The first two days were spent in a workshop entitled "Mingled Elements," a collaborate effort between DJ and Deryn Mentock. The description alone was enough to create excitement: "After creating a beautifully gilded art piece in class, we will send you home brimming with enough technique, information and inspiration to use in a wide range of artwork; from jewelry making to journals, including decorative elements that can be used in book making, assemblage, collage, altered art and everything in between!"
The first day focused on painting a face. I'm not a painter, so this was the most intense of the four days for me. DJ's focus on shapes and shadows was insightful. I don't think the world's great portrait painters need worry about competition from me, but I learned techniques and concepts that I know I will put to use in mixed media creations.
Day two was all Deryn. I found this a relaxed day. I'm neither a jewelry maker nor a wire worker, but I was enthralled with the unique framework the wire provided the portrait samples and definitely inspired by Deryn's jewelry. While I'd left a better hammer at home, I just decided to go with the one that I had and see what happened. Here's my finished creation. I was pleased with the end result and know that I have tucked away a lot of information for future use.
For days three and four, we moved on to creating an altered fabric collage book. The techniques were different (and for me, less stressful than those in "Mingled Elements. I think that the smaller face had a lot to do with that. Less for me to mess up!) Take a look at the outside of my book cover.
You can see the inside front and back below. The Battenberg lace fan had been a Christmas ornament that my mother made, a sentimental addition. I split the canvas that was originally to be the outside back cover into two pieces to create the front pocket and a decorative back strip. The flower is one that I made while playing in the wire class. I love the way the Glossy Accents make it pop.
I'm not sure how I'm going to use my book. I got rather carried away in adding color to my pages, so they're a little bright for journaling. I'm looking forward to more fun play in the future as the book determines its purpose.
Here's one last picture that I snagged from DJ's blog. That's me concentrating on my work - head down midway on the left side at the middle table. You can probably tell by looking what a fun, inspirational group this was. Thanks to DJ, Deryn, and fellow artists for four wonderful days of escape!
