Christmas in August!

​This morning I did my class at the Cumberland Lodge. We made rag wreaths for their Christmas Bazaar. In preparation, last night I ripped what seemed to be a hundred miles of fabric into one-inch strips and then cut the strips into 8" lengths. I didn't rip all of the fabric because I wasn't sure how much we would use. As it turned out I cut about the right amount of fabric, but they all wanted the same fabrics so several patterns went unused and others I had to rip the rest of the fabric that was in the chosen patterns! (Note to self for the future... less fabric options!)
 
I got the fabric in a serendipitous moment a couple of weeks ago, when I decided to drop into Fabricland to see what my options and prices were. As I walked in the front door there were two displays of Christmas fabrics... wait for it.. at 60% off! It was even cheaper than the plain cotton so there was no question... SOLD to the lady with the rag wreath class!!!
 
Some of the students finished their wreaths today, others want to continue to work on them on their own, so I left the wire wreath frames and fabric with Cheryl, the Program Coordinator, and she will look after supplying the residents with the materials they need to keep working. It's one of those tasks, like knitting, that one can do while watching TV or chatting with a friend.
 
By the way, the finished wreaths are beautiful! I was totally impressed.

​Painting Tip: Small Experiments and the Redo!
 
As an artistic explorer, I tend to test things out on 5" x 7" canvas boards, panels or other surfaces. This way I can get a feel for the medium, technique or style. There is not a lot of product or expense committed so if it doesn't work out it's not an issue... the panel gets thrown back in the box for future experiments. Some get left as they are and others get a coat of black gesso for their next starting point. The ones that turn out get framed and sold.
 
Before I did my 36" x 36" piece, "Sunshine River Dance", which required a large amount of silver leaf to be applied, I worked on three different 8" x 10" canvasses to determine what processes and techniques would work best for me. Those got thrown back into the pile, but will make great backgrounds for some future interesting pieces.
 
Even realistic paintings can become very effective backgrounds for mixed media paintings, rather than gessoing over the canvas and starting again. In mixed media and more contemporary styles, the more layers there are, the more interesting the painting becomes.
 
Just remember that you can't ruin a painting if it has a more impressive future life!

Painting Update: ... and More Cards!
 
I'm having a ball with these greeting cards. They are like exploring on those 5" x 7" canvas boards... let's just see what happens!
 
This week, those cards that I had applied the paper napkins to got a colour saturation reduction with a coat of white gesso thinned with some water. I wanted them to be more in the background, rather than being the card itself.

Once that was dry I mixed some Iridescent Gold paint with gloss gel medium and applied it through stencils. I like the effect, but they still need another layer of something to finish them off. Not sure, yet, what that layer will be, but it will come to me, I'm certain! 

​While waiting for those to dry I played with the black cards using Interference paints applied with my fingers, rather like cloud formations. The shimmer of the Interference paints is amazing on the black card, although, as with the "napkin" cards, there is still more to be done.

So that's it for me today, other than to say that I purchased some items for a new project that I am anxious to get started on... creating the persona of the four seasons with masks as the focal point. I'm really looking forward to this project and want to have them ready to exhibit for the NEST studio tour nestudiotour.com/ on September 17 and 18. I hope you will be able to make it!
 
Best wishes,
Susan