Description
June was an amazing month for me. The Old School Studio was having 2 acrylic and mixed media workshops that had my name written all over it. So I raided the £2 coin collection for workshop fees and, as the workshops were on the weekend, Hubby went on the super-supportive bandwagon, looking after the kids both weekends so I could get my creative groove on. Life was sweet!
First up – The Urban/Harbour Mixed Media Workshop
Now I’m from Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean but I honestly cannot remember the last time I did a painting about home. The workshop instructions said look for a scene that was urban or harbour or urban and harbour. Well I come from a twin-island republic, of course there are urban harbours. Time to go back to my roots. Where shall I find a gorgeous image of home to paint? Flickr is my friend!
Credit must be given to Martino Motti who is an exceptional maritime photographer. Check out his work here. I ended up using his photo of Charlotteville as my inspiration for this piece.
Anyone that has been on a painting workshop with me since I had kids might tell you the same thing – she paints like the world is ending. I can’t deny it. Being a stay-at-home mum means that I have to literally steal time from my toddlers to get creative. Add in the fact that we’re not swimming in money, not even a little puddle… when I get the chance to paint, I need to leave with a finished painting cause only God knows when next I’ll get a chance to finish it! And that, my friends, is how I started this workshop.
DAY 1 – June 8th, 2013
I arrived at the studio a bit late (thanks kids!) and started to spread out my magazines, paints, newspapers, tissue paper, waterpots, pva glue, the usual collage and mixed media materials. The tutor, Val, talked us through the basics of the Mike Bernard technique that she would be teaching and explained a bit about the materials we would using. Naturally I was chomping at the bit to get started but I behaved myself. Honest!
Finally, it was time. Using some mount board stapled to a drawing board on an upright standing easel, we began.
Steps 1-4 were complete. (See Artwork Process images above for a visual walk through these steps.)
That was the end of the first workshop day. I left a very gluey wet piece to dry and went home to the husband and kids.
DAY 2 – June 9th, 2013
This time I arrived early and was pleased to see my surface completely dry and ready for me to lay into it once more. Steps 5-8 filled my day sometimes happily, sometimes with a little frustration. Let’s be honest, how often do I do structurally correct buildings? Seldom ever, so this was a bit of a lesson in patience for me. (See Artwork Process images above for a visual walk through these steps.)
And then I thought I was done and frankly, while it was ok. I really wasn’t feeling it. Everyone who saw it, loved it, but I wasn’t in love. I suppose it was just not my usual style and my brain was struggling to wrap itself around it. So I posted it to my Facebook Page and asked whether I should sew rope into the painting or leave it as is. The response was a resounding SEW IT! But did I do that? Nope. Life got busy, I got fed-up with the painting and so I put it down. Summer came and with it a reduction in my childcare options (weep!) On the upside, we went on holiday, we re-arranged the rooms in our home, and Hubby and I made the box room into my studio. Yay! I now had a dedicated studio! *doing the boogie woogie happy boopy dance!*
DAY 3 – August 8th, 2013 (that’s right, 2 months later!!)
This last hurrah didn’t quite take me all day. See the Artwork Process images for steps 9 and 10 to see what it took me 2 months to get around to doing. (Honestly Stacey! *taps self on the back of the head*) A few hours later I stepped back and finally, felt some love for this piece. It was done.
Needless to say, I’ve strayed considerably from the Mike Bernard technique. I did get told off at one point for painting too much and not collaging enough. Old habits die hard! Belinda will be laughing at me right now, but here it is… finally 2 months after the workshop (so much for painting with desperation!), the finished urban harbour mixed media piece – Charlotteville, Tobago.
