What Do You Want Your Art to Look Like?

Who knew that taking a depth year would mean in-depth time at home, in-depth conversations about health and viruses, in-depth time alone?

The first week of February I went to NYC for a wholesale gift show.  I also viewed art at The Met and MOMA.  Sadly I got the flu while there, so at home I spent the rest of the month inside. . . healing, pondering my life, saying goodbye to an old friendship that no longer suits.  It was quiet and contemplative.

I got so used to staying in, that when Massachusetts issued a stay-at-home order in March, it wasn't a big change to my life, or so I thought.  What didn't register were the weekly things I just did as a matter of course:  Sunday lunch at a local Mexican restaurant with my husband after church -- they may not know our names but they know our favorite table and drinks order;  lunch at the local sandwich place where we do know each others names, where they're fine that I bring my own to-go cup; occasional trips to Michael's to be inspired.   I miss those people & interactions.

With all this time at home, and the freedom from deadlines or things I need to do, I decided to tackle the year-long online art workshop I'd signed up for.  I recently got the prompt for week 12 and since I was only half done with week 1, I thought I'd jump back in.  I sort of liked what I'd done before, but when I followed the rest of the instructions I absolutely hated my overall piece.  The more I tried to fix it the worse it got.  Finally I tore the pages out, walked into the room where my husband was selling on eBay and announced I was having an existential crisis.  I can be so dramatic at times!

Bits of the page I did like

My husband was great.  He closed the lid of his laptop and said, "I assume you want my thoughts on this?"  I did.   He asked me if I was taking the course because the teachers & students were all so enthusiastic and it would be fun to be part of the group?  And yes, I replied sheepishly, that was a strong reason.

And then he asked "Do you know what you want your art to look like?"

I'm not sure anyone has ever asked me that question.  And I was ready.  I do know what kind of art I want to make.  I know what I want my art to look like.  I know I can take inspiration from others, but in the end I want my art to look like mine.

I felt so free with that realization, took the ideas I liked out of what I'd done, and made something completely different.

stencils, paint, stamps, embossing powder, ink & collage

close up

This morning as I sat at my work table I wanted to write about my experience.  It felt like a new step in my artist's life, it deserved a journal with nothing from the past in it.  So I went upstairs to find something to write in, found a book with blank lined pages, then proceeded to decorate the first pages.  While I was waiting for the glitter glue to dry, I wrote this post (and may I say I have way too many bottles of Stickles). 

Stencil, gel prints, glitter glue

The start of a new journal of art musings

Mastering the Layers, week 1

I really like gel printing!  I like the surprise factor of never knowing exactly what the print will look like.  Some of my prints I love.  Some, not so much.

Here are the prints I made during the first week's worth of lessons:

After I did the first day's foundational lesson, I kept playing.

These 3 prints were made after I discovered what happens when you try to make mud.  I wanted beige paint and knew I could make it by mixing the primary colors and white.  I mixed the colors on  a gel plate and then cleaned my brayer on a piece of paper.  What was cleaned off the brayer did not look beige.  I wanted to see if I could duplicate that effect purposely.  So again I put red, blue, yellow paint dabs on a gel plate, mixed them with the brayer, added white.  Voila, a pretty beige, at least that's how it looked on the plate. I added a favorite stencil and pulled off some excess paint.

These are the surprising prints.  Not very beige!

Day 2:

Grungy prints

Day 3:

 

Paint and stencil.

Paint, a piece of ribbed plastic, foam stamps.

I really like these prints.  There's a certain control, like maybe I could duplicate this.

The white and orange 6x6 gel plate in the corner is waiting for me to add something else,

though I don't know exactly what it will be.

Day 4:  Q.  What happens when you add lots of colors to the same gel plate?

 plate 1 --  first pull left, ghost print right

plate 2 -- first pull left, ghost print right

A.  Some interesting prints!

I'm using up a lot of old craft paint.  You know the kind -- on sale for 50c a bottle or 3/$1.  I've had some of it for a long time and it's time to use it up.  Not high quality paint, but it does make for some interesting results:  When I made this I hadn't figured out how to get less paint to come out, so these prints took a looong time to dry; if the paint isn't fully shaken it comes out separated; and the brayer slips and slides around if I'm not careful.

Day 5:  Q.  What do you do if you have an ugly or uninteresting print?
A.  Add more color and pattern!

 I made this print for the grunge lesson.

I thought I might improve it.

This looks less interesting than the original.

Sometimes "fixing" a print does not make it better.

And sometimes it does!

I love how vibrant this print it.

The camera didn't capture it all, but the background has a lot of very interesting green bits.

I learned about gel printing about a year ago when I watched a video on the blog at Joggles.com, where they sell the Gel Press printing plates.  Last October I saw that Carolyn Dube was teaching a gel printing class at Art-is-You, and it seemed the perfect time to try out this new technique. What a great introduction!

Mastering the Layers is Carolyn's 3 week online course which is greatly expanding my understanding of print making, how to use a gel plate, and, because it's Carolyn, FUN!

New Year, New Studio, New Class

Whether it's because September is the start of a new school year, or because so many of my childhood classmates celebrated Rosh Hashanah, this time of year always signals a new year to me.  I know it's only mid August, but I'm ready for the end of Summer and new beginnings.

We live in a large Victorian farmhouse that is too large for just the two of us.  The kids are grown and flown and only come home for the occasional garden clean-up weekend, Thanksgiving, Christmas.  We don't need this much house.

garden bed needing weeding

But a large house lived in by two packrats, has a large amount of stuff.  The process of getting it ready to sell is, well daunting, to say the least.  I have an art studio in the house (plus a barn full of creative and antique treasures).  My husband has stuff.  And over the years we have spread out, so there isn't a room without clutter!  All this has to be cleared out for the house to show to advantage.

cool stuff, but in such a cluttered state, who knows what's there!

A week ago I decided to move my art studio downstairs.  Where it was located was better viewed as a bedroom -- upstairs and near a bath.  Where I am moving is better viewed as a den and on the first floor.  It's a beginning nod to eventually staging the house.

Instead of moving everything that is art-related, I've just moved the supplies I use all the time -- paint, stamp pads, washi tape, glitter, paper, scissors, etc.  I figure if I don't move anything else in here for the next three weeks (except what I specifically need for projects and classes) it will help me clutter-clear the old studio, barn & various craft supply hiding places!  There are way too many of those in my life/house.  I have three tall IKEA bookcases and I am determined to fit everything I need in them.  If it doesn't fit, out it goes.  I need to be ruthless.

On Monday, I started a new online class called "Mastering the Layers," all about gel plate printing.  It was a great impetus to make the new studio a place I could work and learn .  Check out the link to see all about the class and a fun video with the teacher Carolyn Dube.

This is just the paper I used to clean off my brayer.  I love the colors and imagine with what I learn in class I will be able to turn it into something special.

Art is You, Stamford CT

I had such a wonderful time, taking two classes and selling in the vintage market. . . and while I was reveling in the friendships and cameraderie, I did not take very many photos.  A blog for me is all about the photos, so I am definitely gonna have to get used to clicking the camera everywhere I go!

Our days started with breakfast.

They always seated me at a table with others, so I got to meet a lot of people I didn't take class with.

FIRST CLASS:  TEACHING YOUR PASSION with Marjie Kemper  click on her name to learn more

Marjie is an amazing mixed media collage artist.

Tips and tricks to photographing your project for a class. 

And how to make a video of ourselves teaching.

I may yet get pulled into social media for my business. . . oh my!

 My booth at the Art Trunk.

What was best about selling is that things I knew should have a market out in the world, actually sold here!  A new friend directed me to a site where more things will sell.  

Sales and new friends, what could be better!

SECOND CLASS:  DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS OF GEL PRINTING with Carolyn Dube

Click on her name to see photos from all the classes she taught.

Stencils with gel printing

 Working on four gels at once. . . 

. . . I'm gonna need some more gel plates!

 The Rock, as a way to understand color theory.

How I love Carolyn's sense of humor!

 When your work does not go as planned.

 I don't wear gloves, so you can imagine what my hands looked like during this class.
(I know, more photos needed).

Teachers having a last breakfast together.
The next Art is You on the US East Coast will be in 2020.
I'd like to be there, who knows, maybe even teaching!