A Facebook Challenge

On Facebook on Good Friday, Hilary Beattie and Norah Stocker challenged some of us to make a piece of art or textile within 2 weeks and it was to be loosely Easter based.  The only rule was that it had to be bigger than A3.

I found a pre-gessoed canvas square.  I started by following the instructions from Dina's class at Art from the Heart.

It was going fairly well until I added the crown of thorns and the tomb.

They were too dominant and heavy and I really didn't like them so I painted over them.

Then I added more stamping.

And more stencilling.

And drippage. 

By this time I had no idea where it was going and then I saw some lovely work in a group on Facebook by Frieda Oxenham.  Painting out some of the background was such an obvious thing to do.  And Frieda graciously allowed me to copy her idea.

I added some turquoise and blue paint around the edge of the canvas.  And drew black lines around the squares.

When I've learned how to use my new-to-me sewing machine I may stitch on it but for now it's finished.

It's also very tempting to consider cutting it up and using it for covers for art journals!

Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice

Busy, busy!

I spent last weekend with friends at Art from the Heart.  The weekend actually started on Thursday.

I spent a couple of hours at the NEC on the Thursday morning having a quick gallop around the show that was on and then helping Steph Redfern on her stand.  To begin with there weren't many people around so I had a great time talking to Steph which was really helpful.

Then I drove up to Harrogate where as I was early, I visited Harlow Carr Gardens.   I've been a couple of times before but not at this time of the year.  The light was fantastic for taking photos.

Friday's workshop was called The Creative Scroll.  Dina is extremely generous in sharing ideas, knowledge and experience in these workshops which is why I love them so much.

I started work on my scroll with the canvas this way.

But this is the almost finished piece.  This is how far I got on Friday.  It now needs some writing on it and some stitching.

And a close up

Saturday's class was Finding Joy in Abstraction.  Dina led us through a variety of exercises and then we did one larger piece.  When I showed it Roger he asked me if it was the right way up!

After lunch we were given a stretched canvas each.   I started working on mine this way up.

But then decided it was better this way.   It still needs some work doing to it but it was still wet 

And on to Sunday which was a journal making class.  I love Dina's way of working - she gives you a pile of papers and gives out instructions for a technique and through the morning you end up with bits like this.

And then in the afternoon you assemble it all and it ends up like this:

I think the book is also still a work in progress.  It would benefit from some stitching on it.  I have a new-to-me sewing machine just waiting to be used.  I've had it 6 months and only once switched it on to see if it was ok.  I'm not sure why I have struggled with actually putting it up on the table and using it.

Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice

Who has influenced my mixed media art?

Over the last few years I have attended lots of workshops and signed up for so may online classes that I've lost count.   I thought I would share with you some of the shops and people who have helped me and taught me over that time.

Art from the Heart is an excellent bricks & mortar shop with a very stong online presence.  I have attended many workshops there.   My credit card groans whenever I go to Harrogate to a class.  I'm going there next weekend for 3 days of workshops with Seth Apter.

Dyan Reaveley is now well known as a Ranger Signature Designer.  However I met her first at Art from the Heart when I went to my first ever workshop there.   She has a distinctive style.  I interviewed her for my series on Celebrating UK Artists.   You can watch her videos on the Ranger YouTube Channel.

Dina Wakely has been a guest tutor at Art from the Heart and I have loved the workshops I've attended.   Several of the classes have involved making books which I love.  She also introduced me to the idea of having white space on mixed media pages.  This really appeals to me.   You can also find Dina on the Ranger YouTube Channel.

Artist Trading Post started as an online business with workshop space and then moved to a b&m shop and has now returned to its online roots.  I love the variety of products that Jamie stocks.  My credit card used to groan when I visited for workshops there too.

Wanderlust is a new year long venture from Jamie and Kasia Krzyminska (aka czekoczyna).  There will be videos& PDFs on techniques but the thing that got me interested is that "Wanderlust will give you an in-depth knowledge about products, media and tools".  Of course I signed up - won't you join me?

Anneliese Bates introduced me to various mixed media techniques.  She held these workshops in Derbyshire which was great for me because it was so much nearer to my house than Harrogate.  I love Anneliese's style and enjoyed her workshops immensely.  I was really disappointed when she gave up hosting them but I am thrilled that her new venture Fox & Bear is doing so well.

Michelle Ward produces amazing stencils both for StencilGirl and for her own website Green Pepper Press.  I have just invested in a whole lot of her stencils for my Venice project.

Carolyn Dube produces the best teaching videos on the internet (in my opinion).  She is so generous with what she shares for free on her blog and YouTube channel.  She also has fee-based classes that are such value for money.  I particularly liked the Stencil Play class.  You really should check them out if you like mixed media art.

And last but definitely not least, Valerie Sjodin.  Her art blows me away.  Valerie is another tutor who is very generous with the skills and information she shares.  I love her online classes but sadly don't give enough time to practice so my art hardly ever looks like hers.

I've really enjoyed looking back to see what and who has influenced me over the years.  What are your favourite shops, favourite artists or online courses?  Please share them in the comments below.
 
Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice

Summer of Color

And yes I know it should be 'colour' but it's an American meme.  This is the fourth year of Summer of Color hosted by Kristin Van Valkenburgh.   You can find out all about it here.

Week One's challenge is to use Aqua & Yellow with a smidgen of Hot Pink.

I decided I would play with the gelli plate and this was the background I liked best. I used two Dina Wakley stencils from Crafter's Workshop: Mosaic TCW348 and Church Windows TCW350.  I stuck the print into my planner which is why there's a fold down the middle.

I used some alphabet stickers from my stash to put the words from a Matthew West song which is stuck in my head at the moment.

I added a zigzag border with a Dylusions stamp and some music using a Kasiercraft stamp.  I drew round the letters with a white pen.

I featured this song on my new blog Called, Cherished, Created.

Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice