Exercising our creativity

Chris Kuehl had the only show and tell this month, which is a preview of the activity we'll be doing next month.  She did this Oriole, based on her own photograph, using watercolor pencils, paints and thread sketching.

 

After a brief discussion about our upcoming exhibit at the GOArt gallery at the senior center in June and July, (Stay tuned for details!) Cynda led us in some exercises intended to exercise our creative muscles!

All we had to bring was paper scissors, coloring media, and a glue stick.  Cynda brought the rest!

First we were instructed to create using only one shape or line.  She had five activities planned:
1- using a single line or shape to create any design
2- using a different shape and a different technique from the first one
3- create either an "animal mineral or vegetable", or one of the four elements
4-  create something with perspective.
5- deconstruct one of your previous works and make something new with it.

Playtime!!!

Mary Ellen

Chris

Susan

Elaine

Cynda 

Emmy

Connie

Martha

None of us really felt we had created a masterpiece, but we had fun, and got to explore some of our preconceptions about our own work and abilities.  Thanks, Cynda!!!

Lino blocks, part II

 To start the meeting, Mary Lee gave us a demo of a new project she had tried- using alcohol inks on ceramic tiles.














You begin by putting a coating of rubbing alcohol  on the tile.  Then add a few drops of the ink and wait.....

Add a few more drops of the ink.

Then, using a dauber, or in this case some felt velcroed onto a wood block, add some small spots of alternate colors to the surface.

Isn't this gorgeous?!!

 you can read more about this technique on several blogs.  Here are just a couple of them
Tile coasters
as embellishment on paper crafts


Before we got out or lino blocks and  started playing, Cynda showed her most recent ice/ snow dyeing results.  We are all jealous. 

She did this by wrapping aquarium stones in the fabric before dyeing.

Then Mary Lee got out some of the pieces she had played with after our last meeting to inspire us.

This gorgeous piece was made with the simple stamps below.












And don't forget how much fun you might have with your test piece.....

Cynda had also played with her stamps a bit after the meeting.

This is Kathi's stamp.  I can't wait to see what she does with it.

Mary Ellen put lots of the flowers on the lighter parts of this hand dye.

And made some pretty fabric using her leaf stamp.

Cynda filled her fabric with gold.  Not the one she is using was carved on a dollar store eraser!

Elaine played with a butterfly stamp.

Susan is thinking woods again with her moose.

I think this is Lori's- a postmark for the lady who works in the mail room.

I love Lori's use of the background in her dachshund carving!

Beth made a very cool corner stamp after seeing this technique online



And with it she makes these beautiful images!














Martha added more layers to her previous attempts that didn't come out very well. 

Martha also tried out the metallic ink on some darker fabrics. 

 

Next month we will be doing a serious of short creativity exercises- just playing!