Papers + Paint

Papers + Paint

Last weekend at this time 

(Friday + Saturday + Sunday)

I was taking an online workshop from artist and teacher Elizabeth St Hilaire...

Fabulous Florals

through the Sedona Art Center.

I had signed up for the class months ago with a week long trip planned in Sedona with my guy, ending the week with this workshop.  Alas...like so much else, it was canceled.  A few weeks later though, I got an email that they were taking the class online through Zoom (wish I had stock in Zoom)!  I was a little curious how a 3 day workshop would work out online, and I really wanted to take Elizabeths class, so I signed up!

I'm delighted to say those three days were full!  Elizabeth kept us working and creating from 10 to 5 each of those three days...two days going past the 5pm class cut off time...with glasses of wine cyber clinking. This class was so fun and informative and here's what I learned...

Day One

We worked from a still life floral set up of our own.  I look for any reason not to run to the grocery store right now...so these flowers are from my yard and some of my neighbors gardens. The first day we created a loose painting from our still life models, onto our surfaces to figure out color palettes and composition.

I worked on a 24x20 board...

board is much better than canvas when you have alot of papers to glue down.

Day 2

A full day of making papers, gelli print and painted with so many wonderful techniques that were shared with us throughout the day...all day...making papers...so concentrated and fun! We made papers with colors that were planned in our painting, printing over old book pages, old letters, sheet music, deli paper and my new favorite, rice paper.

Day 3
Now that the painting is laid out and papers are made...the third day was bringing the two together...laying bits of torn papers onto our surface to create our Fabulous Florals.

We learned how to tear papers (seems simple, but not simple), there's a great technique that Elizabeth shared that works great once you get the hang of it.  And...most importantly is laying the papers down to create dimension, highlights and shadows.  

I had papers flying everywhere...and scraps floating all around me!

It was so FUN and meditative all at the same time...

getting lost in papers while figuring out your next piece.

I still plan to go back and rough up my background and make it a little more painterly, 

but wanted to share with you this great new technique (new to me) 

that I'm looking forward to adding into my mixed media artwork.

If you get a chance to take one of Elizabeths workshops...I highly recommend it.

You'll get so much out of the class, whether online or in person.

Check out her Tutorial Tidbits on YouTube to get started.

ENJOY!