Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

It's finished!

Did you read my last post? Here is what came next.

The bottom painting is complete. Time to do something with the top.

Old book pages and loose threads collaged on.

All is overpainted with watery green and bronze fluid acrylics.

Gothic "ruin" windows are added over top.

The area around the windows is darkened for contrast.

Circles are added [the colour & shape inspired by our miniature crab apple tree].

A hand-cut stamp is used to add architectural elements.

White connecting lines are added under the windows.

White connecting lines are gone - replaced with one large, soft line.

The large, soft line is collaged over with hand-stamped and painted paper.

[Made in my last Stamps, Stencils & Collage Papers workshop]

And... here is the final piece: "Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other"

A mixed media painting, 36" x 48". It will JUST fit in the MINI Cooper ;)

Next it goes to Ottawa to be juried for the upcoming OMMA

[Ottawa Mixed Media Artists] Art Exhibit: Proverbs, JAN 2014.

A detail shot, including some of the calligraphy.

I have SO enjoyed my time in the studio, trying a new approach to my work.

Thank you Flora Bowley for your inspiration!

And thank you to all of you out there who told me about Flora and her book.

Have a creative weekend everyone!

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The Muse Journal Video.

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Creating Mixed Media Paintings. Take 2.

It has been a glorious summer, filled with creativity here at my Merrickville studio. I hope you have found time to free your creative muse over the last few months!

A repeat of the Creating Mixed Media Paintings workshop was held on August 17 and 18. A bright, exuberant group of women quickly embraced the spirit of creative exploration and play for the weekend. At one point there was such a lovely, out-loud AHA! moment, that it was suggested I should be recording audio instead of taking pictures ;)

busy playing and exploring

creative energy filled the air

working in the paint

blending beautifully

concentrating on a corner

working in the air

blend, blend, blend

graphic collage

We created with acrylic paints, inks and mediums, collage, texture, words and even pennies! This was an intense weekend, with two pieces to work on. Most pieces were finished - some were taken home to add that "perfect something".

Halina

Halina

Elaine

Marg

Marg

Kathryn

Lee-Anne

Christine

Christine

THANK YOU to all the wonderful participants of Creating Mixed Media Paintings! You rock!!!

Enjoy these last gorgeous days of summer and keep creating :)

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Stamps, stencils & collage papers. Oh my!

We had a lot of fun in the studio on August 3rd and 4th in the Creating Stamps, Stencils and Collage Papers workshop. It was a small group, but creativity filled the air!

Summer time is quite busy for most people, so I will be offering this workshop again in the fall by popular demand. Keep an eye on hollydean.com for the dates and details.

Congratulations to Katharine, Spike and Janice - you created beautiful work!

An intimate group of three :)

Katharine chooses an image to carve in Softoleum

Carving a stamp out of craft foam mounted on Coroplast

A couple of Katharine's collage papers

Another of Katharine's collage papers

Spike carves a stamp out of Softoleum

Making collage papers with paint and hand-cut stamps

One of Spike's collage papers

Another of Spike's collage papers

Janice works on her collage paper

Simplifying a photo to turn into a stamp

One of Janice's collage papers

Another of Janice's collage papers

Beautiful hand, Spike!

Thank you to all the Fabulous Participants who have been so lovely to create with and I look forward to seeing you here in the studio again! I am SO enjoying teaching these Fabulous Workshops :)

Three more studio workshops are now open for registration:

Creating Mixed Media Muse Journals

*NEW* Extreme Texture Mixed Media Paintings

Creating Stamps, Stencils & Collage Papers 

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Collage Creativity.

It was another wonderful day in the studio yesterday as four keen, creative people gathered to take part in the Creating Mixed Media Collage workshop.

We worked on 18" x 14" gallery canvases, beginning by laying down a layer of collage elements to create a background.

Next? A layer of paint, blending and scrubbing with brushes... dark and light areas for contrast.

I am constantly amazed and excited to see how every person expresses themselves in such different ways. Everyone created a unique piece while using the same techniques.

Cheryl

Linda

Nora

Spike

 It was a day full of play, creative energy and exploration. Well done, everyone!

THERE ARE STILL SPOTS LEFT FOR NEXT WEEKEND'S WORKSHOP.  JOIN US!

The next Fabulous Workshop happens on Aug 3 & 4 - Creating Stamps, Stencils & Collage Papers.
Do you love painted and patterned collage papers? Do you want to create original papers with your own hand-cut stamps, stencils and everyday objects? Join mixed me for this two day workshop - absolutely no experience required!

You will: transfer patterns onto softoleum; hand cut your own stamps; hand cut stencils from plastic stencil blanks; explore the use of everyday objects for pattern-making; use your newly made stamps and stencils to print fabulous collage papers with acrylic paint; discover imagery resources; play with brayer printing techniques.

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