I'm Trashing Winter!

Well, last week was an interesting week here.  I've struggled with Winter and finally decided to scrap it and start over (details below).
 
I also participated on the jury for an art exhibition being put on by one of the Ottawa art associations. This was a really great exercise for helping me deal with my ongoing battle with Winter... like a breath of spring air cleaning out those stuffy winter cobwebs!  When jurying I am always amazed at the artistic creativity presented: the different approaches to subject matter; unique handling of media; the skills involved in creating the art; and the pleasure it brings to viewers. I was not disappointed with this show! Check it out if you get a chance. It's "Spring Fling" presented by the West Carleton Arts Society www.westcarletonartssociety.ca/ at the Kanata Civic Art Gallery at 2500 Campeau Drive. It runs through March 19, 2017. 
 
In hope of Spring, I also changed my paintings at the Kevin Dodds Gallery, taking down winter themed paintings and hanging weather themed work.  The subject matter seems very appropriate as I have noticed that there is always some form of precipitation on Tuesday evenings, when my class at the gallery runs... snow, rain, freezing rain.  If you are in the vicinity of 1101 Bank near Sunnyside, please take a few moments to drop in and take a look.
 
This week is March Break for most schools, so many courses have been replaced by programs to keep kids busy while on their break… perhaps a chance to get some of my own work done in the studio. We shall see!

Painting Tip: Tissue Paper Backgrounds
 
These wonderful pieces can be used as backgrounds for things like floral paintings or part of an abstract or mixed media piece or gift wrap! If they turn out well enough they can be a finished painting just needing to be fixed to a canvas or board. You can adhere them to a surface with the use of polymer or gel medium. 
 
You will need:

• Tissue paper
• Liquid polymer medium
• Water
• Small container for mixing liquid paint
• Liquid paint
• Acrylic Inks
• Garbage bag
• Soft wide synthetic brush
• Spray bottle

 
 
The process:

1. Lay the tissue paper on the garbage bag on your work surface
2. Mix a watery mixture of liquid paint with water and polymer medium
3. Gently brush it on the tissue paper
4. Let dry or continue working wet
5. Drop ink on the tissue and allow to run by lifting the garbage bag at the edges
6. Use a water spritzer to make the ink run more
7. You can work wet and let the colours mix or you can let each colour dry before adding the next. It should be noted here that complimentary colours (blue/orange; red/green; and violet/yellow) will produce some neutral combinations when mixed together wet. This is neither good or bad, just depends on what you want to produce.
8. Let the piece dry completely before lifting it off the garbage bag and using.

 
Take a look at what artist Erika Déruaz www.erikaderuaz.com/ has done with some of her tissue paper backgrounds.

Painting Update: How Winter got Trashed
 
After gluing down the white moiré fabric, for Winter, it went clear when it dried and pretty much disappeared into the panel. I tried working with white and pearl inks, to bring back the white, but was not satisfied at all. Then I mixed up some white paint and gel medium to create the suggestion of snow, but I can't get the mixture under the mesh fabric so it looks silly. I have decided to trash the first version and start Winter again. Oh well, at least I've tried some different stuff and now have a better idea for doing the next one as I want it. It’s all part of the artistic exploration!

I started the background fabric for Spring and did some playing with the pieces, for composition, then I did the Spring masks using gems for the eyes. I think it looks better than those hollow lifeless holes that the masks come with. I also played with the fabric I got for Summer but felt that it was too different from the other seasons, so I planned to use that for an individual piece instead of the series. After leaving it for a few days I had another idea… sand and sky for summer. I played around with it for a bit and was really pleased with what happened. Now Summer is talking to me!

So, Winter has been trashed, although most of the parts have been salvaged and the panel can be used for a more textural piece; Spring is well on its way (in spite of the recent snow), with the background in place and the masks prepared and ready for attachment; and Summer is not too far down the road, with the background applied and lots of great ideas wanting my attention… I hear the studio calling! We'll chat again soon!
 
Best wishes,
Susan