Tidbits

Well, it's almost mid March and hopefully the worst of winter is behind us.  I am sure I am not the only one who is ready.  I finished two new plates of stamps this week that I can't wait to use in the studio.  These include my first imagery that will work well to support the words and phrases that I included this go around.  I call the images, tidbits, since they are on the small side as most of my art is.  More to follow on them and the availability when I get the demo sets back.  I am just a wee bit excited.  The rest of March will be a blur.  Lots of artful gatherings here and one I am attending in a suburb of Kansas City with a group from my Collage Club. I am excited to be returning to Art & Soul for a couple of days and even more excited about doing a demo at Stamper's Ink on the 21st.  I then return home to finish off the month here.



Today I worked on an altered book spread for a collaboration in my club.  The theme of this month's book was zentangle art and I am the thirteenth one to work in it.  I seem to be Moon-obsessed since I chose the sun/moon bookends as my inspiration for my the alteration.  I began by gessoing the text on the right side (2 thin coats).  I decided to work the theme with a black stabilo pencil and Pitt Pen so I could have finite lines and ones that could be variegated.  There are several layers of Stabilo, applied wet and dry.  When the detailing was finished I applied one more layer of wet stabilo to the perimeter and watered it down enough to blur the edges with pools of gray.  I also used more stabilo in the interior to create shadows in the emptier white areas.  I am pleased with the result of my explorations and would definitely work this way again.

UPCOMING CLASSES:

March 21:                Stamper's Ink:    FREE DEMO   11:30 AM
April 11-12:             Stamper's Ink:    Three classes.  For samples and descriptions click here.
April 26:                  For Keeps Sake: Transformations  10:00 AM- 1 PM

Wanderlust

 Round and Round we go........where we'll stop nobody knows.

 

This is a whimsical project that stemmed from being cooped up with two standard poodles for a couple of weeks because of the snow.  I have WANDERLUST.  I was so excited when my good friend, Barb Rogers, dreamed up that stamp for Rubbermoon.  I couldn't wait to use it.  Who doesn't get wanderlust? Now, usually it means something a little more exciting than actually taking two dogs on their first walk in my subdivision for ages, but today it was just that. It was so exciting to watch sidewalks reappear this afternoon due to the melting snow and spring-like temperatures.  So I guess I had local wanderlust.  But I do have it for longer trips. too.  More on that later.

Wave hi to my inspirations, Angus and Tucker.

 

 

Today's walk provided the inspiration for the scenic nature of the tumbler.  As you can tell, my dogs are poodles so don't look anything like Sunny Carvalho's, but I was dying to use several of her brand new stamps so I went with a whimsical scenic extravaganza.  

I amassed some supplies including a photo insert double walled tumbler that I stockpile from Starbuck's, some Golden Fluid Acrylics, Adirondack Dye Ink pads (Stream, Bottle, Meadow, Butterscotch, Denim), Ranger Clear Resist (recently renamed as Ranger Watermark Resist Ink), Ranger Perfect Medium pen, cosmetic sponges, thin liner paintbrushes, Perfect Paper Adhesive, glossy (non-photo) paper, and an assortment of Rubbermoon stamps.



*******Linked list of those stamps to follow below.

The first step was to use the paper found inside the tumbler as a template.  I drew around it and cut it out. 

Once cut out, I planned my scenery by setting out some many of the stamps.  I left them there as I began the resist stamping.  I used several of Kae Pea's Mid Century Moderns as well as some of the  square stencils she designed for StencilGirl, and randomly placed them throughout the scene.  It does not show up well in the photo since it is clear, but you can see the lower border I stamped if you look closely.  Don't worry--all will be revealed. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                

 

I used the Perfect Medium pen to add some grass detail that would become ground level for my scene.

If you are familiar with my book,  Texture Effects for Rubber Stamping, this process took up the whole first chapter.  I allowed the resist ink to dry for about 15 minutes and then took one cosmetic sponge and alternated coloring in a circular manner with ELBOW GREASE, to bring out the resist ink. In the next photo, you will see the result. 

Once this dried in a few minutes, I added another layer of the same colors to make the color transitions a little smoother.  That can also be achieved by adding some brown in various areas to unite the color, but in this piece I wanted the colors to stay vibrant.  I did a lot of air drying for this project but you can heat to dry for about 10 seconds to hurry the process.

I then began the stamping process using the same inks that were already used and the addition of an Espresso Adirondack pad.  Many times I add detail to the resist with a reverse stamp, or by off-setting with the same stamp.  I started my stamping by doing that in the background and border. I repeated that concept with the stencil again as well.

Stamp List in Detail:

Lil Flower 1
Lil Flower 2
Sunflower
Lucy Bird
Beg Your Pardon
Linear
Three Rings
Mod Marks Dark
Mod Marks Light
Geo-Metric
Light Crescent
Inksplat
3 Story Home
Musical Notes
Forget Me Not
To the Moon & Back
Be Mine
Joy
Wanderlust (available at Rubbermoon, but too new to be online)
Star Tree
Braided Circle

Detailing the resist grass was a little more challenging but doable.  I wet a liner brush and drug it through my Bottle inkpad and drew grass.  (sorry for the lousy lighting).  I then put a drop of Titan Buff, Quinacridone Magenta, ,Bronze Golden Fluid Acrylic on my palette and began adding some "noise" throughout the grass area, highlighted some stars, the moon, the house, etc.  This is my favorite part, believe it or not.

I decided I wanted to add some more depth so I stamped the musical note background in meadow onto some of the leftover glossy. I loved that the pad was so juicy that there was extra ink on the solid part of the background. I stamped, separated by line, and outlined in black the Moon and Back stamp and affixed it to the glossy with matte Perfect Paper Adhesive.  I then handcut and outlined three hearts and affixed them just above the dog.  I hand drew balloon markings and strings to atttach the balloons to the leash. 

To finish this tumbler off, I outlined the perimeter with a black Sharpie and signed. I chose to spray two light coats with a Krylon UV Resistant Sealer to keep the colors sharp. 

Here it is in totality--flat.  There's a lot going on in it, for sure!  It changes, though, once it is in the tumbler because the circular shape allows the eye just to see parts and it becomes just enough for my eye.  

To place in the tumbler, just roll it up similar to the inner barrel and slowly push it in.  It will naturally expand once it reaches the top.  Screw the bottom of the tumbler back on. I handwash the tumblers I've done for myself and they still look fresh and brand new.  Make yourself one.  It will make you smile all day.

       AND YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS THE END??????? 

BONUS:  Here's my mainstay personal one that is 6-7 years old and used frequently:
(Angus photobombed the third picture that I took in my powder room in pitch black. I had no idea he was there until the flash delay occurred.  I had to leave it in.  He's such a ham.)

 And finally.......

THE END

Retro January Part 2

I spent some time a couple of weeks ago looking back at altered calendars of Januarys from years past.  Today, I pulled out some more and revisited them again.  Again, it is interesting to see what I was doing ten years ago in these collaborations.  Today I revisit 2004 and 2005.  The 2005 calendar base was Mark Rothko and the 2004 was a magnetic calendar with no particular theme.

I was quite taken with the juke box in the picture above.  So much so that I made it the focal point of that page and took a stroll down memory lane with what songs I would put in it.

 

Harlequin pattern still remains a favorite of mine as are chalk inks.  

A mish mash page that also includes some cold weather art by Sam who was 10 at the time.

 It's fun to see my old Christmas cards again. 

As always, water media dominated a lot of artwork I would focus on.  

 Hearts anyone?

Gymnastics was a part of every January for many years. I'm glad now that it's over that I documented the good, the bad, and the ugly.  It's a lot easier to look back on it now.  Thanks for looking with me. 

STENCILGUY For A Day

PSSSSST.... tell everyone.......................................
I am the Guest Artist on StencilGirl's blog today.  Everyone thinks it's my mom, Nancy Curry, but I am really the inspiration behind all of her best work or the power behind the throne.  You see, when my mom is in her studio, I am there by her side, encouraging, licking her leg, stealing scraps, wandering, chewing stamps, crunching the corners of canvas board, wandering, ringing the bell to go out, and then back at her side again as close as I can get. At times I even am on the desk to make sure things are going well.   My presence brings out the creativity in her because she has to focus hard to finish in record time before I get into trouble somewhere else. My brother, Tucker (the less attractive gray poodle pictured with me), is not nearly the muse that I am.  He merely sleeps in the family room whenever she heads in the studio.  He does not participate in any supervisory tasks so he gets no credit. I did allow him in the picture with me though.  He's the perfect contrast for my multi-colored locks.

I really like StencilGirl stencils.  They are so fun to take off the desk and run round with in my mouth.  I do prefer the 6 x 6 size. It's fits in my mouth better with less overhang.  I sometimes return them.  Sometimes............

I encourage all of you to check out the artwork that she created especially for StencilGirl.  You'll find it here.  I won't expect any thanks at all.  It's been my pleasure and will continue to be my number one task when I am not chewing my elk antler. Visit me on her personal facebook page or if you are all about the art and not about me, her facebook art page.  I'll be here relaxing (aka- plotting my next adventure.)  See you soon.   

xoxo,

Angus

It Was Never Random

It's Saturday night and I took some time for myself in the studio to put together a quick card for my daughter, Sam.  I can't remember if I mentioned it or not, but she's transferring to a different college for the rest of her PT undergrad.  It was a difficult decision for her to make as a junior, but a brave one and we are tickled to death that she got into all three schools she applied to so she had some good choices.  She settled on our alma mater here in this household so off to PA we go on Tuesday to help her move in. 

I thought it might be nice if she got some mail fairly soon so I decided to pull from my scrap area and pull together something uplifting and whimsical, perfect for RubberMoon's wheelhouse.  I really went at this completely spontaneously, so it morphed as I went along.  I started with the Moon Unit house and my all time favorite sentiment, "Sprinkle Moondust Spread Magic" and a piece of leftover glossy polka dotted thinner cardstock that I thought would be perfect for the house.  I often do b/w work in the winter so why should 2014 be any different? 

Once stamped in black StazOn, I made a moveable door and cut out the windows with my X-acto.
 I stamped the sprinkle sentiment on pink cardstock and cut it out like a banner and began looking for other potential embellishments and stamps that could be used on this "moving" or "new beginnings" type of card.  

I settled on some paper florals with black pom pom centers that eventually I would draw white stems for to fill in the bottom and then added the banner raised on pop dots for some more visual texture.  A thicker gel glue or gel medium is perfect for this adhesion.  A pearl brad made the top window just perfect.  My card was starting to take shape. 

I began to work on the sky by stamping a moon (lt crescent) to hang, and then I stamped my own stamp, "It was never random." onto a piece of matching pink cardstock and cut each word apart.  Those of you who have seen my paintings know that one of my recurring motifs are the stars that hang on strings in the sky.  I used the same concept for the phrase on this card. I cut a thin piece of shiny floss for each word and used double-stick tape to attach at the cardstock.  As shown below, I then pulled used more tape and tucked the floss under the top piece of black glossy and the used more adhesive to put that piece down permanently. 

I added some gems at the base of every floss to punctuate them and called it a day.  This photo taken on a chair gives you more definition of the edges than the top one.  Black glossy is a bear to show depth at times, but it is a favorite of mine anyway.  I hope Sam enjoys this empowering card that's a commentary on my belief about life. I hope she can spread her own magic and, finally,  I hope you enjoyed my night of whimsy. 

Circle of Life

I've been working for a few days on an altered book spread for my collage group and was really excited when the gal chose an engagement calendar for us to alter.  Hers is a 2011 Kelly Rae Roberts calendar that lends itself to these changes very well.  I had the calendar for two months but took the month of November.  Bev loves quotations and words so I kept to her instructions and used some of my own stamps as well as others I have accumulated over the last 17 years.  This is one spread from the month.  The left page is a Citrasolv manipulated piece that I added black and bronze Golden fluid acrylic to with the new Red Rubber Palette from RubberMoon. The right page is folded and the skins from my studio provide an interesting center to the triangle shape.  The page behind that is cut to provide more avenues to see underneath.  Yes, I still love layers. 

SO.........................


I participated in an altered calendar exchange for 8 years and haven't taken them out for a few years to look at.  I thought I would revisit some pages online during January and early February.  . In these round robins we always started the month of January with our book so these will all be pages from my calendars.  ENJOY.....................  Today's snippets will be from 2005 and 2007. 



Our focus until a year ago was gymnastics during the winter.  17 years of focusing that way.  It's fun to look back.  My calendars always included season info, interspersed with the art.  My calendars were always viewed as my playtime so I often did work that had nothing to do with what I was doing in my studio at the time.  They were a great respite for me. 

Late in 2006 and the  year 2007 brought many changes as we were transferred from Cincinnati to St. Louis, but chose to stay in Ohio until Sam was done 8th grade.  Jim lived in St. Louis and commuted on the weekends.  The sale of our house was endless and all I thought of was the move.  What a year! 

It's so funny to look back and see what was trending.  My best friend, Charla, had just sent me my first taste of toasted almond coffee beans.  I can still remember how yummy the coffee was.  We were also excited to be taking a 12 day cruise in the Mediterranean with the same friends that summer.  It was a fantastic trip as well. 

That's all for this week everyone.  Stay tuned for some more ruminations throughout the month of January. 

Believe 2014

BELIEVE: (verb)  1. accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of. 2. hold (something) as an opinion; think or suppose.    SYNONYMS:  think, be of the opinion that, have an idea that, imagine, suspect, suppose, assume, presume, take it, conjecture, surmise, conclude, deduce, understand, gather, fancy, guess, dare say

It's a word used everyday in real life, the art world, journals, greeting cards, tv diatribes, talk shows, etc.  I haven't even chosen it for a rubber stamp because so many other people have. It's a word you don't even really think about because it is so pervasive.  That is until what you believe is tested.  What you thought was true, is not.  What you believe on faith only, wavers.  It's easy to say you believe in something or believe something to be true until that moment.  And the aftermath of that moment.  That is when what you really believe becomes apparent.  Life is full of these moments.  Some we chose to engage, and some we chose to let slip by, clinging to what we KNOW is true.  My moments to engage came over eight weeks this fall.  I am still in the aftermath.  I am still making sense of it.  I am still seeking the truth that I so want to believe.  It's an intense process that becomes all encompassing.  It's a process that is lonely.  It's a process that you must go through to accept the new normal. This process will continue on into the opening moments, maybe weeks of 2014. 

I celebrate my personal journey with this piece of art.  The focal piece was a Citrasolv piece that I originally manipulated early in the fall.  I played with it a little in November, adding some more solution and then using some foil and alcohol inks to enhance the color.  Today, I used Jessica Sporn's 9 x 12 stencil for  StencilGirl to create the focal ledge using Titan Buff, Mars Black, and Bronze Golden Acrylics.  The charm is actually a left over from a Charming Charlie's necklace that I used for something else.  PPA holds the metallic fibers together. 

Happy New Year to all.  I am looking forward to 2014.  I hope you are, too.  


UPDATED WINTER TEACHING DATES:

Ephemera Paducah, Paducah, KY :  March 7 & 8   2 all day classes
Stamper's Ink, Kansas City, MO :     April 11 & 12  3 classes

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....................