November starts the Art Every Day Month 2011 challenge. As I tried to figure out what to do I found myself paralyzed by my inner critic. I had to find a way around that critic so I just started writing my favorite word, trust. I wrote it in different pens. I wrote it in different directions. I wrote it until the page was full. Then what? The inktense pencils I just bought were too new so I decided I needed to break them in. I could feel that inner critic settling down. I began to just play with the colors and had a blast! That is what I want my month of art to be about -playing and the fun!
Tracy Stilwell guided me through my first real sewing adventure. I have sewn paper, bits of fabric, even a tote, but never on any clothes I could wear. While we talked at the start of class I realized I had some serious sewing issues. Did home economics class in high school scar me? Apparently. I was intimidated by patterns, deciding which stitch, would it hold up in the wash, etc. After a day with Tracy I realized it is just another medium like paint! A whole new world opened up for me. I chose to do a face because I have had limited success with painting faces. I thought that while I have a teacher with me I’ll try the hard stuff. I truly love this face. I feel so much more comfortable with faces now. Thanks Tracy!
I started with an old paint shirt that I had rubber stamped years ago with Stazon ink. I started creating the face on the back. I started with the basics and Tracy guided me on how to create more interest with layers of fabric.
There are so many amazing teachers and classes at Art is You. It is so tough to pick but I was beyond thrilled with Jodi Ohl’s class.
I watched her painting and I was thrilled with how a painting looked in the beginning. I had no idea how much farther it would go by the end of class. The lesson I learned: I fall in love with some of the backgrounds I make- to the point I hate to cover it up. Those layers aren’t precious but they are important. They add depth to the art.
Another lesson I learned was to not give up on a painting. I thought where I started was so-so but as I added the layers I began to see how the early layers played a role in the look as I continued to add more. Where I was less than thrilled was just another place to put color, a stencil, a stamp, a smudge.
Here are a few shots of Jodi’s in class demo in progress.
At this point I loved the painting! I felt it was amazing here but she kept going at made it even more interesting.
Jodi doesn’t like wasting paint. I love that because I hate to waste it too. We used our extra paints, the wet stencils, and any other supplies on a group canvas. It looked a bit chaotic at the end of the first class but when I saw it later in the week I was blown away. Wish I had taken a picture! I can’t wait to take another class with Jodi!