Gearing up for the RARE event in April!

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.