Lynne is teaching a Visual Journaling Class in January

Join me in January for a 6 week Visual Journaling class at the Greensboro School for Creativity. The class will introduce you to easy mixed media techniques to use in creating a unique journal that chronicles your life. No art experience is needed and you will have fun as you learn new ways to tap into your creativity. To get more information about the class and the school go to http://www.greensboroschoolofcreativity.org/visual-arts/

Published in SOMERSET APPRENTICE

SOMERSET APPRENTICE is another great magazine in the Somerset Studio family of mixed media publications. This little journal was made with used matchsticks, painted muslin and gelatin printed book pages. Go to www.Stampington.com to order your issue today.

Muslin Gone Wild!

It finally cooled off enough one Saturday to get outside and dye fabric! I started with a base color of Jacquard's Dye-Na-Flow fabric dyes then added accents with Lumiere fabric paints on unbleached muslin. Both of these products are easy to use and heat set with an iron. Squeeze color straight from the fine tip bottles then paint, splatter or fold and dip. It's lots of fun and you get amazing results. I'll use these fabrics in my collage and mixed media work. Their unique designs make my work more distinctive and the process is so much fun!!

Published in SEW SOMERSET Winter 2011!

SEW SOMERSET is a sister publication to SOMERSET STUDIO- one of the premier mixed media/paper art magazines. It features mixed media art that incorporates new techniques with the traditions of hand and machine sewing. Visit www.stampington.com to reserve your copy.

Sampler in Blue and Green originated with the idea of historical samplers as a learning tool and record of stitch experiments. This modern version combines hand sewing techniques with faux postage, fabric swatches and found objects like feathers, tags and buttons. The Needle Felted Leaf takes a simple shape and enhances it with lots of layers, beads and hand stitching. The layers include painted muslin, paper and felted wool.

Published in Art Journaling

Creating this illustrated art journal was so much fun! It gave me a chance to put lots of my favorite things together- ATCs, embroidery and exuberant color. Get your copy of the magazine at your local bookstore or form the publishers at Somerset Studio. http://www.stampington.com/html/art_journaling_s10.html

Pleats

I've been having fun with unbleached muslin for months now- adding gesso for journal pages and dyeing to create custom designs for my work. Recently I went back to a great book- THE ART OF FABRIC MANIPULATION by Colette Wolff. It inspired me to add texture to muslin. These photos show a piece with pleated petals. I finger pleated the muslin, ironed it to fusible backing to hold the pleats then painted it with acrylic paint. I loved the play of light over the surface and the textural interest the pleats created. My trusty sidekick Sammy liked it too!

Variations on a Theme

There is long tradition in the art world for creating a series of works that explore a theme. Monet comes to mind with his waterlily, haystack and cathedral works. Taking one idea and working with it repeatedly allows you to explore a design problem from many angles. Along the way, you often find that inspiration just comes as you spin off from the original idea.

As a gardener, I am always inspired by all the new growth in Spring. Shown here are three of the leaf designs I have been working on lately. The simple shape is consistent in all three but the mixed media treatments couldn't be more different. If you have never done a series before, pick something you like and see where your imagination takes you. Whether you do a few pieces or start a series that lasts for years, you will be surprised how this kind of work can spark all kinds of creative ideas.

Inner Animal Challenge in Quilting Arts Magazine

Check out my Inner Animal entry in the Quilting Arts magazine challenge.

http://quiltingarts.com/media/g/animal/default.aspx

Posting on ClothPaperScissors.com

http://www.clothpaperscissors.com/media/p/79.aspx

Check out this link to my art on the new www.clothpaperscissors.com live community!

Recycled Art

I light a lot of incense and candles around the house and started saving my used wooden matches. I dipped the burnt ends into acrylic medium to stabilize them then glued them to strips of painted muslin. Embroidery floss was stitched in rows then the strips were used to decorate journals, a picture frame and a collage. Look for "trash" around the house that has a graphic feel like these little matches and incorporate it into your art!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hope 2010 is full of hope and beautiful colors for us all!