Thursday, July 21, 2011

Willowing and Artist Friends Ning Group

If you love those whimsical ladies in mixed media art and would like to learn how to paint those fabulous faces, then you need to take a look at this site - Willowing & Artist Friends.  It's a ning group run by Tamara Laporte.  It's a very positive, very supportive art group.  I've taken two of her on-line classes and they are fantastic.  Detailed videos, pdf documents, discussions groups and support -- everything that you could ask for.

Right now she is celebrating her 5000th member and hosting a "massive" giveaway as she calls it.  Now would be a good time to take a look.  There is a button on the right side of this blog or click on the link above.

Don't take my word for it.  You'll enjoy what you see.

Monday, July 18, 2011

2012 Sketchbook Project

I decided to take the plunge again.  When I took a look at all the wonderful sketchbooks that were sent in last year I felt out of my depth and thought that I had overreached myself by entering my book.  I did enjoy myself immensely during the process though, and that is what should count.  During this past year I was part of a sketching/journalling group with the Southwestern Ontario Chapter of CBBAG that was under the direction of Connie Jefferess and I picked up a number of interesting and useful ideas that I'd like to incorporate into future sketchbooks and journals.

That, along with a couple of very generous comments from viewers of my sketchbook,  boosted my confidence enough to give it another go.  It's not like it's a competition -- it's just a method of self expression and a chance to share that with others.

To learn more, check out this link

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Resin

I was at the Mixed Minded Conference in Kitchener on May 27,28,29 and had a fantastic time learning about resin, encaustic, art journalling and calligraphy.  So much so that I've spent almost all my time since then, reading and researching about these topics.  I've been so involved with browsing sites and blogs and looking at books that I've neglected posting any of the fascinating things that I've learned and found.

The Resins workshop I took was with Carmi Cimicata, who now writes a blog called Resin Crafts.  We used Envirotex Lite to create jewellery by pouring resin into bezels and embedding charms and other bits of ephemera.  Take a look at the ideas and tutorials that she shares on her blog.

Here are some videos I found on resin casting and resin papers.
This is called Fearless Resin

This is a video by Little Windows  - Embedding Everything
                                                 - Butterfly
Little Windows Step by Step Guides can be found here.

I am in the middle of a major workshop overhall at the moment so my work area looks a bit cyclonic and not much in the way of art related activities are taking place at the moment.  I am trying to confine my creativity to the upper reaches of the house by repainting the kitchen and livingroom.  Since this means filling in some small holes and cracks I've been looking at "Plaster Studio - Mixed Media Techniques for Painting, Casting and Sculpting" by Stephanie Lee and Judy Wise.  Just so I'll know what to do with my left overs of course.
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