paper cloth seascapes

Last week I was intuitively collaging,
This week I am still intuitively collaging (photos at the bottom of the post) However it is a slow process of fiddling and in between paint drying and wondering what to do next, I decided to do some seascape embroidery using cloth paper.

 I can't take the credit for coming up with the idea of cloth paper as I know many textile artists use similar techniques.
I use muslin as a backcloth support, covering it liberally in pva glue. I normally use artists quality pva but for this cheap pva does just as well.

Then paper scraps are glued onto the surface and layered in white tissue paper. making a sort of paper cloth sandwich.

I used discarded Christmas wrap torn into strips to make random patterns.

After a bit of drying time and ink spraying you get something like this It is paperish but is stable enough to be machine stitched. It can be cut and appliquéd.

Stitching can be as wild and free as you like,

Embroidered stormy seascape

I love the combination of paper and stitch.

I also used fabric scraps along with the paper cloth.

On this piece I burnt the organza overlay with a heatgun. making little holes to add texture.

And this piece has a tweed fabric edge and some buttons and sequins added.

 And finally
 my intuitive collage has moved along, slowly....

These are some of the steps of the journey so far .....





Thank you for all your sweet comments last week. One comment in particularly filled me with delight  comparing it to Friedensreich Hundertwasser  work!!  One of my FAVOURITE artists!! BIG smile :) Ahhhh if only.....

The journey so far

 Hopefully by next week it may be nearly finished..... possibly ;)

Linking to Paint party friday

falling stars on wild shores

Wild shores ( mixed media collage)

Last weeks post had an autumnal theme....
This week... well lets wind the clock back a few months to warmer days. We all have favourite seasons and Summer is mine. I dislike the cold and damp days of November and am constantly complaining of cold toes and fingers, so here is a little piece of Summer sunshine.

I finished this canvas a few weeks ago and hadn't got round to sorting through my photos till now to share with you how it was made.

It's not often that Scotland can look Mediterranean but on a day back in August it DID! ;)
I was driving along the coastal road marvelling at the sparkle of the deep azure sea when I noticed a carpet of wild Montbretia tumbling down to the sea.

In the UK it is a garden plant so I am not sure how it ended here!

I read that in the States the plant is known as Coppertips or falling stars... what a wonderfully descriptive name!
A cascade of golden orange blooms...

 The sea was collaged first

Then moving down the canvas more pieces of paper tumble down to the sea.

The distant hills of mainland Scotland are added.

along with liberal amounts of gesso

Purple foil and discarded sweet wrappers are added to the foreground to add sparkle.

And very last of all I add the montbretia blooms...

Made from hand printed mulberry papers

linking up to Inspiration Avenue where this weeks Theme is Seasons...
 and also.paint party friday

Roll on Summer 2015....  :)

under-wraps ; WOYWW

This weeks work in progress  is still under-wraps....
It's a birthday present so can't show too much....  shhhhhhhh don't tell. ;)

I can show you these though,
Rangers liquid pearls! Aren't these colours scrummy!!
I may use them all if the mood takes me!

And I will be using a bit of this,
49p!! I do like a bargain.

I will show and tell very soon, when hopefully It will be delivered to it's new home.

For those who tuned into my workspace last week from WOYWW,
 This....

Turned into this....

Maiden of the waves

It is clay and paper collage on wood. The clay used is air drying and I have recently been experimenting with paperclay. I find it is less fragile than other airdrying clays as I think it has paper pulp added to the clay mix, making the unfired moulded pieces pretty tough and easier to sand and paint. I have looked on you tube at making my own but it looks awfully messy and to be honest life is too short!

And finally I know it isn't quite a work-desk, but it is a new canvas I am working on.

At the moment it is just lots of paper scraps and black gesso....

I think a landscape may emerge.


Linking up to WOYWW click HERE to visit some other creative spaces

A random assortment; WOYWW

What's going on on my desk today?

A very good question. A box of clay body parts, a collaged panel partially sanded, some black and white gesso and a small postcard of an eagle.
not a great deal to show really, apologies. ;)

so here to make up for my lack of work are a few of my recent photographs taken in the sunshine of the west coast of Scotland.
This is Invergarry. It would be hard not to take a good photo of this view. On a clear day you can see for miles.

Still snow on the highest mountains.

And below the road through Sligahan.
the large cone shaped mountain is called Marsco and it is part of the Red Cuillin mountain range.

Hope you enjoyed a quick tour of the west Highlands, promise to have more on my workdesk  soon! :)

linking up to WOYWW where crafters and artists show what their latest projects

Gallery news

Today a little show and tell.

Here is my new space in Skyeworks Gallery on the Isle  of Skye. Set up in time for Easter.

I have been working on lots of little pieces recently and this is their new home at the moment.

Skyeworks is a beautiful natural light gallery above the Isle of Skye bakery company.

It specialises in local Scottish art and crafts

Skyeworks Gallery
(lots of exciting things!!! )

You may have noticed my newest piece beside the stag I posted a couple of weeks ago.

New piece 'Wild Angelica'

It is torn paper and acrylic on canvas.

Detail

And two more small panels just finished. Again using torn paper pieces and acrylic.

Light reflections made these tricky to photograph.

Thought you might like a look around Portree in the spring Sunshine where the Gallery is situated.

Portree is the largest village on the Island having a population of around  2,500 and is the main centre for shopping, having a couple of banks, a bakery, newsagent, several hotels and a couple of supermarkets. The roadsign is in Gaelic and reads 'Welcome to Portree mind how you go.' Scottish Gaelic is spoken in the west Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

The main village square

The pier and harbour. Boats trips from here can take visitors out to watch Sea Eagles which nest on the rocky outcrops around the bay.

The shale and shingle beach

MacKenzies bakery and the Bank!

Portree Bay

Hope the sun is shining in your part of the world.

Linking up to Paint party friday

Staffin Bay Mermaid

Recently I posted about the 24x24 anonymous  charity exhibition on the Isle of Skye to raise money for the St Kilda Row. I mentioned I had a piece in the show but couldn't post it until it was sold as all work was to be exhibited anonymously and unsigned so the buyer would only find after purchase who the artist was. All works were at a set size and price.

My mermaid sold last week, so I can post her at last!!

She is 24x24 box canvas and collaged onto a citrasolve paper sky.  If you are interested in learning more about how to make citrasolve papers I did a post earlier in the year about the process, click HERE to have a wee look.

The papers create fabulous collage backgrounds...

sea and shoreline

 Like this!

Le Chat Noir

Back to my mermaid......

Her hair is cut from pieces of gelli plate paper and foil. It combines collaged elements and acrylic paint.

The coastline of Skye is a wild and beautiful place, indeed it is reported that Brad and Angelina are planning a cruise around it on the Hebridean Princess cruise liner and if they do I hope they watch out for my mermaid as she sunbathes on the rocky shoreline!

The coastline of northern Skye

The kilt rock northern Skye ( named so because it falls vertically like the folds of a kilt! )

   Big thanks to Skyeworks Gallery for organising such a great event!  

Links this week to  Paint party Friday

And also Artists in Blogland