Monday, September 29, 2008

Bleach atc's, a canvas and Birds....and to close

I sat at my computer for several minutes wondering how to start this post. Do I just jump right in showing my next atc technique for my class, maybe show the canvas that I made while Dad was in hospital that a friend thought was a reflection of my mind-set at the time? No......I finish off the chapter of these previous few posts by saying what a (insert - sitting at my computer again staring at the screen)....I want to say "wonderful" but it sounds funny....... funny strange not funny haha, funeral we had for my Dad. So many people from early days in his life as well as many, many friends he and Mum made over the years as well as our large family. Over 300 people attended and about half of these came back to my house for the celebration of his life. A few tears but mainly very funny stories of times spent with Eric.

"Thankyou" doesn't seem to be a big enough word to convey how much I appreciate those of you who have left comments and sent personal emails (& cards) expressing their feelings and warm thoughts to myself and my family. Each day is a new one and I'm sure that one day I'll be able to remember my Dad with something other than the tears that still well up in my eyes. Okay, enough now...... Dad would NOT see the funny side of a keyboard getting soaked with tears and making little splish splash noises......he did love his technology!

I'll let you in on a little secret that I've discovered - art is therapeutic!!! I'm sure no-one else has worked this out but now it's out there.....spread the word!!!!! lol My next class on Saturday is Bleach atc's. I know there is the normal way, stamp into bleach that has been soaked in paper towels on a little plate then stamping onto your card stock. I'm going to be doing the other method - painting in bleach. Mainly because I don't have many (read - any!!!) large open-type, simple design stamps. Here are the samples - note, not all card stock will bleach! Trial and error is the key to this technique.

"a dress form" - tan coloured card stock, image bleached out and re-coloured with Twinkling H2O's. "collector" - bleach painted onto tan card stock, image stamped then re-coloured with chalks.

"vision" - red card stock, stamped then parts bleached out and recoloured with Twinkling H2O's. (Not my favourite colours but I wanted to show that you could do something bright if you like!)

"insectology" - black card stock, parts of the stamped image bleached out and recoloured with Twinkling H2O's.


"flighty" - black card stock, stamped image bleached out and no other colour added - this is always a surprise as to what colour the card stock will turn with the bleach!


In March next year I'm attending a retreat in Melbourne, Creative Soul Retreat (you can click here to go to the book challenge). An event I'm REALLY looking forward to, I'm booked to have classes with Bernie Berlin and DJ Pettit and I'll get to meet up with some of the girls I've gotten to know through this little box on my table. Gotta say, I love the Internet!!! Some of us are taking part in a monthly challenge, you are given a theme and then you make a page for a book that you'll put together yourself. It's not for swapping, it's for keeping!!! Bonus!!! We take the book along to the retreat so we can drool all over everyone else's creations one night, between sips of wine and bites of cheese of course! Here's my page, "every year".


I used white paper that had been sprayed with Glimmer Mists in Turquoise and Graphite, then sprayed with some black webbing spray. Stamps are from Michelle Ward's clear stamp sheet called Bird Sanctuary and have been stamped with Stazon. The blue/green bird in the front has been stamped onto a piece of white gloss paper that was first coloured with Pine Needles Distress Ink, then cut out and mounted on mounting foam for dimension. The white in the feathers were added with a white gel pen, black german scrap down the bottom with some Patina Rub'n'buff and finally a quote printed on vellum and attached to a bit of the same Pine Needles coloured gloss card stock. 3 brads up the top right complete the piece.


Several weeks ago I was given the RIP cuttlebug die & folder as part of my design team project at Scraptivate. The timing was not intentional (with Dad ill), it was just that it was a fairly new release and I'm the first person that Natalie thought of to do something with this, I'm SOOOO not the person to give anything flowery to from the shop! Here's the canvas which is soon to be a class at Scraptivate in December (if you're in Perth and you're interested!).






17 comments:

Ev said...

Thank you for sharing your art. As always just wonderful. You always take a technique and give it a little tweek.

I have been thinking a lot about you of late, so was pleased to see you blogging again so soon.

HUGS E

Davinia said...

So glad to see you back in blog land. Love all the ATC's and the canvas, see you soon Kelsey.

Jacky said...

Hi Kelsey, art sure is great therapy and is wonderful to see all of the art you have been creating.

Have to say I LOVE your bird piece...that is one of my all time favourite "bird" quotes (which I think you have to me when I did the stamp camp in WA with Dot).

Love your take on the bird theme...so individual and very Kelsey.

Looking forward to the Retreat in March too...

Cindy Jones Lantier said...

Your right -- art is great therapy! I lost my dad a couple of years ago; art was part of what got me through the rough time that followed.

The Bleach ATCs look wonderful! Tell me more about this class you are teaching -- wish I could be there!

Sherry Goodloe said...

If I didn't have art, I would probably be living at a therapists' office! LOL

Glad you're back in the saddle. You will have your moments . . .your days . . .your months, but eventually it will not be so heavy on your heart. My father passed away in 1974 and I still have those times you will go through.

xoxo

bockel24 said...

Of course art has a healing quality ... BTW, I love your insectology ATC, it´s my favourite of your bleached pieces.

Mary S. Hunt said...

these piecs are great!!!
the bleaching is terrific and you finished everything off beautiful.

Genevieve said...

Art and Time enable us to move on, to remember with a smile and to embrace the spirit of the ones we love. Love the page for your retreat book - I must get myself some of Michelle's stamps...but I must also save money so I can deck out my new studio...I must, I must, I must!

Best inky wishes.

caryljk said...

Hey Kelsey, it's great to see you back blogging. Can't wait to do the RIP class.
Wish there were more hours in the day to do more THERAPY!!!!!......;)
Take care.
Hugs
Caryl K

Dot said...

Beautiful art Kelsey (like Jacky I adore your bird piece).

I am so glad your dad's funeral was a celebration of his life. And that so many people attended to pay their respects.

Your dad will always be in your heart. And I know he would have loved you very much.

Art is great therapy isn't it? I know during my down days art get's me through.

I am already looking forward to spending time with you at the retreat next March. Time with art friends is the best time.

Dot xx

Anonymous said...

hey kelsey, good to see you blogging again and good to hear you have been able to celebrate your dad's life with so many family members and friends. take care.

Debby said...

Oh my gosh these are fabulous! The goth girl is one of my favorite images and I love the hand reaching down to her. Awesome!

Bernie Berlin said...

Kelsey,
I am very much looking forward to meeting you when I come to teach!!!
I have a funny feeling you may be teaching me a few things:) Your art is beautiful..
My heartfelt wishes of peace, with many memories of your father and the love you have for him. Saying goodbye is never easy, but keeping them alive in your heart and mind all your days, there is where they will always be a part of you..
Blessings and Light to you,
Bernie

Sam Marshall said...

Wow-(Looking at the comment above)!!!
Kelsey, it was wonderful to see you the other day- your work is soooooooo breathtakingly beautiful. Inspirational!!!Thank you. XXX

Sarah Feeney said...

WOW Kelsey! I love your bleach ATC's - of course my faves are "Flighty" and "Collector"!! Love your canvas too! Have had a bit of a play with my RIP set too - perfect for this month's I.S. challenge! :)

Anonymous said...

Hey Kelsey! Nice to meet you, and so glad you commented on my blog.. yep you hit it on the head..if something asks for wings, then they get them..it's the intention and the message.. Btw, your technique book is amazing..I am coming back later to savour it. See you in Melbourne next year.

Julie H said...

Hi Kelsey

I was in Scraptivate wih Dawn last weekend and pointed out this very canvas.

I am so glad you are letting art take you away for a while.