tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20919528094183768772024-03-17T22:04:05.480-05:00Approachable Art by Judi HurwittArt should be approachable by everyone.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.comBlogger328125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-68508491817745370042016-09-13T12:42:00.002-05:002016-09-13T12:42:51.801-05:00Lifus Interruptus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a week of mold remediation (bleh) and a week spent with wonderful friends on Puget Sound (wow!), I'm back in the studio. The unexpected shock of finding and fixing the mold, piled on top of the wonder of being in a new place with old friends has, naturally, had an influence on the work I'm doing.<br />
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These two pieces are painted on <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-premier-wood-panels/" target="_blank">cradled wood panels</a>, 24"x18", and use multiple mediums, including acrylic paint and pastels. <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<i>"Warm"</i>)</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<i>"Cool"</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The subtlety I'm always chasing might be within my grasp, after all. It also might be time for a trip to the art store for more panels. Until next week, and in whatever mood you find yourself, create!</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-15627220889783874692016-08-24T16:36:00.003-05:002016-08-24T16:36:59.616-05:00Setbacks and PreseverenceBy the title of this post, you might think I'm about to deliver a lecture on how to keep pushing forward even in the face of blah blah blah. Newp. I'm no one to lecture with authority on <i>that</i> subject; I only know that when badness happens, I cry in a corner for a little while and then pull my big girl panties back up. <br />
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The week started normally, with me finishing this 18" x 20" stencil that I had begun over the weekend.<br />
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I was pretty sure of my cleverness in constructing this very large and detailed stencil of my handwriting. I used a sheet of synthetic paper that had, up to this week, preformed beautifully for me. It's not prone to ripping, nor does it buckle when soaked in water or paint. But it cuts like butter, saving my hands, and my <a href="http://xacto.com/products/cutting-solutions/blades/detail/X511" target="_blank">X-Acto blades</a>, a lot of wear and tear.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(gratudious shot of my Slicey Box Of #11 Death.)</span></div>
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Note the gaffer's tape around the edges to stabilize it? I thought of everything. It took three days. Three. Days.<br />
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And it gave good prints.<br />
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A few of them, anyway. But it was dry in the studio and even with the back door open to allow the famously thick SE Texas humidity inside, I was struggling to keep my paints wet enough to make the monoprints I was desperately trying to pull.<br />
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Working as I normally do, from page to page layering positive and negative images onto my papers, I laid a sheet of paper on top of the wet stencil, burnished briefly, and turned away to take my main print. I was moving fast. But not fast enough. The paper stuck like glue to the stencil and when I tried separating them, both paper and stencil tore into about 8 pieces.<br />
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I'm not going to lie to you, I was badly shaken by this. While I find cutting out Stacked Journaling to be a very Zen experience, a chance to calm my mind and focus intently on what I'm doing, it's also very taxing, physically and mentally. To have three days worth of such intense work wind up in the garbage after only a few uses crushed me. I left the studio on Monday afternoon, shaking and sick to my stomach.<br />
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But then there was Tuesday, staring me in the face. My plans for the rest of the week had been to use the stencil repeatedly on a series of 4-5 pieces of work, and then finally, perhaps place the stencil itself in one of the paintings as a collaged piece, as I did in these two completed works.<br />
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But no stencil, no plan. So I started again, this time with a piece of <a href="http://www.artisticartifacts.com/product/45000.html" target="_blank">multi-purpose fabric</a> that I painted on both sides with gesso (fabric stencils want to drink a lot of
your paint up- don't let them, make sure to seal them well with gesso
or paint, first!) and then cut to fit fully onto an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper.<br />
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The beauty of creating a stencil from this fabric is that it doesn't
shed or unravel. You can get clean cuts and tiny details, particularly
if it's been fortified with a layer of paint. And it lasts forever, until you take your scissors to it, yourself. No amount of painting, rubbing, buffing, stretching, or pulling will tear this stencil.<br />
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It yielded some interesting results but nothing yet that has spoken to me of the direction it wants to move in to become a completed piece of art.<br />
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This process of layering paint by stenciling it onto some papers while ghost printing onto others, back and forth, over and over again creates an interesting byproduct. I use parchment paper as a surface protector, and it ends up taking on an astonishing amount of paint, allowing me yet another chance to take a print and a ghost print. When parchment paper gets wet, it wrinkles in a way that offers great background noise on any prints I take from it.<br />
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Eventually, after many uses, there's a nice layer of different colored paints built up on the parchment. Then it's time for the real fun... attempting to capture those layers in a usable fashion for later collages. This is when I use the parchment paper to make an <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/2014/01/tutorial-transparent-acrylic-skins.html" target="_blank">acrylic skin</a>.<br />
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Here on the left I have a piece of fabric that has been (badly) painted. On the right is a piece of parchment with several layers of paint built up on it. I'm going to try to transfer the paint from the parchment to the fabric.<br />
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First, I paint a thick layer of transparent fluid medium onto the painted part of the parchment. This will create the "skin". <br />
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I could just let this dry and then hope to gently pull the whole thing off of the
parchment as a single piece, or I can hedge my bets by placing the
fabric directly on top of the parchment paper, weight the whole thing
down so that it makes excellent contact and dries flat, and hope that time and the curing of the matte medium will achieve the transfer for me. If it works, I'll post photos next week. I have high hopes though, because I've gotten it to work before on these cool sheets of paper.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA9JJ_KiNxRDa59bgmEftvnD3JEGSyT6V2Uf9Qk_RgLGiWz9WxkBlYSIEoFhoFcEl3CjIubjfGVwPUugb6v_f2OLF3ktPhMDcynXddizZmLOwnafBFh-dQoFsuY9GFk17po9WhMvJDnHP/s1600/IMG_4805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA9JJ_KiNxRDa59bgmEftvnD3JEGSyT6V2Uf9Qk_RgLGiWz9WxkBlYSIEoFhoFcEl3CjIubjfGVwPUugb6v_f2OLF3ktPhMDcynXddizZmLOwnafBFh-dQoFsuY9GFk17po9WhMvJDnHP/s640/IMG_4805.JPG" width="488" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURcxnkSciwuz-yc609YYzlrxz1kzxxDdGnTWQWVPzrOU_pwr9K8wWApYtu3c9Nr6pObKLLIa03UOfcmWuXFZUA9rsE4Sovf53ZHxAh3yRbKhYEr6IR9iY9yUs4ObeS9JzE81kvF0YZ688/s1600/IMG_4807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURcxnkSciwuz-yc609YYzlrxz1kzxxDdGnTWQWVPzrOU_pwr9K8wWApYtu3c9Nr6pObKLLIa03UOfcmWuXFZUA9rsE4Sovf53ZHxAh3yRbKhYEr6IR9iY9yUs4ObeS9JzE81kvF0YZ688/s640/IMG_4807.JPG" width="488" /></a></div>
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Finally this week (and thank you for sticking with me through that long and wordy post, if you did), I finished off this little series of 8" x 10" wood cradle boards.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6P7UTRLc5I_9XV0il1KYd4sV80Z_7wjMqx9xNCsn49thGBQIOdS6az3NzUvQ7JdOlXuI1-4bWf7u0ot1eqwqqEYBBNLlhkwk4IEq4_WCxL0nn43X7SZBgydFrM3BOhd-Qp13B2jxqQu-/s1600/IMG_4802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6P7UTRLc5I_9XV0il1KYd4sV80Z_7wjMqx9xNCsn49thGBQIOdS6az3NzUvQ7JdOlXuI1-4bWf7u0ot1eqwqqEYBBNLlhkwk4IEq4_WCxL0nn43X7SZBgydFrM3BOhd-Qp13B2jxqQu-/s640/IMG_4802.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here's a studio cat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEUUtCxSMwkclhOesHC_D8bFUh3pqUagBsyOkt12yAFCkNoDvsVieiP-OafMYWsrhjIYwXrDtUJm1bYzjSXtW3x-hy38CORoEoxvvkhyFaLXLt8UkD1UDjm5PbnF_hGCF_nFgM__T3Vx2/s1600/IMG_4815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEUUtCxSMwkclhOesHC_D8bFUh3pqUagBsyOkt12yAFCkNoDvsVieiP-OafMYWsrhjIYwXrDtUJm1bYzjSXtW3x-hy38CORoEoxvvkhyFaLXLt8UkD1UDjm5PbnF_hGCF_nFgM__T3Vx2/s640/IMG_4815.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Happy creating!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-53538703923568748472016-08-17T17:34:00.000-05:002016-08-17T17:34:12.155-05:00How-To: Rescue Ugly Paper... (and other stuff)Some years ago, I did a little tutorial about <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/2010/01/rescuing-ugly-fabric.html" target="_blank">rescuing ugly fabric</a>, so today I thought I'd revisit the subject, this time with paper.<br />
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You know the ugly paper I'm talking about: those old scrapbook pages you keep around despite the fact that they have little yellow duckies all over them <i>and</i> that you never scrapbooked a day in your life; the gelli'd pages that yielded shockingly bad color combinations on only the second or third pull; and the ones that, no matter how much time and effort you put into them, make you want to stuff them down deep into the bottom of the garbage can. Now, we all know that there's a way to rescue such relics from the bottom of the last drawer of art supplies you will ever open: gesso. Yep, paint that crap right away with a fresh, clean coat of white.<br />
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But what if there are parts of the paper you still really like, little bits where colors and texture met and became something glorious and fun? You can't paint over those and lose them forever! But taken as it is, you'll never use any part of the paper!<br />
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The answer is simple... preserve those bits and cover over <i>everything else</i>.<br />
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Here are a couple examples of some really ugly papers I've painted in the last few weeks that also have some fun bits I want to preserve. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEelwtj4OiJlLwT2MxNUjJuug_mv-zOYRjSpWpcmYb6sW09EpGycQ71-z2TDPpBY1eSjjNR-AVtchN3Mk58DFpDIShsabDLMTrqSd1uq5PRnWSknOXBHNwYQGBcDJNZ07N2fLXf4gR3_l/s1600/IMG_4738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEelwtj4OiJlLwT2MxNUjJuug_mv-zOYRjSpWpcmYb6sW09EpGycQ71-z2TDPpBY1eSjjNR-AVtchN3Mk58DFpDIShsabDLMTrqSd1uq5PRnWSknOXBHNwYQGBcDJNZ07N2fLXf4gR3_l/s640/IMG_4738.JPG" width="354" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguq1jkL2-uW5BXXfmxAo8gvE-3NeNGEd6t9Y79eBWNrNJiPc3eHXRzHVRs44ezj-c6vO4SlJtNVJc0dVjtRpdpm-F0Zr1avIGWnIYVTIe5LN_BvxtUxpoAfoeJSlBObUFnncEErgZl7kK/s1600/IMG_4740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguq1jkL2-uW5BXXfmxAo8gvE-3NeNGEd6t9Y79eBWNrNJiPc3eHXRzHVRs44ezj-c6vO4SlJtNVJc0dVjtRpdpm-F0Zr1avIGWnIYVTIe5LN_BvxtUxpoAfoeJSlBObUFnncEErgZl7kK/s640/IMG_4740.JPG" width="498" /></a></div>
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The first one is long and narrow, and has unfortunate, triangular
splotches that don't really create a pleasing composition. This isn't
art, and as it is, it doesn't even qualify as a usable background for collage.
But it has some redeeming qualities- the color palette is pleasing, as
is some of the color shifting. The texture in some areas is interesting,
and the stamped text makes for a nice, small-scale noise. <br />
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I began rescuing it with some opaque titanium white paint sponged gently through a stencil. (The stencil is Stacked Journaling, cut from heavy paper.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zlTcjhIjb6t40bKRKT9vqdZWw9crXZjSM7KbGD_QIyZ_cU1JHk4Qw31JbwASQYqhZ_K_coxnKXUdvfEgiVKLdM1Nz_l2odDF67cbhyphenhyphenFEZSHU1I1C4f3xWJyCAq_-_Nmb-Ct_mtQPlh_N/s1600/IMG_4743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zlTcjhIjb6t40bKRKT9vqdZWw9crXZjSM7KbGD_QIyZ_cU1JHk4Qw31JbwASQYqhZ_K_coxnKXUdvfEgiVKLdM1Nz_l2odDF67cbhyphenhyphenFEZSHU1I1C4f3xWJyCAq_-_Nmb-Ct_mtQPlh_N/s640/IMG_4743.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywR8ot-MPRM-HzSKK1WfwCeDT2wpI-__Tu_YV4la-Dry452JzMDq5XZSMcoSEHwGkS_Vz6lwDTXIcIHBW3eRZU4Fq8farTtcFD1UcOVchbTxyQhyN02EmHDZ5rZvll1svv-eiudG0DFha/s1600/IMG_4745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywR8ot-MPRM-HzSKK1WfwCeDT2wpI-__Tu_YV4la-Dry452JzMDq5XZSMcoSEHwGkS_Vz6lwDTXIcIHBW3eRZU4Fq8farTtcFD1UcOVchbTxyQhyN02EmHDZ5rZvll1svv-eiudG0DFha/s640/IMG_4745.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-2Oebjlf-sGHGldIUL6s7Z8y6dOXVEfPcg6oxogWUKlb4upyxhQrenju7OZOr98qkRM-q6t4E-o6YPvNFPmmB1hUwlYkOyZ9-Qxc9dUltgX5aU5blnJyhL5OqRt4pxwrntBHr0UBVGSU/s1600/IMG_4746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-2Oebjlf-sGHGldIUL6s7Z8y6dOXVEfPcg6oxogWUKlb4upyxhQrenju7OZOr98qkRM-q6t4E-o6YPvNFPmmB1hUwlYkOyZ9-Qxc9dUltgX5aU5blnJyhL5OqRt4pxwrntBHr0UBVGSU/s640/IMG_4746.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOfTGwtVNBD1XApLPrBl-QV0Nm5L5a7DKxOS1-V4EjtltMXtNrAJ2GCteXlg2quvCkibcu16i3kTegF-OLmWva8A0D0Q0ydwXt-jMp_orSuPqD5NcdunvfufTWvuthS8PsX5CV_LAj9S7/s1600/IMG_4747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOfTGwtVNBD1XApLPrBl-QV0Nm5L5a7DKxOS1-V4EjtltMXtNrAJ2GCteXlg2quvCkibcu16i3kTegF-OLmWva8A0D0Q0ydwXt-jMp_orSuPqD5NcdunvfufTWvuthS8PsX5CV_LAj9S7/s640/IMG_4747.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some of that great color and texture still shines through, but the over all composition has suddenly improved. I could have left it like this and used it whole as a collage element. But I almost never know when to say, "When!" so I added another layer of blue, that falls off the edge of the paper.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv81UaQSqqHrV_L5gaw5hZ2M1RxyEVGRJ-Zv4un3vd3op1NpvNUoPP9dQk4qo7FucOFv0BQwHWThpIwqEgDuuTLLqm8LytCZg2wiuLxuyNYf8hEcb1VrPPrh4R-JMDLsComMGpo7dC57X/s1600/IMG_4748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv81UaQSqqHrV_L5gaw5hZ2M1RxyEVGRJ-Zv4un3vd3op1NpvNUoPP9dQk4qo7FucOFv0BQwHWThpIwqEgDuuTLLqm8LytCZg2wiuLxuyNYf8hEcb1VrPPrh4R-JMDLsComMGpo7dC57X/s640/IMG_4748.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGe2P28naYWHZ8ZPauvK39dWJtQIror9Nz4l9xTAwFu-_P162A8lkHB6RkSJji6Ii8UOcVq2AYm0cu3t2Hzf5-FH-yT923VSs0lQ3LfCQNXHCb0FCx8ajjJW2W8VZ2AmsThykG8VOse8Dh/s1600/IMG_4749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGe2P28naYWHZ8ZPauvK39dWJtQIror9Nz4l9xTAwFu-_P162A8lkHB6RkSJji6Ii8UOcVq2AYm0cu3t2Hzf5-FH-yT923VSs0lQ3LfCQNXHCb0FCx8ajjJW2W8VZ2AmsThykG8VOse8Dh/s640/IMG_4749.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And then a finally little layer with a darker blue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVDOHT9d9If5YQBt7nM4RgQmjvnitpwRtfoWrMwfyoWt6ccPLJhBfwS0jIWoxpUpwcgQYa5U2w0xC9MKBuOt8urv1szhJkSBgqGQ7pwiKxAGkw3U7VGs5GUvDCHZc2GGQoQZuVpQK0nFO/s1600/IMG_4750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVDOHT9d9If5YQBt7nM4RgQmjvnitpwRtfoWrMwfyoWt6ccPLJhBfwS0jIWoxpUpwcgQYa5U2w0xC9MKBuOt8urv1szhJkSBgqGQ7pwiKxAGkw3U7VGs5GUvDCHZc2GGQoQZuVpQK0nFO/s640/IMG_4750.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now I have what I consider to be a workable piece of ephemera.<br />
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In the next piece, I had a lot of obstacles to overcome. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguq1jkL2-uW5BXXfmxAo8gvE-3NeNGEd6t9Y79eBWNrNJiPc3eHXRzHVRs44ezj-c6vO4SlJtNVJc0dVjtRpdpm-F0Zr1avIGWnIYVTIe5LN_BvxtUxpoAfoeJSlBObUFnncEErgZl7kK/s1600/IMG_4740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguq1jkL2-uW5BXXfmxAo8gvE-3NeNGEd6t9Y79eBWNrNJiPc3eHXRzHVRs44ezj-c6vO4SlJtNVJc0dVjtRpdpm-F0Zr1avIGWnIYVTIe5LN_BvxtUxpoAfoeJSlBObUFnncEErgZl7kK/s640/IMG_4740.JPG" width="498" /></a></div>
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A weak, muddied color palette and insipid make-making made this a prime candidate for more and more layers of paint.<br />
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Instead of using stencils with this one, though, I used a huge, carved printing block I made by burning into foam core with a wood-burning tool.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKmgbY8SX610aHC1nV3doJcpltwTfP1EVn6iYuXrvU08OxSSxPN7AQ8MUNfcHsk_ROohAR_zPlexHk5Bstwq42unA36AyF7jwYCdz7Cvx5ssIFvYS_CYTwEy8TpfWciQ2iob-wbu_uNlG/s1600/IMG_4755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKmgbY8SX610aHC1nV3doJcpltwTfP1EVn6iYuXrvU08OxSSxPN7AQ8MUNfcHsk_ROohAR_zPlexHk5Bstwq42unA36AyF7jwYCdz7Cvx5ssIFvYS_CYTwEy8TpfWciQ2iob-wbu_uNlG/s640/IMG_4755.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWes9Do5sby_0HWg_wnCUwsKFbv0fKLtdFtFKCgDlvUYJFtPMOqcSKBi8ieIWlc0qfzJL4uF2N_2K4FPXbwAklF3td-nQR_LO83yp-cZ7BmOaCjSh7Fu7GPeubpBnWRT3hCtKjOaIEVJIx/s1600/IMG_4756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWes9Do5sby_0HWg_wnCUwsKFbv0fKLtdFtFKCgDlvUYJFtPMOqcSKBi8ieIWlc0qfzJL4uF2N_2K4FPXbwAklF3td-nQR_LO83yp-cZ7BmOaCjSh7Fu7GPeubpBnWRT3hCtKjOaIEVJIx/s640/IMG_4756.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Again, wanting to have a clean palette to work with in subsequent layers, I started with white.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm9OhSBoIRY6gYGo5GkpFEhlrv1RP1whljPrv2tIxEGRjdP9NPaDYTBfETL5q4qBPbFN4cSZjTV-C7oH8uo0jvdJBSXjUW_nynSlWjYsvnqSw67hzFGRh2NztUSGY98rNXebtvVpQI1cf/s1600/IMG_4759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm9OhSBoIRY6gYGo5GkpFEhlrv1RP1whljPrv2tIxEGRjdP9NPaDYTBfETL5q4qBPbFN4cSZjTV-C7oH8uo0jvdJBSXjUW_nynSlWjYsvnqSw67hzFGRh2NztUSGY98rNXebtvVpQI1cf/s640/IMG_4759.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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That gave me good coverage of small-scale patterning that I could paint over with brighter colors and know I wouldn't be muddying things further. But did I do that? Of course not. Instead, I made the ridiculous error of going right back into it with a dark violet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLH32jl3UqlbxEeuGMKBKh8iEEMglgHo4otRH3P69MX1HyiOhcRt1EPHF4tBMFayyecYlDaNTJWhnhn1q-zi9zZQqQUXQzSFwPQ0Efv21DhRoDZLM7S0E1qG3mAwpk731n2BptWoZfSqy/s1600/IMG_4760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLH32jl3UqlbxEeuGMKBKh8iEEMglgHo4otRH3P69MX1HyiOhcRt1EPHF4tBMFayyecYlDaNTJWhnhn1q-zi9zZQqQUXQzSFwPQ0Efv21DhRoDZLM7S0E1qG3mAwpk731n2BptWoZfSqy/s640/IMG_4760.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was an impulsive choice, and the paper paid the price: it was once again a dark, ugly mess. Panicking, I began layering lighter and lighter opaque colors on top, using the same printing block. As each layer of paint went on, but before it had a chance to fully cure, I used a damp baby wipe to dull and fade it, grunging it up until I was finally satisfied. I didn't get photos of the whole process because I get so caught up in the process of layering and wiping back that I forget to stop between each layer and take pictures! Please trust me when I tell you, though, that this really is the result of layering with the same printing plate, over and over, in different colors...<br />
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<br />Even with so many new layers of paint on top of it, the quirky character of the original paper still peeks through in places.<br />
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The lesson here is simple: there isn't anything that can't be fixed with more paint.<br />
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While puttering through the studio this week, I came across an astonishing find. I'm not even sure how I managed to forget about this, or why it took me so long to see it, sitting right out there, staring me in the face, but I'm thrilled I did...<br />
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A huge stack of large sheets of creamy white handmade printer's paper.<br />
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I haven't measured it, but I'd have to guess that it's about 30" long by 20" wide.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(lovely, deckled edge)</span></div>
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And there's so much of it, there must be 50 sheets!!<br />
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When in the world did I purchase this treasure trove? It must have cost a small fortune, and yet I forgot all about it?? Artistic dementia, I suppose.<br />
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Finally today, these pieces, offered with little explanation because I don't know where this idea is heading, yet. They are all three <span style="font-size: x-small;">8"x10" wooden cradle board, acrylic paint on synthetic paper (scroll about halfway down this link to see <a href="http://marbleart.us/MarblingSupplies.htm" target="_blank">Texoprint paper</a>), masked Stacked Journaling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(detail)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(detail)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-50AkobvoM7s1kzcqIs8iCKdzubZqJyrlCxbyA30nPjnBdAgzTV0KSvRy7hhkwejt8ncu44HJq_ornD0dOx3i1pMfArWSrpuJWOqBcCYWha0YLN_eiMhvaki7-QZGPJ_VkiMLp4Ocprcs/s1600/IMG_4779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-50AkobvoM7s1kzcqIs8iCKdzubZqJyrlCxbyA30nPjnBdAgzTV0KSvRy7hhkwejt8ncu44HJq_ornD0dOx3i1pMfArWSrpuJWOqBcCYWha0YLN_eiMhvaki7-QZGPJ_VkiMLp4Ocprcs/s640/IMG_4779.JPG" width="524" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Until next time, create over ugly (what do you have to lose?) </span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-12132456177989544712016-08-13T13:44:00.001-05:002016-08-13T13:44:45.930-05:00Interesting ResultsOnce again, I feel like I'm making real progress in the studio this week. I've been using some fairly cheap, 9"x14" wooden panels as practice panels, combining different techniques and mediums while keeping with the same theme. I think I'm having some success, and the process, while detailed and time-consuming, is proving to be a lot of fun.<br />
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I start, as always, with Stacked Journaling, this time in the form of heavy, thick paint squeezed onto a panel using of a bottle with a narrow tip. I then apply layers of pastels, paints, and mediums until I'm satisfied with the panel.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(9"x12" wood panel, acrylic paint, pastels)</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0Fu24ucDY7JfmHEVnKX2eB51qIRuHjIqOePD630fecgjAkCBkYfb3KB9J4UE01UsI0q7OJuIq3xwKBppHEB_lBTaXoYFJiFcXvB_XrA0OO481aj-3DlTB847BfPBGly7yE6JQ_gn0HRr/s1600/IMG_4725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0Fu24ucDY7JfmHEVnKX2eB51qIRuHjIqOePD630fecgjAkCBkYfb3KB9J4UE01UsI0q7OJuIq3xwKBppHEB_lBTaXoYFJiFcXvB_XrA0OO481aj-3DlTB847BfPBGly7yE6JQ_gn0HRr/s640/IMG_4725.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(detail)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I like the way the pigments, sometimes bushed on, sometimes burnished, sometimes sponged, settle into the negative spaces of my hand writing. The pigments show their layers, like small excavations into their own past, and blend with and resist one another in serendipitous ways. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I want to capitalize on those moments, so I use highly contrasting colors laid on top of one another in a rough fashion and rarely go back in to correct "flaws".</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJsFZ10RCRxX2dEyPqfD7DVMCbEL3GXfF-s_NMPw_v6abVLgErT517SmoKDKOEommL5yn06H18H0S5bF14YLDhSHUWp1dHEyxa0VU56LS2gHuFp6cnq3E0aZzNYD8Pu3uKStPZUe4uVNa/s1600/IMG_4717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJsFZ10RCRxX2dEyPqfD7DVMCbEL3GXfF-s_NMPw_v6abVLgErT517SmoKDKOEommL5yn06H18H0S5bF14YLDhSHUWp1dHEyxa0VU56LS2gHuFp6cnq3E0aZzNYD8Pu3uKStPZUe4uVNa/s640/IMG_4717.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I like the grunge aspect of these pieces, and push myself to go back over layers with unexpected color combinations, treating none of the layers as precious. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">With some of the panels, like the two above, I start with full coverage</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> of Journaling</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> across the whole substrate and then play with the resulting negative space. With others, I use the Journaling sparingly across the panel, giving me even more negative space to emphasize. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the panel below, I also used a tiny bit of metallic gold to emphasize the positive aspect of the Journaling. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NaK85J5qV3Qp6ymtJITXkVM9ZGHwUeagr1AMKaKuBkR775QuqwuE5XxU4-eY4x11Y2q5ksZjiCtFU8_juDybOxdIRfjfzdRAp04eSWJAarfE6MOhHoDPGqandvxrc99K9cDuxpJjd9D-/s1600/IMG_4714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NaK85J5qV3Qp6ymtJITXkVM9ZGHwUeagr1AMKaKuBkR775QuqwuE5XxU4-eY4x11Y2q5ksZjiCtFU8_juDybOxdIRfjfzdRAp04eSWJAarfE6MOhHoDPGqandvxrc99K9cDuxpJjd9D-/s640/IMG_4714.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiUf-IpN8UKNtMoP2uqr_yL1Z5FonUDjw6Do2Wb68baegQnftaBemN4KbVY3RFkQLB6LRSygbIOMrMpo9CN6s_w3QeQ8Sspug3OgGV8792Wt4s3hTAMeKrTRcB2Xcw2MaiSePzZJicN90/s1600/IMG_4716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiUf-IpN8UKNtMoP2uqr_yL1Z5FonUDjw6Do2Wb68baegQnftaBemN4KbVY3RFkQLB6LRSygbIOMrMpo9CN6s_w3QeQ8Sspug3OgGV8792Wt4s3hTAMeKrTRcB2Xcw2MaiSePzZJicN90/s640/IMG_4716.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(detail)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the panel below, I experimented with layering pigments and then selectively removing them nearly back to the original white of the panel + Stacked Journaling. This had the interesting effect of making the clusters of text almost glow in comparison to their surroundings.</span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally, and just for fun, a little collage of painted papers I put together. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUrUAAiJkZkRUUJAg-4MrxgGnZsqyK0H02vu4KX5EVPI-MRlAj4oonwj8x91jz3KFhFiDy5YdcjeXVAhWONGC5laa6s4DkOa90jXwN0G7szZj1CzOK7Wkr9XplxiL692A71AkNcN3wLYU/s1600/IMG_4736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUrUAAiJkZkRUUJAg-4MrxgGnZsqyK0H02vu4KX5EVPI-MRlAj4oonwj8x91jz3KFhFiDy5YdcjeXVAhWONGC5laa6s4DkOa90jXwN0G7szZj1CzOK7Wkr9XplxiL692A71AkNcN3wLYU/s640/IMG_4736.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(8.5"x17", acrylic on paper, collage)</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I find collaging rewarding and relaxing, and when my eyes are tired, or my brain too full of SJ, I dig through my stash of torn and cut up papers and start slapping them together. It's an easy, risk-free activity that I highly recommend (and who among us doesn't have stacks and stacks and <i>stacks</i> of painted, stamped, gelli'd, splattered papers?)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Until next time, collage with fun! </span> </span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-64114211708275965232016-08-04T18:48:00.001-05:002016-08-04T18:48:21.937-05:00Start. Stop. Start. Stop. Complain.Some progress in the studio this week. Still pushing at <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/p/stacked-journaling-101.html" target="_blank">SJ</a> to see what it can and cannot do.<br />
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This little piece is a collage of more layers than you might think. It starts with some electrical schematics for a Mustang, generously donated by a neighbor. The schematics have great lines and labels all over them. I tossed in some snippets from my grandmother's accounting books, some painted tissue, and a micro cutting of some tiny SJ.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7zVuAG7jGABLfIT4qA-b4qCAb7FJcTQWb-IMhrIzMml8wsYMMiNvPGFTFj9Ojx2gr_md3Te9gJJLaCJEgD5Mub9Yvyjqmzrl4qXMDUQ5LpZjsWkl8XffC7qDrGA9RL1-Yto0s2JuLMOu/s1600/IMG_4705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7zVuAG7jGABLfIT4qA-b4qCAb7FJcTQWb-IMhrIzMml8wsYMMiNvPGFTFj9Ojx2gr_md3Te9gJJLaCJEgD5Mub9Yvyjqmzrl4qXMDUQ5LpZjsWkl8XffC7qDrGA9RL1-Yto0s2JuLMOu/s640/IMG_4705.JPG" width="638" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(12"x12", acrylic paint and vintage collage on</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> cradled</span> wooden panel)</span></div>
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There was also a lot of stalling this week. You know... starting, full of excitement. Stopping hours later, disappointed. Weird stuff often comes out of that, for me. Like this, offered with no explanation because I couldn't possibly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvzKzFebbSF43esqf_NalKDPEYtHORu14hjJaYO81IbfAlPs1c0d1vmwvYKgo6vHgsevU4i-pSmKA9pqLwJrwkj16ttQ2GRh-dIwkrnbdLrzWnaAH_tPI4cE8LVaTzjQRtvNOTyfn9OWy/s1600/IMG_4704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvzKzFebbSF43esqf_NalKDPEYtHORu14hjJaYO81IbfAlPs1c0d1vmwvYKgo6vHgsevU4i-pSmKA9pqLwJrwkj16ttQ2GRh-dIwkrnbdLrzWnaAH_tPI4cE8LVaTzjQRtvNOTyfn9OWy/s640/IMG_4704.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yes, that's painted cotton hanging off of it. I don't know why. It's 12"x12" too, for whatever that's worth. </div>
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When I have disappointing studio sessions several days in a row, I retreat back to comfortable exercises. It's usually a confidence builder and allows me to push through the tough hours until I get somewhere that makes me happy.</div>
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Painting helps.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-FBBX-Ziw0C13QqjNBUtu16WhSh2EfE-HoAUGmY5ulsp7Rls2XTwSlfg8vyv9LFfrudApr5f1IIopprDKGONEoAwCLr8TbRaVO2ay38fIv9P2u8z68DehCfI1xMWqMQR9c2zmjZGmkH6/s1600/IMG_4710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-FBBX-Ziw0C13QqjNBUtu16WhSh2EfE-HoAUGmY5ulsp7Rls2XTwSlfg8vyv9LFfrudApr5f1IIopprDKGONEoAwCLr8TbRaVO2ay38fIv9P2u8z68DehCfI1xMWqMQR9c2zmjZGmkH6/s640/IMG_4710.JPG" width="588" /></a></div>
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So does collage (and I've promised myself that when I die, every bit of ephemera I've been collecting and painting all these years will be used UP, so that'll be a bonus for my family!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITq6OufXXiLUlKlpo9xhJJ0QMq_6zMMZ5WURSwTN0ZuvubD6m1j3BPSBU3A9nFlGh1zBl6V5WxThyuYqC6TbYAi1a9gRjOMs2iyfMfMb7oDNmhC3FbvEosBo_tcOf2rN3o-EM60NZGacl/s1600/IMG_4712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITq6OufXXiLUlKlpo9xhJJ0QMq_6zMMZ5WURSwTN0ZuvubD6m1j3BPSBU3A9nFlGh1zBl6V5WxThyuYqC6TbYAi1a9gRjOMs2iyfMfMb7oDNmhC3FbvEosBo_tcOf2rN3o-EM60NZGacl/s640/IMG_4712.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Finally, towards the end of the week, I hit on something that intrigues me. I'll be playing with this more and I won't be explaining it until later. But this is the first somewhat interesting result.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeqDf5LlIBhMAtPWgjACyUhFcQbS_5PY9ZiAcGxrI0VOx4BP2YRVOPr_XzBzBTTppZ31uajxZibM-Deji_uMbHLMz9tjqMAx8pCLxFK8YR1W32KVKhKTnwElZ1bpfgvMvrpIeezmu8xNz/s1600/IMG_4708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeqDf5LlIBhMAtPWgjACyUhFcQbS_5PY9ZiAcGxrI0VOx4BP2YRVOPr_XzBzBTTppZ31uajxZibM-Deji_uMbHLMz9tjqMAx8pCLxFK8YR1W32KVKhKTnwElZ1bpfgvMvrpIeezmu8xNz/s640/IMG_4708.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Until next time, push on and create happy!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-5782470136833798412016-07-29T12:37:00.002-05:002016-07-29T12:37:16.290-05:00The End of a Rainy WeekThe weather has been so icky that I've spent a lot of time in the studio this week.<br />
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I'm continuing to work through my ideas for cutting up Stacked Journaling and laminating it onto various substrates, from paper to wooden panels.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jyh3muFLgP0q6UmIt6rrdzD4O7gThOrLDJvtwTQw22BRxtF-oaovCxqVhiDMHBnlhkTWUTFL_yXEcfQqWPnL8uGcU6HxONMalpTVpQMX3zq8XIy5nQM0aMcHC3EDZ4JGCPivIdK3qWAN/s1600/IMG_4678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jyh3muFLgP0q6UmIt6rrdzD4O7gThOrLDJvtwTQw22BRxtF-oaovCxqVhiDMHBnlhkTWUTFL_yXEcfQqWPnL8uGcU6HxONMalpTVpQMX3zq8XIy5nQM0aMcHC3EDZ4JGCPivIdK3qWAN/s640/IMG_4678.JPG" width="496" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(paper on paper, 8"x10")</span></div>
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Some work...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6naKgG8PhLBYdPdAifjVLuveKRADVcta73vtYqeLQzJ71WpDoAKSznyGsohnalewhXjjjgwDd7725Lfm3tu22cP70byUZv1FoqL7HcITumBwLDKZfoTMGwsySj5f3fgFUD3xjm8USH-JV/s1600/IMG_4671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6naKgG8PhLBYdPdAifjVLuveKRADVcta73vtYqeLQzJ71WpDoAKSznyGsohnalewhXjjjgwDd7725Lfm3tu22cP70byUZv1FoqL7HcITumBwLDKZfoTMGwsySj5f3fgFUD3xjm8USH-JV/s640/IMG_4671.JPG" width="310" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Multi-Purpose fabric on Multi-Purpose fabric, 11"x23")</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76TPRhhqpuNRD86-f7fHERo2v3Awa1_8uVTgwChhTR3qlfe-SghJOikr-RVJ9FH31pFT4A4Wtw9rBWuZAfQj19PhSbgUBE-C7F97qQDcE1vB44ut8OZqhgNTTdS1YTHSw2HS1ammRaDtl/s1600/IMG_4680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76TPRhhqpuNRD86-f7fHERo2v3Awa1_8uVTgwChhTR3qlfe-SghJOikr-RVJ9FH31pFT4A4Wtw9rBWuZAfQj19PhSbgUBE-C7F97qQDcE1vB44ut8OZqhgNTTdS1YTHSw2HS1ammRaDtl/s640/IMG_4680.JPG" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(acrylic on paper, 8"x11") </span></div>
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... is more successful than other work...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWWUq5V-OoSuD-dXv04EzygVZYJv78wcouBV0E2Hk32BQrQA_N4RNN0AxQhFguLMPy1XSScyuu7ud78cbPTetoacTo1_pu0sXCbRBlfHn7PLSuA45w7avuhnYNYIpXSTelDvlazL1SIXU/s1600/IMG_4677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWWUq5V-OoSuD-dXv04EzygVZYJv78wcouBV0E2Hk32BQrQA_N4RNN0AxQhFguLMPy1XSScyuu7ud78cbPTetoacTo1_pu0sXCbRBlfHn7PLSuA45w7avuhnYNYIpXSTelDvlazL1SIXU/s640/IMG_4677.JPG" width="502" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Multi-Purpose fabric on wooden panel. 9"x12")</span></div>
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Ah, well.<br />
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Until next time!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-31730169713656825972016-07-24T16:49:00.000-05:002016-07-24T17:34:19.128-05:00New Experiments and a Pro TipI've been doing more experiments with <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/2012/05/stack-it-cut-it-stack-it-again.html" target="_blank">cut</a> <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/p/stacked-journaling-101.html" target="_blank">Stacked Journaling</a>, playing with the scale and line thickness of my lettering. So far, these have all been done with some type of paper, from mat board to 60# copy paper. I'm also playing with contrast between the background layer, which is usually just painted, and the foreground Stacked Journaling. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VPksskmCE6VeX0NHKbKw1xIrJGmCruYugSLPeRcAS8JK3vNU4PDbiECOWRRiRMxP1aK8R-AmEwFafZFUKzh7XlAosEeu7R3UGbItqViKxIjM78E57v8Py5q2OC91suBc5fJSeSWfihjh/s1600/IMG_4648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VPksskmCE6VeX0NHKbKw1xIrJGmCruYugSLPeRcAS8JK3vNU4PDbiECOWRRiRMxP1aK8R-AmEwFafZFUKzh7XlAosEeu7R3UGbItqViKxIjM78E57v8Py5q2OC91suBc5fJSeSWfihjh/s640/IMG_4648.JPG" width="502" /></a></div>
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Normally, the smaller the printing I use when Journaling, the more linear the design gets, as in this piece below. This isn't a bad thing, but it isn't always what I'm looking for. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HlOV6eL888yhiWvroeqpCW7JwXV6FucN9fy5yWEP0bWrzYr0mw_Jze47Fusn9enyz1FbI4SKlJ9qTNaj1v9lfP-ObamlL_KhyphenhyphenACzK8ZAkNjgdVjN_hUjmaXaUDvHszeEuz1ZNKLY7SPV/s1600/IMG_4652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HlOV6eL888yhiWvroeqpCW7JwXV6FucN9fy5yWEP0bWrzYr0mw_Jze47Fusn9enyz1FbI4SKlJ9qTNaj1v9lfP-ObamlL_KhyphenhyphenACzK8ZAkNjgdVjN_hUjmaXaUDvHszeEuz1ZNKLY7SPV/s640/IMG_4652.JPG" width="516" /></a></div>
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It seems that the larger I go with my printing, the better I like it, and
letting it fall off the background, along with its more open shape,
makes the whole process feel more liberated, to me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUvG-IlDuahoNKsq1WewUyT-CrDhfPwPluT5VBLr-Hqyw0XvEB_Ta73vyIXvrNn4mMjabaGKYrRTdPqKKJg7G_-PzA83WlTeNRutVnGlGe7NNxhM2ssyY0KyJB_ga2z39jU9lqFyRUnQm/s1600/IMG_4654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUvG-IlDuahoNKsq1WewUyT-CrDhfPwPluT5VBLr-Hqyw0XvEB_Ta73vyIXvrNn4mMjabaGKYrRTdPqKKJg7G_-PzA83WlTeNRutVnGlGe7NNxhM2ssyY0KyJB_ga2z39jU9lqFyRUnQm/s640/IMG_4654.JPG" width="526" /></a></div>
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My favorite pieces so far have been the ones with a vibrant colors (big
surprise, huh?) but I plan to do more experimenting with neutral colors
and a black-to-gray scale. <br />
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Also, being a frugal artist, I wanted to share this little pro tip with you today. If you're like me, you've collected your fair share of alphabet stamps. Frankly, I stopped using them years ago, but I uncovered them recently, and wondered what kind of background noise they're create if they were all stacked together willy-nilly and held together with rubber bands.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHz0wKMZFWKRZCehvSiDdfXtH9XAnyURnTwl98yXbvnSoiXOxRUh_-7G3IA9ZDr5DRovrF54a7TLPrUxXGVq6ZhGlCxhB5fD3jZDLNQgiMYcDdy75hNd3x8stMlD90LPBRxHtIIdO6ELNp/s1600/IMG_4656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHz0wKMZFWKRZCehvSiDdfXtH9XAnyURnTwl98yXbvnSoiXOxRUh_-7G3IA9ZDr5DRovrF54a7TLPrUxXGVq6ZhGlCxhB5fD3jZDLNQgiMYcDdy75hNd3x8stMlD90LPBRxHtIIdO6ELNp/s640/IMG_4656.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A3SJxngE4RTnZ27eKnsMMVePPnYak91iOImQnIF4bZwxv7LDRBoNCf7kgz-n-PWwfWfwGv-PXjTxISdSxreynRE5zoKPNkQbwGLLfrFxlEIT8oJnCmY0FTkGGaM_MBoWVXLFr7ff1HTA/s1600/IMG_4655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A3SJxngE4RTnZ27eKnsMMVePPnYak91iOImQnIF4bZwxv7LDRBoNCf7kgz-n-PWwfWfwGv-PXjTxISdSxreynRE5zoKPNkQbwGLLfrFxlEIT8oJnCmY0FTkGGaM_MBoWVXLFr7ff1HTA/s640/IMG_4655.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Easy-peasy. <br />
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As I was constructing my new tools, the little vulcanized rubber letters kept falling off the posts (these sets are probably 10+ years old by now).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4xrSukFSMcEmDefKRTHRrVPDz1h5OAwzqmjdG8VDwlaFcHNONI1uQnMh7qMHyMRj_mOyqyCmbSS2gOVhGb53_nc_W_OrfNv2weTSEvsU3nSMddfrJzyA8CM4ZdW2ms9CjuUYRC1mWpwG/s1600/IMG_4657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4xrSukFSMcEmDefKRTHRrVPDz1h5OAwzqmjdG8VDwlaFcHNONI1uQnMh7qMHyMRj_mOyqyCmbSS2gOVhGb53_nc_W_OrfNv2weTSEvsU3nSMddfrJzyA8CM4ZdW2ms9CjuUYRC1mWpwG/s640/IMG_4657.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Not one to waste an opportunity, I got out the Elmer's and glued the letters together on their own wooden block.<br />
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Three new mark-making tools in about 10 minutes! These little things make excellent, repetitive patterns.<br />
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Until next time, create (your own tools!)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-57260467039032733722016-07-16T16:45:00.001-05:002016-07-16T16:45:23.463-05:00Cutting Myself A Little SlackI wonder if I'm the only one who does this? I look back on my studio practice now and then and become convinced that I haven't been producing any work I'd be willing to show. Sometimes that's true, and sometimes it isn't.<br />
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Examining the last few weeks, I was surprised to realize that I've been very productive.<br />
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I've been returning to my earliest roots: painting paper. There was no plan for how I produced several dozen papers, except that I kept the color schemes similar so that I could collage with them later. I painted with thin, transparent layers of acrylic, monoprinted, stamped, and painted some hand-written Stacked Journaling, working from one sheet of copy paper or other old, printed material, to another. <br />
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After I had a large stack ready, I cut them up and applied them to all types of substrates. Paper...<br />
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On 6"x6" flat, canvas panels...<br />
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And on cradled, wooden panels of various (small) sizes...<br />
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Still using the wooden panels (my favorite substrate of all, seriously), I painted directly onto the unprimed wood to get a stain effect and then applied some- follow along with me, here- monoprinted, cut <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/p/stacked-journaling-101.html" target="_blank">Stacked Journaling</a>. (Monoprinted, cut Stacked Journaling is described in <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/2012/05/stack-it-cut-it-stack-it-again.html" target="_blank">this post.</a>)<br />
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I've also been revisiting my love of <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/2015/08/family-by-numbers.html" target="_blank">old, yellowed papers</a>. With this very large wooden panel (30"x40"x2"), I primed the surface and then collaged encyclopedia, dictionary, and thesaurus pages on the theme of trees and birds onto it. A couple of layers of thinned paint and a good sanding with my palm orbiter gave it a nice patina while serving to push back the background. I'm doing some studies before touching it again, because I want to be sure I know just what I want to do before start, so watch this space. <br />
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Finally, sitting on my workspace in front of me, is this gorgeous hunk of wooden panel, 16"x16"x2", in its first stages of paint.<br />
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Instead of using paper collage elements, I decided to use multi-purpose fabric, so I'm painting two large pieces at the same time as I paint the panel, again, keeping things in the same color family.<br />
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I guess I need to cut myself some slack- I'm producing plenty of work.<br />
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Until next time, paint happy! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-80534186951395540652016-06-30T16:11:00.003-05:002016-06-30T16:11:33.511-05:00Long Lost ArtistHi, everyone! I know it's been a very long time since I posted to this blog, but I finally finished a project that has been literally months in the making. Back in October, I made a promise to Judy Gula, a beloved friend and proprietor of <a href="http://www.artisticartifacts.com/" target="_blank">Artistic Artifacts</a>, a brick and mortar store with an online outlet for every possible thing you might seek when creating fabric and mixed-media art, from <a href="http://www.artisticartifacts.com/category/pdit.html" target="_blank">paints</a> to <a href="http://www.artisticartifacts.com/category/emp.html" target="_blank">ephemera</a>, <a href="http://www.artisticartifacts.com/product/942366.html" target="_blank">to funky and unique add-ons.</a><br />
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Judy also sells gorgeous, <a href="http://www.artisticartifacts.com/category/block.html" target="_blank">hand-carved wooden printing blocks</a> in both her online and B&M stores, and she generously gifted me the selection you see in the photo, below. In return for her wonderful gift, I promised to create a project with them and write a blog post.<br />
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And then this giant beauty crossed my path.<br />
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Purchased from a neighbor for the bargain price of 30 dollars, I knew I had found my project.<br />
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The upholstered arm chair, a rocker/glider combination, had been in her son's nursery, used to rock him and feed him as an infant. The chair was in spectacular condition and didn't need a thing, except maybe another baby, because it was covered in nursery fabric.<br />
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It was so precious, and the fabric so beautiful, that I almost hesitated to touch it. However, I wanted a chair for one of my upstairs guest rooms, and nursery fabric just wouldn't cut it.<br />
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So I took at it with some Jacquard fabric paint in opaque white, as a primer.<br />
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Now, let me just tell you how much I love Jacquard fabric painting products. Ok, just kidding, that would take days and days and days. Let's just say that they make an entire line of paints just for fabric alone that I could paint with exclusively, if I wasn't such a paint junkie that I buy all manner of other artist colors from other companies!<br />
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The opacity of the "opaque white" cannot be overstated- it really is thick, creamy, titanium white and the coverage it offers is phenomenal. (No, I'm not getting anything for plugging Jacquard, I promise, they're just <i>that good</i>!)<br />
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After getting a coat of the primer on, I dove into colors.<br />
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Knowing that I wanted heavy layering of colors and textures, I started with the lightest colors- the two yellows.<br />
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Working in mostly broad stripes, I applied the paint with a damp automotive sponge.<br />
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Then I moved onto magenta, overlapping it with a bit of the yellows, mixing color on the chair as I went.<br />
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In the above photo, you can see that I had also begun to apply the same paints in white, two yellows, and magenta with some of the wooden blocks. I used the same colors as the base colors, particularly the white, to create a resist for later, darker layers.<br />
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This is where I fell down on the job, in a number of ways. The first was that I got a bad case of Artist Lock. You know the stuff, when you've already invested a goodly amount of time on a project and now, even if you KNOW what you want to do next, you freeze for fear of destroying it. Yeah, it grabbed me for months on end, as the chair sat in my studio, mocking my inability to move forward on it. Some art is like that, it teases you and makes you feel like you couldn't possibly be up to the task. That's when it's crucial to the artist's soul to remember that the reason a particular work feels that way to you it's because <i>it's not finished, yet.</i> <br />
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The second is that when I finally broke my freeze, so many months had passed that I was afraid that if I stopped to take photos, I would freeze up again. Instead, I attacked the chair with dark colors like Navy and Fluorescent Violet, covering much of the white and overlapping with the yellows and reds (and their resulting oranges.)<br />
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Even then, I didn't take pictures. It wasn't until I felt like the piece was finished that I gave myself permission to commit it to photographs.<br />
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Having planned all along to pop the details and color blends by reintroducing white, I created a simple stamp with a piece of fun foam and an old stamping block. Then, using more of the opaque white paint, I began stamping. <br />
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Even at this stage, I wasn't certain that I was finished with it- or even liked it! Did it need more colors? Is it already too garish and busy?<br />
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And then I began to notice the tiny details. <br />
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I really liked the way the stamped white shapes interacted with the colors underneath.<br />
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These are details you can't see from a distance, but up close, they're delicious. I'm satisfied.<br />
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My only regret for the whole project: that I didn't take the ottoman my neighbor was also selling!<br />
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Happy summer, happy creating! <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-8531272891746449842015-11-02T10:55:00.001-06:002015-11-02T10:55:50.006-06:00More From The Encaustic StudioIt's been a busy few weeks, but it's been both fun and productive!<br />
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Some good work is coming out of the encaustic studio and I'm pleased with my progress for the last twelve months on this new (to me) medium.<br />
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This piece resolved itself quite nicely after hanging, unadorned, on the wall for a few weeks. A deep clean of the studio unearthed the small cardboard squares you see running down the left side of the piece. I had painted and cut them years and years ago and then held onto them because I just loved the way they looked. They finally found a home, and a frustratingly unfinished work was completed. This piece is layers of encaustic paint, plus the little cardboard embellishments, and measures 12"x24". <br />
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Other work of various sizes and themes has been completed, as well. This 6"x6" canvas panel is a study in lines that will be carried through soon in a much larger piece. <br />
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Friends came by for the International Quilt Festival (more on that in another post), and we spent a few happy days dying fabric and paper in indigo vats. This piece, a 10"x10"x2" cradleboard took some of the paper I dyed, as well as a small, wooden blank that was used to create pattern in fabric. <br />
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Finally, this little work, which has gone to its new home, was created on a 6"x5" maple block using encaustic paint and plaster or Paris fabric (gauzy fabric embedded with plaster... think: medical cast when you break an arm). <br />
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You'll hear from me again soon, because I've been gifted with an amazing collection of wooden printing blocks from my sweet friend, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/judy.gula?fref=ts" target="_blank">Judy Gula</a>, owner of <a href="http://www.artisticartifacts.com/" target="_blank">Artistic Artifacts</a>, and I can't wait to play with them and then talk about it here.<br />
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In the meantime, get melty with wax!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-24683456887440541832015-10-05T09:52:00.002-05:002015-10-05T09:52:15.019-05:00Last WeekI spent a pretty productive week in the studio, still exploring encaustic wax and paints.<br />
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I'm experimenting with color and moving the wax, seeing what kinds of effects I can achieve with the application of heat. <br />
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Trying out inks underneath and on top of the wax. <br />
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Layering Stacked Journaling by painting it and then burying it under layers of encaustic medium (clear wax.)<br />
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All of my encaustic work lately has been on cradled wooden boards, which I absolutely love. Some are more perfect than others, however. Recently, I scored a huge box full of unfinished maple blocks of wood that are normally used to mount rubber stamps. My neighbor had them (and many more that I didn't buy) for 5.00.<br />
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I've found them to be incredibly smooth and receptive to the wax, with a beautiful grain running through them, and lovely curved edges.<br />
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They are all small, meant to be hand-held, and should make for some interesting modular paintings. They're going to be a blast to work with, which will be this week's task.<br />
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Until next time, create with fun!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-15574407639604183022015-09-16T14:31:00.001-05:002015-09-16T20:50:25.190-05:00Ver. 2.0Last year, I sold this piece.<br />
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A 12"x24" painting on paper, mounted on a wooden cradleboard, painted with acrylics. I loved it. So did my husband, who- while happy for me- was a little crushed that it would be leaving us. It was also a fan favorite, and inquired about frequently. I loved having it in my collection, but what's the point of making art if you're not going to let anyone else own it?<br />
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I had sold it to a local gentleman though my blog. He sent his wife to pay me and collect the work. On the day she arrived, I had my studio thrown wide open and my husband and I were both puttering around the space. The woman pulled up in front, got out of her truck, and stomped up to the studio, 5-year-old ankle biter in tow. She didn't look happy. In her hand was a wad of cash.<br />
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My husband and I, tireless curators and referees of my work, looked at each other, and yellow flags started flying onto the field between us: she looked like she was arriving at a garage sale.<br />
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I took her over to where the painting hung, and she frowned at it- not exactly the reaction an artist hopes to get, but it happens from time to time.<br />
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"It's so <i>small</i>," she said. Her frown deepened. Her brat, meanwhile, was all over the studio, touching everything and spreading his little boy germs everywhere.<br />
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"I didn't expect it to be so small!" She turned to me like I'd kicked her. I could see her thoughts as if they were flashing in neon, nailed to her forehead: <i>'Why does something so small cost so much??' </i>This was not an art lover- this was a bargain hunter, proud of her ability to suss out a good deal from a bad one. This, in her mind, was clearly a bad deal.<br />
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"I told your husband the dimensions when I sold it to him." I refused to apologize for one of the coolest, and most popular, paintings I'd done all year.<br />
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She just kept frowning, looking at it. Frowning.<br />
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My husband and I exchanged glances again. Red flags now, all over the field.<br />
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Hoping she would take the chance to flee, I asked her if she'd like to think about it. Maybe talk to her husband again.<br />
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Snatching up her sprog's hand, she stomped back to her truck and got in. Minutes passed. More. More. My hopes began to rise that she would just start her vehicle and drive off in it. I was really beginning to regret selling my work to these people.<br />
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Maybe 15 minutes later, she got out of the truck, stomped back to me, shoved the money into my hand and grabbed the painting off the wall.<br />
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Desperate, I said to her retreating back, "If you ever decide you don't want it anymore, PLEASE don't throw it away, call me and I will buy it back from you!" And she was gone. I've never heard another word from either she or her husband but I suspect that one day soon, my painting will wind up in a garage sale. She'll feel fortunate to get 2.00 for it.<br />
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After that nasty episode, I decided I wanted to recreate the work- maybe not exactly, but certainly I hoped to make a piece of art that evoked the original. Only, I wanted this one to be bigger.<br />
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Enter this massive bad boy.<br />
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All 48"x60"x2.5" of it. I'd started it, worked on it, hated it, abandoned it. Every time I had to move it out of the way, I hated it a little more. Finally, I reached critical mass on the hatred, and back up onto the painting wall it went.<br />
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I lightly washed it with gesso, not wanting to totally obliterate what was underneath. (My color palette? Yes! My <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/p/stacked-journaling-101.html" target="_blank">Stacked Journaling</a>? Yes! What's not to like?) Then I began applying color.<br />
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(I love the way the text keeps insisting on peeking through.)<br />
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I began applying the bold strokes of color with a large paint brush and then refined the edges by dabbing paint onto damp baby wipes and buffing that into the canvas. That allowed me to get soft color transitions, as well as to mix the paint directly onto the canvas. I was both removing and adding paint at the same time. The whole piece got several layers of paint in this way, building up texture and interest.<br />
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Then, using a photo of the original work as a reference, I began creating bold line work.<br />
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I didn't want an exact replica of the smaller piece, but again, I wanted to evoke the same feeling. I'm not gonna lie to you- on this scale, it got a little tedious and my arms became achy and tired (the painting hung on the wall the entire time I was painting it.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPoFx0uP8Ijkhpn2jXHSKZkFjCCZSH_NwUDjWX4kJe-JO73wLxbMQyBQF9p7BAL8NnTUR4kmq4K7DoMbe4IFP_-BL9Zf-_a6rWDFU5CpJym6GEZaFPwFrF4ZyYhsR91LCAB7PH5RdN4Sd/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPoFx0uP8Ijkhpn2jXHSKZkFjCCZSH_NwUDjWX4kJe-JO73wLxbMQyBQF9p7BAL8NnTUR4kmq4K7DoMbe4IFP_-BL9Zf-_a6rWDFU5CpJym6GEZaFPwFrF4ZyYhsR91LCAB7PH5RdN4Sd/s640/7.jpg" width="516" /></a></div>
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Finally, the black line work was complete.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukp2HLBMT6DHKsSmM04b-Rxwih-IxoZwfqf43izKA0XeD_tYL_V5E34y50f7GMxfDEX6BQ_XT3wHw8utek7pNOixUHxdAnY6v9tBNLg73AWRYLd5BNKN3DKscvACuOhyphenhyphenH2jCJQYEqkMjN/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukp2HLBMT6DHKsSmM04b-Rxwih-IxoZwfqf43izKA0XeD_tYL_V5E34y50f7GMxfDEX6BQ_XT3wHw8utek7pNOixUHxdAnY6v9tBNLg73AWRYLd5BNKN3DKscvACuOhyphenhyphenH2jCJQYEqkMjN/s640/6.jpg" width="522" /></a></div>
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I could have left it at that, and certainly my arms and shoulders voted for that, too, but I wasn't satisfied. I wanted to pop both the line work and the color palette with white accents.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxmF1FVXzmourooHU3d3PrZvc56h4iJwh60QVEkTd_xAbJc_gl7dKnN0mhWcKeiitCX8gKiSoYNV0IH84vraNj9kqHbFNfbKR_OoK4ryDLyJzO-MTrgbTQfWYnBN7DwBU4KkxQlcw2b7_/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxmF1FVXzmourooHU3d3PrZvc56h4iJwh60QVEkTd_xAbJc_gl7dKnN0mhWcKeiitCX8gKiSoYNV0IH84vraNj9kqHbFNfbKR_OoK4ryDLyJzO-MTrgbTQfWYnBN7DwBU4KkxQlcw2b7_/s640/5.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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If you're wondering if I flipped the painting upside down, you're perceptive- I did, several times. With a canvas this large, it tends to hang almost to the floor and physically becomes awkward to paint on. I often paint for a while, turn the canvas, paint for a while longer, and so on.<br />
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Finally, to give the canvas a little finesse, I added smaller line work in black.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2nxWK4pnMv5UXKDV52O5nlApxNSQOqRmhOfmmpx2r1xny5ZHLHwxs3rvJdQv_tqTmgb1knpJ-WEEK1firi2YrCC7LMkagl28Jw3d7FX2O_NSXxMINhvZnm4aX6jikITbqbJQOLmeMZXQ/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2nxWK4pnMv5UXKDV52O5nlApxNSQOqRmhOfmmpx2r1xny5ZHLHwxs3rvJdQv_tqTmgb1knpJ-WEEK1firi2YrCC7LMkagl28Jw3d7FX2O_NSXxMINhvZnm4aX6jikITbqbJQOLmeMZXQ/s640/4.jpg" width="508" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">("Ver. 2.0", acrylic paint on stretched canvas, 48"x60"x2.5")</span></div>
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Here are a couple of close-ups so you can see the detail.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYTwAOIVtvoTt46e5D_MCDi9HejKZuJ6OfbYb9BEMRTLVDweFCcouQFvQ9Bce0ZH3bNB3qI3r9-sp83N9_2iDPeC0BfqwxRVwhJxSQ-WXfz8WHvkNvvzkCJmiBTKgxefvKWduTMs4lkaV/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYTwAOIVtvoTt46e5D_MCDi9HejKZuJ6OfbYb9BEMRTLVDweFCcouQFvQ9Bce0ZH3bNB3qI3r9-sp83N9_2iDPeC0BfqwxRVwhJxSQ-WXfz8WHvkNvvzkCJmiBTKgxefvKWduTMs4lkaV/s640/2.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
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I've had my nose pressed up against this painting for days and I still love it. It was a lot of fun seeing and highlighting the way the colors combined on the canvas- acrylic paint is always a surprise to me, no matter how many years I work with it.<br />
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This piece is for sale, and I'm willing to ship it within the US (I'm sorry, the shipping overseas would cost as much as the painting alone would!) Please contact me privately, if interested.<br />
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And no, I haven't forgotten or abandoned encaustics! Here is a piece I've recently completed. Encaustic paint on wooden cradled hardboard, 12"x24".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeYccL0pPLifwCdiVj0ux2Ogmz939bWQYG9mHzAnTwGbYE6DmFXFhjigsudt_jGBW4KERIqAU1rl-Wzj7cxXwVQ_26b6bnPIyQre1GmKIHoEYPh1jS7CHhXDUwgQ93xtvlfpGwRvUpIHO/s1600/IMG_4253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeYccL0pPLifwCdiVj0ux2Ogmz939bWQYG9mHzAnTwGbYE6DmFXFhjigsudt_jGBW4KERIqAU1rl-Wzj7cxXwVQ_26b6bnPIyQre1GmKIHoEYPh1jS7CHhXDUwgQ93xtvlfpGwRvUpIHO/s640/IMG_4253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's time to take the rest of the week and the weekend off! Until next time, create with large fun!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-12478045000495408222015-08-12T16:39:00.003-05:002015-08-12T16:39:33.282-05:00Family By The NumbersLast week and this week, I've been working on a bunch of 12"x12" cradled panels.<br />
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When my father died, I inherited some documentation that my grandmother saved- a bunch of deeds and old hand-written letters, tax records, and accounting books she kept when she was a grocer back in the 40's-50's-60's.<br />
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I began collaging bits and pieces of the financial documents into clear encaustic medium, building up layers and letting the old paper become transparent with the application of heated wax. I spent a lot of time thinking about these documents as I worked with them, wondering why my grandmother had kept them for so many decades. Was it pride? A sense of the need to preserve family history? Was it simply that she believed they may be important to some government agency in the future? And why give them to my father, the one son she raised who couldn't hold onto a dime long enough to put it in the bank? Was she sending a message to him or was it mere coincidence that he wound up with them and not one of his brothers?<br />
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I'll never know the answer to any of these questions, but building work around them was fascinating and something I will continue to do.<br />
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This is the first piece in what will probably become a small series. In it, I finished off the work with a hand-written letter from to my daughter, as well as a replica of schematics from my husband's profession. This is meant to be a present for our daughter and her husband to hang in their new home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVyE5sjuJsF6X42JiyBc-PwwDqxwDkhNLIcnEs9HxGRjuJGcQqpFRgwkhbpOr0WqkV2OdzppoOlZpe3gYkCQsEjLdTfiarq3b_m7NuEqa6XbsIQug1AXpIZkJAQ3ZnNmUh6PhVG1Heotu/s1600/IMG_4208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVyE5sjuJsF6X42JiyBc-PwwDqxwDkhNLIcnEs9HxGRjuJGcQqpFRgwkhbpOr0WqkV2OdzppoOlZpe3gYkCQsEjLdTfiarq3b_m7NuEqa6XbsIQug1AXpIZkJAQ3ZnNmUh6PhVG1Heotu/s640/IMG_4208.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Truthfully, though, I'm not crazy about the composition or the color, which masks too much of the lovely patina of the original documents.<br />
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So I tightened up the composition on the next piece, cutting the accounting pages into narrow strips and adhering them to a piece of painted printmaker's paper. I then adhered the collage to a cradled birch board, and began applying layers of encaustic medium (clear). I'm much happier with this piece.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuvLIXxPPF9gJioDvqdUG1zDKKmsKnpXhT40eNnUwh7A8bNDbxHsJa8QjFI8D8pZv5nnAo173JmCyB9TBXBlnRnzwynNMWEgHxP-DfzPdnVSdetiG1Gjf-MeqDRR7R8yKEY8f9ijdl2vY/s1600/IMG_4206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuvLIXxPPF9gJioDvqdUG1zDKKmsKnpXhT40eNnUwh7A8bNDbxHsJa8QjFI8D8pZv5nnAo173JmCyB9TBXBlnRnzwynNMWEgHxP-DfzPdnVSdetiG1Gjf-MeqDRR7R8yKEY8f9ijdl2vY/s640/IMG_4206.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love that the collage has so much of my grandmother's handwriting captured in it.<br />
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I also played some with trying to create imagery with alcohol inks buried inside of, and laying on top of, encaustic paintings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax6vjPX-fqSKg_hSUaDqscT4WbuHVE2eDeEgynQgsVP15Xc9jTQXQYmFktIwmbqjFMPD5oaCcNF7BFIKZ3wIkRyW1w7zHM6lKiL08wankuAPJspRo-1crA-EFkVcjW1LNYUe1OKjxF7ha/s1600/IMG_4202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjax6vjPX-fqSKg_hSUaDqscT4WbuHVE2eDeEgynQgsVP15Xc9jTQXQYmFktIwmbqjFMPD5oaCcNF7BFIKZ3wIkRyW1w7zHM6lKiL08wankuAPJspRo-1crA-EFkVcjW1LNYUe1OKjxF7ha/s640/IMG_4202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ever critical of my own work (and no, I don't think that's a bad thing- I give myself <i>constructive</i> criticism, something I feel is important), this piece is a little busy... while I love the top motif, the encaustic wax didn't bury the background imagery nearly as deeply as I'd hoped. Something to work on in the future!<br />
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Lastly, an experiment in a new (for me) medium, called <a href="http://evansencaustics.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=248">Crack!</a><br />
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This is a super-hard encaustic medium by <a href="http://evansencaustics.com/">Evans Encaustics</a> that will form cracks and crevasses on the surface of an encaustic painting. It is meant to be the last layer of wax applied to a given piece of art. In this piece, I used rusted tissue and glazes of encaustic paint to create my substrate, and then applied a lightly colored layer of Crack! before fusing the whole thing and letting it cool to allow the cracks to form. Then I buffed phthalo turquoise pigment stick into the surface to make the cracks pop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sov9TqkiRVHWxg71xKWu-i4xRbozPD57C_l1WfYxdNxW_uZ37nwlywmFa7MPfdcQHbl6hD4HMNbSKSVxuapcWhTbnbuMkoMZZqGek_2qNaj9jt5mr494Kk-Ypg0yuPkAlbf3VuygH3SC/s1600/IMG_4211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sov9TqkiRVHWxg71xKWu-i4xRbozPD57C_l1WfYxdNxW_uZ37nwlywmFa7MPfdcQHbl6hD4HMNbSKSVxuapcWhTbnbuMkoMZZqGek_2qNaj9jt5mr494Kk-Ypg0yuPkAlbf3VuygH3SC/s640/IMG_4211.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaOewBMZzgvfrwn8b3YvnlTpzEpcluaP1Ca82QyVZCF1pDoQXO_2yFVJmzw2OdBGoyDeEKBda-bfV9HIzBV5kalSWhahkx60QWz6VY45gHpnMQ4Du17Tzyu4YfemmPk8n6ntBW5hbHi5c/s1600/IMG_4214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaOewBMZzgvfrwn8b3YvnlTpzEpcluaP1Ca82QyVZCF1pDoQXO_2yFVJmzw2OdBGoyDeEKBda-bfV9HIzBV5kalSWhahkx60QWz6VY45gHpnMQ4Du17Tzyu4YfemmPk8n6ntBW5hbHi5c/s640/IMG_4214.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(detail)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm pleased with the result. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hopefully, I'll have more completed work to show you next week! In the meantime, paint your history! </span> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-8848412419829282662015-07-25T13:47:00.002-05:002015-07-25T14:07:09.447-05:00Working, Waiting, WishingIt's only July and I can tell you with full authority that it's been a long year. That's partially the reason for my absence from my much-beloved blogging, but there are other, more artistic reasons for my silence, as well.<br />
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(Note: if you're only interested in the artsy eye candy, I totally get you... feel free to scroll down!) <br />
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In early May, we hosted a large party for our daughter, one that we had been planning for many, <i>many</i> months. Fun, food, family and friendship, all in one happy package.<br />
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Losing my dad on January 1 was the end of a long journey of caring for him and worrying about his future. We concluded our responsibility to him in May: we took him back to his home state of Pennsylvania and buried him in a small, remote, family cemetery.<br />
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We returned home and I took up my yearly watch for spring, which came very late in Texas. I revitalize in spring and summer. I need the sunshine and fresh air and bright colors of summer to pull me through the gray, wet winters, and like a watched pot that refuses to boil, spring waited me out. Finally, several weeks ago, bypassing spring altogether, the weather went directly into hot, sultry summer and I rejoiced by spending time in the pool and having fun with my hubby on the weekends.<br />
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And then a couple of weeks ago, I sprung a leak. So to speak. I've developed a large umbilical hernia which needs surgery to repair. It's not a big, scary kind of surgery, the complications are almost non-existent even with someone my age (51) and weight (none of yer damned business!) but it's still abdominal surgery and I'll have a long recovery afterwards.<br />
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All of that leads me to the fun stuff... the art! As I've discussed before, back at the beginning of the year, I received my Christmas present to myself: a whole new medium to try out and a new way of looking at art through encaustic (melted, pigmented wax) and oil paint.<br />
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This is a deep learning curve for me (as evidenced by the three bad burns I've already given myself since January!) and that is my main reason for not posting much on my blog anymore: I really just want time to learn and play and make without having to spend too much time talking about it. At some point when I start to feel comfortable with the medium, I will talk more about it, show process photos, and maybe even offer a basic tutorial or two, but in the meantime, I'm just working and enjoying the process.<br />
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A few weeks back (maybe the beginnings of my hernia problems? Hmm...) I finally put aside all the acrylic paints and tools and gave encaustics and oils my full attention. The studio conversion took a couple of days but was a badly needed step to committing to this new medium.<br />
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Before... crowded and not very functional... <br />
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After... wide open, well organized spaces!<br />
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The work itself has been fun, refreshing, and inspiring. I've been testing out all kinds of techniques and using new tools to achieve pattern, texture, and movement. Here are some of the pieces I've completed.<br />
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A few works on small canvas panels that experiment with tissue collage, India inks, and oil pastels, as well as encaustic paint. <br />
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A black and white series, again on the small canvas substrates.<br />
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Bringing my beloved color palette back with alcohol ink and jumbo-sized Stacked Journaling...<br />
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And finally, some larger work on cradled birch panels incorporating oil sticks and pages from my grandmother's accounting journals (she was a grocer back in the 50's)...<br />
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In preparation for my surgery and recovery, I've ordered quite a lot of supplies to tide me over... more cradled panels, a pack of "patina" paints I hope to incorporate, an encaustic "crackle" medium, and some new carving tools for making stencils. I'm really looking forward to having time to spend playing and learning, and I appreciate everyone's patience (and your continued interest in this mostly quiet blog!) as I explore this new passion.<br />
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Happy painting!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-15902278753196551082015-07-23T00:12:00.000-05:002015-07-23T00:12:44.015-05:00Treasure Hunt: Stamp-Making Tutorial!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDDiiluRiUSCieuqXIcECsnWg17BpHl1vtxWuuxU2jIzEejkHsxSUJ-ygA3iAWzUeMrpQIx7N_TW-y4pUzvEoGjfJ2NlwVUivyQzmiMmS9UVrjloAhvjK3GKTv414tx3xOR9BAi5CUCsb/s1600/hearts-afire.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDDiiluRiUSCieuqXIcECsnWg17BpHl1vtxWuuxU2jIzEejkHsxSUJ-ygA3iAWzUeMrpQIx7N_TW-y4pUzvEoGjfJ2NlwVUivyQzmiMmS9UVrjloAhvjK3GKTv414tx3xOR9BAi5CUCsb/s400/hearts-afire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Hearts Afire, 12" x 12", hand-carved stamps on heavy watercolor paper, 2007)</span></div>
<br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://www.sethapter.com/">Seth Apter</a>, of <a href="http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/">The Altered page<span style="color: purple;">,</span></a><span style="color: purple;"> is hosting his annual event, "Treasure Hunt", today. The idea is that bloggers dig up their favorite posts from the past and repost them today. Please pop by his page today and check out all the other bloggers who are participating! </span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;">This tutorial- now just over 5 years old- is one of my enduring favorites and still the one that gets the most hits, year in and year out. With over 100K hits, and thousands of copies sold online, I thought it would be appropriate to repost it today. I hope you enjoy! </span></span></b><br />
<br />
(This tutorial can also be purchased as an e-book from both<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stamp-Making-Textile-Artists-ebook/dp/B003PDMOU8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1275931720&sr=1-1"> Amazon.com</a> and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stamp-making-for-textile-artists-judi-hurwitt/1105810530?ean=2940013420670&itm=1&usri=stamp%2bmaking%2bfor%2btextile%2bartists">Barnes and Nobel</a>.)<br />
<br />
Every
artist needs primary source material. Primary source material is
original images, sketches, drawings and photographs that the artist
herself has generated without the aid of any outside sources. In other
words, the shot you snapped of light reflecting off water, the sketch
you made of your kitty, or the watercolor landscape you painted a few
years ago is your primary source material.<br />
<br />
Finding PSM becomes challenging (and often disheartening) if you're an artist like me <i>who doesn't draw</i>. I probably <i>could</i>
draw. I've certainly doodled enough; I even took a face-painting class
once and wasn't utterly mortified by my results. But generally speaking,
I know next to nothing about drawing, shading, light sources and all
the other mysterious, magical elements figurative artists must
understand to create art capable of moving us. <br />
<br />
That
very fact alone nearly stopped me dead in my tracks years ago, when the
desire for making art began to bubble inside me in earnest. I knew I
needed original source material, I <i>wanted</i> it; from the beginning,
I have been loathe to use anyone else's images or ideas in my own work.
It feels wrong to me on a profound level, despite the intellectual
understanding that there <i>are</i> "angel" companies out there that <i>invite</i> you to use their images, designs and artwork in your own artwork.<br />
<br />
So
how does an artist who can't, don't, or won't draw get original imagery
into their art? Stamps, of course. And the best part is that they're
easy to make, use and clean. Storing all the wonderful stamps you're
likely to create in your lifetime is up to you, though- it's still
something I struggle with myself!<br />
<br />
Let's get to it. We'll start with one of the easiest and cheapest stamping materials you can use... <b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Corrugated Cardboard Stamps</b><br />
<br />
<b>What You'll Need: </b><br />
- 3-ply corrugated cardboard, recycled from old boxes or purchased in cut sheets at a local shipping store.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATRKQ5kxJzpcvt7OhIUyU3xsCt1TSjJnL1cEmJWbUMvM_c8b8dNr6uMesAw9R7_yMeRxg018Mo-6mMtOakLdZNkm1Sjoc29UVZbjK4jHWgxy11vy4jLo-G_gCI82ocOX2cqCdpOH3V-gQ/s1600/cardboard1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATRKQ5kxJzpcvt7OhIUyU3xsCt1TSjJnL1cEmJWbUMvM_c8b8dNr6uMesAw9R7_yMeRxg018Mo-6mMtOakLdZNkm1Sjoc29UVZbjK4jHWgxy11vy4jLo-G_gCI82ocOX2cqCdpOH3V-gQ/s400/cardboard1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
My
favorite cardboard to work with for making stamps is 3-ply, which means
it has three layers of flat, brown paper sandwiched between two layers
of corrugation.<br />
<br />
<b>What You'll Do: </b><br />
<br />
-
For simple, clean line work, carefully peel off all the paper from one
side of the cardboard only, revealing the corrugation underneath. For
something a little messy and edgy, leave some areas of the paper intact
and unearth only a little of the corrugation.<br />
- To preserve these
stamps for years (yes, literally years), paint them on all sides with a
couple of thin coats of Gesso or acrylic craft paint. It will help
stiffen the cardboard and also make the stamps cleanable with a slightly
damp cloth (I keep baby wipes next to me in the studio at all time for
jobs like this- and don't throw them out when you're done cleaning up-
treat them as any other painted textile and use them in your work!) When
the stamps eventually start to break down, celebrate their noble
disintegration and continue using them... these are texture tools and
any texture they give is a gift.<br />
- To use: with a craft stick load
a small sponge with craft or textile paint and gently pat the paint
into the stamp. (The best sponges for this are sold in the automotive
department and are usually large- use scissors to cut them down to any
size you want- and yellow. These sponges can be important tools in your
arsenal because they stay soft when dry despite repeated usage, but can
also be used very effectively when damp.) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5H4Kmosvh8e2x0SSux6JIwoI1a_98AAFWEpi-KJX1RX3iShyphenhyphenS5UcdCUt3YKzdBgD-YblhOwfdoRERvLtL3IW4hMNZLRVTx534o7zp5-6CX3hEdgPjHP7iqchpe21CR0O_wV-EEKjx6ty/s1600/sponge-with-craft-stitck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5H4Kmosvh8e2x0SSux6JIwoI1a_98AAFWEpi-KJX1RX3iShyphenhyphenS5UcdCUt3YKzdBgD-YblhOwfdoRERvLtL3IW4hMNZLRVTx534o7zp5-6CX3hEdgPjHP7iqchpe21CR0O_wV-EEKjx6ty/s400/sponge-with-craft-stitck.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
-
Press firmly onto dry or damp paper or fabric and lift straight up. If
you want a less crisp image, use your sponge to blur the image a little,
rubbing over it very lightly until you're satisfied.<br />
-Try using the backs and the edges or your cardboard stamp, too! <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYz7qmnZ0raUeBbmRPD267Y_CCnW1dXWCPwfC_lizTXdKW7ABvqcbNVpCM48FxHJG6UvvFbDxqyT1bAg0H98RixfpC6ooObe7inQfVctf8_uTm1mO05KzgqbF1VrfwR1s5DkL7dfjqhIsb/s1600/cardboard3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYz7qmnZ0raUeBbmRPD267Y_CCnW1dXWCPwfC_lizTXdKW7ABvqcbNVpCM48FxHJG6UvvFbDxqyT1bAg0H98RixfpC6ooObe7inQfVctf8_uTm1mO05KzgqbF1VrfwR1s5DkL7dfjqhIsb/s320/cardboard3.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
-
And for something really fun, cut out simple shapes from cardstock or
copy paper and place them down on the paper or fabric you're going to
stamp. Load your stamp with paint as described above and then stamp on
top of the shapes. The shapes will probably stick to the stamp, so peel
them off, turn them over onto your fabric, and use them to take a
"monoprint"!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF20KXlE3MI_H74t0pOByttFQwDe5UC5xgWwHrNugmabua2gQYdCGxePxwL2S1n2QdRaXtd5g4IHW6TZiwIllqsWGEAXTNc9OS93e1FIdCJ58FM8KAhXRUmdG2F0fDeDUC9QnxpGisfob-/s1600/cardboard2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF20KXlE3MI_H74t0pOByttFQwDe5UC5xgWwHrNugmabua2gQYdCGxePxwL2S1n2QdRaXtd5g4IHW6TZiwIllqsWGEAXTNc9OS93e1FIdCJ58FM8KAhXRUmdG2F0fDeDUC9QnxpGisfob-/s400/cardboard2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>To Clean: </b>wipe gently with a damp cloth<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Continuous Roller Stamps </b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJ3rm-dtsJaHgpXPqf6t4hScGXAkBYZ8R2lsGHQMFxwYgXxxfr-f9H92aCWfIPHqWkexaOIY0cLIhY51_9J1nwmrOeiOz3_50iKh_DSI5E3wVM5sH_wc5RhuSNOGLepJs7obBEPVoJ7ij/s1600/rollerstamps-7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJ3rm-dtsJaHgpXPqf6t4hScGXAkBYZ8R2lsGHQMFxwYgXxxfr-f9H92aCWfIPHqWkexaOIY0cLIhY51_9J1nwmrOeiOz3_50iKh_DSI5E3wVM5sH_wc5RhuSNOGLepJs7obBEPVoJ7ij/s400/rollerstamps-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Some
of my favorite stamps to make and use are continuous roller stamps. A
continuous roller stamp can be made out of any sturdy cylindrical object
(except glass, please- safety first!) <br />
<br />
<b>What You'll Need:</b><br />
- <a href="http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/product/productDet.jsp;jsessionid=MFZRJYwgxgYPzfFGQPh3WhSr2qwjHRJVst7JMf7pxzTxdrJFMBzM%211177222525%21775493824?productItemID=1%2C689%2C949%2C371%2C896%2C278&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181113&bmUID=1275419121589">"Fun Foam" self-adhesive sheets</a><br />
- <a href="http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/ca%7CproductSubCat%7E%7Ep%7C2534374302101186%7E%7Ef%7C/Assortments/Lakeshore/ShopByCategory/artscrafts/collagecraftmaterials.jsp">"Fun Foam" self-adhesive shapes</a> (sold in buckets in the childrens' aisle at the craft store.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAaxybD6KCDiBCa2UXRZZcgpJzba43NtdOr6U2cgTEsnYTufSmBVMjFlthbWj5MRRGHoHjBUMrjSXyr9FSeWlnN2yo8PHknZP0UAAoT_RI6ol8HEcRi-Wl2K3nc0gaukmYm4uGqYqhmxg/s1600/rollerstamps-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAaxybD6KCDiBCa2UXRZZcgpJzba43NtdOr6U2cgTEsnYTufSmBVMjFlthbWj5MRRGHoHjBUMrjSXyr9FSeWlnN2yo8PHknZP0UAAoT_RI6ol8HEcRi-Wl2K3nc0gaukmYm4uGqYqhmxg/s400/rollerstamps-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
- Scissors, sharp craft or utility knife, hole punches with various shapes.<br />
-
Cardboard mailing tubes, old acrylic brayers and rollers (used for
rolling out poly clay), recycled lint rollers, wallpaper seam rollers,
even old rolling pins from the thrift store!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yKCM_1XRo6sID-XdVIOBal50-UEwdFy9hKtq396yACPaBBLN2zrLCTUQ6OPjq-kKkxZmf3STvHf1nDZNO7JBRm9xPUl2OXu9w5cxf2j59hrGOomnnmaSvDHlobuZESXP_uTnE8c8eeQD/s1600/rollerstamps-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yKCM_1XRo6sID-XdVIOBal50-UEwdFy9hKtq396yACPaBBLN2zrLCTUQ6OPjq-kKkxZmf3STvHf1nDZNO7JBRm9xPUl2OXu9w5cxf2j59hrGOomnnmaSvDHlobuZESXP_uTnE8c8eeQD/s400/rollerstamps-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>What You'll Do:</b><br />
<br />
- Make sure your roller is free of dust and lint by wiping with a damp cloth.<br />
-
For pre-cut shapes: peel the paper backing off the shape, exposing the
adhesive, and press onto your roller in any pattern or configuration you
like. Press firmly to ensure adhesion. I know it seems like these
little foam bits will never remain stuck to your roller stamp, and on
rare occasions one will pop off, but in general they adhere incredibly
well and will stay put for years of usage. <br />
- For fun foam
self-adhesive sheets, simply cut any shape you like and stick it to your
roller, pressing firmly. You can get remarkably fine detail and narrow
shapes with the foam if you cut it with a very sharp blade.<br />
- For
use with hole punches, simply cut off a piece of fun foam from a sheet
and start punching holes into it. Preserve each small piece as it comes
out of the punch, peel the backing off each one, and firmly press them
onto your roller.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleqCEADcRnJ-9Z6kb4rakz5Upzfw4N34iyMDAZzbrzgZyt6O5g-pHzE6K59ywVAJQsVu2QEnRMVxMOCQQ_9rSnq9rylrLe71tyrn5oMf7U_rb9t5v0aKe2GUsMUTbVxnSksMTzFk34Va1/s1600/rollerstamps-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleqCEADcRnJ-9Z6kb4rakz5Upzfw4N34iyMDAZzbrzgZyt6O5g-pHzE6K59ywVAJQsVu2QEnRMVxMOCQQ_9rSnq9rylrLe71tyrn5oMf7U_rb9t5v0aKe2GUsMUTbVxnSksMTzFk34Va1/s400/rollerstamps-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
-
I use tweezers to pull the release paper off the back of the fun foam
shapes. And if getting the tiny shapes out of your hole punch is as much
as a challenge for you as it always is for me, use a pair of pliers to
snap off the "lid" of the chamber that holds the scraps.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ApxQZrdHa33NJtHV8xuuuD_U8y4SW-m9fDwwY-RAWvlQYzvFod6R4AUwjYAR7ndQBi9e-OkRh2jEiQb5iL3x1LalvDb3qBBSERTXMCwPuOHaw0Ig4BoP94NnTzxblB-Vjr_rg18inFil/s1600/rollerstamps-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ApxQZrdHa33NJtHV8xuuuD_U8y4SW-m9fDwwY-RAWvlQYzvFod6R4AUwjYAR7ndQBi9e-OkRh2jEiQb5iL3x1LalvDb3qBBSERTXMCwPuOHaw0Ig4BoP94NnTzxblB-Vjr_rg18inFil/s400/rollerstamps-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
-
And don't forget to save the fun foam out of which you punched your
shapes! Adhere it to a piece of cardboard or foamcore and you have a
whole other stamp!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKI9LMomc1mzm07fm7luC7lduH73hp7RSu3pXvluzbu8xsDHE3Y_BeU1fYoBKojeFXcnH4ptp2TMIM8UlqgJGu5KRYqQvnH8bpwWLfcP0N0lfSmJupLtjzpNzgrhoNbP3y_DcEjDtFA8PI/s1600/rollerstamps-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKI9LMomc1mzm07fm7luC7lduH73hp7RSu3pXvluzbu8xsDHE3Y_BeU1fYoBKojeFXcnH4ptp2TMIM8UlqgJGu5KRYqQvnH8bpwWLfcP0N0lfSmJupLtjzpNzgrhoNbP3y_DcEjDtFA8PI/s400/rollerstamps-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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- To
"ink" these stamps up, load a dry sponge with paint as described above
and then "roller" over it until your stamp is wet with paint. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhZiW4Ar5mWlaVDEGMSYCmliPnHNutX-mYGe6YEnkTz4VYBh02nLPflliRi6YUm8TZL8xMY3MqKk1OWjjYNqTWCnXsO_IAvz4TW3KUv1lBKodeeO2aNhq6Uup0YdiEOHijimbmL-oheXx/s1600/rollerstamps-6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhZiW4Ar5mWlaVDEGMSYCmliPnHNutX-mYGe6YEnkTz4VYBh02nLPflliRi6YUm8TZL8xMY3MqKk1OWjjYNqTWCnXsO_IAvz4TW3KUv1lBKodeeO2aNhq6Uup0YdiEOHijimbmL-oheXx/s400/rollerstamps-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>To Clean: </b>roller gently on a damp cloth<b> </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Foam Printing Plates</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7fBa8SUWPyzsYkojjAzs0BwYNp7espeua5KzcxVNnVZglqhcpJI5EnPbizbngN2ddWEZZ4o05n1F05DJlwTq7xeXlYDe43xj1bugeLwXpTCHYnUrkleKtxqI3Um5dLWFEcRxxHzNGRD2/s1600/fore-core-pinting-plates1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7fBa8SUWPyzsYkojjAzs0BwYNp7espeua5KzcxVNnVZglqhcpJI5EnPbizbngN2ddWEZZ4o05n1F05DJlwTq7xeXlYDe43xj1bugeLwXpTCHYnUrkleKtxqI3Um5dLWFEcRxxHzNGRD2/s400/fore-core-pinting-plates1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What You'll Need: </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- Scrap foam core board OR,</div>
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- Recycled styrene meat plates</div>
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- Pencil or ball-point pen</div>
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- Sharp craft or utility knife</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What You'll Do:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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-
If using foam core (recommended for its durability and strength), cut a
piece the size of the stamp you want to carve and remove the paper from
ONE side only of the foam core. If the paper is stubborn, you can soak
it with a little water, but usually the paper just peels right off.
You'll be cutting into the foam side of your altered foam core board.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSCd3C13SF_746I_-_dkP9K9rMFgoSdUS5NClIWs_V-jT5ugG9CIzUTSnZdQ5dhcZrBYfAg6xSgVT0_HB4JqpaieCo5i4wixbzPayLOPWtWY_cTh6dDEV9rHTWMaxgH3CktUn7azzfo8W/s1600/fore-core-pinting-plates3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSCd3C13SF_746I_-_dkP9K9rMFgoSdUS5NClIWs_V-jT5ugG9CIzUTSnZdQ5dhcZrBYfAg6xSgVT0_HB4JqpaieCo5i4wixbzPayLOPWtWY_cTh6dDEV9rHTWMaxgH3CktUn7azzfo8W/s400/fore-core-pinting-plates3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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-
If using a foam meat plate (the kind the grocery stores use under
hamburger meat and steaks, etc), cut the plate to the desired size. </div>
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-
Once your foam plate or foam core board is prepared, use a pen or
pencil to lightly score the surface of the foam in the design you want.
You can do this freehand, or you can print your favorite design on copy
paper, cut it to the same size as your foam plate and hold it on top of
the plate and score lightly through the lines into the foam below. If
using a template, remove it and using your score lines as a guide,
carefully cut with the craft knife into the foam along your score lines,
deepening them. Be very careful not to cut all the way through the foam
core paper backing or the stamp may fall apart!</div>
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- Load with paint and stamp!</div>
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<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWvakBHoPeVSo0rYb7EBA4boy-zBqxhx6ppr9Jc2_2Oddym2wGAuANkYvZYISkfaQmxfCa5BjYgV77rdfr3SwIRdSXs_p-68BxVb01KKvfxSkCNi3mVodaS2CIf5qyc8abvLQhkxPtrHT/s1600/fore-core-pinting-plates2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWvakBHoPeVSo0rYb7EBA4boy-zBqxhx6ppr9Jc2_2Oddym2wGAuANkYvZYISkfaQmxfCa5BjYgV77rdfr3SwIRdSXs_p-68BxVb01KKvfxSkCNi3mVodaS2CIf5qyc8abvLQhkxPtrHT/s400/fore-core-pinting-plates2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<br /></div>
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<b>To Clean: </b>wipe gently with a damp cloth<b> </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Foam Core And Fun Foam Stamp</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbYP2WXmr0xxbZvMNdXmrl31CY4hnA-oc3NFpzUGg0v1ELagtENXqcJRqEzg1bUUtSktJx0c_nw35e-z7iN8g8PM0f_FOolpjt1grbX2EGtWYAM5D01u51RF2NEPi3XeuuK50t7vG0GPV/s1600/fun-foam-and-foamcore1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbYP2WXmr0xxbZvMNdXmrl31CY4hnA-oc3NFpzUGg0v1ELagtENXqcJRqEzg1bUUtSktJx0c_nw35e-z7iN8g8PM0f_FOolpjt1grbX2EGtWYAM5D01u51RF2NEPi3XeuuK50t7vG0GPV/s400/fun-foam-and-foamcore1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What You'll Need:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- foam core board, OR heavy cardboard, OR heavy bookboard, cut to any size and shape you like</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- <a href="http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/product/productDet.jsp;jsessionid=MFZRJYwgxgYPzfFGQPh3WhSr2qwjHRJVst7JMf7pxzTxdrJFMBzM%211177222525%21775493824?productItemID=1%2C689%2C949%2C371%2C896%2C278&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181113&bmUID=1275419121589">self-adhesive fun foam in pre-cut shapes or sheets</a></div>
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- sharp scissors or craft knife</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What You'll Do:</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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- When using pre-cut shapes, press shapes firmly onto form core board or cardboard. That's it! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-Remember: you can cut up the pre-cut shapes and configure them in any way you like- a heart doesn't <i>have</i>
to be a heart, it can be a curvy abstract shape... and large shapes can
be "hollowed out" by cutting into them with a sharp craft knife and
removing some of the foam!</div>
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- When using sheets of fun foam, cut any shape or design you like, and press them firmly to the foam core board or cardboard. </div>
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-
If you like, you can prime these stamps with Gesso to help with their
longevity, but I've always found that just using them with acrylic
paints is enough to strengthen them.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>To Clean: </b>wipe gently with a damp cloth</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Foam Core and Hot Glue Stamps: </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAGVv38BrSF9mP17r7txJ39wOXCXatF2gJuPYh7ZZsqSFlfhejKYVe2UcaYRgHfps7EDMGSPMvLrvCQ-C0S5KcxxWx_KdapBHTqG4UmgJVkrAfwdKGbkuD90I-ZL6duyFvTGj-u52H5tb/s1600/foam-core-and-hot-glue.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAGVv38BrSF9mP17r7txJ39wOXCXatF2gJuPYh7ZZsqSFlfhejKYVe2UcaYRgHfps7EDMGSPMvLrvCQ-C0S5KcxxWx_KdapBHTqG4UmgJVkrAfwdKGbkuD90I-ZL6duyFvTGj-u52H5tb/s400/foam-core-and-hot-glue.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>What You'll Need:</b> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- Foam Core Board or Cardboard</div>
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- Hot Glue Gun (low melt is also fine)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What You'll Do:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- Cut foam core or cardboard to any shape and size.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- Heat hot glue gun and load with a glue stick. (NEVER TOUCH THE BUSINESS END OF A GLUE GUN WHEN IT'S HOT!)</div>
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- If you prefer, sketch or transfer a design on the foam core.</div>
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- Once the glue is molten and flowing easily, slowly trace your sketch lines, or free-hand a design in glue onto the foam core. </div>
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- Let cool until set and use!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>To Clean: </b>wipe gently with a damp cloth<b> </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Magic Foam Stamps</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2RdEQX9GNgWNRe_VMoz266WHHg_CyHxc9rEl22JAEf0onz9-m7L58ExmRqzA9CNIiza7U3r281ebrZuI9kIALYM6SLc2A_igltP4EhK9rLWgBQHtQn7DZFXV_KV-c-WfW0k-BpZM08MJ/s1600/magic-foam2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2RdEQX9GNgWNRe_VMoz266WHHg_CyHxc9rEl22JAEf0onz9-m7L58ExmRqzA9CNIiza7U3r281ebrZuI9kIALYM6SLc2A_igltP4EhK9rLWgBQHtQn7DZFXV_KV-c-WfW0k-BpZM08MJ/s400/magic-foam2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<br /></div>
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<b>What You'll Need:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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- <a href="http://www.texasart.com/g9205/PenScore-Magic-Stamp-Moldable-Foam-Stamp-Sheet-Stock.htm">Magic Foam Sheets</a> OR <a href="http://www.texasart.com/g9204/PenScore-Magic-Stamp-Moldable-Foam-Stamp-Set.htm">Magic Foam Shapes</a> (Please note! This is NOT the same product as Fun Foam! Magic Foam and Fun Foam are NOT interchangeable!)</div>
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- Craft Heat Gun</div>
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- Sharp Scissors</div>
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- rubber bands, twist ties, bubble wrap, plastic mesh, or anything you can think of! </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGTXXkoV9AC2HFO7_0t7IrNVMbyVXhDvoEj1iiixtgw05631tniZyFUV25oYcvWj6xhpzfcKHoWz3bAENZq-PzRDiFjFwYuAhjI51p6aRRTwrSrAsNhaZWmXHHD-s6483OkhC_FbI88tq/s1600/magic-foam3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGTXXkoV9AC2HFO7_0t7IrNVMbyVXhDvoEj1iiixtgw05631tniZyFUV25oYcvWj6xhpzfcKHoWz3bAENZq-PzRDiFjFwYuAhjI51p6aRRTwrSrAsNhaZWmXHHD-s6483OkhC_FbI88tq/s400/magic-foam3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What You'll Do: </b></div>
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- If cutting Magic Foam sheets, use sharp scissors to create any size or shape you like.</div>
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- On a solid surface, arrange your rubber bands or other items in whatever way pleases you.</div>
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- CAREFULLY warm the Magic Foam with the heat gun. I move the heat around on the Magic Foam for about 30 seconds.</div>
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-
Without delay, press into your arranged items with the warmed side of
the foam. Hold the foam in place, keeping steady, strong pressure on it
without shifting it around (which would create hesitant, insipid marks),
for about 20-30 seconds. </div>
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- Lift Magic Foam off arranged items. Your stamp is now ready to use.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62WvHZj7jNErQOWka86TnpwE98bAd0g3Th-qneqjcFs9zwC9JEHYCzIeE6mQC0rcNGft1lqdF435S-wAEAXgmqvqYABT_VSFo4svDtttQwacMJ38Aw16DG-4_kmAFG9VaXkCe6uK58yf9/s1600/magic-foam4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62WvHZj7jNErQOWka86TnpwE98bAd0g3Th-qneqjcFs9zwC9JEHYCzIeE6mQC0rcNGft1lqdF435S-wAEAXgmqvqYABT_VSFo4svDtttQwacMJ38Aw16DG-4_kmAFG9VaXkCe6uK58yf9/s400/magic-foam4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJnTg1uBRoscrKEY09C4iE_w_Y0b7f2OGi1me3e3S6dhdxIVrRH_Ypv1hIHgRHWd8RcG35eSSyZ91owivISWsTrSHLvDWDJJuOgAF0uEillokLN1GBLV9nvZnGAAGIKtxKYGp9wXTHko8/s1600/magic-foam5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJnTg1uBRoscrKEY09C4iE_w_Y0b7f2OGi1me3e3S6dhdxIVrRH_Ypv1hIHgRHWd8RcG35eSSyZ91owivISWsTrSHLvDWDJJuOgAF0uEillokLN1GBLV9nvZnGAAGIKtxKYGp9wXTHko8/s400/magic-foam5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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-
The wonderful thing about this product is that when it's re-warmed, the
impression on it will disappear, leaving you with a fresh surface on
which to impress another design! They can be re-used like this
endlessly.</div>
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- Try impressing the magic foam with one of your own carved stamps for a reverse image!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqquP0KfM3YTBXi_bBY1-0s_Jb26x-5ltHHfm5gCn0XE7l_uKq6gQZZZZ7yaYkZWwvm3KW8AGUEe8DrAw5aWmp5kyT6oKLukl9lBW-zHsu2nxq4Q8MyPcxvsPCnuzcEFXEVyGnOiEFIM7/s1600/magic-foam6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqquP0KfM3YTBXi_bBY1-0s_Jb26x-5ltHHfm5gCn0XE7l_uKq6gQZZZZ7yaYkZWwvm3KW8AGUEe8DrAw5aWmp5kyT6oKLukl9lBW-zHsu2nxq4Q8MyPcxvsPCnuzcEFXEVyGnOiEFIM7/s400/magic-foam6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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-Here
I started with an old Magic Foam impression I was ready to change. I
heated the foam and pressed it into the wood block stamp.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xmCjefG_zIqBcNibErFbuNSZufP3YWIeO2O2_E3iy637LHnx-c4nUb8VdBgjbZtC5YlfnZvML78NffaHdqUYPUUBKi0oNAtrWXj_zNkhjAj2zvQCUVEn1ywhm6H4HM3W7dLiTmYLSvVP/s1600/magic-foam7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xmCjefG_zIqBcNibErFbuNSZufP3YWIeO2O2_E3iy637LHnx-c4nUb8VdBgjbZtC5YlfnZvML78NffaHdqUYPUUBKi0oNAtrWXj_zNkhjAj2zvQCUVEn1ywhm6H4HM3W7dLiTmYLSvVP/s400/magic-foam7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Voila!<b> </b>A new stamp!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>To Clean: </b>wipe gently with a damp cloth</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<b>Wood Block And Fun Foam Stamps</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoX89FWsDbRdIAubnoIs73dY1L-o0cDXwG3Dj-EjlrJTy0WWxYjqHubJn1hDKakV0-0RHmLnAZYSsVrQuYVb8WTogeNog1EruwYWsnCyl0Fm3vnDZJiJy6g4QVS8zDPDF_GCGdgBr_n41e/s1600/stamps.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoX89FWsDbRdIAubnoIs73dY1L-o0cDXwG3Dj-EjlrJTy0WWxYjqHubJn1hDKakV0-0RHmLnAZYSsVrQuYVb8WTogeNog1EruwYWsnCyl0Fm3vnDZJiJy6g4QVS8zDPDF_GCGdgBr_n41e/s400/stamps.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<b> </b></div>
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<b><br />
</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>What You'll Need: </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- plywood scraps in any shape or size</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- Fun Foam self-adhesive sheets or shapes</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- Sharp craft blade</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>What You'll Do: </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- If using foam shapes, simply place the shapes in any configuration you like. The stamp is ready to use!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-
If using foam sheets, peel the release paper off the back to reveal the
adhesive and adhere to the wood block. The wood doesn't need to be
sanded or primed for this, but it should be dust-free.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-
Carve into the foam, creating any design or shape you like, and peel
off any unwanted pieces of foam. This will dull your blade after a while
so if you're doing a large stamp, you may need to change blades!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb8oDWxFJ87SdoS6jRk4lPGUcNRMK5qagg9xIs1s4vPxxeLS_5QDVZ7dAhYnFQg3_LZisT8dDmDyn_ScnY9rL9U4A_RIQrAeR3YwmL2UW-j6wlYLDJdmiWVOj46DKrhdpuN3lPaPDZNkJ/s1600/before.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTb8oDWxFJ87SdoS6jRk4lPGUcNRMK5qagg9xIs1s4vPxxeLS_5QDVZ7dAhYnFQg3_LZisT8dDmDyn_ScnY9rL9U4A_RIQrAeR3YwmL2UW-j6wlYLDJdmiWVOj46DKrhdpuN3lPaPDZNkJ/s400/before.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- If at any time you want to change<b> </b>your
image (and I've even done this YEARS after creating a stamp), use a
new, sharp blade and cut away any of the image you don't want. Peel off
the unwanted bits and discard. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgkE5DAc1Ayqbj3ZN6vf684RbQJjBfYopKryWbkc6bqJcPQ60Lx6jiU1JkKNE0lllcyGnhQM6SxadfwC9X1zgAgzbk97qRid24bbnD8496m9laV5eikJEuRWOFPJn1TpVPrYxpaT6YZI8/s1600/after.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgkE5DAc1Ayqbj3ZN6vf684RbQJjBfYopKryWbkc6bqJcPQ60Lx6jiU1JkKNE0lllcyGnhQM6SxadfwC9X1zgAgzbk97qRid24bbnD8496m9laV5eikJEuRWOFPJn1TpVPrYxpaT6YZI8/s400/after.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>To Clean: </b>wipe gently with a damp cloth.<b> </b></div>
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<b>MasterCarve Stamps</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhYFOUU5RR9Jis6vWPqmvDhGELX1o6JC1a7wn0V8ZrmRz_KRr_FtohrvOs_IVHtMdNT0A-bePb6zACE-fXlzpcbB7ZPwZJwr02vWTiCy09hzIBTn7ZwRbNyEDZsyh7II9E3VkfBEpDD4n/s1600/mastercarve-and-erasers1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhYFOUU5RR9Jis6vWPqmvDhGELX1o6JC1a7wn0V8ZrmRz_KRr_FtohrvOs_IVHtMdNT0A-bePb6zACE-fXlzpcbB7ZPwZJwr02vWTiCy09hzIBTn7ZwRbNyEDZsyh7II9E3VkfBEpDD4n/s400/mastercarve-and-erasers1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>What You'll Need:</b></div>
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- <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/staedtler-mastercarve-artist-carving-blocks/">MasterCarve Artist Carving Blocks</a>, OR <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/inovart-smooth-cut-mounted-printing-block/">Lino Printing Blocks</a>, OR inexpensive <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-art-gum-eraser/">gum erasers</a> in any size or shape.</div>
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- <a href="http://www.texasart.com/store/view/001/group_id/7883/STAEDTLER-Mastercarve-Tool-Set.htm">Carving tools</a> or a sharp craft knife.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4y7sUK9Db_RATmG6bMrMvBuIYxNohtpPR903otd5tdcqb8xLKc65LqRP_lzswVr5Sv6cCPjRwI49FCH4RIqoSjPLoDBazJdJ5pDLToGF1AS_xPxnjdu6S-bfapK83fjKoX05e0ODluSd/s1600/mastercarve-and-erasers2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4y7sUK9Db_RATmG6bMrMvBuIYxNohtpPR903otd5tdcqb8xLKc65LqRP_lzswVr5Sv6cCPjRwI49FCH4RIqoSjPLoDBazJdJ5pDLToGF1AS_xPxnjdu6S-bfapK83fjKoX05e0ODluSd/s400/mastercarve-and-erasers2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>What You'll Do:</b></div>
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- Sketch or transfer an image to the Carving block using pencil or pen. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf_HAErfXUNEg5NRfbykigVt9Bh8oIkXBQ1quADKWtrKBRUdO4jLp55CUgWlCqtbeZ1Ui1y6iejhAwgYPEyBChJ3NGwkzlfh3I5RK4h-2PPyTQmWcojbFY8Ld5tysj4f0DFj1EWYXOMSO/s1600/mastercarve-and-erasers3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf_HAErfXUNEg5NRfbykigVt9Bh8oIkXBQ1quADKWtrKBRUdO4jLp55CUgWlCqtbeZ1Ui1y6iejhAwgYPEyBChJ3NGwkzlfh3I5RK4h-2PPyTQmWcojbFY8Ld5tysj4f0DFj1EWYXOMSO/s400/mastercarve-and-erasers3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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-
IMPORTANT! Read the material packaged with your cutting tools to learn
how to change blades safely! They are incredibly sharp tools that can
cut very deeply, very quickly!</div>
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-
Using a "V-shaped" cutting blade and being very careful to always PUSH
the tool away from you rather than pulling it towards you, sink the
blade into the rubber block and begin carving. If you want to print an
image of the negative space around your design, cut along the lines. If
you want a positive image of your design, cut outside the lines and
remove all excess material. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqzBFGmcoYWAMU6E7WRXgQe_aQMzTG4Eh-oqY7n3zHGjn6oGRX7D_aPi3jwGXR0zTgtiVgCSalOMQPjsd1LyXGnMDH7f1HcKrIT73VNeWNJCXFeEDyENPGcFyWGqEHtjYXKSm4Wi5_9GI/s1600/mastercarve-and-erasers4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqzBFGmcoYWAMU6E7WRXgQe_aQMzTG4Eh-oqY7n3zHGjn6oGRX7D_aPi3jwGXR0zTgtiVgCSalOMQPjsd1LyXGnMDH7f1HcKrIT73VNeWNJCXFeEDyENPGcFyWGqEHtjYXKSm4Wi5_9GI/s400/mastercarve-and-erasers4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
-(Here, of course, I carved a stamp to print the negative space around my design.)<br />
- If you want to carve letters and words, be sure to transfer the design (or sketch it) onto your block <i>backwards!</i><br />
<br />
<b>To Clean: </b>wipe gently with a damp cloth.<br />
<br />
<b>Helpful Tips</b><br />
<br />
-
Take care of your stamps, but don't obsess about keeping every speck of
paint or ink off of them. The more acrylic that builds on them, the
more interesting the texture they produce. Just keep the negative spaces
clear of paint build-up!<br />
- I demo'd all these stamps on white
paper, but they work beautifully on fabric, as well- even already
printed commercial fabrics!<br />
- Try spritzing your paint-loaded
stamp (or even your paint-loaded sponge) with a little water and see
what kind of image you get.<br />
- Try NOT re-loading your stamp with
paint in between impressions. Some of the neatest texture comes from
stamps that have almost no paint on them.<br />
- Do NOT worry if you
don't get crisp, clear images on every stamp- the idea is to add texture
and build layers with these stamps. If you want clean images, go for
it, but mostly, use these freely and stress as little as possible about
making something "perfect".<br />
- Layer your stamping and change colors frequently. Work intuitively and with a sense of fun and curiosity.<br />
-
Create masks with cut shapes, flat items, or masking tape and stamp on
TOP of them. When you remove the masks, you'll have interesting effects.<br />
- Use your stamps with thickened MX dyes on soda-soaked, dry fabric. <br />
-
Play, have fun and worry less- you can't make mistakes here because all
you're really looking for are more tools in your arsenal that create
depth and texture with paint, dyes and ink!<br />
<br />
I hope this
tutorial helps to fire your imagination. The possibilities for stamp
creation are endless, once you realize that nearly everything can be
turned into a stamp!<br />
<br />
Happy stamping!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-39857920255458765372015-03-18T16:38:00.002-05:002015-03-18T16:38:26.909-05:00New WorkSee? I warned you that you might not see much of me here, that I wanted to focus on working and not on talking too much about it! I do feel badly that my poor blog keeps gathering cobwebs, though!<br />
<br />
Here are some new encaustic pieces out of the studio this month. They are 12"x12" wooden cradleboards, incorporating some of the rusted tissue and fabric I did <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/2015/01/moving-on.html">in this post</a>, some scraps of collage material, alcohol inks, oil sticks, and an old piece of painted fabric.I also added some <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/p/stacked-journaling-101.html">Stacked Journaling</a> in one of them with black encaustic paint. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWboxOgSjXKb5-xnqMTTcvV3EdOBOSUyNjcTk4X9uL0TQyDCgteHOPGipZ1D_adoymSl6aeL7fT8B2Ves2gUUX1CKizd5Ooa3Yja6ogc9W-X_6OwllmPyYYlMbdwFhwLu8JZ7P1BKM1mda/s1600/IMG_3943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWboxOgSjXKb5-xnqMTTcvV3EdOBOSUyNjcTk4X9uL0TQyDCgteHOPGipZ1D_adoymSl6aeL7fT8B2Ves2gUUX1CKizd5Ooa3Yja6ogc9W-X_6OwllmPyYYlMbdwFhwLu8JZ7P1BKM1mda/s1600/IMG_3943.JPG" height="632" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7McjdbOibAXtKmzkPB27FWgh9lEQsA0_Zu3yalmnSVP3rYkK6tFIzswa_y2THVBwlE65fFhgFV20KiwZxn-MmUVG03yq7YeD-hjPyPAJTiali-YozBWbY_pHQwJBsTwDWhXd2TMOZtsR/s1600/IMG_3945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7McjdbOibAXtKmzkPB27FWgh9lEQsA0_Zu3yalmnSVP3rYkK6tFIzswa_y2THVBwlE65fFhgFV20KiwZxn-MmUVG03yq7YeD-hjPyPAJTiali-YozBWbY_pHQwJBsTwDWhXd2TMOZtsR/s1600/IMG_3945.JPG" height="630" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Yes, they're available for sale, too!)</span><br />
<br />
Until next time!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-87432865688016773472015-01-29T16:06:00.002-06:002015-01-29T16:06:33.275-06:00Moving OnIt's been a tough month, I'm not going to lie to you. And to top off the Bad News Express, 17 days after my father died, his big brother, Bob, died, too. Yeesh.<br />
<br />
Something that really made a difference in my grief management, though, was finding some old- <i>very</i> old- paperwork in my father's belongings. Some of that stuff was dated as early as 1865 and with all of it, I managed to go onto an ancestry search site and trace at least one branch of my family back to 1700! I determined that some of my family (probably a lot of them) fought in the Revolutionary War, and more of them fought on the Union side in the Civil War. One was even in both WWI and WWII. Most of them were farmers, but there was a small branch of blacksmiths, a couple of tavern owners, some innkeepers, and at least one grocer (my grandmother, in the fifties.) I lost family, but I found family, too, and it was healing.<br />
<br />
So I'm getting off the couch, shaking off the dust that's been gathering, and spending time in the studio.<br />
<br />
I started the week by rusting stuff. All <i>kinds</i> of neat stuff! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnwiTltEHSIvm5zxfRovtyS6olIVrjw22GdyVhvOHv1BpwFTM2XbMi4DIugOoMfBTlkgD7vcbUItFRN8aFHodna6vui29nC2hZT6nxYXC_SNkhMmueZyLIRzIvvj3ecfjLZA81x6mgeew/s1600/IMG_3889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnwiTltEHSIvm5zxfRovtyS6olIVrjw22GdyVhvOHv1BpwFTM2XbMi4DIugOoMfBTlkgD7vcbUItFRN8aFHodna6vui29nC2hZT6nxYXC_SNkhMmueZyLIRzIvvj3ecfjLZA81x6mgeew/s1600/IMG_3889.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKswISMcq_amPMwGFqd1kIoSfXoP9q8El61aOLR3L_crBKFWqC7c0GWYXf9919si76B_5ZhLGgKVL7JnZddurbJ0vlWQYgktOaT9C7SnQGbT3UVtZHC9HbUxzeVyq0GCXyPakKkDTbDPL/s1600/IMG_3888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKswISMcq_amPMwGFqd1kIoSfXoP9q8El61aOLR3L_crBKFWqC7c0GWYXf9919si76B_5ZhLGgKVL7JnZddurbJ0vlWQYgktOaT9C7SnQGbT3UVtZHC9HbUxzeVyq0GCXyPakKkDTbDPL/s1600/IMG_3888.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Lemme backtrack a sec. Back in October, I stopped by my local steel fabrication shop (most large and medium-sized cites have them!) and wandered their "rust yard"- the place where old steel goes to die. I found some interesting flanges, fittings, and a flat sheet of rusty metal. All told, I spent about 6 bucks on these items, so I highly recommend you get thee to your steel store!<br />
<br />
So on Monday, I broke out the bottle of vinegar and some items to rust: white tissue, white cotton fabric, watercolor paper, and a large piece of Lutradur. I soaked the papers, fabric, and Lutradur, and then sandwiched all of it in various ways with the sheet metal and findings. Then I soaked the whole bundle down again with vinegar and let it sit overnight.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXNeLcntorc2lG7rBZ2ctmaS5eiJCr7nwj4LW44QxkgIGmJvX0e0R9awZVT6689j4ge8Pl0BtQpiqmp-fKEZst7_npjICH8Ecl4oJBvBmNJOWaIVnYquc3-33olcpvmxm2EwqLPeoprgj/s1600/IMG_3894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXNeLcntorc2lG7rBZ2ctmaS5eiJCr7nwj4LW44QxkgIGmJvX0e0R9awZVT6689j4ge8Pl0BtQpiqmp-fKEZst7_npjICH8Ecl4oJBvBmNJOWaIVnYquc3-33olcpvmxm2EwqLPeoprgj/s1600/IMG_3894.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFE-FG9fDgSq9Qa86JoJTRMBh7gWRo9aQMYfVQRy0Sci8bryHqv15lPVAzN7vgawXBljxqZlmc5XP1eTP7iLCxAPiR-CBaBU5EN0mbX7QtK5-FMYRvDolgT1HHVoxp8n6F4FeroTN_GZRo/s1600/IMG_3900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFE-FG9fDgSq9Qa86JoJTRMBh7gWRo9aQMYfVQRy0Sci8bryHqv15lPVAzN7vgawXBljxqZlmc5XP1eTP7iLCxAPiR-CBaBU5EN0mbX7QtK5-FMYRvDolgT1HHVoxp8n6F4FeroTN_GZRo/s1600/IMG_3900.JPG" height="640" width="358" /></a></div>
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Yeah, it was smelly. But what a great result!! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6L0RRj5s79iqj2OXIAU-_j9Q5-WxbW43ACQQs7wZGQwDCYxM8XM2lEwrySUCsvJO99LaLO4OL8hnjaqz5pNrYEaNtZcc6xb6lBGQdMW0oYBVDfA9Opppqjec1QG3OaudNiC6ORZ783QF/s1600/IMG_3902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6L0RRj5s79iqj2OXIAU-_j9Q5-WxbW43ACQQs7wZGQwDCYxM8XM2lEwrySUCsvJO99LaLO4OL8hnjaqz5pNrYEaNtZcc6xb6lBGQdMW0oYBVDfA9Opppqjec1QG3OaudNiC6ORZ783QF/s1600/IMG_3902.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhv2NqUhHJbk57TJYfwbruPN16SKjqqTBQgNfEfKG8sjKKjzdn850OIA_I0nCohhCx1n4rYQPXQYpwUhtw5xrB1hdRpU37wW0JOCCIF1Xr-H-Jz-XR8nNKWEyLTasZAf9IZnwAXggDMqdB/s1600/IMG_3901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhv2NqUhHJbk57TJYfwbruPN16SKjqqTBQgNfEfKG8sjKKjzdn850OIA_I0nCohhCx1n4rYQPXQYpwUhtw5xrB1hdRpU37wW0JOCCIF1Xr-H-Jz-XR8nNKWEyLTasZAf9IZnwAXggDMqdB/s1600/IMG_3901.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It was time to make a little art with it!<br />
<br />
The great thing about working with encaustic medium and paints is that they instantly make any surface archival, even something as highly acidic as vinegar-soaked, rusted tissue. Coat it in wax and poof, it will last through the ages, preserved exactly as it is the day the wax hits it!<br />
<br />
I have four 12"x12" cradled wooden panels that I've been experimenting with. One of them I stained with phthalo blue paint stick, the other I covered with white encaustic gesso. On each, I used a brush-tipped alcohol marker to do a little Stacked Journaling and then I "primed' them with several coats of clear encaustic medium.<br />
<br />
Next I applied pieces of rusted tissue, layered a couple more coats of medium, fiddled with some paint sticks on the surface, and stood back to look. Not masterpieces, but not bad.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSMxLrp1RvOeQ9UCF65GBjarZf-w4paugjT9G6EbkB9LBlCyyepVHKABtBjfZ6sswxHKujYLW4TdwIu5MRvvUmKpiN8lwhpDpoujcWZePQPRoh2mL21mT2a98g4qV3RiPgce_zxQTee2M/s1600/IMG_3896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSMxLrp1RvOeQ9UCF65GBjarZf-w4paugjT9G6EbkB9LBlCyyepVHKABtBjfZ6sswxHKujYLW4TdwIu5MRvvUmKpiN8lwhpDpoujcWZePQPRoh2mL21mT2a98g4qV3RiPgce_zxQTee2M/s1600/IMG_3896.JPG" height="628" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXFNIBwgS3iFyIbwUiBMFv3yg2pL2rJysAJsYu9z8NvKRnv9ihbo3dkgtzwwoU0JFnvaYtuNhniJROV3pgPDgzO-6mTnLggz4mXopu2-HTUiPz8Gturvm0cqIJe8y4YpqRwqXZrl90VbW/s1600/IMG_3899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXFNIBwgS3iFyIbwUiBMFv3yg2pL2rJysAJsYu9z8NvKRnv9ihbo3dkgtzwwoU0JFnvaYtuNhniJROV3pgPDgzO-6mTnLggz4mXopu2-HTUiPz8Gturvm0cqIJe8y4YpqRwqXZrl90VbW/s1600/IMG_3899.JPG" height="636" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Until next time, create with hope!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-40913349867612487192015-01-06T09:21:00.000-06:002015-01-06T09:21:40.201-06:00Bad To WorseShortly after my previous post, my husband and I started our annual December staycation. This year, we'd carved out 19 days for ourselves, and we were very much looking forward to long days of relaxing and spending time together.<br />
<br />
Best laid plans.<br />
<br />
From the very start of our staycation, things starting going wrong. I won't go into detail, but suffice it to say that these bumps in our road were large, and painful, and some of them are still not resolved. We faced them as a team, my husband and I, as we always do. We were determined to ride out the turbulence.<br />
<br />
And then, on January 1st, my father suddenly died. <br />
<br />
He was alive and then he wasn't and though his death was quick, and unexpected, by the look of his room, it probably wasn't an easy transition for him. Stroke, most likely. He'd spoken to the nurse a few minutes before. Then someone went to check on him to bring him to lunch. He'd sent them away before they could come into his room, saying he was getting dressed and that he'd be right there. When he didn't show up, an aide was sent to check on him and found him dead. <br />
<br />
I'd spoken to him the day before. He'd called to wish me a happy new year, and to tell me that his chair was broken, and asked if could I get him a new one. We chatted a few more minutes, and then hung up. And that was it, he was gone.<br />
<br />
As many of you know, my relationship with my father was a difficult one. Still, I grieve.<br />
<br />
I'm dealing with it the best way I know how: I'm taking to the studio and painting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVlHx8KZKcGIfrwLkbfJ1R6FgkLjhCTfQJh7AXaANW5NgLd_wjTyJXL7yg1uODqPFQ9Ph_qhBhnPxqKbQkNEF3U_tGwivi1SBV6a5FaRSqU0Y4M34r-3j8GAJo1UZdbMjsbhIQb7JJgGr/s1600/IMG_3867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVlHx8KZKcGIfrwLkbfJ1R6FgkLjhCTfQJh7AXaANW5NgLd_wjTyJXL7yg1uODqPFQ9Ph_qhBhnPxqKbQkNEF3U_tGwivi1SBV6a5FaRSqU0Y4M34r-3j8GAJo1UZdbMjsbhIQb7JJgGr/s1600/IMG_3867.JPG" height="468" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(8"x10" panel, Encaustic</span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">paint and alcohol-based inks)</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRU-8pNgnTFlGiFxtEZEPuturNZt4dn6ZPN9M7GBMOk6D9LQfKG_9CKxPBSFtbfWgPzNxdjElt0jGSOzfgQ5t4ZMnH4_YlBV0xaH-nc_CiGeBTeBQkGk0cvo-DkiXJuHTsto3cxMJJWS7/s1600/IMG_3866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRU-8pNgnTFlGiFxtEZEPuturNZt4dn6ZPN9M7GBMOk6D9LQfKG_9CKxPBSFtbfWgPzNxdjElt0jGSOzfgQ5t4ZMnH4_YlBV0xaH-nc_CiGeBTeBQkGk0cvo-DkiXJuHTsto3cxMJJWS7/s1600/IMG_3866.JPG" height="472" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Watercolor paper mounted on18"x24" cradled panel, encaustic paint, oil paint, alcohol-based inks)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Despite the cheery colors on both these panels, they accurately reflect my state of mind, with dark, bruised colors peeking out from underneath. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Until next time, create like today could be your last. </span> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-25128046899486777452014-12-26T12:45:00.000-06:002014-12-26T12:45:10.419-06:00The Zen Of It All<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8YM000vO7k88V_clif5c2PkZNHgdsiMs2q7WMYfvFnJohtoeKQWv8T5RnRCX59jxnL4wNMTuV_dJvxDADaHPQ1Ug7bd9jDHE85awNyG7WvyfROsvcG2lSvT-9uukvCSKUI6NzkNjl3To/s1600/IMG_3855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8YM000vO7k88V_clif5c2PkZNHgdsiMs2q7WMYfvFnJohtoeKQWv8T5RnRCX59jxnL4wNMTuV_dJvxDADaHPQ1Ug7bd9jDHE85awNyG7WvyfROsvcG2lSvT-9uukvCSKUI6NzkNjl3To/s1600/IMG_3855.JPG" height="640" width="358" /></a></div>
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This is gonna take a while...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-14041482673472185022014-12-15T10:57:00.000-06:002014-12-15T10:57:11.647-06:00And ThisThis is a piece I forgot to post back when I finished it in August. This is acrylic on cradleboard, 30"x40".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWOLH_49TK00STIor66_u65_XNvGl_h0-y0tsRWVAJyvdJ1rkvoMqg53eZXk-PaCU4LBKV_TO0DhnmdYLZRL-rIUk4ZoRac9rB12QvSvmWK4M3jMV2T9Fo-0vrAx9w9fZ84cpI0fgjd8L/s1600/abstract.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWOLH_49TK00STIor66_u65_XNvGl_h0-y0tsRWVAJyvdJ1rkvoMqg53eZXk-PaCU4LBKV_TO0DhnmdYLZRL-rIUk4ZoRac9rB12QvSvmWK4M3jMV2T9Fo-0vrAx9w9fZ84cpI0fgjd8L/s1600/abstract.jpg" height="640" width="482" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-86877554688747595062014-12-03T14:13:00.001-06:002014-12-03T16:10:49.607-06:00IT'S ALIVE!Well, I am, anyway.<br />
<br />
Yes, hello, I know I haven't posted to my blog since mid-August, but I have a good reason, really. <br />
<br />
I've changed mediums almost entirely, and there's a learning curve to it that I really just want to explore without worrying overmuch about having to talk about it.<br />
<br />
See, one of the things I loved so dearly about becoming an artist, the key element that kept me awake until 3 am experimenting, and had me bounding out of bed just a few hours later to sequester myself in my studio for hours on end, was the simple process of <i>learning</i>. As I explored mediums and substrates, taught myself new techniques, plumbed the depths of my creativity, always overwhelmed by that, "Ohmigod, holy cow!" moment of discovery, I felt as if I was soaring through the sky on a perfect, cloudless day. It was exhilarating, just the act of learning. But quite frankly, I've lost that... maybe there's a lot more out there for me to learn about mixed-media, but if there is, I'm not finding it (and trust me, I've looked!) <br />
<br />
So after more than a decade in this field, and growing bored with my chosen medium, acrylic painting, I
knew it was time to shake things up, and not just in a small way.
Taking another mixed-media or painting workshop, while appealing, might
inspire me for a short time once I got back into my own studio, but it
wasn't likely to teach me a whole lot of new techniques, nor would it
keep me going month after month while I grow increasingly frustrated,
feeling as if I'm just doing the same thing over and over again. <br />
<br />
So I turned my eye towards a couple of mediums I've played with briefly over the years, but shied away from getting too involved in: encaustics and oils.<br />
<br />
Encaustic painting is a centuries-old technique of painting with melted, pigmented wax. Encaustic wax and oil paints blend beautifully together, so after a lot of discussions with my husband, and a lot of research and thinking of my own, I made a large investment in encaustic paints, tools, and materials, as well as in oil paints and pigment sticks. And I started playing.<br />
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I started small, using paper...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHHLkKSBnLS3B3BRP77KL0jBF7g00-ePKpSddPIVnhv8voKLddQp4zhm_qmca-0CSFhN9lpjm5DMTgmRS9Dk4o0sGexYP1ZwOdxwvN4JpeG2XveMZkRw3A-0C4BUKiii9aLidYkIjIg4z/s1600/IMG_3835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHHLkKSBnLS3B3BRP77KL0jBF7g00-ePKpSddPIVnhv8voKLddQp4zhm_qmca-0CSFhN9lpjm5DMTgmRS9Dk4o0sGexYP1ZwOdxwvN4JpeG2XveMZkRw3A-0C4BUKiii9aLidYkIjIg4z/s1600/IMG_3835.JPG" height="640" width="482" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ff_BQXiO-gUTkbZJjPr1xz1-5vM1cp4B9XUGSravLHPPRar8A3Lez4N4tu0s5SnGOBjWCxYqbEOGUYny16EGePIg7yzmzbWZ3y6g0NnBVZPu-7UDpv8seTeGjCx56q-ikl2AzQOnQem3/s1600/IMG_3842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ff_BQXiO-gUTkbZJjPr1xz1-5vM1cp4B9XUGSravLHPPRar8A3Lez4N4tu0s5SnGOBjWCxYqbEOGUYny16EGePIg7yzmzbWZ3y6g0NnBVZPu-7UDpv8seTeGjCx56q-ikl2AzQOnQem3/s1600/IMG_3842.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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... and cardboard...<br />
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I also used small substrates I'd picked up in a local <a href="http://www.texasartasylum.com/">art thrift store</a> (yes, such a thing really exists and it's magnificent)... wooden panels...<br />
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... and small, cradled canvases...<br />
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Finally, I moved on to something larger, an 18"x24" cradled birch panel to which I'd attached a piece of watercolor paper.<br />
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The work is engrossing, and the joy of learning and exploring brings back to me, once again and in a huge rush, how much fun it is to make art. <br />
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I won't be talking a lot about it, here. I will post photos now and then, but don't look for any tutorials on this subject for a very long time- if ever: the medium is still so new to me that I'd be a fool to try and teach you all something that I barely understand myself. Stopping at every step to take professional step-by-step photos is also out of the question. I work too spontaneously for that, and stymieing that process would go against exactly what I'm trying to achieve. <br />
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Know this: my color palette is alive and kicking in wax and oils; my abiding love of texture and depth has found nirvana; and my passion for working in layers is so deeply satisfied that I find it difficult to stop.<br />
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This is big, for me. I'm very excited.<br />
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Have a wonderful holiday season and until I see you again, create by the seat of your pants!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-67939359771998605232014-08-12T19:44:00.001-05:002015-01-13T11:53:51.356-06:00I Love Big Art And I Cannot Lie!Lots happening in the studio the last couple of weeks!<br />
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For one, both of these beasties... <br />
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... two 30"x40" deep cradled wooden panels got covered with absolutely lovely, heavy <a href="http://www.danielsmith.com/Item--i-159-920-006">Canson printmaking paper</a> that measured 31"x44". I'm crazy about working with this paper, and knew I wanted it to cover these two cradleboards.<br />
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I demonstrated in detail how to laminate paper onto wooden cradleboards in <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/2014/04/tutorial-and-giveaway-time.html">this post</a>, but basically it means using gel medium on the wood to adhere the paper. With paper and a cradleboard of this size, I was a little worried that it would prove to be too fiddly to laminate by myself and kept my husband on stand-by just in case I needed another pair of hands. Fortunately, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. The hardest part was laying the large sheet of plywood on top by myself! Here you can see that I use it to weigh down the paper as it dries. <br />
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The edges of the paper hung over the edges of the cradleboard just slightly (enough to give me some room to be sure the whole board was covered!), and those edges needed to be cleanly removed. I have this annoying habit, when trying to use a sharp blade to cut away excess paper from a cradleboard, of actually slicing into the wood, itself. Even when I don't, the edges I cut are almost always wavy and uneven. So this time, I tried something different.<br />
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Once the paper and board were fully dry, I creased the paper sharply along all four edges...<br />
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...and then - using a watercolor brush - soaked them with water.<br />
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After giving the water a couple of minutes to saturate the paper, I used a rough sanding block to sand the excess paper away.<br />
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It worked like a charm, and left me with a sharp, clean edge all the way around the cradleboard.<br />
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Ready for paint!<br />
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The first cradleboard got treated with many layers of acrylic paint. I painted, and removed paint, and painted, and removed paint, until I was happy with the result. Then the entire surface was covered with a large monoprint of <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/p/stacked-journaling-101.html">Stacked Journaling</a>. Sorry, but I didn't get photos of that process. It involved cutting a sheet of plastic larger than the cradleboard and covering it with one giant block of SJ by squeezing black paint from a narrow-tipped bottle. Once I had the paint onto the plastic, I had to move fast to keep from allowing the paint to dry, so I didn't stop to take any pictures. I overturned the cradle board onto the plastic with the painted SJ and pressed down to make sure I was transferring the paint, and then peeled away the sheet of plastic. After the whole thing had dried, I modified the SJ by tracing its negative spaces with a refillable paint pen filled with Golden hi-flow acrylic in white. Again, the entire process can be found in great detail with many photos on <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/2014/04/tutorial-and-giveaway-time.html">this blog post</a>. <br />
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Once I finished the entire piece, I sealed it with a coat of fluid matte medium, and buried it in about half a bottle of <a href="http://www.liquitex.com/pouringmedium/">pouring medium</a> to give it a high gloss surface.<br />
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This photo was taken right after applying the pouring medium, and you can see that it goes on milky, but will dry to a clear, hard, glossy finish.<br />
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Here is the finished work.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Acrylic on wooden cradleboard, 30"x40", currently for sale)</span></div>
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Also on the table in the studio this week were these little guys...<br />
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These are copper oil lanterns to go around the pool and they needed a few coasts of clear Rustoleum before they could hazard the fierce Texas weather. <br />
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After three coats and time to dry, they sat their shiny selves on the water wall.<br />
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Oh, I do love summer!<br />
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Next week, I'll tell you about some neat little paper samples I received from a company in Spain!<br />
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In the meantime, paint with a lust for life.<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Rest in sweet peace, Robin Williams, you will be sorely missed. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-71187559075194471512014-07-31T13:43:00.000-05:002014-07-31T13:43:40.046-05:00Summer Fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Guess where I've been??<br />
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If you guessed Guadalajara based on the photo above, you can be forgiven, but I've actually been in Florida on a much-needed vaccay with my husband!<br />
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First we hit Key West.<br />
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And then Miami. We were so busy in Miami that I barely got my camera out and took photos. However, we did a little drinking at the Eden Roc bar...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNXp7IwDHgAvagL88rnmRK4ltVKIRWmciYgd8JSwDuuFqDNT7w3z8rM5FGlXmOZL5yF3qtGXnpYHlPrOSXzoAf22O7yqrcAMwsCl9TOZxb2j9cbrGFdo5wzW0w-Hsz_oStoe6py4_3Dk6/s1600/lobby+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNXp7IwDHgAvagL88rnmRK4ltVKIRWmciYgd8JSwDuuFqDNT7w3z8rM5FGlXmOZL5yF3qtGXnpYHlPrOSXzoAf22O7yqrcAMwsCl9TOZxb2j9cbrGFdo5wzW0w-Hsz_oStoe6py4_3Dk6/s1600/lobby+bar.jpg" height="640" width="480" /> </a></div>
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... and a little gambling at the Hard Rock Casino...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqSLqcZoS10Ac0nlJkJ9khpfMPTI43RV-Oe3OCoVw8AXlU6R4DV4SbTJDsuSUiBvEinBiRTsOXLqvAEj0uIfdCbH2E9WbjEDPQDN5LGsCSXKF9ZsGBkqTR4mFCEjB9vXRxdKn7dNzTQXb/s1600/casino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqSLqcZoS10Ac0nlJkJ9khpfMPTI43RV-Oe3OCoVw8AXlU6R4DV4SbTJDsuSUiBvEinBiRTsOXLqvAEj0uIfdCbH2E9WbjEDPQDN5LGsCSXKF9ZsGBkqTR4mFCEjB9vXRxdKn7dNzTQXb/s1600/casino.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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... and won 1000.00 at 3-card poker! So yeah, it was a great trip.</div>
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But now it's back to reality, and back to the studio. I left the place in a complete shambles before going on vacation, and when we got home, sunburned and exhausted, it took me a week before I could even open the door and face it. But after a full day of reorganizing, throwing things out and putting things away, it's clean, it's clean, it's clean!! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cSHdckByy6AfS3beiegYd0_qn07nf15pqyt1pKToVcQRYeUGAtnkptXXZPrG7vTq1sNoWoa3_hCZgXcq1jBPA7_IqQpO_DBYIaBNRPwaR6kQJBwNn66ZJc_yZGReEQCdmB0ke-cwhPQV/s1600/IMG_3553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cSHdckByy6AfS3beiegYd0_qn07nf15pqyt1pKToVcQRYeUGAtnkptXXZPrG7vTq1sNoWoa3_hCZgXcq1jBPA7_IqQpO_DBYIaBNRPwaR6kQJBwNn66ZJc_yZGReEQCdmB0ke-cwhPQV/s1600/IMG_3553.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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Before leaving for Florida, I had gone a little bananas with an online, 50% off coupon (plus free shipping!) and did a little paint shopping. While browsing the site (I wish I could remember which one it was, but it was either Michael's or JoAnn's), I came across some of these cool paint bottle toppers that allow you to use the bottles as paint "writers". With my obsession with painted Stacked Jouranling, the fit seemed obvious. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBIRlA3vHJhjRcI5-oo5Lqj3koa1pGhot9ea71AUicOtScE7rParltlpKOWbM0BCx2qUY7FN8U7qLUGGjrToIJcNSrxEiZEWfGVzLt2rVJyG_p1iI9zRO8h0klyWoOWjQerowE4xEw8-R/s1600/IMG_3411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBIRlA3vHJhjRcI5-oo5Lqj3koa1pGhot9ea71AUicOtScE7rParltlpKOWbM0BCx2qUY7FN8U7qLUGGjrToIJcNSrxEiZEWfGVzLt2rVJyG_p1iI9zRO8h0klyWoOWjQerowE4xEw8-R/s1600/IMG_3411.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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I also dashed over to DickBlick.com and bought some spray bottles with the intention of using them with Golden's hi-flow acrylics. This whole haul cost me about 50.00! </div>
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Usually, I'll admit it, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to the paint I use. I prefer to use the best paint I can afford in my paintings- which usually doesn't include "craft" paint- because I feel that those who invest in my work deserve it. But when it comes to painted and monoprinted Stacked Journaling, the expensive, high-pigment load paints just aren't necessary, and all those lovely little bottles of vibrant color are so hard to pass up.</div>
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Of course, I needed to store all that paint, and that was suddenly a problem. After a lot of wrangling of my supplies, and a lot of rearranging, I finally dedicated and entire drawer to these little bottles of love.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgzRl2fxMJDx6JWRxJoAbF_VUeN_eIWwBDbm6oWvg9m2y6lKU4wVFXQEt1Fu4e0HSnmJNkrjV7Kn1aALq6ncFpmlbG-yfHJ6QRrh6adgru9V2AeKCvuxHb3gbsXpqbafXgztcSioK0ige/s1600/IMG_3559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgzRl2fxMJDx6JWRxJoAbF_VUeN_eIWwBDbm6oWvg9m2y6lKU4wVFXQEt1Fu4e0HSnmJNkrjV7Kn1aALq6ncFpmlbG-yfHJ6QRrh6adgru9V2AeKCvuxHb3gbsXpqbafXgztcSioK0ige/s1600/IMG_3559.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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While cleaning the studio, I banged up against an ongoing issue for me: how to easily store my handmade stencils. For so long, these babies have been sitting out on my workspace, getting shifted from this end of the table to the other, because I just haven't found the perfect storage solution for them. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzmeWhCyKf_TUfS2hKwY1JlKAixEwSwY7xxyvZw7K5QmJ-EvIute3J6jLWp_V2wYfh1Vb9bIWQAcvh-6gXYnccWM5YMfGL8rln20d3yBJXV_9DltJVnaJey5T0_QqP-Q2SzVAN2rK4hx-/s1600/IMG_3560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzmeWhCyKf_TUfS2hKwY1JlKAixEwSwY7xxyvZw7K5QmJ-EvIute3J6jLWp_V2wYfh1Vb9bIWQAcvh-6gXYnccWM5YMfGL8rln20d3yBJXV_9DltJVnaJey5T0_QqP-Q2SzVAN2rK4hx-/s1600/IMG_3560.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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But as I uncovered layers of supplies and materials in my clean-up, I ran across these sheets of paper that had arrived in the box of a very inexpensive shelving unit my husband bought a couple of months ago. There was a stack of them, and my husband, by now well aware of my loathing for throwing out anything that has a potential use in my studio, asked me if I wanted them. </div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwztJyXwGMncDpQWW0hzYGTGMZ3C4gjOvEHJ-GFa9A2Ezo82vYH6CaQiuo7VvAPT85cJJMNU_HHEv6sVfDu9ZXX3VlRp6CdsOBgNIP13jFJHUqFwNL0YNde_fULJiMz0FcN_v_7iHu_d5C/s1600/IMG_3562+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwztJyXwGMncDpQWW0hzYGTGMZ3C4gjOvEHJ-GFa9A2Ezo82vYH6CaQiuo7VvAPT85cJJMNU_HHEv6sVfDu9ZXX3VlRp6CdsOBgNIP13jFJHUqFwNL0YNde_fULJiMz0FcN_v_7iHu_d5C/s1600/IMG_3562+copy.jpg" height="526" width="640" /></a></div>
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They're large- 11" x 15"- and I thought they would make an interesting journal. There must be 20 of these sheets! Clearly, the packing machine in the factory went a little gonzo and accidentally dumped them all into one box. Fortunately for me, that box found the right home. </div>
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Looking at their size and at the smaller size of my collection of stencils, I realized that I could make a quick folder to hold my stencils out of two of these sheets and some washi tape.</div>
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First, I grabbed some of my painted papers and collaged on top of the sheets, to give them more stability and strength. Then I just taped them together on three sides.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6zK5eWcJC8ZbFjSPFHMtD9jQb7tX7MzZraATUypmhutdVpsDbiB_JYcoLlm_8V7c7Upuc-jGkwgrITbuxzv-zJQRgyNsvv-w1z6sQpGepaSouFeskNTN47ocWrPa8qa6ARwQBin8ZTty/s1600/IMG_3564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6zK5eWcJC8ZbFjSPFHMtD9jQb7tX7MzZraATUypmhutdVpsDbiB_JYcoLlm_8V7c7Upuc-jGkwgrITbuxzv-zJQRgyNsvv-w1z6sQpGepaSouFeskNTN47ocWrPa8qa6ARwQBin8ZTty/s1600/IMG_3564.JPG" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqlF8wM0chkAMfjyQ1UaymOj7aWTCPrVg9quIZfwTxUqRH79xkIrHHwfK4sisucufBl2ll_9ErStMpT95EE5UA8VKLHok_NkWI8kds1sjsoTk_o85R_gOAMf0XbriBrRzXq1OOjnhuXVE/s1600/IMG_3565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqlF8wM0chkAMfjyQ1UaymOj7aWTCPrVg9quIZfwTxUqRH79xkIrHHwfK4sisucufBl2ll_9ErStMpT95EE5UA8VKLHok_NkWI8kds1sjsoTk_o85R_gOAMf0XbriBrRzXq1OOjnhuXVE/s1600/IMG_3565.JPG" height="364" width="640" /></a></div>
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Presto! Instant stencil storage!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRRW6CgU371pnBpc-qWBDpGtbe6TYBqpqosGsVUR4GJ_zCfnLlgcVVm-1fxsQXG3U12hybpudjESmEkBeZEsh1W_YSuA_gTKbjrFPFxV31c75InaQIuOU2jNUt9mOrEaXvHn3SfGZGigw/s1600/IMG_3566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRRW6CgU371pnBpc-qWBDpGtbe6TYBqpqosGsVUR4GJ_zCfnLlgcVVm-1fxsQXG3U12hybpudjESmEkBeZEsh1W_YSuA_gTKbjrFPFxV31c75InaQIuOU2jNUt9mOrEaXvHn3SfGZGigw/s1600/IMG_3566.JPG" height="466" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7OpwiUHOYxG1ZsQ2hyphenhyphenyoYVSD3yi4n2MRYaDGnduja2PWk9NGlu47eoJnK3wMHEIIJ0uEAGGJo6OxSzU2NgHpHDNyz9osq08i9RZVHD7AUIa_JA7s2SA4RT_DUJCOMBHmXSCPiMRxHgHT/s1600/IMG_3567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7OpwiUHOYxG1ZsQ2hyphenhyphenyoYVSD3yi4n2MRYaDGnduja2PWk9NGlu47eoJnK3wMHEIIJ0uEAGGJo6OxSzU2NgHpHDNyz9osq08i9RZVHD7AUIa_JA7s2SA4RT_DUJCOMBHmXSCPiMRxHgHT/s1600/IMG_3567.JPG" height="300" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love simple, free storage solutions!<br />
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But wait, there's more! Some actual art really did get made this week, too. I know, I'm Wonder Woman, it's true; you can stop applauding, now. No, really, it's embarrassing. Oh, ok, I'll wait, go ahead and clap.<br />
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My husband has been transferred to yet another location (thank freakin' whoever that this transfer didn't require a move!) and his new office has several rather empty walls. So I went to work and created this piece for him, another in my series of altered Stacked Journaling.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66s9H793t1YDZIK9fkORfCFAwGvBcaIGc-89NDMN4Zc0Sbsmgneq1Z1g6WvHcUES_Gw61XP0Gwd-VkqfQHcuN6ICGo8tVTDA2LzBVxlh6-KA3vI1w7G0ODaEC9erdAK1c7UqkND-eGEIL/s1600/IMG_3558.JPG" height="640" width="536" /> </div>
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This piece started as much of my current work does: with a wooden cradled panel to which I've adhered a piece of printmaking paper. I paint the paper, then add monoprinted SJ to it, and then using a refillable marker with more Golden hi-flow acrylics in white, I outline the negative spaces. <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/2014/04/tutorial-and-giveaway-time.html">(The entire process is detailed, with lots of photos and instruction, here.)</a></div>
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This process fascinates me no end, and leads me to my next project.</div>
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Remember when I bought these beasties a few months back?</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzWBVYELByU8HJyBLypBxwawgyxOuDTdkqOp7pPT7SlKF5TuJRDQIFtOCKajnF02JRSkZKx0hix98eY5Ud8AaKnzIU_WnS94SO34Ck9sA3EkN4HCJ0i6YvZSKZ72uiqnrC3wpf1VTS4BW/s1600/IMG_3348.JPG" height="640" width="482" /> </div>
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The plan was and is to mount paper onto them and then paint on them, but it took me a while to find and have shipped to me artist paper this large (30" x 40".)</div>
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Well, I have, and it arrived today!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfdtzk1uptRo-Nc1pWaq-HXe8d82BIWSJATrWFnYceXnuKIzTJtPdEIfg9YJD-U5vpHk1Y0BbKtVTLpA4dlf9aWRBWC9Z7q0jYPgZ42mSK3OExTi_HWbeOHao3ZVHSiCdrf9DQwjXIfyn/s1600/IMG_3568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfdtzk1uptRo-Nc1pWaq-HXe8d82BIWSJATrWFnYceXnuKIzTJtPdEIfg9YJD-U5vpHk1Y0BbKtVTLpA4dlf9aWRBWC9Z7q0jYPgZ42mSK3OExTi_HWbeOHao3ZVHSiCdrf9DQwjXIfyn/s1600/IMG_3568.JPG" height="640" width="486" /></a></div>
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I obviously haven't unpacked it, yet, but it's a beautiful printmaking paper by Canson. Mounting it on my cradle boards will take four hands, so my husband has <strike>agreed</strike> been cajoled into helping, and once that is finished, I'll post here to show how we did it. </div>
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In the meantime, create a happy summer!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-44220883229040895812014-07-03T11:44:00.000-05:002014-07-03T11:44:20.326-05:00Asking, "Am I Good Enough?"There are various things in progress in the studio this week but nothing I'm ready to show, so today I'd like to take a minute and talk about something I've been rolling around in my mind for a while.<br />
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This post could also be titled, "The Need For Approval".<br />
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"Social media" has been incredibly effective in bringing together artists who, for so many years before its advent, toiled alone in their studios, unaware that there were others who shared their passions and artsy obsessions. I was one of those people, working day and night for years in a vacuum, without any contact with other artists. For a very long time, I didn't even <i>know</i> there were others out there interested in the exact same things I was playing with and teaching to myself. <br />
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This was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing, because I learned my skills without the well meaning but persuasive voices of my peers guiding me and changing my work. A curse because not only was I lonely for the company of other artists, I was deeply uncertain about the validity of my work. Was it good? Would it hold up to the market? Did it have meaning to anyone but myself?<br />
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I was lucky enough to be alone long enough to solve most of these mysteries for myself, to find my own answers without outside influences moving me in one direction or another.<br />
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Things are different now. So often, I see artists, particularly those new to art but sometimes from veterans as well, post a photograph of their work in progress and ask others, "What should I do next?"<br />
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This question actually takes many forms: "I know this isn't very good, but..." and "Should I place this here and that there?" and "Would you use more <insert favorite color here> or <insert favorite collage element here>?" All of these inquiries really boil down to one question: am I good enough?<br />
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The impulse to seek out the opinions of other artists seems to be hardwired in our genetics, and in certain situations, can actually be a boon to our work. Honest critique is essential for learning whether we're ready to jump off the cliff into a new direction or if we need to spend more time standing in place, working on what's in front of us. It can offer insight and inspiration, knowledge and the experience of others, and can even help us move off square one when our work has stalled and we can't exactly pin down <i>why</i>. <br />
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Our task in navigating online social media as artists requires us to know the difference between asking for a critique, and asking for a direction.<br />
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"Does this work impact you emotionally, and if so, how?" will produce a far different (and more useful) answer than, "Should I have used more red?" Yet as a new or emerging artist, we often find it daunting to answer for ourselves whether this piece or that should have more red or less, this collage piece or another, be displayed vertically or horizontally, be abstract or contain imagery.<br />
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Asking these types of questions in our online art communities is intensely tempting, but will garner as many different answers as there are people willing to reply. Then the outpouring of opinions of other artists can become overwhelming and confusing, and will almost always prove ultimately to be worth not much more than a grain of salt. And the reason is simple: there's only one person whose opinion matters- our own.<br />
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While asking for advice on your next step in a particular piece of work can be valuable, it also has the potential to profoundly impact not only the art you're currently working through, but your future work, as well. Getting into the habit of needing someone else's opinion before you can continue may cause you to alter your work to suit the needs and desires of others, and you may never give yourself the opportunity to reach your own conclusions, depend on your own vision, or learn your own lessons. You could wind up with a dreadful question always hovering at the edges of everything you create: "What would the public think of this??" And trying to please everyone, to make work that you hope will always be universally accepted with a, "Wow, LOVE it!" will force you into a box that will keep your work unfocused, unimaginative, and finally, looking like everyone else's.<br />
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Think of it in this way: we can demonstrate to our children how to walk through example, and encourage them with gentle cheerleading, but we can't teach them how it <i>feels</i> to place one foot in front of another, balance just so, and move ourselves forward. Only by learning how to walk on their own can they <i>experience</i> it for themselves and become comfortable and confident in their ability to do it without our help. Otherwise their desire to continue, to expand on the concept of walking by later attempting to run and jump, will be lost. We all know that a parent who carries their child everywhere is robbing that child of a life lesson they require in order to become their true, independent, empowered selves. A good parent understands that there will be stumbles and falls, bruises and scrapes, tears and frustration. But the final goal is always to allow the child to walk unassisted with the confidence that only the experience of doing so creates.<br />
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The same is true for making art. Advice and critiques can and should only take us so far in our journey towards becoming independent and empowered artists. Eventually, we all have to take the stumbles and falls, become bruised and banged up, feel the frustration, and shed the tears.<br />
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It's the only way to learn.<br />
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Until next week, create alone (for a while, anyway!)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2091952809418376877.post-37107183813794634792014-06-26T14:57:00.001-05:002014-06-27T01:01:13.571-05:00Layering and Stacked JournalingAfter a lovely 10-day staycation, I took to the studio on Monday morning with a desire for hot colors, complex texture, and layers of delicious pattern.<br />
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As I've stated on this blog before, when I first conceived of and began using <a href="http://approachable-art.blogspot.com/p/stacked-journaling-101.html">Stacked Journaling</a>, I had modest aspirations for it: I was seeking an interesting and unique background texture. After working with it for only a few weeks, however, it began to overtake everything in the studio.<br />
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Such is the case now, too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtB35UlhFrZyvD7Ebl3wzpq57lKPpKrNNn0XpzjYA1A3U_PQaXscSJBbCdrPNuMS2_P6aYKwIPDc5-xAxIWa3LQDAoB5e4zPv88nJmY2ijAGEVW4pRkchiF5IzPtksEvwXsymv-Ks3g2F/s1600/IMG_3394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtB35UlhFrZyvD7Ebl3wzpq57lKPpKrNNn0XpzjYA1A3U_PQaXscSJBbCdrPNuMS2_P6aYKwIPDc5-xAxIWa3LQDAoB5e4zPv88nJmY2ijAGEVW4pRkchiF5IzPtksEvwXsymv-Ks3g2F/s1600/IMG_3394.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm content with this development because it means that I'm beginning to hit my stride again with this technique, one of my main goals for the next year and beyond.<br />
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This week, starting occasionally with blank paper, and occasionally with painted or otherwise already printed paper, my self-assigned task was to use SJ to develop rich, layered work.<br />
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On some sheets of paper, I began by stenciling.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGngKg8vC6x2DDu4aruMnbPDiQcfTbOMheKIochXr0qX2kFmfaRoNYQgCntNxe0w2CA8wx_zsr2X64yrZ1_RCxSRlyFx6XlcnQasmIM1aIdNqnP3KiJ0GEzEGOWAYM_x7gTc52r2kf6pD/s1600/IMG_3405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGngKg8vC6x2DDu4aruMnbPDiQcfTbOMheKIochXr0qX2kFmfaRoNYQgCntNxe0w2CA8wx_zsr2X64yrZ1_RCxSRlyFx6XlcnQasmIM1aIdNqnP3KiJ0GEzEGOWAYM_x7gTc52r2kf6pD/s1600/IMG_3405.JPG" height="640" width="419" /></a></div>
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On others, by brayering color.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYltAvUJlrUtOYcLpusV4GRP6aFV_XEvdz0BW_WDzjV8ZD5sZ3ICwJAllE5UrNuzjTDgd0xyjq2Qy0TqfIC2LrmPX6vbkoBdMix733Z_qOPfZstCwvQr-tI5ym6IaNrQEwVRl47vBdWzt/s1600/IMG_3403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYltAvUJlrUtOYcLpusV4GRP6aFV_XEvdz0BW_WDzjV8ZD5sZ3ICwJAllE5UrNuzjTDgd0xyjq2Qy0TqfIC2LrmPX6vbkoBdMix733Z_qOPfZstCwvQr-tI5ym6IaNrQEwVRl47vBdWzt/s1600/IMG_3403.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGZurwaM9BQXj7OEX1bKmLzXORNnNpiCZH1nlnUTNoAnso3lgboXqbncgtYDC3J7TIU7kfxcP8tlh3lmIizFgHjjq5r9g89itwYj2iFwOgnpD7J5NNCPKDHPgzMwbbE9R2Lpue21Bmn8_/s1600/IMG_3401.JPG" height="640" width="488" /> </div>
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I moved from one sheet to the next, working about a dozen pieces of paper at the same time, setting aside each one to dry after a layer was completed. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXHrbk840lS5u6bXrLql3syexTFJ3iNV1ENAay9dmDF54PPHOAn9gg-YaZTQY2iyJO6tkkbXWeR1BdoO9hAJQ2EagEkkfYNTJQyxAZEc-qUIer3AJMAgXETaIAsxQAxE0Q92BtiObYap6/s1600/IMG_3396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXHrbk840lS5u6bXrLql3syexTFJ3iNV1ENAay9dmDF54PPHOAn9gg-YaZTQY2iyJO6tkkbXWeR1BdoO9hAJQ2EagEkkfYNTJQyxAZEc-qUIer3AJMAgXETaIAsxQAxE0Q92BtiObYap6/s1600/IMG_3396.JPG" height="640" width="500" /></a></div>
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Occasionally, I'd stop and do some SJ with a squeezie bottle filled with paint and then take a print of that fresh paint onto another piece in progress. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUepzLQd6W1WSmyQM-STnMe58gasDHMwj2in9THj-UPwOLtOHKAD2HZAgA2fBkdoKh-gBXoY4Qyjuqg9Ayt_nB80sgIHcP8pMXZw2po_zlBx-mI0WIDjWw87u3k-LwBoj_NH2su3MXNjJ3/s1600/IMG_3397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUepzLQd6W1WSmyQM-STnMe58gasDHMwj2in9THj-UPwOLtOHKAD2HZAgA2fBkdoKh-gBXoY4Qyjuqg9Ayt_nB80sgIHcP8pMXZw2po_zlBx-mI0WIDjWw87u3k-LwBoj_NH2su3MXNjJ3/s1600/IMG_3397.JPG" height="640" width="492" /></a></div>
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Back and forth I went all week, back and forth, back and forth, until finally, with many of these pieces, I had to force myself to stop. </div>
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I used stencils. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYUDFfaaBJW_Db2PTLcnzQJdSmD16ZnCa6J1wle1wu9vLv4varAhFX7zXCVFPPAPp8M2BqC2_5A-gFVpK4SoeptlWqovY0QoKYxRkDN1CtuCZ5uqvG7kZ7f4uIG4IJSghdVJDkzYQbMBv/s1600/IMG_3398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYUDFfaaBJW_Db2PTLcnzQJdSmD16ZnCa6J1wle1wu9vLv4varAhFX7zXCVFPPAPp8M2BqC2_5A-gFVpK4SoeptlWqovY0QoKYxRkDN1CtuCZ5uqvG7kZ7f4uIG4IJSghdVJDkzYQbMBv/s1600/IMG_3398.JPG" height="640" width="498" /></a></div>
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And stamps.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52HqtEmQsN8jNYUN3ADVkU0jZhwwaRnndH3mjuVvpx9LBYJRNZTDWPc7GWT5UWANm8YgWPFaKEkSU6vGWn0anOyBAaepJblOTSxqk9yZBipKQkwPHX2ktlRIdRH688XXMgu10DdqIrm2q/s1600/IMG_3407.JPG" height="640" width="486" /> </div>
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And broke out my paint markers to enhance the SJ on a few. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12bSuIO15AQoyX6RS-I9zDNt3wZeDVFda-x-OCbOfZXFk6grEecOTxO7818JHQNQp12glfqCXbC42SQZH0AEnEedLYFca7wVNR6S8PSDKHk3gWhPKHUJldTnVeWNKoHAHua0cIvT9_iIg/s1600/IMG_3399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12bSuIO15AQoyX6RS-I9zDNt3wZeDVFda-x-OCbOfZXFk6grEecOTxO7818JHQNQp12glfqCXbC42SQZH0AEnEedLYFca7wVNR6S8PSDKHk3gWhPKHUJldTnVeWNKoHAHua0cIvT9_iIg/s1600/IMG_3399.JPG" height="640" width="470" /></a></div>
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Looking for finer detail, I even used my dip pen with hi-flow acrylics.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWVTPJzeQmRDGBBLob2oIZQKjk-ZSwSqKdZOsUt9l8tMvMniI9R3bdg9seye1k2Ed2Ugg0MMnfD37IWfWjcZzUZzPwBXjl1IjwKO6-HrPPdL7XCoRxRFaX_FKu_DMTfYkQhZDu9s490_w/s1600/IMG_3400.JPG" height="640" width="464" /> </div>
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Seeking subtlety (yes, again).</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPgA5pTBET893s1v0OqNJhN1-lr6FknAv1AyLxCOpScjyAz7uGRvhmXityhlT24bYH-viVOsMzLBg3KJ5iZO2UUgGUhtjOuCKYKPGJgLw42vTJr34EUALzl8eu4F95LegYzPFfI-6YOmL/s1600/IMG_3404.JPG" height="640" width="424" /> </div>
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And uncovering bolder images.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIS80662EQwTV8WT_xSsqdPm9_2fvw-i3kmUQ5US14Z3EHAeq_3h3gna-utzG7S7qAelitUQ_YzLMr7nXur7FTltjITW6vAYc63LF8e-zts8K0kCMiuT35skkx01rQC9gEDPHG2nDjV6Ki/s1600/IMG_3406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIS80662EQwTV8WT_xSsqdPm9_2fvw-i3kmUQ5US14Z3EHAeq_3h3gna-utzG7S7qAelitUQ_YzLMr7nXur7FTltjITW6vAYc63LF8e-zts8K0kCMiuT35skkx01rQC9gEDPHG2nDjV6Ki/s1600/IMG_3406.JPG" height="640" width="494" /></a></div>
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I thought it would be difficult, after such a long vacation, to get back into the swing of things, but I found it to be joyfully effortless (this time!)<br />
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Until next week, create in layers!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208615970286164894noreply@blogger.com6