Where in the World is Nancy Curry?

I may look like I haven't been too creative of late, but fear not, I'm a visiting blogger on the StencilGirl Talk blog today.  Come and see who I'm crushing on and what I was able to do with just one of her debut stencils.  Here's a sample to whet your whistle:

So what have I been up to since I last posted, you ask?   Pouring, pouring and more pouring. I've immersed in the fluid art process for the last couple of months with a few days off to teach and exhibit in Columbus at another great Artiscape event. Oh, and a trip to Virginia for Easter.  And then there was that longer trip to Bermuda and the East Coast in May.  After each trip I've come back to renew my excitement with something new.  I'm working hard to find my artistic voice and learn the ins and outs of densities, what additives play nicely with each other, etc, but it's mostly my voice that is important to me.  Each pour is an adventure and I'm happy to go along for the ride. Here are a few of my favorites so far: 

Stay tuned for more.  There are many more on all my social media sites (videos, too) that can be reached at nancycurry.com or search for  Nancy Curry Art on fbk, IG and YouTube.  My teaching schedule is there as well.  There are a couple of TBDs that aren't on the calendar yet.  Check back for that info later. 

Summer is a great time for artistic play.  Try something new.  Find a different medium to learn.  Immerse in one of these fine books that are out.  I've really been enjoying my stash that includes Jodi Ohl's, Natalie Kalbach's and Cathy Nichols'.  It's  5:00 somewhere...make it count. 

Once in a BLUE Moon

Sometimes art in the studio comes out exactly as you imagined, but often it doesn't.  There can be detours and wrong turns, or "ah ha" moments that change that dull that first image in your head.  I don't mind those times of "flux" at all, but today was not one of those convoluted days for me.  This project came out exactly as I had mentally pictured it.  I will savor the moment and invite you to savor it with me. 

I chose the following stamps to use:


               once in a blue moon
               spiral crescent moon
               catch a falling star

I must mention that these are new stamps as of a week (to me) so I was very excited to see what they would do together. I got out the following supplies:

              
               Pitch Black Adirondack pad
               acrylic paint:  blue, white, pink
               Gel Extreme gold gel pen
               black Sharpie

I then searched for a piece of background paper from my stash and found one that I thought fit well with the other choices.  The paper below is a waste paper of sorts that I make in droves after I've done one of my resist classes.  In this particular class my students use Ranger Cut n Dry foam with Ranger Adirondack dye inks to add color to glossy paper. I bring the pads home and set them out for about a week to dry out some.  I then spritz them with a mister and press cut glossy paper into them and set aside to dry.  The variegation you get is different with each pressing.  I add more water when necessary and then move on to the same pad when the ink is almost gone.  I then rinse the pads out for the next class.  So two purposes are served:  (1) I use up

the rest of the ink on the pads so there is very little waste.  (2) I get the most gorgeous array of papers ready to be used at a moment's notice.  Try this technique at home and see what you get.  It's a great thing to do when you are in an artistic funk.  The colors jumping out at you seem to jump start my creativity!!!!

The stamping part begins to make the composition come alive.  All three stamps were done in Pitch Black Adirondack Dye Ink (any black in would work well except a pigment.) 

I then began to add acrylic paint to the moon and flowers as a textural accent.  (HINT:  switching media automatically adds a visual texture to a project.  The opacity of the pinks in the flowers changed the look of the stamping on the busy background.  It made them pop.  While the dots of blues to make the moon indeed blue added a tactile texture with the thick application.  Two different ways to add textural interest and indeed make this a mixed media art card. 

 

When dry, I mounted it on a snippet of black glossy followed by a pale pink textured scrap of cardstock.  I have to admit, I am pleased as punch with it!  It's fun working with RubberMoon stamps because they allow you to really get creative in mixing your point of view with their whimsical nature.  It's a perfect fit for me when I want to get back to my roots.  You can find more RubberMoon stamps to add to your collection here and more of my work on my Nancy Curry Art page on facebook or my main website. 

Jingle all the Way

Well,  it's the wee hours of Christmas Eve day if you celebrate.  It's December 24 if you don't (just sit back and enjoy all the hubbub of last minute frenetic activity if you don't.)  I've been with family for a couple of weeks and there's nothing that means more to me.  Jim finally joined Sammi and I over the weekend at my sister's so except for the dogs (who are at the spa - our politically correct terminology) we are able to see everyone.  The recent snowfalls made it a little difficult to move Sam out of her current college, but were beautiful to see in the woods that dominate the Pennsylvania landscape.  We are happy to see her move forward to our alma mater, Gettysburg College in January.  She will continue preparation for getting her Doctorate in Physical Therapy there and we will get to have a lot of Pizza House, our favorite spot.

Knowing that I was coming east for the rest of the month, I did work on this project in my own humble studio before I left.  I've just been stitching since I've been here so that is a nice break from what I usually do. I decided I wanted a little celebration that could sit in an easel in my new sunroom.  Once I knew size it was easy to figure out what I wanted to use.

To begin, I took a 4" x 4" Dick Blick canvasboard and painted it with two light coats of Golden Fluid Acrylic Titan Buff.

I then used the new Red Rubber Pallete from Rubbermoon.  This is a very firm piece of backed rubber that can be used with many different mediums.  I chose Golden acrylics in Titan Buff, Silver,  and Bronze to mix in a thick layer on the palette.  To create an interesting pattern, I took one of the Catalyst Silicone Blades, and ran it through the paint, before grabbing a 2" x 2" piece of Stampbord ( a small clayboard piece by Ampersand).  I then gently pressed the front of the white Stampbord into the paint and pulled straight up.  It pulled a texture from the blade and allowed for some peaking of the paint as well.  This was set aside to dry.

While my piece of Stampbord was drying, I repeatedly stamped the jingle x 3 stamp with StazOn onto a scrap of white art tissue paper.  I tore it haphazardly and then affixed it to the canvas with Golden matte medium. 

While the other two pieces were drying, I stamped the Christmas Tree in a Pot stamp onto another scrap of tissue paper.  I then trimmed it and mounted with matte medium it in the center of the now dried, painted Stampbord. 

Once mounted and dried, I added color with Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Inks in rust, espresso, and bottle with a liner brush as well as a dollop of white gesso for the star on top of the tree. 

Before mounting the Stampbord, I cut a 2 3/8" x 2 3/8" piece of spruce colored cardstock to act as a mount.  I then mounted both with Scoretape. Once mounted, I wanted a tiny bit more texture so I added small dots of Golden bronze with a toothpick. 

I hope you enjoyed this little project.  As many of you are starting to tell, I love to work small.  

Enjoy this wonderful time of the year no matter what or how you celebrate. Thanks for following me on my journey this year!  Stay tuned for 2014....................

Wonderment

Wonderment.  I love that word and knew I had to attach myself to it on my first plate of stamps.  I love it because of the level of emotion describes.  I love it because it is rarely used anymore in this form.  I love it because that feeling of admiration and amazement is such a joyous feeling. And finally, I love it when you just happen upon it...yes, happenstance (another favorite word).

I often look at art with wonderment.  Mostly other people's, but every once in a while I look at something I've done and it takes my breath away.  Not necessarily because it's the best thing I've ever done, but because of the journey I've been on that I never expected to begin.  People's creativity does give me pause.  Ideas that I would never have in a million years or in a million years would never be able to execute just take me to another place totally.  So, not a surprise that art would cause wonderment, but I've spent some time thinking about what else does.

• trees...really any.  I am fascinated by their lines, their history, their everything
• old couples holding hands....I'd love to know their story
• "anticipation" during the month of December.  This covers everything from lights, to traditions, to family time, to a service on the 24th.  
• the ocean....I could sit next to it or be on it for quite some time without getting bored.  It's another place where I tend to lose myself in my thoughts.
• Sam.  best thing I ever did.  I think Jim would agree.  Those who know me well know the backstory.  It isn't pretty.
• time.  memories. moments.  

That's just my short list.  I am sure there are more.  What causes you to feel that crescendo of wonderment? Oh, and be sure to check out my spot on RubberMoon's blog from last week.  Enjoy!!!!