Summer Camp 2013

Well, it seems as if we're at that time of year again, SUMMER CAMP at the Mount Dora Center for the Arts.  It's hard to believe that another whole year has slid by and the halls and classrooms upstairs are going to be filled with the sounds of upwards of 50 children.  A big "SORRY" to the folks downstairs in the Gallery and Artisans on Fifth!  Just think about that, all those kids and all that noise being your upstairs neighbors. WOW.

I'm super excited about his year's theme WILD ABOUT ART.  It's a great animal theme, which is so easy for planning interesting and fun and meaningful fine-art activities.

This year, again, I'm doing the first three weeks of camp then heading off to travel and visit (more on that later).   My weeks are How Does My Garden Grow, Wild Animal Safari, and Marine Life and Water Conservation.  I have some great projects planned, lots of mixed-media painting, some mobile making, Sculpy sculpting and other surprises.  I really can't wait.

At the Teacher's Planning meeting I was able to see what the other teachers will be up to in the other classrooms (3 art, 1 clay) and it looks like we have an amazing and talented group of people this summer.  There are some great creative projects planned.  How wonderful to be able to work and play with them all day.

I do love summer camp.  It breathes a fresh breath of life into the Center and gives me an opportunity to have community with fellow artists (young and old) each and every day.

Now do you know why I feel so abundantly blessed in my life?  That's right.

Gel Printing

I've been in a gel-printing type of mode here lately.  Gel-printing is essentially monoprinting using a gel pad made from powdered gelatin and water.  You know the kind, Knox gelatin in the orange box.  It's an easy process to make the pad and way fun doing the printing.

Savannah, age 7

I've been pretty busy printing away.  

I've done my own practice printing, a gel-printing session with my kids class at Mount Dora Center for the Arts, and a gel-printing session with my good friends at a 

Girls Night Out down in Winter Park.  

Each and every session had people oooing and aaaahhing over the process and the result.  It's very loose and free.

I could do this stuff every day, I love it so much.

Valerie, age 5

Annabelle, age 6

 These are just a few of the prints that were made.  We used a variety of things to create the images, from paper cutouts to plants, feathers, bubble-wrap,  plastic canvas, and eyelash yarn, just to name a few.  Most of the prints were made using 3 layers of color.  I used Golden Liquid Acrylics for the paint. It's just the most amazing stuff. 

Me, age 47

Me, again.

 The print above is the "ghost" print of the main print.  This is the second print that is taken after the masking items are removed from the gel plate.  It's definitely more ethereal and soft.  When using plants or leaves that have veins, the ghost is where those veins will show up now that the plant is out of the way and only the impression remains in the paint. Printing is sometimes hard to get your head around so I find the best way to understand it is to do it.  So, um, DO IT.  It's a blast (directions below).

Shaelyn, 11

Side by side~Lynn Tomlinson and me.
Lynn printed the girl print, I did the house.
Picture does not do this justice, it's pretty cool in person.
Girls Night Out - March 28

For everything you possibly need to know about gel-printing go to Linda Germain's website.  She has video of making prints, making the gel pad, and all sorts of tips.  You can find her beautiful work posted on her website, as well. 

Last, but not least, here are a few things that I learned through this process that might make life a bit easier to know.

1. You can use any size pan to make the pad, just pre-measure the volume of liquid for the size of pan and use Linda's formula for figuring the powder.
2. Use the plastic wrap to line the pan before pouring the pad, it makes life much easier.
3. Err on the side of a bit thicker on the pad.  Thin breaks up easier and is less tough (not so good with use by a lot of kids).
4. If you don't like the way the gel pad initially comes out, just chop it up and re-melt it and away you go.  No worry about error with this project.
5. I don't have a microwave, so when I re-melted I used a double boiler and it was fabulous and easy.
6. Stay loose and have fun, this is a great project.

If you give it a try, be sure and let me know.  

Happy Printing!

Sculpture Workshop

   I had a fabulous creative time this past Saturday at fiber sculpture workshop held at Mount Dora Center for the Arts. I spent the day with five other fabulous women artists.   The class was taught by Regine Dossche.

Class in Progress
Liz, Lynn, Kate, Regine, and me
(Krysta not picutred ~ Photographer)

Liz Wincup

Lynn Herrick

Kate Hall

Krysta Smith
Regine Dossche

and Me!

 It was beautiful, really.

We spent the morning building the body with wire, aluminium foil and masking tape.  Then we took a break for lunch at Oudom Thai right next door to the MDCA where we had an interesting time and experience with some new foods. There were a few first time Thai eaters, and Regine treated us all to fried cheesecake, which I had never had before.  Oudom does it in such a nice way, it was fabulous, but I think I'll try and avoid it. So bad! But, oh, so good!

making the armature

Kate Hall concentrating on her mermaid

After lunch we came back and used Powertex, a textile hardener that comes in beautiful natural colors...white, green, grey, red, terracotta, etc. to create the covering and drapery of the sculptures.  

Lynn Herrick

 

Me, work in progress, wet sculpture
adding her shawl

I loved this medium and hope I can explore the many other ways to use it. It seems limitless, really.  I'm so proud of my girl, I love her so!

finished sculpture
10"x7"x12"

Friday Snapshot

Student Work ~ Gel Printing
Golden acrylics with natural and man made objects