Stickin' Ideas Together

Big news for me. After proudly hosting my own hand-coded website for the past many years, I am moving into the new world of responsive web sites. My new and very minimal site is scheduled for posting early September. Currently I am putting the final tweaks on the content which will include some new and some never-before-posted pieces. I'm really stoked about this and look forward to sharing this with you. ~ Kathryn

Happy, happy -- summer is here!! Vancouver is a dream in summer. We are blessed with minimum humidity and very fresh air. And although I enjoy my Vitamin D fix, I also enjoy spending a bit of time indoors in the evenings to continue with my projects. Recently I created this sampler, below, to test how rusting on cotton could work in a composition. After I rusted some objects onto a cotton swatch, I stretched the cotton onto a wooden palette (available at most art stores which sell stretched canvas) adhering it with clear acrylic medium. Next I divided the surface area in half to create a textural contrast -- paint vs fabric. My goal was to relax into this sampler experience as a mark-making exercise and not to over think the composition. I focused on layering my paint and incorporated stencils and a bit of collage. I also scribbled in pencil to contrast the symmetrical division of the surface. What I enjoyed most about this sampler was the unplanned design process. I generally

Yikes time flies! How have I not shared with you for so many months? I have been very busy since we last visited. I have submitted a book proposal on the subject of collage and mixed media surface treatments. I won't give it all away now, but I promise to keep you posted on the result. Fingers crossed please! In addition to fulfilling that personal quest, I have travelled to LA to visit a friend and walked the magnificent gardens of the Huntington Museum. The agaves are my absolute favourites! I also visited Carson City. I have never been to Nevada and loved the colours of the landscape (there was even snow!) and the playful neon lights of the gaming businesses. I have also been practising different painting techniques, and sketching ideas. Those I'll save for another day as they are still gestating. Thank you for checking in with me. I look forward to more sharing and much more creating! Keep on shining! ~ Kathryn