Saturday, May 24, 2014

ALCOHOL AND SHARPIE MARKERS



A sharpie drawing that I did a number of years ago.  These small pieces can be matted and framed for a quick sale or quick gift.







BASIC DIRECTIONS:
DRAW AN IMAGE ONTO CARD STOCK WITH FAT TIPPED SHARPIE MARKERS.  TURN IMAGE FACE DOWN ONTO ONE OR SEVERAL LAYERS OF FABRIC AND THEN LIGHTLY DOUSE BACK OF CARD STOCK WITH RUBBING ALCOHOL. USE AN OLD CREDIT CARD OR ANY KIND OF BRAYER TO SQUEEGEE BACK OF CARD STOCK.  WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES, LIFT EDGE OF PAPER TO SEE IF INK HAS TRANSFERRED TO FABRIC AND VOILA !

PERHAPS YOU HAVE CREATED A PIECE OF FABRIC YOU MAY NEVER USE OR PERHAPS YOU CAN WORK IT INTO YOUR NEXT FIBER MASTERPIECE !


YOU CAN SEE BY PIECE BELOW THAT YOU CAN USE THE FRONT OR BACK OF THE FABRIC...WHATEVER SUITS YOUR FANCY.
AFTER ALCOHOL
JAN WARREN'S DRAWING BEFORE ALCOHOL

       
JAN'S DRAWING AFTER ALCOHOL
ANGELA'S SHOW AND TELL OF "WHERE IS THAT AIRPLANE" INSPIRED BY MISSING AIRLINER THAT WENT DOWN SOMEWHERE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN....GREAT JOB ANGIE !

Monday, May 12, 2014

Art Journaling Class



ART JOURNALING CLASS:

We have all heard for years why we should keep a sketchbook.  Most of us have ignored that recommendation successfully but perhaps it is time we drop our fear of drawing and just go for it.
 I took a class on Art Journaling from Don West whose info can be found by looking up  the following: idleminutes.com/2011/02/23/why-sketch.

 He was very entertaining and suggested that we each live more of a "Dog's Life".  In other words, lay in the grass on your back and look at the clouds.  He expressed that all of our lives are so busy that we forget to look at the ordinary things around us.

I only took this thinking that it might jump start me to work on a sketchbook but had no idea how the words would flow into journal form once I started painting.

Don also said that when he first posted some of his sketches on his blog that he posted that if his images weren't good or were poorly drawn then the viewers would accept his apology right off the bat and he wouldn't have to worry about it anymore.  So please accept my drawing being very amateurish and clumsy so I don't have to fret about it.


 Don supplied a very small plastic box intended for fishing flies in which he put 6 watercolor paints.  Cobalt Blue, Prussian Blue, Yellow, Red and Yellow Ochre.  We also got the coolest little watercolor brush gizmo that holds water in its reservoir as well as a 20 pg paper journal on heavy archival watercolor paper.  Wow !  So all I need is my little fly box with the paints, my super cool watercolor brush and my journal.
 It has been quite amazing to me how meditative and relaxing this whole sketching business can be and I am trying to sketch a little each week.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Angela's Dr's appt in Delta and while in the waiting room did observe a wheelchair.  Why sketch a wheelchair ?  Once I started drawing it, I began to think about MOBILITY as I had not done before.  It was a little conscious break through from my normal everyday life.
Don West insists that if we keep drawing our pieces will HAVE to improve !  Here's hoping that is right.

I really look forward to our weather turning nice so that I can go into the desert and really do some serious sketching and meditating.  I like the idea of slowing down and pondering my little world.

Saturday, May 3, 2014

CHAINS, REBAR, SCREWS =ART?


Yes, these items can be used to make great fabric.
You just have to rust them with some vinegar, salt and water.  
Then they need to be wrapped tight and let set until 
you get the amount of rust that you desired.
This type of rusting gives you unexpected results.
The last post showed a more controlled type of rusting.

On the right side of this piece of fabric you can see
the results of wrapping the fabric around the
large chain in the first picture.
The other rusted spots are the result of placing
other rusted items on the fabric as well as some
of the rust that has fallen off the metal objects.
What can one do with this?
In the past I have dyed the fabric a georgeous 
turquoise and made it into small purses.
Unfortunately, they were given away before being photographed.
Sometimes you can see pictures in the rusted areas 
( like looking at pictures in clouds) and enhance them
with stitching.
But, I think that the most fun is in the doing.
I love to experiment with different surface designs
to see what can be created.
The one thing that it is important to understand
when using rusted fabric is that it is not archival.
The rusting could continue slowly over time.
I hope that you have enjoyed our little adventure into
rusting fabric.
THE "EARTH" WITHOUT ART IS JUST "EH."  unknown
gjeneve@gmail.com