Intro to Encaustics Hastypearl

Intro to Encaustics 

Hastypearl

I have a Confession to make.

Its not a bad thing, its just a way that I function.

I tend to learn something, and stay in it for a Long while.

When something new or at least new to Me comes along, I resist.

Encaustics is an example.

When I first started hearing about encaustics, 

I thought, oh, its ANOTHER new direction and it 

would take a ton of new equipment, 

I dont WANT new equipment, 

where will I store it...blah blah blah.

THEN, 

I recently had 4four4 ladies come to Crystal Neubaurs workshop, 

that I hosted here at my house, 

that were ALL going to Encausticamp 

and I finally let my wheels start turning :)

One of the ladies, later mentioned on FB, 

that Michelle Belto, a San Antonio artist that I had wanted to meet, 

was going to hold an Intro to Encaustics class

 at Southwest School of Art, 

in  San Antonio.

Boom!

" I test drove the car". 

That's my theory for...never test drive a car or you are probably going to Buy it!

Specifically I mean that, I went to SSA's web site and read about Michelle's Class.

You Know what I'm going to say next!

I (BOUGHT the car)...meaning...I signed up for the Class!

Well, I'm happy to say...that I now GET why everyone loves Encaustics.

Michelle was a fantastic teacher.

Her format was indulgent, to say the least.

First, demo time, to show us the steps, 

tell us about the product and safety issues with working with hot beeswax.

Then...

she sent us back to our stations to Explore, Create, and Play!

She quietly stayed right there with each of us, Encouraging all the way.

Knowing how fascinated with architecture and buildings I am, 

I have to digress and tell you how amazing the entire SSA building and classrooms were.

My husband has a built in square footage skill of walking rooms off with his stride.

I couldn't wait to do that for myself, 

just so that I could tell him how HUGE the classrooms were.

This room that the class was held in was !!!!! 3000 sq. ft. !!!!!!

It was a Fantastic space to be in :)

Two of us shared a table, even though there was one table empty.

The tables were so huge, 

that there was PLENTY of room for two...

plus it was fun And I made a new friend :)

This picture shows the perspective of the space with three working tables lined up.

More working ladies.

Here is Michelle at the end of the weekend, 

doing a little gallery showing of all of our finished pieces.

Its always amazing to me, 

to see the versatility and variety of the humans capabilities,

Colors, Styles, Voices.

If there are 10 people, there are going to be 10 wildly different styles.

I LOVE that!

Here I am working on one of my last pieces.

More end of class gallery time.

*

(piece hanging on wall at SSA) 

I've said before, that I've had almost NO art training.

I was a theater student in University, and we had our wonderful fair share of time, 

designing sets, makeup, costumes, etc, 

but with an eventual focus on Learning Differences, 

I ended up getting through without ever taking an art class.

Walking down the halls of Southwest School of Art felt 

like the halls of Trinity University.

All I had to do was read the names of those massive wonderful rooms 

and I knew that I wanted to walk through them and Taste what was inside.

It felt like home.

If felt like sanctuary.

I LOVED the feeling,

It felt like I WOULD be back.

(piece hanging on wall at SSA)

All you had to do was walk up and down the halls,

 and see the great creations on the walls,

 to feel excited about the possibilities!

(piece hanging on wall at SSA)

(I'm sorry that I didn't get the artists names for the above pieces)

*

So, these two are my pieces. 

Such yummy colors and products from R&F 

that were provided for the students, 

to combine with our own papers and ideas.

The sky was the limit!

So, Finally, here's Michelle !

What an honor, to spend three days with such a talented artist, 

and thoughtful, vulnerable and provocative woman.

(who by the way, soldiered on and taught even though, her husband was in hospital)

You're another Door Opener for me, Michelle.

We all meet those Important people in our lives, at Just the right time.

I love the Providence of that.

I love the sweet Adventure of Life!

Don't You ? :)

As always dear reader, thanks for stopping by and spending a little time with hastypearl.

...and Enjoy your Adventures, today :)

...oh, and ps... 

I bought an electric skillet and griddle this week 

and they will store just fine in my studio :)  

Marbleizing on Paper Step By Step Hastypearl

Marbleizing on Paper

Step By Step

Hastypearl

I have always been fascinated by old books.

It seems like the details and care taken in illustrating them, are so exceptional.

The end pages are often marbleized and it mesmerizes me to see them.

I happened upon a video of the technique of marbleizing one day 

and thought that only someone with years of mastering could do it.

Then, this past year, Crystal Neubauer came to my home to teach a workshop, 

and as a part of her mark making, she taught us a very simple technique 

that made me think that even someone like novice me...and maybe you...

could enjoy marbleizing. 

Crystal taught us using ink, but while walking around the workshop room, 

I saw that one of the students had used a Pebeo product, 

and I knew that I would order some to try for myself.

It has its Advantages and its Disadvantages.

Disadvantage...its not water soluble, 

so what you use to drop it, is pretty much useless afterwards.

Advantages...it comes in a lot of amazing colors that to me, 

resemble those in the great vintage books that I love seeing.

So, you decide what you want to use.

I found these paint boxes on Amazon and they were each affordable.

I think it could take a lifetime to use all of the paint.

I opened all of the bottles and gathered a flat plastic tray, 

that would accommodate the size of paper that I used.

Choose something that is disposable.

I decided to try using toothpicks.

You will need to stir the paint with one, anyway.

Let a drop of paint fall to the water.

It will sit on the surface of the water.

Drop as many as you want, and as many colors as you want.

Gently stir the stick through the water, or, you can gently blow 

on the surface of the water 

so that the colors move around.

If you decide to use water soluble ink, you can purchase plastic 

transfer pipettes on Amazon.

They are also very affordable and useful to have for lots of other projects. 

The ink or paint, will make interesting shapes.

That is what you will capture with your paper.  

I gathered strips of leftover 140 lb. watercolor paper.

Crystal also used old book pages.

Thinner paper didn't work so great.

Just play with what you have and see what you like.

Gently, lay each strip on top of the water.

When you lift the paper, the paint will have transferred to the paper.

Lay them out to dry.

I used my heat gun, to speed the drying process some.

If you don't feel like you have enough paint on your paper, dip again!

Its fun to see the individuality of each piece.

No two could possibly be alike :)

These were some of my finished strips!

I had planned on making some new journal covers 

and was happy to have some new strips of marbleized papers 

to incorporate into the compositions!

Can you find them? :)

This technique is so easy.

Yes, there are people that have serious skills and you Should Google 

and watch some of the videos.

Most of us don't need to start with such complicated processes.

Its fun!

I think that you will be happy if you invest in either inks Or paints.

* 

We just returned from a trip to the cool Colorado mountains where we 

played as a family with polymer clay's.

I'm thinking, that we may give marbleizing a try, 

next time we get together :)  

Let me know how it goes for you, if you give it a try!

I'm so glad that you stopped by for a visit.

I hope that you are all enjoying your days.

It's the Dog Days of Summer in Texas.

Working in the garden, happens only in the earliest hours...then 

its back inside where its cool.

It really makes me thoughtful for those men and women 

whose jobs are outside, year around.

Best to all...Laura

Make a Collage Card Hastypearl

Make a Collage Card

Hastypearl

Some of you may know, that my husband and I 

just celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary.

Wow! Where does the time go...really?

I thought I would show you how I made a simple Collaged Card for him.

You probably already have the supplies to do one.

I keep blank cards and envelopes around. 

They are very affordable at places like Michaels or Hobby Lobby 

and Im sure many places online.

I like to build my card on a piece of watercolor paper that is just a little smaller 

than the purchased blank, so just decide how large you want that to be and cut it out.

(picture was a little dark as it was early in the morning...sorry )

I recently took a bit of time out of a day, to sort my ephemera papers by colors.

As you can see, the collection that I selected for my card,

 was mostly black, white and golds.

Admittedly, colors that show up in my art all of the time.

Larry loves to fish, so I found a Fred Mullett fish stamp.

You've heard me say before...his stamps are great...and so realistic.

I tore off a piece of paper that would show off the 

fish stamp and would be featured on the card.

I lay out all of the ephemera in blocks, until I got them like I wanted them 

and then used a glue stick to adhere them to the piece of watercolor paper.

For some texture, I stamped over the pieces with one of Fred's leaf stamps.

I used a metallic gold. 

Not that easy to see, but added some interest.

I splattered some black ink and scribbled some numbers.

Larry speaks numbers.

I do not.

;)

I turned the finished piece over so that 

I could see the outline of the piece of paper and cut off the overhanging paper 

which gave it a crisp edge.

Then, I glued it to the card face, with the glue stick.

Time to write in the card and sign it!

I slipped it in its envelope and it was ready to go.

All of this took way less time, than it would to go to the store,

 and settle on a card that says something that I wouldn't ever say...

When you meet someone when you are a teenager, 

and stay with them for the rest of your life, 

your pictures cover a lot of years.

These start with a banquet that we went to when I was probably just 16.

40 years is a long time...

and

a lot of cards :)

I recently hosted an art workshop in my home, for Crystal Neubauer.

This technique was similar to what she taught us, 

but not unlike what I have done in the past.

I will blog about that Amazing Workshop, soon...

Happy Happy to YOU and all of the Anniversaries that you will Celebrate this year.

Pull out your scraps and glue sticks and make your own cards...

Thanks so much for stopping by.

I love that you do...

:) Laura

ps...I've listed some new things over at hastypearl Etsy.

I hope that you will keep me in mind for you 2015 gifting!