Monday, August 15, 2016

If you find that...







If you find that 
you are thinking about how 
The Thread That Weaves 
has a place 
in your life and art.


This workshop is for you!

Including...

*inspirational and instructional 
videos based on a four week workshop
and available 

to access even after 
the workshop is over.

*projects involving 
painting, texturing, layering, collage, 

stitching and wiring.

*a group Flickr Site 

where you can upload and share photographs of your project and view and comment on other students progress.  

*writing, collecting 
and photographing prompts.

*a private blog where you will find all of the links to my videos and lessons each week.

*my consistent availability by email and contact with you on flickr 
and on our group blog

* creative and clear projects

*an unforgettable workshop 
spent with like souls 


The Thread That Weaves 
Video Links:

Click either the photo or the title!
The password for all of the videos is 
goldenthreads



Be The Light

Week One

The Thread and The Theme

Collaging Week Two


Week Three Making Layers




Possibilities



For Your Enjoyment...
Artworks from Seth Apter and Roxanne Evans Stout


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Workshop Overview



Workshop Overview

Welcome to The Thread That Weaves 

I cannot tell you how excited I am about this online workshop.  I now have a chance to work with artists like yourselves, who I may not have been able to work with in a real life workshop setting.
I want this course to be everything that you hope it will be!  Please let me know if you have any questions throughout the week.  Your thoughts and suggestions are very welcome.  

Here is a video where I share my thoughts behind my workshops...
"The Thread That Weaves"

 (click the title)
Woven Threads
(this video is public)

Workshop Schedule:

Week 1

This is our beginning.  During this week we will construct our books. I will give you choices on how to fold your books and then I will teach you how to make them sturdy and strong.   

Next,  I will demonstrate how to use materials such as gesso, matte medium and cotton or silk for added texture and strength.  Finally, I will show you how to tint the edges of your books that will give depth and compliment your themes.

Collecting and Writing:
Some of us in this workshop are just beginning the cold winter month of January, but on the other side of the world the warm days of summer are starting.  Collect colors that remind you of this season... These could be scraps of your artwork, fabrics, papers or found objects from nature.  Pile them, tie them with twine or string.  On scrap piece of paper write words to describe what this season means to you. Lay this on the top of your pile, underneath your string. 
If you like, you can use this prompt:
-three words that describe the sky or the skyline
-the name of the season
-two words that describe the smells or the weather 
-one descriptive phrase describing how this season makes you feel
-the name of the season
* you could also look up this season in different languages and choose your favorites to add here.



Week 2 
During our second week we will explore gesso and matte medium in more detail and use different papers and fabrics to make backgrounds for our collages.  
I will demonstrate making a mini-book, and covering it's pages with a loose, spontaneous collage of textures and patterns.

Collecting and Writing:
Take a walk outside, near your home or to a nearby park.  Collect five different leaves, twigs, buds or seed pods or whatever else captures your imagination.  
Bring them home to your worktable.  Arrange them or pile them on a piece of your own art, writing or fabric.  Try different arrangements and groupings, large to small, smallest in the center, grouped in a mandala. Make a list of what you have collected including a brief description. Photograph them. Photograph them with your list.  Cut up the list and "label" each object.


Week 3
Our third week will be spent adding collages on to our background pages.  This is the week that your themes will come to life.  We will learn about design and composition so that our images flow from one to the other, with the focal point in the center panels of the back and the front.

Collecting and Writing:
As you wake up for your morning coffee or tea, let your eyes wander around your kitchen or dining room.  Pick up three small objects that catch your eye, each should fit into the palm of your hand.  Write what the objects mean to you on three different scraps of paper.  Tear or cut the paper and place it near the objects.  
Photograph your objects and words near a window, but not in the direct sunlight.


Week 4
This is our week of putting it all together.  You have built pages that are meaningful and interesting, filled with your own ideas and dreams, your textures and your colour pallet.  Now it is time to decide which pages to use, and which to keep for a later project.  I will teach you how to attach your pages using threads, wire and glue,  different ways to have your pages open up to reveal something else and different ways to embellish them.  Finally you will choose some of your own threads to "weave" across the pages of your book

Collecting and Writing:
Gather scraps that were torn or cut off art work in your book, but did not get included.  Roll them separately or together and tie them with wire.  Add a few beads or buttons or other embellishments.  Write down your thoughts on making your "Thread That Weaves" book.  Randomly pile your scrolls on the top of your writing, so that only some of your words are visible.  Photograph  from different angles.

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Supplies for the Thread That Weaves


The book that we are making 
is a bi-fold tryptic

(about 5inches by 5 inches when folded), 
so keep this in mind for your assorted papers and photo-copied images!



 Workshop Supplies
- gesso
- matte medium
- old paintbrushes
- paper towels
- water dish
- water color or acrylic paints for tinting pages
- heavy watercolor paper 
(about one-half a sheet, 140lb, I like cold press)
- assorted papers of different textures,
(rice paper and tissue paper)
-assorted fabrics that fit your color scheme,
old lace, netting, mesh
- color and black and white photocopied images
(I just use standard paper that is lighter weight
and printed on a home computer)
- found objects from nature, 
- little rusty bits
- twine, string and thin, bendable wire
-a large needle and and awl
-a brayer (if you have one)
-jumbo paper clips


Here is a short video to inspire you...



(just a collection of artworks, quotes and music!)
password: goldenthreads



(photographed here are some optional and fun supplies you might want to use.)
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Constructing the book, Week One


Week One Overview:  
This is our beginning!  During this week we will construct our books. I will teach you how to fold your books and then I will guide you into making them sturdy and strong.   

Next I will demonstrate how to use materials such as gesso, matte medium and cotton or silk for added texture and strength.  Finally, I will show you how to tint the edges of your books that will give depth and compliment your theme.


Week One Supplies

- gesso
- matte medium
- old paintbrush
- tub of water
- paper towels
- ruler or straight edge
- two strips of cotton, silk, muslin or any other plain fabric, 
about 1 inch by 7 inches
- one piece of 4 x 4" silk or lightweight fabric 
for the center panel of your book
- two pieces of rice or other textured paper 
for the two back sides
about 4 x 4 inches
- some acrylic or watercolor paints, 
subtle colors that can be watered down for tinting.
- one square piece of muslin or heavy cotton, 
about 4 inches by 4 inches.

*Gesso is like a very heavy, white paint primer.  It makes your surface strong and gives you a wonderful background to work on.  You can apply it smoothly or unevenly.  Gesso dries white, opaque and without a sheen.

*Matte Medium for me is the glue that holds everything together.  I use it over the gesso, over collaged papers lace, fabric and over just about everything. You can apply it smoothly or unevenly.  It dries clear.

Before you start... if you have not used matte medium or gesso before try painting the surfaces of some scraps of watercolor paper with both. You can use these later. 
Also experiment using matte medium to "glue down" a piece of thin or textured rice paper. Use a coat underneath and over the rice paper.  Dab with a paper towel, I do this to give my piece a natural surface when it dries.

The video and the instructions go hand in hand, if you have a question about one, it may be answered in the other.
But if something isn't clear, please put your question in the comment box  at the bottom of this (and every) post!  That way, if other people have a the same question, it will be answered here and we can have a discussion!
View the video of
our first week here:
The password is goldenthreads

Steps
*Prepare one piece of watercolor paper, torn or cut, (I like torn edges).  The size should be about 16 inches by 6inches.  To tear you can use a straight edge to tear against, like a yardstick, or fold back and forth in both directions and then tear.  Either way go slow!

 1.  Cover water color paper with a coat of gesso, let it dry.  
(This will be the outer side.  You can put it in the sun or use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.)

2.  Fold your paper into three areas.

3.  Now, open your "book" and gesso the inside.
4.  Put an extra coat of gesso on the folds of your paper, 
and cover them with your strips of fabric.
5.  Put another light coat of gesso over the top of your fabric strips, let dry.

6.  To the back, add the square piece of silk or lightweight fabric,
use matte medium, with one coat under, and one over the silk.
(smooth out air bubbles with your fingers or a paper towel)

Kim Henkle, book construction
7.  Still using matte medium, cover the two outer sides of the back of your book, 
and lay down one piece of rice paper, then add a layer over it 
following directions for the silk.
8.  Repeat for other side.


9.  When it's dry, turn your book over and tint the edges using just a slight bit of color and lots of water.  Set aside.



Collage Play

(You might want to do a couple of these!)

1.  Cover your square piece of cotton with gesso, on both sides (this is messy!), let it dry
2.  Assemble a group of papers, fabrics or images that appeal to you at this moment.
3.  Practice laying them out on your cotton in different ways.   
4.  When you find one that you like, move it piece by piece to the side of your fabric. 
5.  Using matte medium, cover the surface of your fabric 
(which should be stiff and almost like paper)
6.  Place one item at a time down, and then cover it with matte medium.
7.  Finish your collage using this process. 


(click the title)

password: goldenthreads
 In this video I will discuss the process of how I decide on a theme for a book.  
The truth is that sometimes I know from the beginning what my theme will be and sometimes the idea comes to me later!





Collecting and Writing:

 Collect colors that remind you of this season... These could be scraps of your artwork, fabrics,  papers or found objects from nature.  Pile them, tie them with twine or string.  On scrap piece of paper write words to describe what this season means to you. Lay this on the top of your pile, underneath your string.


collecting and writing  sample by
Seth Apter
If you like, you can use this prompt:
-three words that describe the sky or the skyline
-the name of the season
-two words that describe the smells or the weather
-one descriptive phrase describing how this season makes you feel
-the name of the season
* you could also look up this season in different languages and choose your favorites to add here.
Have a joyful and creative week!  
Roxanne
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Making Layers, Week Two

Week 2 
Welcome to the second week of "The Thread That Weaves."  During this week we will explore matte medium in more detail and use different papers and fabrics to make backgrounds for our collages.
We will also be making a mini-book, and covering it's pages with a loose, spontaneous collage of textures and patterns.
There are two project videos and descriptions during this week.

(Photographed here are different pieces of art showing layering, not all are shown or discussed in the video).
Supplies for Week 2
*Note: Substitutions are always fine! 
Matte medium 
Gesso 
Old paintbrush, water dish, paper towels
Water color paper, torn or cut for your surfaces,
gessoed muslin or cotten
(4 x 5, 5 x 5, 4 x 4... your choice!)
Scraps of other papers, textured, rice, napkins
(anything goes!)
Lace, burlap, netting
Photocopied images of rugs or tapestries 
from different countries,

And stamps from different countries,
(You get the idea!)
Print them out to sizes that will fit into your pages.

Here is the first video:
 Making Layers
In this video I demonstrate the different ways that I use Matte Medium to make layers.  I use lace, burlap and different papers to achieve different effects.
password: goldenthreads
And the second video:
Making Layers 
continued...
In this video I demonstrate making a book within a book.
password: goldenthreads
On the work table at  my Camano Island workshop 
pages in construction by Binky Bergstrom.
Making Layers
1.   Lay out your pre-cut or torn paper or fabric surfaces on one side of your work table, and on the other side the things you will be attaching, (pre-cut or torn lace, burlap, decorative paper and photo-copied images). 
2.  Cover the area of your first surface with matte medium, place the lace or textured paper over it, and then add another layer of matte medium on top of it. 
3. Dab with a paper towel. (This gives a natural look to the matte medium when it dries, without any brush strokes showing).
4. Use this technique with  all your items.  You will see more examples in the video.(Other items you could use are pieces of screens or mesh, dried or pressed plants, cheesecloth or ??)
On the work table at  my Camano Island workshop pages in construction by Heidi Redfield.
5. Print out some images of rugs and stamps from the internet.  There are some links above in the supply list. 
If you drag the images into your photo program, (I use Iphoto for this), you can size them to fit into the pages of your book,  4 x 4, 5 x 5 or 3 x 4, your choice!
6.  Cut or tear out the center of the image, (see the video), so that you can use the outer part as a border.
7. Add matte medium to your background paper.  Lay the image border on the paper.  Cover with matte medium and dab with a paper towel. (The image might fade slightly, but  this can make it look more like a painting and less like a photograph).
8.  Repeat  the process using different images.
You should have several pages done that you will be using for your book.  If you can help it... don't glue them down yet, just attach them with paper clips, (the large kind) so you can change your mind and try out different designs. I also have something else planned before you attach them! 
 pages in construction by Seth Apter

Making A Book Within A Book

During this part of  Week Two you will be making a little book to go inside of your larger book.  
1.  Start with a piece of watercolor paper and some colored or textured rice paper all about 6inches by three inches. (I like to have my pages slightly different sizes).
2.  Fold them in half, and experiment with slipping them inside of each other.  Then tear or cut them so that they are uneven.  (I love this look, but if you want your book to be more perfectly done, that's fine too!)
3.  Fill up the pages of your little book with what ever you like, left over photo copies of rug patterns, colored paper, text... anything! 

 these are pages of little books by Kim Henkel from my October online workshop.

*The process continues, 
tearing and cutting, 
arranging and re-arranging, 
putting your images on top of other images
 to see what looks best to you......

         We will be stitching and attaching the book later using a pamphlet stitch.  If you love making these little books, make two or three...


Collecting and Writing:
Take a walk outside, near your home or to a nearby park.  Collect five different leaves, twigs, buds or seed pods or whatever else captures your imagination.  
Bring them home to your worktable.  Arrange them or pile them on a piece of your own art, writing or fabric.  Try different arrangements and groupings, large to small, smallest in the center, grouped in a mandala.

Make a list of what you have collected including a brief description. 
Photograph them in different ways. Photograph them with your list.  Cut up the list and "label" each object. And then photograph that!
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