Creatopia - Day 2

 

So off we go with day 2 then and it was Nunu's turn.

We used a stencil and 3d gel on a piece of fabric big enough to cover the outside of the portfolio.  Primed it with white gesso and then created a composition on the top. Painted using lots of water to get some drips.

Eileen has gone pink with her folio.

Sylv, Heidi and Helen.

Anna checking everyone was doing okay.

Back at the table for the next steps.

I managed to finish this one in the session. I nearly didn't add the bling, but glad I did as it really finishes it off nicely.

I didn't do anything else to it after I'd got home, however, there was bloody glitter everywhere!!!

After lunch, there was a raffle. Stapled onto our goodie bag was a raffle ticket, and mine was picked out first - thank you Sharon. This was my amazing price. Thank you Sam K.

And for the final project, it was Anna's turn again. 

Group 2 up at the main table where it all happens.

We did a paper transfer technique using soft gel, as you can see I have a few holes in mine, mainly the hair at the top, her ear, her eye and eyebrow and back of the neck!!! I managed to cover a bit of it up with the rice papers.

Our table all concentrating on their image transfers.

Next we added stamping using two different stamps and archival black ink.  Then stencilled with jewel paste.

There were different images to choose from, this is Janets.

The background was painted with watered down burnt sienna and umber mix and dried.  Then I added the burst of colour and drips, crimson acrylic paint really watered down and dripped and then dried quickly to keep the drips. The purple is sparks paints, again watered down and also celestial wax.

When I was home I added the beads on the forehead, the pebbles and the writing over the eyes.

Had an absolutely fantastic weekend, a huge thank you to everyone for being there.

Creatopia - Day 1

 

We arrived on time at Stanhope Hall in Horncastle. We found our seats, said hello to everyone we needed to and then looked in our goodie bags.

Anna was first up due to a little mishap with Olga's boxes as Sam K was ill so couldn't bring them first thing. Not that it was an issue.

Sylv doing her sound of music impression!!!

Anna walking the room after the first step of the project.

Anna chatting to Vix and Brenda.

Eileen and her table working on their projects.

Nunu and Olga with the boxes for Olga's project.

Shelagh and her table.

Her table had the strawberries, of which I was offered one, but I don't like them - but thanks anyway.

Our table, Caroline and Nana.

And Helen and her table.

Vix dryin her piece whilst doing a circus act.

And this is what I'd done. Fibre papers and jewel paste.

Back to the front again with Anna for the next steps.

And this is my finished piece.

Afternoon project with Olga and her boxes.

Stencilling and then painting the card in different colours.

Gessoed the bits and one piece of card, ready for the metallic waxes.

Cut the papers up into different sizes of rectangles and glued them on the box.  Used a matte wax and an antique wax mixed and then took off the excess with the clear wax and a cloth. Created a centre piece which you can just see part of, top left.

Raku Taster Workshop

Today I attended a Raku taster workshop just this side of Gainsborough with Laura Lee.

She has a lovely studio in gorgeous grounds.

Inside the studio, Laura giving us some instruction for the different pots.

First we used the oxides and then did a double dip in the glaze.

Then we wondered down to the firing area and put them all inside a make shift kiln.

We then came back up to the studio to prepare the next two whilst the first one was frying as well as a plain pot for everyone.

Laura all kitted up in her fireproof PPE taking the oxided pots out of the kiln.

One of the guys added straw and a bit of sugar to the bucket whilst the other one wafted to get a fire going.

 Then they put the lid on to seal it.

Then the double dipped drippy ones went in the kiln.  And the plain ones came out of the other kiln.

Whilst the pots were still extremely hot we were invited to press all sorts onto them to create different patterns on them. There were all sorts of different combustables, feathers, horse hair, leaves, other plant parts, lavender, grasses and animal hair.

Then it was lunchtime and we all got our own little box of goodies and were invited to go and investigate the gardens and the moat and have a picnic.  I went and sat under a shaded tree as it was extremely hot, around 28 degrees!!

After lunch the last two pots were taken out of the kiln and this time covered in sawdust, but this is a special wood sawdust that brings out the gold in the oxides and glazes. I took part in this one and was in charge of the dustbin lid!!!  Wafting to get a fire and smoke and then starving it by covering the edges of the lid in the sawdust.

We then all got a spray bottle and as Laura took the lid off we all sprayed the pots to cool them down.

And the same again for the second lot from the sawdust.

And again, we sprayed them to cool them down. Once they were all cooled down we washed the smoke and debris off and also used a wire brush to get them cleanish.

I took a photo of them on the grass when I got home.

This is my favourite one and all I used was Bailey and Dillons fur.