Here is the third tutorial; thanks again to Carol Ann Waugh - that is her gorgeous fiiber work on the walls. To see more of her work or her workshop schedule go to the link on my "favorites" page.
If you are going to try the technique on this video, here are a few more things to keep in mind:
After you sand the photo (wet or dry) the exposed paper will accept watercolors easily.
Try sanding on texture plates or cement for a rough, spotty effect. (I have tried this on coins, bricks, and other rough surfaces.)
Be sure the photo is completely dry before you attach to your journal.
Check back here to see the journal page examples up close - I hope to have those included in my gallery soon!
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Enjoy~ I welcome your feedback!!
Helpful hints for this crayon resist technique:
* if you are working with watercolor (or any other wet media) directly in your journal you might want to put some waxed paper under the page to keep the moisture from seeping thru.
* if the crayon is not resisting the watercolor to your satisfaction check a few things: press down hard with the crayon, be sure the paper is thick enough (it does work best on watercolor paper)
*another trick to try - after the crayon has been applied dampen the paper first with clean water before applying the actual watercolor sometimes this will help the "resist"
*try contrasting colors! try a colored crayon that is basically light in shade, then apply a dark, contrasting watercolor
* this technique also works with walnut ink which will respond the same way as the watercolor when applied over crayon
*this technique also works with oil pastels instead of crayon
I have gotten such nice feedback from freinds and former students who are using the videos as a reminder of what we have played with in classes. Allison G. and Katie L. suggested I add the writing prompt to the video, so it is included in this crayon resist tutorial. Any other suggestions are appreciated!
I can't believe it...I actually created my first video tutorial for a mixed media journal technique using transparent tapes. Thanks to my dear friend, Carol Ann Waugh, we actually got this done on a cold Monday last week. Carol bought the Flip camera and tripod; I just showed up at her really cool studio space and we started to lead each other down the film direction/production highway. It was really fun and not too painful! The editing was not too bad although the uploading to YouTube was the most challenging.
Helpful Hints to go along with the tutorial on the video:
1. try to use images from magazines that are not too old. Ancient Ntl. Geographic magazine pages don't seem to transfer as well as a newer magazine
2. always be aware that if you use an image you are lifting someone else's work..so don't pass it off as your own (especially with a price tag) and do try to change (alter, distress) it as much as possible so it becomes authentic to your style.
3. try to capture the fibers that come off when rubbing the soaked paper- if they go down your plumbing you might have a bit of a problem
4. embrace the distressed look~ this technique is not a perfect transfer and the distressed appearance will help it look less like "cut and paste" and much more interesting
5. If you don't like the gloss finish on the tape you can always sand it a little then paint the entire page with a matt medium, or use a matte transparent tape
6. try this technique with some of the new, fun decorative packing tapes. I like the ones from Tapeswell.com Many of them are transparent behind a decorative image which adds yet another layer to the page.
Have fun! I look forward to shariing another video tutorial in a few weeks. Any suggestions for techniques? Let me know and I will try to do a short video!
Another lovely day in Longmont with my new friends...we had a mixed media class in the community room of the Barbed Wire Book store on Main Street. Kathe (owner of the bookstore) is always a welcoming host, the space is just great and the time flew by. Sharon's story about having to evacuate her home due to the Four Mile Canyon fire (and the fire-fighters who helped her save a painting) was riveting. We were all so glad she came for an "art break" and brought her friend Cynthia. Kathe and I are talking about offering a "healing journal" workshop for everyone involved. I'll post the date as it is confirmed. Thanks ladies, for an inspiring day! (see photos below for more images from the workshop)
This past June I had the priviledge of meeting a young student who took my "Fine Art of Fashion" class a the Art Student League teen camp. Leah has a condition known as achondroplasia dwarfism which she wrote about on her fashion board after spending the week learning how to draw the figure and create fashions showing movement and texture. Her openess and good humor was such a gift; she invited all of us to consider fashion design for all kinds of body types and modeled creative problem solving and skill with the outfits she designed for people with her condition. Meeting & working with Leah was a highlight of my summer. Just when I think I have taught every type of student, seen every type of exceptionality and found myself in every possible situation...along comes this lovely sparkle of energy and says "I don't know if you noticed but I am shaped differently than many kids".
So here is the crazy part - just a few weeks ago I was contacted by Metro State College here in Denver and asked to teach a class on including the special needs students in the art and music classrooms. How is that for timing? What I call a cosmic giggle. I am on my way down a new path....Thanks Leah for giving me so much to think about and to share with new students. Exceptionalities come in every shape and I look forward to helping new teachers increase their sensitivity and creativity as they learn to embrace these varied forms and abilities.
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I was able to escape the heat of Denver last weekend and head to the hills...what a beautiful 4 days in the Colorado mountains! It was a perfect adventure journal trip but not one that would work in a small car. I took along a huge journal that called to me when I was shopping in my favorite art store in Denver (Guiry's). I laugh everytime I look at this jumbo lady, and feel challenged to approach each page like I am working in my regular size books. I normally work in books that range from 6x6 inches; this one is 14x17 inches. In the picture above, I had set up my work on a shady patio and sketched the corner of that adobe balcony. I have used pen, colored pencils and watercolor. I will add the text in pen at a later date. I spent a cool few hours listening to the river that ran by the patio and noise of the Minturn farmer's market that was taking place just a few blocks away. Perfect, so glad to have some journal time in a sparkling location.
After Minturn, I headed over to an incredibly beautiful valley on the western slope to visit friends and teach a Mixed Media Journal workshop. Paonia is an interesting town filled with lovely, quiet streets and surrounding hills full of vineyards and orchards...and the Glennie Coombe gallery on Main Street which hosted this workshop last Sunday. Susan (gallery owner and friend) and I thought we might just have 3 or 4 students...and we had 10 folks show up! What a group! Lot's of laughs, lots of courage and a willingness to try new techiques and dig deeper into the journal experience. This was also the first time teaching a brilliant border collie (Coco) who may look bored above but he was listening to every word. It was a delightful 4 hours together - complete with an ice cream break at Ollie's, located next door to the gallery. Yum! Susan was so generous as she offered tastes and humor...many thanks to all the participants.
Aren't these faces and ink stains wild? Thanks to Elaine at Tapeswell (
www.tapeswell.com) who sent me a box of samples to try out...my mothers day was filled with such fun! These are decorative tapes that come in rolls like packing tape...and have endless possibitlities. I love using them in altered books since they provide a dry way to attach items. Speaking of altered books, I am gettiing ready for the Saturday workshop in Longmont (Barbed Wire Books) with many of the ABCD's (altered book club divas) - can't wait! There is only one spot left if you are interested....
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Last week I followed my son's Constitutional Law team to DC and found five days of (what I call) "adventure journal" time! Heading in the metro to un-known spots, finding perfect benches & perfect boats, perfect bakeries and a perfect paper store. Here is a two page spread of little sketches - the left side was from a boat trip on the Potomac, the right incoporated my CO name tag with a live Sting concert playing in the background. (He was on the mall for an earth day protest). All I needed was an iced coffee, a bench and a moment to capture - it was heaven!!I can't wait to organize an adventure journal trip to NY; although cancelled for this June I am hoping to get a group together to share the fun in the fall.
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