Art Camp!!!

I am so excited that Art camp begins Tuesday.   I always enjoy sharing surface design techniques with my students,  and this year is going to be especially fun.   My newest favorite technique is flour paste resist with stencils,  and we will be doing that right off the bat.   When you then do normal stenciling with the same stencil, you have a wonderful positive/negative thing going,  and that is neat!!      There are pair of seats still available in class,  so grab a friend,  and join us.     check http://www.villagefabricshoppe.com/    for more details and a supply list. 

Medieval Zentangle

Over the weekend I purchased a used book that is a rare and exciting thing.   It is a facsimile edition of the Book of Kells.  It even has some enlarged details after the main book so there is not the need for a jewelers loop to see many of the intricacies.   I have been studying it closely and it has helped me to begin several new pages in my journal.  

The truth is that I have played extensively over the years with the interlacing and calligraphy in that style.  The beasts and birds have inspired me many times and finally having the whole manuscript in my hands is thrilling.   I took out my micron pens and have been making dragons in that style now for a few days.   The regular patterning and repetitive shapes are very much like Medieval Zentangles.  I get the same quiet and peaceful feeling when doing this kind of drawing.    It just feels good - and it is beautiful.  I think I shall have to develop this idea in cloth and stitch.   

Birthday Present

I haven't posted in a while, but keeping up with the shoppe and other online activities have taken much energy.   I thought I'd say that today is my birthday, and my dear Hubby gave me a copy of Melanie Testa's book,  Dreaming from the Journal Page,   and Sketchbook Confidential 2,  edited by Pamela Wissman.    They are both great books.   I have been working hard lately on getting my own journal/sketchbook practice back in gear and although these books are very different from each other, they both offer wonderful insight to the creative process.  Journal and sketchbooks are very personal and often are never intended to be shared or shown,  so the raw thinking and observing and ponderings that they contain are un-edited and honest.   I feel privileged that these two publications are now in my collection and thank the artists for allowing us to see their inner workings.