Saturday 23 February 2013

Altered Art

Very exciting at college this week. We were encouraged to divide our work into 'final'  & 'draft' folders. Well, I'd run into the shop on the way to buy milk & met my lift share college buddy & hopped straight into her car, leaving my 'book bag' in my car fully exposed to all & sundry.


I had 3 original plates, a couple of finals & about 10 draft pieces in the bag. (this is Skye you know ;) I must drive my teachers mad but luckily I had left a couple of pieces  to dry at the college. So, once we'd sorted things out, we were encouraged to work into our draft pieces with....inks, pencil, colored pencils, gold markers & watercolor.



 I really couldn't believe I was being given permission to play & to make a pretty mess, Fabulous! These first 2 pics are a gloopy first print like the 3rd image from last week. What a difference a bit of doodling makes. I was excited to leave white in the one above & stitched at home on the top one. I mean, mounted up nicely I could well have a couple of saleable works.



This one above was the one & only intaglio print I'd done - (my bag was still there on my return so I can make some more ;) Watercolor washes, then white ink which looked a little thin to me so I added gold acrylic at home using a satay stick & the edge of a card, oh my! See here for the original print, scroll down to 3rd from the bottom - just black on white.



 Above was a clean up print with a wash of ink, scribbled on with pencil then terracotta  & blue pastel here & there. Original same link as above, half way down the post.   Might keep this one ;)


 A black & white altered with plum ink, pencil swirls & blue & plum pastel. Original again the same link as above, 3/4 the way down.. Well, just up my street all this, really.


 Above is another  attempt at stitching from the back round a heron shape, then cutting carefully around the fabric on the front side, but it looks a mess & I'm doing myself no favours having such an uneven surface. I may have to try using the  'slip' method, read about inWorkshop on the Weban article by Stephanie Redfern. Her blog is great & she's just gone wonderfully colorful. Not sure if she mentions the slip method on her blog at all.



Last but not least is our new addition to the family, Willow. We've been cutting willows back & it seemed right when we saw this little thing peering out of the Cat Protection basket. She's 4, an older lady who was feeding her moved in with her son &  having the mother was enough, apparently, so she's not been abused, just abandoned. We wondered about putting our 18 yr old Sconser under stress, but she's completely in charge & we really need something to chase the mice & rabbits away. If you're wondering, she's very happy & secure in the bath !

21 comments:

Maggi said...

Lovely to see what is happening as you are working into the prints. Lucky Willow to have found a happy home with you.

ju-north said...

Willow seems to be completely at home with you! Love the development of your work!

Suztats said...

Oooh, lots of wonderful eye candy Emma! Love that intaglio piece.

Anonymous said...

Willow's adorable, the bath looks quite comfy and she looks quite secure there.....Lovely playing going on there....A wide variety of ways to go with what you are doing...Shall be good to follow all this progress....xox

Julie said...

Looks like lots of fun emma. I'm going to be stitching from the back in a workshop tomorrow so I'll let you know how I got on. I'm glad you got your bag back and I hope Willow settles in well, she looks very sweet. I hope she's up for a cuddle.

Beverley Baird said...

So much lovely pieces you've created! Such an interesting range as well!
Your new little cat is adorable - she will be a great addition.

Iz said...

The prints are amazing, very inspirational! I've got a friend whose cat sleeps in the bathroom sink...

Heloise said...

The first two look as if they are embellished metal, stunning. Off course I like the bright colours. Does the cat mind you turfing her out so you can have a bath?

Naida Willis said...

Very appealing work, with interesting textures.

Kim Henkel Creations said...

What fun! I love making things and then going back to work into them again. Although sometimes I struggle to know when to stop. Wonderful creations!!

Robin Mac said...

What fun you must be having with this class - and what gorgeous stuff you are creating. I think the first two photos are stunning and I love the colours in the intaglio print. Lucky Willow, she looks very contented. Cheers.

sue said...

It is pretty obvious that you are having a ball with all these explorations Emma - I can feel your enthusiasm seeping out over cyberspace! She really is a pretty kitty ... x

Fibre frenzi said...

College course sounds brilliant!

Linda Vincent said...

Great pieces Emma...I especially like the top two. (I also thought they were metal at first; very effective).
Willow looks adorable...we get our rescue cat tomorrow; cant wait!
xx

Living to work - working to live said...

Lovely stuff. So sorry, haven't dropped by for ages and you have been creative. This print course looks really interesting.

I can really see the potential for some of these images with a bit of stitch!

H

Anonymous said...

Willow is gorgeous! And the images from your course are fantastic. Such an interesting range of colours and mark making - I find that in situations like that I tend to default to a quite narrow range of outcomes but your are all so different and so lovely!

ArtPropelled said...

Lovely to see what you are up to. Exciting work, especially the first 2 images and I like the shape of your heron. It would make a lovely stencil or carved rubber stamp.

Dorothy said...

Some interesting pieces here, love your colours.

jackie said...

I am jealous both of the sunshine and your course which sounds great. I am pleased that you have made some room for the new watercolours.

mano said...

willow is so cute! I think she is very happy with you!
I looked to your last posts and I have to say that your work is really beautiful! I think your course is very interesting.
:)) mano

Dorothy said...

You are an inspiration with all your lovely work and being so willing to share it with us all, we are blessed.