Infusions Mini-Album–Completing the Title Pages

This afternoon I made the title pages for Books 2 and 3 of my Infusions Mini-Album. One or two of them had to be left to dry, and I will complete them after this.

Again, I used up some of the reject/spare pages. For the first one, I should have chosen a stencilled one that didn’t use Polyfilla because there was one of those to come, but once I realised, it was too late! I added text with the white Uniball Signo marker pen and a black archival pen, and added some white Rub’n Buff and Treasure Gold to the raised parts.

I did the text in the same way on the Stencil with Polyfilla title, and added some Treasure Gold to the raised parts.

Simple text on the next one. I think I had it in mind to add some hand-embossed leaves and flowers to this one so I hope I’ve left room for them!

For the Added Texture title page, I thought I’d use a mixture of textures. From left to right: bleached mulberry bark (I tore off a tiny fragment), coarse pumice gel, regular matte gel (for attaching the mulberry bark), glass bead gel medium, and finally crackle paste. These have to be left to dry overnight, especially the crackle paste which needs time in order for the cracks to develop.

Acrylics title page. In addition to the usual pens, I also added some shading to the text, with a soluble graphite pencil and a fine wet brush to blend it out.

For the Gesso title page, I decided not to add any card, but simply to spread gesso onto the squashed toilet roll, taking the gesso over the black painted edges. As I needed two pages for this title (to make the page numbers work), I added some texture by patting the surface gently with the flat of the palette knife, taking this effect over onto the right-hand page a little, but leaving a smooth central part for writing on. Once this was done, I sprinkled on some Black Knight Infusions from Set 1 and some In the Navy from Set 2, and spritzed it with water and left it to stand for a bit, before drying the surface with my heat gun. These pages will have to be left overnight for the gesso to dry completely.

Finally, the Cling Film title. I am not sure whether what I have done will work! I wanted to leave some cling film on the page, so I scrumpled some up and attached it with a thick layer of heavy body clear gel medium. Once it is dry, I shall trim off the excess cling film. This was attached to a spare stencilled piece with a very blurry image on it, from about the third impression of a wet stencil. We shall have to see how this turns out after it’s been left to dry.

More Infusions, Garden and Kitties

Infusions

Today I have been back in the studio for the first time for ages – what with the work being done on the kitchen and other activities, I have been very busy, and in between too tired to do anything, but I was determined to continue with my Infusions experiments today.

I am nearly at the end of the samples that I am going to create, and today I spent most of the time working with Infusions combined with white fluid acrylic paint and gesso.

Here are the materials I used for creating a marbled effect using white Pebeo fluid acrylic paint and Infusions – Sleight Blue and In the Navy from set 2.

I painted some of the acrylic paint onto the large acrylic block and sprinkled on the Infusions in both colours, and then spritzed it with water to activate the Infusions. I pressed the card down onto this and made sure good contact had been made all over, and then pulled it off, and these are the results.

Top left: the first impression. Top right, a second impression after spritzing the block with more water. Bottom left, third impression, ditto, and middle right, fourth impression, ditto. By bottom right, fifth impression, much of the interest had gone because the Infusions had blended too much into the somewhat watered down paint that remained on the block. I had to press the card repeatedly onto the block for this one, to ensure complete coverage. However, to get five impressions from one block is pretty good! The first two are pretty similar, but on close examination you can see a bit more texture from the paint on the first one. They get more muted and subtle with each impression. You could do this technique equally well directly onto a non-stick craft sheet or a gelli plate, I should think.

Next, I did the direct-to-paper method of marbling with acrylic paint.

In this case, I painted a layer of the white fluid acrylic onto two pieces of card and sprinkled the Infusions in the same two colours on top. Spritzing with water activated the Infusions and they started to flow. For the first one, after spritzing, I blotted it very lightly and then left it to stand for a few minutes, and then dried it with the heat gun.

For the second one, I alternated heating with the heat gun and further spritzing, and added a bit more of the Infusions half way through, which gave a slightly stronger effect.

I think on balance I prefer the more subtle effect created by the printing method.

I then moved on to some further experiments with gesso, beginning with spreading gesso through a stencil (my own honeycomb stencil which I cut myself). For these pieces, I used Terracotta Infusions from set 2.

I spread the gesso through the stencil using a palette knife, being careful not to be too careful with it! By this I mean I wanted a fairly distressed, incomplete look.

After doing this, I immediately turned the stencil over and blotted off the excess gesso onto another piece of card, to get a fainter, reverse stencil effect. I dried the gesso on both samples, using my heat gun, and then sprinkled on the Infusions and spritzed them with water.

The gesso acted as a resist. I spritzed and added a bit more Infusions and tilted the card around to get the Infusions to flow between the raised gesso. I particularly like the subtle effect of the second sample, with the reverse stencil effect.

I then remembered a technique I used ages ago which I really liked – boiled gesso! I spread some gesso onto a piece of card with a palette knife, deliberately keeping it pretty rough with different thicknesses of gesso across the card, and then, before it had a chance to dry, immediately heated it with my old, high-powered heat gun held pretty close so that the gesso boiled and bubbled up. Once it was dry, I fanned it to cool it, and then used my fingers to squash the bubbles down onto the card to stop the tops of them flaking off. You get a gorgeous texture this way.

Adding some of the Terracotta Infusions from set 2 and spritzing it with water, this is the result I got. Pretty good!

Here’s a detail shot where I tried to show the texture a bit better. Hard to see in the photo but I love it! This would look good with a touch of gilding wax on some of the raised parts, I think.

My final samples today were done with cling film.

I cut a piece of cling film larger than two pieces of card and spread it out but not too flat. I sprinkled on two colours of Infusions – Violetta and In the Navy, both from set 2, and spritzed them well with water.

I then took the two pieces of card and placed them down on top of the spritzed Infusions.

They immediately started to curl up, but it didn’t matter. I flattened them down with my fingers, and carefully lifted the whole thing up, gathering the cling film a little at the sides so that the Infusions wouldn’t run off too much, and turned it over. Using my fingers, I scrunched up the clingfilm to create a nice texture across the two pieces of card and walked away and left it – how hard is that!! – with this technique you can’t peel off the clingfilm until the paint is dry. Patience…

Later…

The Infusions had dried by bed time and I gently peeled off the clingfilm, and this is the result.

I think these came out really cool! Definitely a technique to repeat.

I discovered most of these these techniques online, but I’m afraid I can’t remember who did what, so I give a general thanks to everyone for blazing the trail before me.

Our Garden

The Clematis montana growing on the end of the garage is now in full bloom! It is so pretty. This picture was taken from my hubby’s study window upstairs.

In a few years, this prolific plant will have grown to cover the end of the garage. Next year my hubby will extend the range of the two trellises by adding wires along to right and left, and over the top of the window. It’s going to be glorious.

Taken from the same vantage point, the Forsythia is now in full bloom as well, and looking very pretty beside the steps to the upper garden. Beyond it, you can just make out the blossom on the apple tree. A few weeks ago my hubby’s brother came over and helped him prune the apple tree, and it’s a nice shape now, and hopefully we’ll get a good crop again come the autumn. The apples it produces are delicious.

Finally, another shot from the study window, looking down onto the water feature/rock garden outside the kitchen window. It’s looking quite pretty now.

Eventually the aubretia plants we put in will cascade over the wall, making a pretty display.

Kitties

The news isn’t good for either of our two old ladies now. Today Phoebe was unwell again, very listless and not interested in food, and she was sick a little bit, and produced some very small pellets of poo. The vet said that eventually the cancer would cause a blockage. However, we didn’t take her to the vet today, because when she was unwell before, she suddenly rallied and started eating again, and since then she’s been very well. She did eat a little bit at lunch time, and a bit more at tea time, and she seems a bit better now. We are keeping a close eye on her and are both realistic enough to know that eventually we are going to have to take her to the vet and have her put down…

As for Beatrice, for some time now, her balance hasn’t been that good when clambering into her hammock, and she’s been quite wobbly especially in her back legs. Today she seems a lot worse and even just walking along, she appears drunk. If she shakes herself while on her feet, she tends to fall over. She is eating well and is very communicative and purrs a lot, as usual, and is taking her usual interest in things, and her fur is in good condition. Again, we are keeping a close eye on her and my hubby thinks it’s just old age – if she was a human she’d probably be using a granny frame by now! She hasn’t had a stroke, we are sure, because it seems to be mostly both back legs that are affected and there’s no sign of hemiplegia. We don’t think it’s arthritis either, because she doesn’t seem to be in any pain. If it gets any worse we’ll take her to the vet but my hubby is sure it’s just old age. She is nearly 17.

Salisbury and Cotswolds Holiday–Day 2: School Reunion–Post 2 - Art

Warning – Picture rich post!

As I mentioned in my first post, I took so many photos today that it was impossible to include them in a single post. I decided to dedicate a separate post to the quite astonishing art which is being created in my old school. The old science block has been converted to an art building with spacious, well-lit studios and a full staff.

On entering the building we were presented with a display of finished works by the girls. The ages of these girls ranged mostly between 15 and 18, and at the end of the day I was completely amazed at the extremely high standard of work, which in many cases was easily diploma-standard, from such young people. I learnt a lot today, about techniques and materials, and about attitudes to art, and about what it is possible to achieve with hard work and perseverance.

A small installation inspired by a field trip to St. Ives in Cornwall, the site of the famous art colony and the gallery, Tate St. Ives.

The next picture was of particular interest to me, having recently read Edmund de Waal’s book “The Hare with Amber Eyes.” This installation was inspired by the ceramicist and consisted of vessels made of ceramics and textile.

One of the main aspects of the art education at the school is the inviting to the school of established artists, who share their work and experiences with the girls. They are then asked to set the girls assignments based on their work – not to copy or slavishly imitate, but as a springboard to their own creativity. The ceramics teacher who showed us the delights of the art block said that although they have a fairly extensive library of art books for reference, he does not encourage the girls to use these as a first port of call; he said that nothing beats meeting real artists and seeing their work first hand, in the flesh – he said it also gave them the opportunity to meet lots of lovely and interesting people! Edmund de Waal’s assistant recently visited the school and inspired that particular piece.

A project wall in one of the studios.

I had to photograph this working sink! I love all the paint spatters, and the stained palettes drying on the rack. One day my ARTHaven sink might look like this!

Today I came across a material entirely unfamiliar to me – a substance called Puff Binder. It gives a soft and flexible texture, somewhat bubbly in feel and appearance.

Experiments adding urea to ink.

One example of the amazing results achieved using scrunched up cling film.

Another project wall, this time in the textile studio.

Amazing ceramics.

A small room off to one side (originally a science lab prep room) was dedicated to the teaching of the history of art. I was immediately drawn to this picture, a photograph of one of the famous mediaeval stone carvings in the French cathedral at Autun. (We always say that the figures in these carvings all look like the actor Anna Massey!!) This one is a particular favourite of mine, and I once did a line drawing of it to use as a Christmas card. It depicts the three kings after their visit to the infant Jesus, being warned in a dream by an angel, not to return to King Herod, who had evil designs on the baby. In this carving, the eyes of the king whom the angel is touching gently with his forefinger are open, while his colleagues sleep on. What particularly charms and amuses me is the fact that the kings have gone to bed with their crowns on! Of course, no self-respecting monarch should ever remove his or her crown.

Further pictures on the wall of the History of Art room.

More amazing ceramics. Remember, the girls who created these were only in their mid-teens.

The next picture was of an amazing piece of work. Unfortunately because it was hanging in the stair well I was unable to get a full picture of it, straight on. It consists of a number of fish of various sizes, laser-cut from paper. An original was designed and photocopied, and duplicated many times in different sizes before being cut, and then mounted in an open frame between criss-crossing threads.

The teacher showed us the working book and portfolio of one of his most accomplished students, who undertook an exercise in distorted images; faces drawn from unusual angles, distorted through glass, etc.

Her final piece, a drawing of her grandfather, was the most arresting portrait I think I’ve ever seen, and was hanging in the stairwell.

There is no way in a million zillion years that I could achieve work of this standard, and especially not at age 15 or 16.

I was particularly drawn to the mixed media textured pieces inspired by visits to St. Ives and other seaside venues. Textures inspired by rock formations:

I was intrigued to see how much work was being done using corrugated cardboard – something I have recently been experimenting with myself.

One of the most promising students had conducted a study on animals and birds, and was working on textures and patterns inspired by the plumage of birds of prey. This piece was made from felt, inspired by the breast plumage of a kite, after a visit to a falconry centre where she took numerous photographs.

One of my favourite of her pieces was this amazing texture created from burnt corrugated cardboard, inspired by the wings of a vulture.

We had a long chat with the teacher when we returned to the art building after our tour of the school, and he gave us many insights. I mentioned that these girls must have amazing natural talent, and he shook his head. He showed us the portfolio of one particular girl whom he described as having natural talent, but her arrogance (she knew she was talented) and possibly laziness held her back. Her portfolio was full of good work, but it was slim in comparison with those of her contemporaries, and she limited herself to a small number of projects which she photocopied and re-used, and her exploration into different media was very limited.

The teacher then said, “Compare that with this,” and opened a large portfolio. This girl had pages and pages of preparatory work, photographs, research, etc. before she even began work, and she explored the texture or colour of what she wanted to achieve, using as many different media as possible. The teacher said this was the result solely of extremely hard work and dedication, and a desire to do well. She had no previous experience of art, but achieved so much.

This got me thinking, and I wanted to share this with you as a follow-on from my post about Jennibellie’s recent video about the dangers of comparing ourselves with others. So many people fail even to start with art because they think they are no good, or “can’t draw.” Through the work of his outstanding students, this teacher proved that with the right attitude, perseverence, hard work and a desire to achieve one’s desired end, nothing is impossible.

Last year, he told us, of the total final group (not sure how many girls, but I think about 25?), one achieved a grade C, another a grade A, and the whole of the rest of the group the top grade of A*. Each one could take their pick of any art school in the country.

Having done “embryo” art during my years at school, encouraging my infant creativity which has then developed to where I am now, I am very grateful for the start I had. However, the standard of teaching, and availability of facilities, were a fraction of what the school is now providing. Both my hubby and I were left completely gobsmacked at the high standard and maturity of this work. I hope this glimpse of a small fraction of what I could have photographed had I had a week in the place, has convinced you of this, too, and encouraged any who think they can’t achieve such things, to have a go, work hard, build on ongoing experience, and just see what happens!