Blog Archives

Gearing up for the RARE event in April!

2/26/2015

Over the last month, I've been working hard on preparing for my art to be exhibited, my next workshop on Altered Books, and helping with organizing the event sponsorship of Allied Arts of Whatcom county's annual RARE (recycled arts & reuse expo), show on April 4th & 5th. The event itself will have workshops & presentations with the opening of the art exhibit and will be during the Bellingham's Art walk on Friday April 4th - Saturday the 5th, 2015. While the art exhibit will be up for the entire month of April.

I've been in the process of making new mixed-media art with inspiration of my recycled textiles tea cups to incorporate them into paintings. Below is a photo of my first one which will be in a series. It is a 10" x 10" canvas.

Tea Party Guest: Contentment. Mixed-media painting. Rachel Simpson, 2015

This is a part of a series where I will be using texture in my mixed-media form on canvas. I wanted to revisit my Dream of a Tea Cup art installation that I did in 2012-2013, but with a few changes. This is titled: Tea Party Guest: Contentment. Mixed-media painting. Rachel Simpson, 2015. By keeping it to a tea cup's perspective at a party, I will have several made into a series with various guests invited to the tea cup's party. I love to have the theme light and whimsical as I explore the different facets or tales that can go with this character as a part of my theme!

The mixed-media I used, includes: acrylic paints, adhesive, oil pastel, embroidery string, & threads.

I hope to be able to make enough that it will give a feeling of a story being told by a visual and emotional experience - since this is a way for me to work out my emotions in a visual art style. I can imagine the tea cup is inviting guests to the party that will enrich the moment for everyone.

0 Comments

February in all its' splendor!

2/18/2015

0 Comments

This month has had me doing experimental art using different kinds of texture with paints, photo transfers, egg shells, book boxes, altered books, and tissue paper. I've found that it has been keeping me inspired by just keeping active in these new ways of adding great texture onto my boxes or canvas for painting. Mixed-media has always been a big exitement for me when it comes to art. I'm happy to share a few pics of one of my texture processes here, and soon I will have a new presentation made for Allied Arts annual RARE event during April's Art Walk (art walk in Bellingham is always the first Friday of the month), on April 5th & 6th.

First, I had to crack open a dozen eggs, let the shells soak in room temperature water for about 30 minutes. Using my finger-tips, I carefully rubbed out the inside layer from the egg whites. Once dry, they were ready to place on the surface area.

How to make an egg-shell texture; it can look like leather or fun scales.

This picture is showing the 2nd stage of adding egg shells onto the book box using Mod Podge matte glue on top of a primed book box. I found it to be time consuming and delicate to add the shells one at a time by cracking them onto the glued surface. I knew I would enjoy the results after this is finished. So I just stuck to it and added them to the font and back of the book box. Honestly, this was done by feel and through experiment to see how much would stick to the glue, while allowing some small space inbetween each cracked shell.

After it completely dried, I added the layers of paint. I used a red and I will add a brown top coat later.

As you can see, when using a bright color like red, it will show every angle and crevice of the rough texture, so I've had to add 4-5 layers of red before I go to the next step.

Finally, I've added the light layer of brown on top of the red.

I really like the results. I am not done with this book though. I have to add the title in the center of the oval, on the binding, and make the interrior into something interesting. This project holds a calling to my inner-sci-fi-geek. I can't wait for it to be finished so I can share with everyone!

The next blog will show you how I used tissue paper onto an altered book to make it look textured. I also think it could look something like leather or fabric. There's so many fun ways to change your looks on surfaces!

0 Comments

Travels, Art, Teaching...

Gearing up for the RARE event in April!

February in all its' splendor!

How to make an egg-shell texture; it can look like leather or fun scales.

Rachel Simpson

Archives

Categories