Catching up on March...

Well, now that we are in April maybe I should do a little catching up.

Through some friends I found out about Roco 6x6 for the Rochester Contemporary Art Center. Once a year the sponsor an art show of 6" x 6" art work from around the world as a fundraiser. You create the art and donate it and each piece is for sale for $20. So my bestie Rebecca and I decided it would be fun to donate art and go to the opening and our flights to New York are booked. So exciting!

Because I'm having so much fun with the Gelli plate I decided to create my contributions as monoprints. Below are the six pieces I'm donating, two of which are collages.

 

Here are a few more Gelli prints from just playing.

This is one I enhanced with doodles.

Why is the Gelli plate so addictive?  ;-)  Until next time happy creating!

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Some play time...

Today I managed to set aside a couple hours to play with my new large Gelli plate. After watching a video by Andy Skinner I pulled out some Nickel Azo Gold, Titanium White and Paynes Grey which are colors I don't use often and had some fun.



This one is on 14x17 mixed media paper but I think I need something heavier for the larger formats.






These two are from pulling left over paint from the plate and some brayer cleaning. The red is Lumier which seems to work good. I have started using Golden's Retarder to extend the drying times and it works great.



I also am in very first almost art show. My local Dick Blick store had a Tape Up art show in the store and I took in one monoprint collage I made last weekend. Now I need to step up my game and try for some others.

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Big Gellin...

My mom bought me the 12x14 Gelli plate for my birthday and it came yesterday. Could hardly wait to play with it. I need to get some bigger sheets if paper though.







I also found a line of stencils I hadn't seen before from Joggles.com and bought some as a birthday present to myself. I did manage to play with one of them today.



This is a monoprint collage that I did today and I'm really liking how it came out. My local Blick's is having a special thing next weekend where you can bring in up to four pieces to display and try to sell so this one is definitely going. If I'm productive enough this week I will take more.


This one is almost done. I'm thinking I'll add some hand drawn lines and circles.


This one is from cleaning the brayer and my hand carved stamp and may still be a work in progress or may be used in collaging.


Another play one.


This is another play one so we shall see what becomes of it. I want to start making collages from monoprints and my grand plan is to at least start one this week. As long as I don't fizzle after work that is.

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Crafty Time...

Last weekend was crafty time with the girls but first we all went to art journaling with Mary Freeman. It was fun to watch the girls get into it. My friend Rebecca (scrapbooker) has gone with me a couple times but this time we were joined by Misti (another scrapbooker) and Stephanie (likes to Zentangle).

I recently started another journal but a much larger size. I'm enjoying having all that room to work although I was initially afraid of all that space to fill in.






This page ended up much differently than it started in the colors. The beauty of paint is if you don't like it just cover it up. I still want to add some words so it isn't done yet.

After a lovely lunch and a trip to the art store, the rest of the day was spent with each of us working on various projects and enjoying each other's company. I'm addicted to Gelli plate printing so worked on that.












This first round was using an idea from Jane Davies where she sets up a color/pattern on the plate and prints on sections of various pages and overlapping as she goes. I'm definitely going to try that again.


This one is a combination of a page I used for cleaning the brayer and then added some printing.


This one was printing layers using the whole plate and a large stamp, a stencil and hand cut masks. I really like this method but want to branch out more.

Next step is to collage with Gelli plate prints.

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I'm Gellin...

I'm having a bit of time off today for MLK Day and really should work on work stuff but having creative time instead.

I pulled out my Gelli plate and started playing. Needed some inspiration so checked out Pinterest for a bit and saw a new video available from Gelli with some great tips for painting layers. Check it out here.







I decided to give it a whirl but with a tree. I'm not done but here's my progress.






These are the other two I started. Hopefully more play time next weekend.

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Art Journaling with a twist...

So much fun yesterday! Started the day with driving through a monsoon to pick up my bestie Rebecca and then head to art journaling with Mary Freeman.

The challenge was to decorate a box to hold thoughts and dreams for 2014 to be opened at the end of the year. I haven't sat down to work on a perspective for 2014 but the box is ready.






Trixie thought the card board would make a good chew toy.









After class Rebecca and I met up with Mom and Sis (Sherri) for lunch and then Sis and I finally went to see The Hobbit. Loved it but it was funny when the entire audience protested at the ending that left us all hanging.

After the movie we headed back to Rebecca's to collect a table and chairs she gave Sherri and to help her put together one of those metal shelving units. Of course after getting all that done, table delivered and errands run it was te to eat again. All in all a good day with creative time, fun and fellowship.

Last weekend I also played with the Gelli Plate and created some monoprints I forgot to post. Probably going to do more with them but here are their current states.



This one is ghost prints.





On this one I outlined the stencil image in white to highlight it. My next step is to see if I want to add some collaging to it.

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Birthday celebration...

Last weekend was my birthday filled with fun and laughter brought to me by my gal pals, Mom, sis Sherri, niece Natalie, Renee, Rebecca, Misti and Stephanie). Friday night was a slumber party with games of Catch Phrase. Saturday was a leisurely breakfast of Lochs & bagels (yum!) and fellowship. We eventually moved to the dining/art room and had some crafty time.

I worked on a piece I made previously but didn't like. Made some color changes and am happier. Here is the before and after.















Sunday was some fun time at Chucky Cheese celebrating my youngest niece's fifth birthday.











Sad all the partying has come to an end until next year.

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Merry Christmas!

Wishing all a blessed and joyful Christmas.



This year I made monoprints with a little added splattering since I had so much fun with it at Art and Soul. I love how each one is a little different.



On another note I have a big wall in my foyer that I've been trying to figure out what to do with. Found some picture shelves at IKEA and made an art gallery out if it. That part was Mom's idea and I wanted something that would work for changing art. Hopefully I will get myself in gear this year and sell some of it.



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