Collage Sisthars

June 14: Spontaneous Collage

(photo from Spontaneous Collage 2008 - yikes!)

For this meeting we will be making spontaneous collaborative collages, right there, in the session. We'll paint backgrounds for 30 minutes, let them dry, then swap the canvases to start a collage, swap again, then embellish, ending with a group embellishment session.. then you get to go home with 2 finished collages.

Really, don't let the speed of this process scare you. It's a chance to stretch your collage muscles and tell that picky little over-thinking voice in your head to shut up. Both times we've done this, folks said that it was a lot of fun - and the results were stellar!

Okay, here's what you need to bring:

2 (only 2, otherwise the math gets hairy) canvas boards, bigger than 5 x 7, smaller than 12 x 12. You could bring a stretched canvas, if you've got them lying around.

A small selection of acrylic paints for background painting.
Applicators for the paints - brushes, rollers, credit cards, sponges - you don't have to bring all of them, pick what you'd like to work with.

Water container, if you require water for your painting process.
Paper towels, baby wipes and/or gloves if you are messy.

Collage elements. I might suggest, if you have some spare time (I know, I know), cutting out some elements ahead of time - it just makes things go a little easier, when you are in the throes of collaging. Images, ephemera, papery bits, you know the drill.

Gel medium for adhesive and your applicator of choice - fingers even work.

Embellishments - no need to haul the whole studio, pick some faves and toss them in a small box. Fibers, trinkets, gel pens, again, you know the drill.

Also, we had been scheduled to meet in the barn (the other building), but the painting studio (our usual room) opened up, so we'll be in the same old place.

The 2008 pieces in progress. Thanks for the photos (then and now), Jean!

Have Stencils, Will Spray Anyway

We had a marvelous time on Saturday May 17, trying out non-aerosol stencilling. I presented a whole boatload of techniques, no one's head seemed to explode.

Stenciling resist with gesso.

Pointing out metallic mist paint made from Golden Fluid acrylics.

Sidebar to demonstrate the wonders of alcohol ink.

Terri and Lisa play with mist paint.

Of course the lure of the great outdoors and the immediate gratification of smelly spray paint won out and we braved the wind to spray up some gorgeous papers.

Thanks Jean, as always, for the photos!

May 17: Stencilling without Noxious Spray Paint (okay maybe just a little aerosol...)

This Saturday I will be presenting ways to use your stencils without using aerosol spray paint. If you've played with stencils with me before - the aerosol paint is fabulous - and instant gratification, but fabulously stinky, as well. I've sussed out a few ways to use your stencils without having to use a respirator or make your house stink. I'll also demo stencil cutting with a heat tool. So here's what to bring:

 

Essentials:

- Stencils, if you've got any - if you don't I have plenty to share

- Paper to stencil onto - you know the drill, you know what you like - I'm especially fond of kraft paper, tags and book pages, but copy paper and/or cardstock will work just fine.

- Craft paint in a few colors

- Mist-type paint: GlimmerMist, Dy-lusions, ColorWash, etc, if you've got them - I have a tubful of Colorwash

- Foam cosmetic sponges

- Plastic Shoebox (to fill with water to keep your stencils from getting dried with paint)

- Slightly larger plastic box (that your papers will fit in) to use as a "spray booth" for the mist-paint

 

Bring it if you've got it (and want to haul it along):

- Brayer or foam roller or small painting roller

- Fine Grit Sandpaper/Sanding Block

- Acetate to cut your own stencil(s). I just use sheets of copier transparency, you can get at OfficeDepotMax.

- Any Black and White images you would like to cut into stencils - I will have a file of images, if you don't have any.

 

I'll be showing how to make your own mist-bottle paint and alcohol ink. If you want to make your own on Saturday, bring an empty mist bottle (or a few) ( the little 2 ounce kind, not the humungous ones you use for Windex) and a bottle of rubbing alcohol, if you want to make the alcohol ink mist.  I'll also be talking about the difference between regular ink and alcohol ink. 

 

If it's not rainy or windy, I'll probably bring a bunch of aerosol paint, so you can play with that (outside) and witness the stinky glorious-ity of it. So dress for mess.

 

As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

 

Canvas & Linnie Blooms Recap

MaryBeth's canvas pieces - love the dotty bird!

MaryBeth's bag.

 

Teri's bag and canvas bits. We were all swooning over the orange bits on her bag - she said Harbor Freight had it just like that, orange bits and all - not the stencilling, mind you - that was Teri's handiwork. 

 

 

Linda's painted & stencilled journal page with mulberry paper - luscious!

Sara working on her table runner. The dots are from canvas dots from Linnie Blooms.

Tweet! Was this Janet's (I don't remember - aggghhh!)

The cover of Linda's Asia Journal - truly a mixed media work on the Linnie Blooms Journal.

Donna's pretty apron. The blue flower is made from Linnie Blooms canvas shapes.

Thanks Linda, for sharing these fun products with us. And thanks for sharing the photos!

Sishtars who were in attendance: if you finish/add more embellishments to your pieces, bring them to the next session so we can ooh and ahh at them.

Oh, and we talked about a bunch of links that day, here they are:Faber Castell Gelatos Image Transfer Book 1 Image Transfer Book 2

TAP image transfer sheets

Iron on Image Transfer Sheets

I'm pretty sure there were more, but I can't remember them right now... if you happen to remember, please let me know and I'll add it to the list. (argh!)

 

Saturday March 22: Fun with Canvas & Linnie Blooms

    

 

 

 

This Saturday, Linda K will be sharing Linnie Blooms Canvas pieces and showing us how to incorporate those into our own canvas/fabric creations. Linda has worked on a canvas tool bag from Harbor Freight, but you are free to play on whatever canvas/fabric surface you desire.

Supply list:

 

Canvas tote, apron, banner, table runner, stretched canvas, something to embellish

 

Fabric Tack &/or Tacky Glue

 

Color Mediums in as many colors as you wish ~ 

Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Markers

Craft paints

Spray inks

Water Soluble Crayons

Gellato Color Sticks

 

Asst. of brushes & water container

Wax paper (I'll share mine)

Paper towels

 

Optional extras if you want to explore:

Soft gel medium

Thread & needle, embroidery threads, etc if you like to stitch

Images on TAP (Transfer Artist Paper) or other fabric transfer stuff (I'll bring an iron)

Asst. of papers, fabric scraps, trims, ribbons, buttons, glitter & sequins, what ever else you desire to use as embellishments and decorations.

 

As always, please don't run out to buy everything listed (unless you need a shopportunity...), we are willing to share so you can try things out before you buy.

 

See you on Saturday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 Schedule (click for details)

January 25:  Journaling with Sara

February 15: Gelatine/Gelli Plate Monoprinting with Sara

March 22: Canvas Embellishment/Linnie Blooms with Linda K

April 26: Building Paper People with Leslie  (Note: we are meeting upstairs in the barn -the other building - this month)

May 17: Using Stencils without Aerosol Spray Paint (and some stencil cutting, too!) with Sara

June 14: Spontaneous Collage (Note: it's a busy day at the Fine Line, so we are in the barn, in the fiber studio)

July & August  - SUMMER BREAK

September 27: Image Transfers Revisited (with Tile!) with Sara

October 18: Something with Sabrina & Kristi

November 22: Mixed Media Madness

December 6: Holiday Revelry/Scrappy Bits Swap/3D Trees with Sara & Jean

 

Future months are TBA, as we slot in when the Fine Line has space in the classrooms - we don't yet know what is being held for upcoming months.

Open Journal Night(s) (click for details)

Open Journal Nights are weeknight get-togethers, where you bring whatever you would like to work on - kind of like a "Stitch and Bitch", but with paper. Of course you can come and stitch too, but maybe not so much bitching...

Currently some of us are working on making bits and pieces for table centerpieces for the Fine Line's annual Uncommon Threads Fashion Show Fundraiser. You are welcome to come help with the bits and pieces, or just hang with us.

We are meeting for Open Journal Nights from 6-9 pm:

Thursday, February 27

Thursday, March 13

Thursday, April 10

Thursday, May 1

Thursday, June 5

Thursday, July 17

Thursday, August 7

Thursday, September 18

Thursday, October 23

Thursday, November 13

 (no Open Journal Night in December - we're all too busy!)

Just Who Are the Collage Sisthars?

Just who are the Collage Sisthars?

 The Collage Sisthars* are a group of mixed-media artist who meet once a month to share inspiration, artwork, techniques and to have fun with art!  The Sisthars started meeting in 2004, when a group of nine women met at a collage class at the Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles, IL and had such a great time together, they decided to continue to meet and to take turns presenting different mixed-media techniques and ideas.

Since those first nine, the email list has grown to over 80 names. Not everyone attends every meeting (they wouldn’t all fit!), but there is a regular core group, with Sisthars coming and going as their schedules allow.

The Sisthars have a variety of interests and backgrounds. There are graphic designers, bookbinders, painters, encaustic painters, journalers, interior designers, art quilters, photographers, jewelers. Some practice their art full time and some are artists on the side, but they all are united by their love for paper and learning new techniques.

 They have shared techniques with each other on painting, journaling, polymer clay, resin, surface design, fabric collage, jewelry and encaustic painting, to name a few. In addition to sharing techniques, the Sisthars occasionally exhibit their work and often arrange round-robin artwork exchanges or artwork swaps.

The Sisthars’ main directive is to explore and play with the wild world of mixed-media arts and to provide an outlet for sharing and nurturing each other’s creativity. As one Sisthar explained “I have found my tribe.”

*Pronounced: Sis-TAAS

The Sisthars just happen to be all women, we would love to welcome a male Sisthar into the fold – it just hasn’t happened yet.

How Do I Join?

We are a very infomal group. We meet once a month, usually on Saturday morning at The Fine Line Creative Arts Center in northwestern St. Charles, in the Kavanagh Building.

Meetings last from 10 am to approximately 2 pm.

BYOS&SL - Bring Your Own Supplies and Sack Lunch - supply lists will be sent via email.

Cost is $5.00 per person, for room rental and occasionally a bit more for some special supplies - but you'll know well in advance.

No need to RSVP - we function like a drop in group - Please stop by, even if you aren' t interested in the project of the day. We relish the cameraderie of other artists, and often, our current swap collages are available for viewing and inspiration.

Do you need to have collage experience? Not really, but the group has a strong artisit bent. It was formed because a few collage artists, who met in a Fine Line Collage Class,  wanted to continue to explore surface design. Most Sisthars have taken collage classes in the past and many member continue to take, and sometimes teach, collage and other paper arts classes.

Do you need to be a member of the Fine Line Creative Arts Center? No, but if you become a member, you get the course catalogue, a discount on classes, a newsletter and lots of other wonderful things. Its a bargain at $35 for an individual membership. We do strongly encourage Collage Sisthars to become Fine Line Members because we want to support the school.

For more information and to be added to the email list, send an email Sara Kaetzer, the group coordinator.

Creative Creatures with Leslie - Feb 16

Leslie came out to the Fine Line in February and showed us how to play making Creative Creatures.

As always, a fun time was had by all... as you can see from the photos (thank you, Jean!)!

Thanks, Leslie!