Playing with paint with Art Van Go

 In June I was lucky enough to be able to go to a workshop with Art Van Go called "Reveal and Conceal"looking at building up layers to create an interesting surface. This was all about playing with the materials to see what they would do.

It was great to have a directed "playday" like this. In the past when I have been instructed to "just play with the materials" I start  out with the best of intentions and then quickly lose interest.  In this workshop we were given just enough information/demonstration to get us started and then we went back to our tables to try our for ourselves.

 

The first thing we did was to lay down a piece of imitation gold leaf. This was so BLING even for me that I really couldn't see how it was going to work but once a few layers of paint had been added over the top it was only just peeking through. It probably helped that I got the glueing technique all wrong so mine didn't really stick and then the distressed edges looked much more interesting. I don't think I like this effect enough to want to repeat it but you never know.

Here I have added the metallic paints, followed by a string handmade stamp and then layers of acrylic using a brayer.  I like how the later layers push the stamped images back. I also made a conscious effort to keep all my colours the same for harmony between pieces and to only use my own equipment. Nothing more frustrating than trying to recreate an effect and realising it was someone elses stencil! 

 

I like using the colours on black fabric - you can be, well you have to be much more dymanic with your colour choices to get them to stand out .  I also got a bit carried away with the use of bubblewrap but I loved the effect. Sometime the simple things are the best.  White paint helps the next layer to stand out as well.  

a close up shot

 I have no idea how I made this section - that's frustrating as it is one of the most interesting bits!

We used masking tape to divide up the work so I have saved my to use in something else later.They are fabulously interesting and makes me think about ripping up some of the bits of paper I have into strips for collage work.

I have a whole pile of papers and fabrics - they all co-ordinate and they are just lovely. The challenge now is to decide what to do with them! It may take some time as I still have a pile of papers and fabric waiting to be used from a workshop in Derby last October.

Thanks for reading.
Elise