I Can't Keep Up!

Last Thursday, I attended my third Mixed Media class with Cynthia Herron. It's a small, intimate class (there are only four students), but we never have time to complete our project so we have homework. Unfortunately, I hadn't anticipated this, so my projects for the past two weeks are languishing in my studio, waiting to be completed. I feel sort of like a slackard that I haven't got them completed, especially when we're supposed to bring our finished projects back to class for a gentle critique session. Ummmm, maybe I should skip class this week and use the time to finish the previous projects before piling on even more!

Last week, Cynthia gave us a great overview on color theory and then turned us loose to create a collage using the color information she gave us. She had brought a variety of paint chips for us to use, also a bag of hand-dyed silk fabric remnants - I chose the fabric remnants, they were all so beautiful. Here is what I got done during the class:



Next, I need to add a central image and then enhance the colors in my piece using acrylic paints or oil pastels . . . I hope I can create the time to finish my piece.

Mixed Bag Thursday

Thursday was a busy day for me, full of artful play. It started in the morning when my friend Destree came over for a play date.

I futzed around with my sunflower a little more in preparation for my Mixed Media class later in the day.

Destree is part of the Altered Board Book Round Robin and I had just finished my two pages in Dawn's book (don't look, Dawn, unless you want to see what I did to your pages!). Here is the two-page spread I did in Dawn's book:

Finally, in the afternoon, I headed to the Art Department for my Thursday afternoon Mixed Media class with Cynthia Herron. We had a little show 'n Tell from what we created last week.

For this week, we were to select a single image to repeat four to eight times, arting up the image in a different way each time. I started by experimenting with Sun Prints (fortunately, there was sunshine yesterday in the afternoon).

Here is the beginning of my grid of birds:




And while I was out waiting for my sun print to "develop," I noticed a really cool living space above Greenbaum's Quilt Shop and the Art Department!

Stay tuned for more on my Grid of Birds, as I think I'll call it.

Mixed Media Class: I'm a Student!

I’ve mentioned it before and I’ll mention it again. My goal for 2009 is to cReaTe. With that in mind, I signed up to take a six-week class in Salem. The class description had been sitting on my desk since the first of the year and for some reason I was hesitant to take the plunge and actually register. On Tuesday, I walked to my hair appointment and on my way, I stopped in at our local art store and inquired about the class. They needed two more people to make the class a go. I left my name and number and sure enough, later that day, I received a call that if I registered, the class would take place. I didn’t have much time to think, I just said YES.

Yesterday was my first class ( it is being held at the art store, the Art Department, on Thursday afternoons). The class is titled Mixed Media and is being taught by Cynthia Herron. I peeked at Cynthia’s website and I love her work.

When we introduced ourselves, Cynthia asked why we were taking the class. I said there were two reasons. One reason was because I teach a lot and I needed to take a class for me. The second reason was that although I have taken dozens of classes, I have never really taken a class that teaches the theory or elements of art and this class looked like it was going to incorporate that into our weekly sessions.

My first jolt came today when we were expected to draw. Draw? I’ve never had a formal drawing class (just the other day I was at my friend Destree’s house for an art play date and I mentioned my “fear” of drawing . . .). Today our assignment was to choose an image and then select a portion of it, or to enlarge the entire image, and draw it onto an 11x14 piece of Bristol board. We were told to either free hand it or use a grid (which was explained). Well, that grid method didn’t look like it was going to be very helpful to me, so I just put my pencil on the paper and went forth (chanting Be Bold Be Bold Be Bold to myself). I don’t think I cropped the picture enough, but I was pleased with my sunflower. Our assignment was to then do a wash with acrylics, followed by experimentation with colored pencils, chalk pastels, or water soluble crayons. I chose the water soluble crayons and began to add color and texture in various areas. I didn’t finish my piece, but we’re supposed to finish them at home, then bring them next week to HANG ON THE WALL FOR A LITTLE CRITIQUE. Man, it is good for me to be taking this class because it reminds me how important it is to make students feel comfortable and safe AND not to assume that anyone knows anything!!

Here's my initial drawing, the first blush of color, and then a bit more. I need to do a little more futzing with the piece before next Thursday. Wish me luck!