am playing "catch up" with all the art projects I've put on hold for the last three years. Being older and wiser than when I went into school in 2008 (and knowing that I cannot possibly do everything that I have on my list -- at least not this year), I decided to make a schedule with a generous amount of room for each project, rather than plan too much and stress out.
The first project was a brand new one, though, as the deadline for submission is coming up soon. The Whistler Arts Council is holding a fundraiser on September 11. It is their 2nd Annual Art Workshops on the Lake fundraiser, which focuses on a raffle of original works of art by emerging and professional artists. I participated last year with a mixed media acrylic painting. This year, I've quilted an 8" x 8" piece and stretched it over the stretcher bars, effectively "painting" with fabric and fiber. Take a look at the picture below and buy yourself a ticket for a chance of winning it or another piece of original art on evening of the event.
Hmmm -- it is a winter theme. I wonder if that has anything to do with the chilly weather we've been having in the last few weeks?
It was a busy early summer as I prepared for the final push of school and I took a desperately needed week off at the end of July, once the comprehensive exam was over. Now it seems like I am playing "catch up" with all the art projects I've put on hold for the last three years. Being older and wiser than when I went into school in 2008 (and knowing that I cannot possibly do everything that I have on my list -- at least not this year), I decided to make a schedule with a generous amount of room for each project, rather than plan too much and stress out.
The first project was a brand new one, though, as the deadline for submission is coming up soon. The Whistler Arts Council is holding a fundraiser on September 11. It is their 2nd Annual Art Workshops on the Lake fundraiser, which focuses on a raffle of original works of art by emerging and professional artists. I participated last year with a mixed media acrylic painting. This year, I've quilted an 8" x 8" piece and stretched it over the stretcher bars, effectively "painting" with fabric and fiber. Take a look at the picture below and buy yourself a ticket for a chance of winning it or another piece of original art on evening of the event.
Hmmm -- it is a winter theme. I wonder if that has anything to do with the chilly weather we've been having in the last few weeks?
Friday, March 25, 2011
Clay board explorations
Spring has sprung and things have been busy. I did find time in the last few months to attend a weekly drawing class with Cat Sivertsen at Two Rivers Gallery. In the final two weeks of class, we explored the uses of clay board, pouring colors on and scratching into the board. I have been hooked! I really enjoy the way the colors layer over one another -- it provides an incredible sense of depth to the picture.
Now I just need to experiment with making my own clay board. Found a recipe online and will dive into that next week. Hopefully it works, as it will make things much more economical!
Oh, yes, and I've been teaching a drawing class as well, in addition to going to school. Like I said -- busy! Only 4 more months of school!
Now I just need to experiment with making my own clay board. Found a recipe online and will dive into that next week. Hopefully it works, as it will make things much more economical!
Oh, yes, and I've been teaching a drawing class as well, in addition to going to school. Like I said -- busy! Only 4 more months of school!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Time marches on
and another year has arrived. Happy 2011! The editorial cartoon yesterday had a picture of an artist in front of a blank canvas with the caption: "There is nothing so promising or intimidating as a clean canvas." How true that is!!!
With the start of the new year come the New Year's Resolutions. Looking at what I had planned for last year, I discovered I only fulfilled 2 of the 5 I had set for myself. That could have been disappointing, but I realized that I accomplished many, many other things I had not foreseen (see previous posts). And I had forgotten how busy the Masters program would keep me, so it is amazing I managed what I did. Nevertheless, I made some more resolutions for this year, and am looking forward to working on them over the next twelve months!
With the start of the new year come the New Year's Resolutions. Looking at what I had planned for last year, I discovered I only fulfilled 2 of the 5 I had set for myself. That could have been disappointing, but I realized that I accomplished many, many other things I had not foreseen (see previous posts). And I had forgotten how busy the Masters program would keep me, so it is amazing I managed what I did. Nevertheless, I made some more resolutions for this year, and am looking forward to working on them over the next twelve months!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Whistler Street Banners
They're up and I have pictures (thanks, Mom!). In addition to all the other fun things I was doing this summer, I answered the Call for Submissions to design the Winter 2010/2011 street banners for Whistler. These banners will hang along the village streets for the next two winters, being replaced in the summer by seasonally appropriate banners and then coming down for good sometime in Spring of 2012. This series is called "Whistler's Winter Animals":
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