Richland Center WRAP Show Demo

I was invited to present the workshop portion of the 2023 Richland Center WRAP Show. I did a demo on how I develop my collage portraits, with an emphasis on how I create the mixed media backgrounds.

Here's a collage I prepared for the demo showing a recent work-in-progress. Starting with gluing collage elements onto watercolor paper (lower right), then adding layers of color wash and stamping (right side middle and top), then collaging in a figure that was scanned from a drawing (lower left), and finally defining the background with some acrylic paint and punching up the "drawing" with alcohol ink (top left). 

Not sure this is actually done though. Might add some more to the figures outfit, like so:

\

Definitely changes the persona, no?

The Wrap show was wonderful - well attended and a nice variety of work. Richard Moninski was the show judge. Always fun (and educational!) to hear Richard discuss art.

Thanks to coordinator, Sally Probasco, and WRAP for this opportunity to share my work and meet the artists at the Richland Center WRAP Show. It was a very enjoyable day.

Makers & Shakers Art Party - Make Your Own Stamps

At the April Shake Rag Alley Makers & Shakers Art Party, I shared how to make your own stamps from common household materials - no carving required! 

We created designs from string, foam core pieces, craft foam, Styrofoam meat trays, bubble wrap, and all manner of household odds and ends. Designs were then mounted on blocks of wood or foam core using glue or double sided tape. One really fun stamp is a roller stamp made by mounting a design on toilet paper tubes that happily fit perfectly on a paint roller! 

The eleven creative souls in the session made some really fantastic stamps.

Click here for more info on the Makers & Shakers Art Parties at Shake Rag Alley.