spring in the garden

Spring has definitely sprung. Winds, sunshine, everything growing with gusto. Here are some pics.

Crumpled plastic grocery bag technique

I'm not sure how well I explained this earlier, but since I'm getting questions - I'll spell it out for those of you who want to try it.

 I often press crumpled plastic grocery bags (I prefer them to Saran or other wraps) over wet acrylic abstracts to get a textured effect, let it dry a bit and then pull it up. I reuse the bags for several projects so they often get wonderful colors on them.   (If the paint is still wet when I lift it - I'll press the bag onto another painting, or blank paper to transfer the texture again.)

 This time the plastic bag looked so interesting that I figured there must be a way to use it. I cut it into big pieces and glued it to watercolor paper with acrylic gel medium, and rolled it with a brayer. The painted side was facing down. I wasn't sure it would adhere - but it did. Then I cut them into ATC size cards. That's all there was to it. I just hated to throw away something that I liked so well. I hope someone else tries this and will share their results.

Collaborative work

Recently I sent some of the new background ATCs and cards to my art pal Jackie.

 She surprised me yesterday by sending them back - but altered. She collaged over them. These are a few of the results. I am wowed by how good they look, and how they took on new life with a second pair of hands. Thanks Jackie!

White grid in background

Other artists have been so interested in the web spray paint, I'm glad to help bring it back to the art scene. Some people asked what I used for the white grid on the background. I had a plastic "thing" - I think it originally came with fabric trim wound around it. I use it to spray through usually, but this time I wanted a grid look without covering the background. I painted gesso on it with a sponge brush. Then to make the impression I covered the plastic "thing" with deli wrap, and rolled over it with a brayer on top of the background paint. I had to really push hard because the paper is stiff.

New backgrounds for ATCs and 4x4s

This afternoon, I reworked some old acrylic backgrounds and took them outside to spray them with webbing paint.

SICL art class March 15

Headed for the hills

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings..."

My heart is in the hills; I gravitate back to the Sierras. This is my new hang-out. Views show the

trailer, the screen room where lots of art things will be going on.