10.28.08

New artwork…

Posted in General tagged , , , , , at 4:41 am by lynnemedsker

Omnivagus mixed media/acrylic on canvas, 24x36

"Omnivagus" mixed media/acrylic on canvas, 24x36"

I am posting images of some recently created images.  The requirement for the 2nd Anniversary show for Broad Ripple Art & Design was ‘bright’ work.  After surveying what art I had available to hang there was not much brightness to be had!  The pieces that might have qualified were still hanging in the gallery in Tennessee.  I had one piece (shown below – Topiarius) that was made during one of last month’s painting sessions with my artist-friend Shadow. It was the first piece I selected to put in the show. 

Topiarius mixed media/acrylic on canvas, 12x36

"Topiarius" mixed media/acrylic on canvas, 12x36"

After that I couldn’t seem to find anything else that pleased me. What a perfect excuse to get out some canvas and create a few new pieces!  As it turned out I did not teach the nature-based art classes last week due to the local schools being on fall break. The timing was wonderful and allowed me some free time for creativity that I haven’t had recently.   
Dissipo mixed media/acrylic on canvas, 20x16

"Dissipo" mixed media/acrylic on canvas, 20x16"

These all started with a layer of paper, glue, clear acrylic gel or some combination of those items to get a very texture surface.  After that it was time to play with layers and layers of paint.  It seems that lately I can’t paint without getting my hands & fingers into and using them as my “brush” as much as (or more than) I use an actual brush! 

Fluito mixed media/acrylic on canvas, 15x30

"Fluito" mixed media/acrylic on canvas, 15x30"

I tried to finish these outside and enjoy the last few days of fall but after one day of my fingers aching from the cold I moved indoors.  Unless there is a drastic improvement in the weather I am afraid my outdoor painting days are finished until spring.  What a pity, I so enjoy being creative outside!  Being able to drip, squirt, splatter and generally just fling paint around without worry is very freeing and, in addition to just enjoying the freedom, I like the effect it has on the outcome of my art as well.  Perhaps I need to fire up a heater in the garage, put a drop cloth on the floor and try to duplicate the feeling indoors!
Arcus mixed media/acrylic diptych on canvas, each 12x12

"Arcus" mixed media/acrylic diptych on canvas, each 12x12"

 

10.24.08

Printmaking samples…

Posted in General, classes, instruction, new work tagged , , , , , at 3:38 am by lynnemedsker

Here are a few of the prints that I created during last weeks nature-based art class.  These were all printed using a gelatin (yes, like Jello) plate for the printing surface and acrylic paint as “ink”.   The paint is either rolled or brushed on the gelatin plate, the print paper is laid on top of the paint and then you use your hands to rub & smooth the back of the paper.  The gelatin releases the paint onto the paper and when you peel the paper off of the plate you have a print.  To intergrate the leaves & shapes into the print you lay them on top of the inked plate before putting the paper in place.  When you remove the paper from the plate you get the blank silouette/outline of whatever item you laid on the plate.  If you remove the leaf/item from the plate it will leave a detailed image on the plate which you can print either as an additional layer on the original print or on a second piece of paper.  Often there is enough ink/paint left on the plate to make subsequent “shadow” prints.  These shadow prints make a nice “base” to print a different composition on top of or can stand alone.

multiple drop monoprint
Image 1 – multiple drop monoprint

Image #1 – This image was printed first with red ink/paint, then later a different arrangment of leaves, etc. were printed on top of the red print using black ink/paint. 

monoprint
Image #2 – monoprint
Image #2 – This image was made by applying two colors of paint onto the gelatin plate & blending them together.  After the ink/paint was applied I used a textured plate to imprint a background pattern and then placed pine needles on top of the paint.  I decided to use black print paper for a sharp contrast between the paint & the background.
multiple drop monoprint

Image #3 - multiple drop monoprint

Image #3 – This print was made on green paper.  The rectangular base color was a “shadow” print from a previous composition.  The next layer was made using a round gelatin plate, it is also a shadow print of a leaf.  The following layer was made with white ink covered with lace, followed by a shadow prints from the same ink.
mulitple drop monoprint

Image #4 - mulitple drop monoprint

Image #4 – This image was made in a similar fashion to the second image above, the base print was made by applying muliple colors of paint onto the gelatin plate & blending them together. After the ink/paint was applied I used a textured plate to imprint a background pattern. I then inked the plate with black paint, for a sharp contrast between the paint & the background, then I placed various leaves on top of the paint and printed the second layer.
With their permission I hope to show some of my student’s work soon too! 

 

10.22.08

Creating a digital collage

Posted in General, classes, instruction, new work tagged , , , , , , , , , , at 4:35 am by lynnemedsker

I am in the middle of 6-week classes giving instruction on creating nature-based artwork.  I thought it might be fun to put some of the info online that I’ll be sharing with my classes when we meet again.  During our first two weeks of class we took photos at different locations, capturing small & large details outdoors during the onset of fall.  The focus was to look for both interesting patterns (not only in nature but man-made as well) and to find specific individual elements that interested us as well.  The next two weeks we went indoors to play with, and create, interesting textures, patterns and elements using various printmaking projects.  Those projects, or details of them, were then photographed for later use.  The last two weeks of the course we will be pulling all these elements together, both using photo/digital tools and also as mixed media pieces on canvas.  As I was sorting through my images this evening I selected a few and made a digital collage to demonstrate one way to create art from your images.  This was created using the Photoshop Elements program.  

The base image that I started with is a print that I used as a basic demonstration during class. 

acrylic monoprint

acrylic monoprint

The next layer was a photograph of a leaf laying on a brick walk that was taken outdoors during one of our photo shoots, I enlarged it slightly so part of the original image (below) was not used in the final image:

photo, leaf on bricks

photo, leaf on bricks

 I then added two more layers of photo images, a backlit leaf laying in the grass and a single weed shot with a dark background:

photo, backlit leaf in grass

photo, backlit leaf in grass

photo, sunlit weed with dark background

photo, sunlit weed with dark background

 All the additional layers were adjusted to blend well and make the basic composition then I went to the next step, which was to select a photo of a single leaf to repeat throughout the image.  During our printmaking sessions we used leaves and other “nature” items in some of our prints.  After being used several times many of the leaves were art themselves, covered with an array of paint.  I photographed several of these during the printmaking session and ended up selecting one to use in this piece.

photo - paint stained leaf

photo, paint stained leaf

 After isolating the leaf and eliminating all of the background I copied the image, moved & rotated its position, then repeated the process until I had a total of six leaves scatter through the image.  I then adjusted the opacity so that they blended into the background somewhat instead of just “sitting” on top.  After a few other minor tweeks I was pleased with the composition. 

As mentioned in a previous post, I struggle with creative names for my images!  I have done several images this year that combined printmaking and nature-based photos, thus this one became “Art & Nature #9″. 

Art & Nature #9

"Art & Nature #9"

Thanks for reading my blog!  I am making an effort to make more frequent updates and to add more pictures as well.  Look for sample images from the printmaking sessions coming soon!

10.20.08

Broad Ripple Art & Design Anniversary

Posted in General, Shows & Receptions tagged , , , , , , , , , at 2:39 pm by lynnemedsker

What:  Broad Ripple Art & Design 2nd Anniversary Gala and Indy Guitar Summit

Visual Artists: Quiny Owens, William Denton Ray, Sarah Vanderkleed, Teri Barnett, Doug Arnholter, Greg Seagrave, Lynne Medsker and more.

Indy Guitar Summit: A night of Indy’s best jazz guitarists in an intimate setting.  Hosted by guitarist Bill Lancton, this night has become an Indianapolis fixture for featuring our great local and regional guitar talent.

When: Friday, October 24th. 7 p.m. to close

Where: The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 North College Avenue, Indianapolis

Cost: $5 if you say BRAD at the door, otherwise $12

Age: 21+

10.19.08

Best Buddies event

Posted in General, Shows & Receptions, Uncategorized tagged , , , , , at 5:59 pm by lynnemedsker

The “Art of Friendship” event for Best Buddies Indiana was held on Thursday, October 2nd at the Marvis Arts & Events Center.  As I mentioned in a previous post my buddy for this year, Carl, and I worked together to create a mixed media piece that Carl named “Red Masterpiece”.  Here is an image of the finished piece:

Red Masterpiece

Red Masterpiece

In addition to a silent auction of some wonderful items that were donated to the event, all the artwork that the buddy pairs create is auctioned off at a live auction during the event.  The winning bid on our piece raised $400 for Best Buddies!  For more information about this wonderful program please visit their website at Best Buddies Indiana.