Prepping too soon

On Saturday I posted on bsky that “I’ve just taped the edges of about a dozen pieces of paper. I love a nice, clean white edge on the finished works. The fact I’ve prepped so many is a good sign. My subconscious must think I’m ready to start a new series”.

I had an idea of what I wanted to create, starting with fluro pink or orange paint scraped onto the paper so it was textural. I painted 8 small pieces of paper, mainly in the fluro pink, and let it dry. So far, so good.

Then … nothing. Hmm, looked at the inspiration photos on the wall, and the couple of trial works I’d done. Ok, the direction’s pretty clear. Put some paint out and started working across four of the prepped surfaces.

Nothing worked as expected. Not just in a “well, these need a lot of refining” way, or even a “well, some collage and mark making will help” way either. More of a “can I light a bonfire” way?” 😉

It means I prepped the surfaces too soon. I need to spend more time in my art journals, more time playing with colours and shapes, and just let it simmer. The paper I prepped won’t go to waste, but it’ll probably be a few weeks at least before they appear on my art desk again.

A wedding, a beach, some sandflies!

Alan’s daughter Debbie and her fiance Jason got married in Ashburton recently, and we were fortunate to have friends Cushla and Kevin join us. Friday night was the rehearsal, Saturday morning was hair etc, then the wedding itself was mid-afternoon. It was held in the stunning gardens of his parent’s property – they had done so much work to create a beautiful setting. I didn’t take any photos, which is unusual for me, but the wedding was just so lovely that I was concentrating on the ceremony. Debbie looked beautiful, Jason and his son Dante looked handsome; even the two dogs looked great in their wedding bibs.

Sunday morning we had a lovely walk round the Ashburton Domain before heading back to Jason’s parents for brunch with everyone. Later in the day we drove to Lake Tekapo and spent the night with Maryrose. Lake Tekapo is beautiful; the three of us walked into town for dinner and it was lovely in the evening air. On the way out the next day we braved the queues and it was worth it because now we both recommend the pies at the bakery in Fairlie – so good! We drove back to Hokitika via Lake Coleridge, way up a gravel road so we could see Mt Algidus which had featured in Mona Anderson’s book “A river rules my life”.

We were fortunate to have the use of an off-grid beach bach for two nights, about an hour from Hokitika. It was a bit of adventure getting there as we had to ford a river a few times, towing the boat, and the final crossing didn’t quite go to plan. That’s enough about that 😉 He did some fishing, we watched a South Island Robin come in and roam the bach to clean up any insects, Alan went out at night watching the deer and … I provided a tasty snack for the local sandfly population!

We’d stayed an extra night with Kevin and Cushla before heading to the beach so when we got back we stayed with Scott and Helen, which meant Alan could do some farm work too. I caught up with Pen Kirk for lunch so we could start planning what comes next for our collab art. We’re not working towards another joint exhibition for now, but we do have a mission, which feels good. There’s something magic about collaborating with an artist you trust so you both have freedom to create without fear.

We had lunch in Kaikoura – the seals are majestic but smelly.

We were fortunate so see a large pod of dolphins on the move; this is just a few of them.

At the wedding reception.

The Lake Coleridge area.

This is the path to the toilet at the bach – the area is so pretty.

Trying ArtStacks

One of my YouTube favs is the wonderfully talented Claire Stead (Art_Journal Love). The other day she made a page using ArtStacks and I just had to check them out. They offer themed paper packs, so three sets somehow ended up in my cart. Got to love a quick digital download!

I’ve used them in my 6×6 Dina Wakley Media Kraft journal, with DWM paints and stencils. I had printed them on 160gsm white paper, so they’re a bit sturdier, which I prefer. The colours are bright and the images are, mainly, easy to fussy cut. I’m thrilled with them and will no doubt be buying more.

Hand of the artist

I’m going through a “strictly Dylusions” phase; my Dina Wakley journals haven’t been touched for a couple of weeks. Sometimes I work in both, using their products plus a few others such as Tim Holtz and Claire Stead. Other times, I feel compelled to just do one thing.

I’ve been painting or inking, then stencilling dozens of pages in three journals. Once they’re dry I add borders with stencils, washi tape or collage. In the evenings I sit in the lounge doodling with black and white Posca pens while Alan watches tv or we listen to music.

I outline all the collage, add stitch lines round some elements, doodle round the stencilling, and so on. I’m not fussy about it – if the line is wonky or goes over the collage it doesn’t matter.

All of this means that, although I’m using products designed by someone else (a lot of the collage is straight from Dyan Reaveley’s own journals), the final pages are mine – they clearly show the hand of the artist. I love that!

The pages below are sections from some of the ones I’m working on. I flip back and forth in the three journals, so I don’t have to wait for the pen work to dry.

Festival of Lights

Alan and I went to the Festival of Lights in New Plymouth last night. We also wanted to go to the Orchid Show, and only clicked yesterday that it was also this weekend. Because of the Festival there was no accomodation but it didn’t make sense to come home late, then be back in NP mid morning. I rang Flamingo Motel, where I stayed before my surgeries etc, and explained. Sure enough, they had one room I could have. Yes! I recommend them for a cheap, central, motel.

The lights were fantastic but god it was busy. Alan’s sister had been during the week and it was quieter than previous years. Yeah, well, they were all waiting for Saturday night!

We also went to the Orchid Show at Highlands Intermediate – amazing orchids, lovely people and some bargains. Why, yes, we did bring a couple of new orchids home.

Revisiting old techniques

My art practice is a mix of art and craft; my art has been centred on collab with Penny Kirk for our most recent exhibition in Greymouth. When it comes to crafting, for months I’ve been working predominantly in my Dina Wakley Media journals with DWM paints and stencils etc. Love love love … but also feeling the need to change things up a bit.

During the Covid-19 lockdowns in the UK artist Dyan Reaveley started doing online classes, as she couldn’t teach and travel as normal. Although converting GBP to NZD is pretty gruesome, I was fortunate to do quite a few classes and loved them.

I decided to rewatch the videos, knowing there’d be techniques and ideas I’d forgotten about. Sure enough, I’m loving the videos and am having fun working in a Jumpstart journal I had squirreled away.

I don’t normally complete a page at a time. The Jumpstart journal is blank pages on the left, and a colour copy of one of Dyan’s pages on the right. I start by using the babywipe method to colour a bunch of left hand pages, stencilling as I go. One that’s dry, I randomly add borders, cut shaped edges, add silhouettes and so on. Then I outline everything, doodle and add faux running stitch around elements. I sit in front of tv with Alan in the evenings, with a couple of sizes of black and white pen and just flick my way through adding details.

None of these pages are finished, but they show work in progress…

Playing in my small journal

This is a 6×6” kraft journal; the pages are thick and take all kinds of punishment, but they do soak up a lot of glue etc. To get the brightest colours I put a layer of clear gesso down first.

The page with turquoise circles is a printed transparency from Dina Wakley Media that I’ve painted on the back then tipped in, so the page underneath peeks through.

Starting the year with some art

I try to do something art-related or crafty every day … I call it moving my hands and downloading my head. New Year’s Day is no exception.

We slept in, then I went through to Hawera and picked Tony up. He sat in the car while I did a couple of quick errands, then we had McDonalds at the park. He was tired as he’d stayed up to watch a movie last night, so I took him back to the rest home sooner than usual.

I’ve spent the afternoon at my art desk, emerging occasionally to talk with Sandra or check on the ASB Tennis with Alan. I’m working in a Dina Wakley 6×6” kraft journal. When I finish this one I think I’ll swap back to Dylusions for a bit – I feel like changing it up a bit.

Another year ends…

Once again I haven’t blogged regularly, and that’s ok. I share my art other ways now, and blog when I feel it’s useful, whereas 10 years ago it was the only viable channel for sharing. 2023 has seen a lot of changes.

I no longer post about Tony on FB because I don’t feel he can truly consent. I visit 5 or 6 times a week, ring every day, take him out to a cafe fortnightly; he’s loved and cared for. He’s also well stocked for flavoured water, sugar free lollies, Vape and fruit! He prefers being in Trinity and finds the care suits him better … plus the resthome cat, Marlie, loves him.

Penny and I had a collaborative art exhibition, Shattered Landscapes, at Left Bank Art Gallery. The art we make together is so different to our solo work, and it’s a joy. I think all artists could benefit from working collaboratively and learning to let go. We haven’t started a 3rd collab yet, but strongly suspect we will.

I returned to my usual role as Libraries & Cultural Services Manager, after a period as Acting Group Manager. We’ve got exciting things coming up, including the opening of Te Ramanui. On the flip side, I feel things are going to get harder as climate change, politics, economics etc contribute to increasing incidents of aggression toward front line staff.

By best friend of *more decades than we admit to* lives with us. Sandra introduced me to Munzees this year, and we’ve been out and about playing the online game. Her long- suffering dog Bruno comes with us; he hates the car, but hates being left even more.

Alan and I have been to quite a few places this year, most recently a couple of nights in Ohakune where the weather was dreadful but the landscape was stunning. Prior to that we spent a few nights in Christchurch as he had hand surgery. We wandered the Riverside Markets, met up with his daughter and her fiancé, and ate amazing food. Who knows where we’ll get to next year…

I’m looking forward to 2024 and all it will bring my wee household. I hope the coming year is kind to you, bringing love and laughter.

Arting it out

This is always a difficult time of year for me. The couple of weeks prior the anniversary of Mum’s death I’m unsettled and restless. I have weird dreams / nightmares complete with dead people, sick babies, blood and hospitals. I think my brain goes back over all the stuff I’ve dealt with through the years with caring for my Aunt J, Mum, cousin Alison, and Tony and repackages it. Not exactly relaxing… this year it’s made worse by going to Burwood Hospital with Alan on the anniversary of Mum dying.

The best thing to do is move my hands and play in my art journals. I haven’t done enough of that lately, for various reasons. I’ve made lots of backgrounds, and finished a few pages. I feel a bit better for it, but know I need to do some layouts where I pour my heart and head out onto the page.