Paintover Technique for Vintage Image Madness

I spent my weekend working on calendar art for Vintage Image Madness.
I settled into working on the "paintover technique" as shared by Lisa Bebi in the Spring 2008 issue of Stampington's "Stampington Workshop," a technique I've long admired and have wanted to learn. It's addictive.

I wasn't completely happy with the first three pieces that I did (the red/orange/pink palette), but things seemed to come together when I switched to an "ocean" palette. Following are the results.

I found that the armhole of multiple sized toddler top patterns worked really well as a design element at the top of the page, you'll see these peeking through each piece. This is an idea I lifted directly from the magazine, although Bebi used the armhole pattern to suggest mountains in a background. Here, I just wanted a visual for the motion of the dancer.

One thing I did discover is that the acrylic paint is easier to work with using a drop or two of "glaze" (I used Golden's satin finish glaze) on the photograph parts. I like a dry brush look better for the background, which is especially evident in the blue/beige piece.

A Webster at My House

(click on the picture to see more shots of the web)

There is the most AMAZING spider weaving her web between the house and garage, I've been watching her for a couple of weeks. I'm so happy to have gotten some shots of her web using a flash at night, the web is invisible during the day. Reminds me of a necklace I have that I wore quite a bit in the 80s -- when folks - women mostly - took on the symbol of the spider web as that of a writer - word weaver, Webster, etc. I think I still have it.

G.I. Joe in Drag

Check out G.I. Joe in drag (Project Runway Challenge #6) at my other blog...

The Artist's Nook on August 2nd

Wow, not much time or inclination to blog lately, the art and writing has taken a back seat to some family health issues. But, in early August, I did manage to bring two worlds - Blythe and Art - together for a moment.

My friend Jody and I went to Fort Collins, CO the first weekend in August to do a workshop with Lynne Perrella. Lynne's ability to raise creative energy in a group is unrivaled, I think. It was held at the Artist's Nook, a wonderful art store and workshop space in Bellevue, just a few miles outside of Fort Collins. The store and workshop space are located in an old house on a lot filled with wonderful rusty things.

Lynne does a "roundabout" in her workshop, where we all introduce ourselves and talk about where we are on our creative journeys. When it came to be my turn I ended up blurting out that I was making doll clothes. For some reason folks found that interesting, so I talked a bit about Blythe, her history, and the sub-culture that's risen around her. I was pretty surprised. I feel a little sheepish about the whole thing, but it does have me thinking about what does an adult get from playing with dolls....there are a LOT of us!

I just *happened* to have my Blythe doll (Stella) with me on the trip for picture-taking, and Lynne agreed to allow me to take her picture with Stella. (Thank you!!!)

Stella and Lynne Perrella at the Artist's Nook in
Bellevue, Colorado on August 2nd, 2008.

Stella watches the History Channel in the hotel room.