larger than life

Yesterday I taught my larger than life painting class and as usual we had a BLAST! Everyone was crawling around on the ground, painting big and making a huge mess!! So much fun- here is a peek at some student work...

hand carved stamps!

Last night I kicked off teaching at the CREATE Retreat with my hand carved stamps class. What a blast we had carving up anything and everything! And the best part is that everyone walked away tons of their own super unique stamps to use in their mixed media projects! Here is a peek...

easy printing on fabric

I have been working on a number of sewing projects, one being an art quilt to hang on the wall. And since I typically never buy printed fabric and instead make my own, I set out to create some unique quilt squares with lots of texture.

I am always trying to find new and different ways to create pattern and texture on the surface of fabric and paper and using simple materials is my favorite way! If you haven't heard of scratch foam then you are missing out! It is basically a thin piece of soft styrofoam that can be scratched and "carved" into with simple tools. Made for kids but perfect to use in simple surface design projects when you are looking to transfer pattern and create texture. (a piece of regular recycled styrofoam could also work)

I started by cutting out squares of scratch foam in the size of the squares that I want to quilt with.

Next I started drawing into the surface of with a chop stick- but you could use tooth picks, pens pencils or anything with a point.

I covered the entire surface of the scratch foam with my drawing (or doodle).

I created a few different surfaces with different designs.

Next, I grabbed a variety of Tulip Soft Fabric Paint- one of my favorite products to use when painting or printing on fabric- lots of fabulous colors to choose from and the best part is no heat setting required!

I covered the scratch foam with an even layer of fabric paint,

flipped the foam over and pressed down firmly onto the surface of plain white fabric.

and then pulled the scratch foam plate from fabric to reveal my design.

Note- this technique of printing pattern with the scratch foam is not going to get you perfect clean design every time (your should use block prints, stamps or event silkscreen if you want clean designs)- in fact each printing gives you something a little different and each and every print reveals some interesting and wonderful texture!

I printed all my different squares

and got lots of unique texture and pattern.

I covered the surface of about 1-2 yards of fabric.

Last, I cut out each square in preparation for designing my art quilt which will be coming soon :)

the ups and downs of being an artist

If anyone tells you or gives the impression that being an artist and creative entrepreneur is fun, perfect and fulfilling all the time- they are lying (or at least not sharing the whole story). While most of my days are spent in a wonderful creative whirlwind- my days are typically 12-15 hours days 7 days a week- no paid vacation, sick time or the ability to blame the supervisor or even complain when I am overworked. I've reached a point this week where I am wishing I had some paid vacation or the ability to call in "fake sick" just to get a day to breath or even complain to a supervisor that someone should have scheduled things different this month. But no such luck- when you work for yourself those days have to wait and there is nobody to complain to (except yourself!).

After returning from the Inspired Retreat in North Carolina late Sunday night (oh what a FABULOUS 5 days it was!) I've had three days to cram preparation for another four days of teaching classes at the CREATE retreat this weekend. That means finishing up class samples (paintings and finished projects), gathering supplies and tools, finishing up making products to sell at vendor night and packing everything all over again. It is days like this that I actually (can't believe I am saying this) have moments of nostalgia for the 9-5 job.

And then after everything is finished, everything prepped and packed and I drag my tired self to another retreat- I get up in front of a class and start teaching and all that frustration is gone and I am once again excited and in love with being an artist and can't imagine my life going any other way and will gladly do it over and over and over again. :)